Taylor Swift accepted Global Icon tonight at Brit Awards. The multi-award winning artist gave a moving speech for new artists and the path they’re embarking on, saying that there’s “no career path that comes free of negativity.”
If you’re new here, I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan. For her to receive such a prestigious award at an international show, it’s huge. Sure, Taylor has won 11 Grammys so far, and many, many important awards. She’s also a winner of a Brit award.
But Taylor Swift made history when she accepted Global Icon tonight at Brit Awards 2021. Why? Because she’s the first female artist to achieve this. Take into account that she’s not even British, the honor is so much bigger.
Taylor has risen to fame over 15 years ago, but she’s still breaking records after records. After receiving Artist of the Decade last year, she won a new Grammy this year for her record-breaking Folklore album. Now, she gets a Global Icon. Previous award winners for this include Sir Elton John, David Bowie and Robbie Williams. Yes, all British men.
Dressed in a shiny crop top and matching long skirt, Taylor might be hinting at what comes next. Any Swiftie knows that crop tops were basically a trademark for her 1989 era. But that include short skirts (thing that you like). Now Taylor has grown, so her skirts could naturally be longer for the era.
Just give us 1989, Taylor.
Moving on to her incredibly moving speech, Taylor thanked the NHS for their incredible work handling the pandemic. She also was very much herself while fangirling over Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams, who presented the award. Prior to that, her friends Ed Sheeran, Selena Gomez, Zoe Kravitz and Annie Lennox gave testimonies to her Global Icon status.
In her speech, Taylor also thanked her management, her family and friends, including a special blush when it came to her boyfriend of almost five years, Joe Alwyn. She also remembered all the places she sang in the UK, like Shepherd’s Bush Arena, The O2, and in the end, two nights at Wembley Stadium for her Reputation Stadium Tour.
Her speech moved on to how difficult the path you embark on as a new artist. She highlighted the fact that criticism is a normal thing in the industry, and anyone has something to say about you, but if you’re getting pushback, it means you’re doing something new.
Taylor said: “If there’s one thing that I’ve learned it’s that you have to look around you every day and take note of the people who’ve always believed in you. Never take them for granted. There are so many incredible artists in this room tonight and a lot of people watching who have goals and ambitions for yourselves. I need you to hear me: there is no career path that comes free of negativity.”
“If you’re met with resistance that probably means that you’re doing something new. If you’re experiencing turbulence or pressure that probably means you’re rising and there might be times where you put your whole heart and soul into something and it is met with cynicism or skepticism. You cannot let it crush you: you have to let it fuel you because we live in a world where anyone has the right to say anything about you that they want at any time but please remember that you have the right to prove them wrong.”
I honestly couldn’t be prouder.
An extra special speech from @taylorswift13 as she receives the BRITs Global Icon Award 💕 #BRITs pic.twitter.com/kZ7EGSIv7Y
— BRIT Awards (@BRITs) May 11, 2021
