Taylor Alison Swift.

A name everyone knows, but not everyone loves. 

Not everyone stayed up until midnight or woke up October 3rd with their first thought being to listen to Taylor Swift. For some, listening to it in the car on the way to school was enough. For others, they had been waiting for months to listen to “The Life of a Showgirl.

By 2nd period on a hot-sunny October day, many Whitmer students and staff had planned to or already listened. The responses were mixed and while the larger amount of responses were positive with many that loved it and were excited to see a new era begin again, there still were a few who did not.

“I’m actually very excited, I’ve been excited and I wanna see the movie!”, sophomore Tabitha Warren said about the album’s new release and hopes for a documentary or film release.

Many students have been waiting for new music and a new era and simply couldn’t wait to listen.

“Yes, three (3) times,” Sophomore Laney Woener says when asked if she’s listened to the album early in the morning of the 3rd.

It’s not just students streaming the album, listening on the day of its release.

“I think ‘Opalite’ sounds like “Last Christmas,” Mr. Schreiner said as he shared he is listening to the album through its entirety.

These students and staff have a strong positive opinion on the album. Students and staff of all ages can bond over the music of Taylor Swift

“I love Taylor Swift, I just don’t listen to her on my own. She’s really good when you’re like with a group of people, she’s fun to listen to, but on my own I’m not listening to that. She has good music though,” sophomore Elyahna Tomanski shared.

Some would agree that they don’t hate her but they don’t quite love her either.

“Maybe like semi [Swiftie]”, says sophomore Lilly Miller about her experience listening to Taylor Swift.

“Sure. I’m a Taylor Swift fan, I don’t know if I would say I’m a Swiftie” Mr. Silvestri says.

Not all people who listen to her music are major Swifties.

“I heard her in the car on the radio… She was just like being a Taylor Swift.” says sophomore Jaycob Nelson.

Some students don’t care what she writes, who she dates, or what her songs sound like, but they don’t hate her, it’s simply not their cup of tea.

“I listen just when she’s on in the car…some songs are good… I think she’s rated off her talent and success.” Kaylee Potrzebowski, a sophomore, says.

“I don’t pay attention to her…[but] I listen to her music,” sophomore Zariah Robinson said.

With a student body as large as Whitmer’s, there are students at Whitmer who don’t like Taylor Swift.

“[She’s] overhyped, hated and all [of] that,” claims sophomore Calvin Hetrick.

Some students strongly said “No” when asked if they had or if they were going to listen to the new album.

“I’ve been hearing the songs over and over again and like they just get worse the more you hear them,” explains freshman Isreal Rickner.

As the day wore on and the opinions on Swift and her new album varied, there was still a pretty traditional question usually paired with any new work from an artist that Lauren asked everyone, “will there be a tour”?

What is unique with Taylor Swift is this album is coming in after her two year-record breaking Eras’s tour. The idea of a new tour so soon after the Eras Tour, splits opinions.

“Maybe in like 2 years…she hates us.” says Alayh Fleenor who’s a sophomore

Some students agree with Alayah on the tour subject.

“No. Nothing beats the Eras Tour.” sophomore Cooper Brown agrees.

With back and forth yes’s and no’s about whether she will go on tour or not, sophomore Barrett Schreiner says “Absolutely”.

When asked if it will be bigger than the Eras Tour, sophomore Barrett Schreiner says “Absolutely not”.

Although many students want her to go on tour, in a recent interview on October 3rd at BBC Radio 1 promoting her new album, she almost immediately said she won’t be going on tour anytime soon.

“I’m going to be really honest with you. I am so tired when I think about doing it again because I would want to do it really, really well again,” Taylor Swift revealed.

With a pretty packed UK and American press tour for the first few days of the new release, Taylor was scheduled to speak to Jimmy Fallen on October 6th and Seth Meyers on October 8th. That sunny release day, the Press also asked for predictions if they think she will announce or release anything beyond the album.

“She’s definitely going to drop easter eggs that people will find out in the future.” Tabitha Warren stated.

While sophomore Tabitha Warren thinks she will keep it simple and just enjoy promoting the album some students think otherwise, “I hope that she announces that she’s pregnant!,” Elyanah Tomanski, a sophomore, says in excitement.

Even if not everyone listens to Taylor Swift with the dedication of a midnight release party listener, when asked about her new album release many of them still had a favorite Taylor Swift song to share.

Students like junior Malcom King and sophomore Jazmin West enjoy ‘Bad Blood’, while others like sophomores Lilly Miller and Harmony Dean, enjoy fan favorites like ‘Cruel Summer’.

Not wanting to miss out on the first 24 hours of a Taylor release, even freshman Carter Cober wanted to participate and asked “Does she make ‘Party in the USA’?”

After spending the entire day chatting with the Whitmer campus students and staff about Taylor Swift, it is clear that a wide variety of students have at least one song they connect with. Whether it’s one of her most played and popular songs or a deep cut that only the Swiftiest of Swifties know, Taylor Swift brings people together.

‘Long story short’, Taylor impacts not only Whitmer but the whole world with her music, no matter your opinion she’s taking the world one era at a time. From her first hit with ‘You belong with me’ to newest single ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ there are new eras to come, but until then these were the first 24 hours of a Showgirl.