Taylor Swift performs "Begin Again" at the 46th Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee, November 1, 2012.HARRISON MCCLARY/Reuters
Oh, Taylor, don't think you can pull your surprised face this time. Country-pop superstar Swift, who doesn't even turn a precocious 23 until next month, is having the best week of her life.
According to Billboard, her new album Red has sold 1.21 million copies in the past seven days, making it the biggest sales week for an album since Eminem in 2002. And the cherry on top of her next paycheque is a 58-date world tour, which stops in Toronto, Winnipeg and Vancouver in June, 2013.
Her recent breakup with Conor Kennedy could be construed as bad news, but this simply means more creative fodder for Swift, who's equally loved and loathed for her short-lived flings that invariably inspire earnest lyric-writing on future songs (see: Jake Gyllenhaal).
Swift has been attacked for many things in her brief life: being unfeminist, un-country, immature. Before we go down that road again, let us make a suggestion: Let T-Swift have this one. Maybe even let her have all of 2013. By some measures, she deserves at least begrudging respect as someone who just blew Justin Bieber and Madonna's six-figure sales out of the water. And have you heard We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together? Swift's latest single is undeniable bubblegum pop. Plus, 1.21 million teen girls can't be wrong.
Cliff Lee