One No. 1 album, gobs of award show love and countless "boyfriends" we at home can only dream of coming in contact with. The year 2012 was an important one for Taylor Swift,Popdust's Artist of the Year, as well as almost everyone who came in contact with her. From blokes like Ed Sheeran to the beloved '90s characters like Cher Horowitz, let's examine the Taylor Swift Effect, shall we?The Best (and Worst!) of 2012We decided ...the year's top 100 songs!And asked you ...to vote for your favorite!Ranked ...every Taylor Swift song!Chatted with ...ÂCarly Rae Jepsen!Looked back ...at Chris Brown's Twitter feuds!And showed you ...Âthe year's most NAKED pop stars!
Taylor loves a good fairytale, so being gullible enough to believe that a mobile songwriting expedition�by the ocean no less�could potentially ruin someone else's special day helped MTVwelcome back Ashton Kutcher's prank seriesin style. And dropping her jaw with such commitment kept known pranksterJustin Bieberlooking funny to his fans.
Taylor'sname-drop of a former middle school frenemyled helped us learn that those girls with the shiny hair who haunt our middle school days are people, too, and sweet ones at that. If Sarah Jessica Parker'sfilm was going to leave us with a few lingering questions about how, exactly, such a flawless figure "does it," we were going to have tolook elsewhere. Thanks for the tip!
Taylor went two for three at February's award show, and her banjo-heavyperformance of "Mean"contributed to the annual fete becoming the second-most watched show in its history.
The award show love didn't stop there. Even with her last album,ÂSpeak Now, being released in 2010, Taylor picked up the Academy of Country Music'sEntertainer of the Yearaward just four months into 2012.Surprised? Nah.
Known to rap a line or 10 from Nicki Minaj, Taylor and BFF Selena Gomez assumed the position at the2012 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awardsjust in time for One Direction's first of many welcomes to the great U.S. of A. Consider her early affection for "What Makes You Beautiful" foreshadowing.
One artist largely contributing to this year's British Invasion has been singer-songwriterEd Sheeran, whom Taylor has been hyping up on Twitter andkitchen floorsfor months. Hers was a slower effect that the instant catapult Justin Bieber gave to Carly Rae Jepsen, but it's continuing to unfold brilliantly for the Englishman. Sheeran co-wrote "Everything Has Changed" offRedand willjoin her North American tour in 2013.
The first quarter can be bleak for multiplexes, yet those parents and babysitters who were dragged to the cinema for the big-screen version of Dr. Seuss'The Lorax had the pleasure of hearing Taylor voiced her own character, Audrey, along with her pal Zac Efron.
We're not saying he's thebest choice for Katy, but in a post-Russell Brand universe, Taylor calling out John Mayer�and the 35-year-oldstill feeling hurtby those lyrics�allowed the Firework to shine brightly once again.
Er, more famous than he already was? Though they come from different worlds, both Taylor and former beauConor Kennedyare familiar with having their picture taken. Their comfort around a long lens helped the pair's long walks on the beach become an integral part of our summer.
Taylor hasn't been shy when it comes to gushing abouther love for the Kennedy clan. And if she can help increase teen literacy by recommending abiographyon thefamily matriarch? Even better.
Conflicting reports emerged this summer about whether or not Taylor hadpurchased a fancy new pad just steps away from the Kennedy's summer home, or was merely renting the vast space. Either way, we wouldn't be surprised if tourism in Hyannis Port jumped through Labor Day, with many out-of-towners hoping to score a look at TaCo hand-in-hand.
Taylor did her best to bring backhigh-waisted stylesin a big way this year, particularly when it came to swimsuits. This style may confuse some, but for Taylor�and anyone who might be uncomfortable with their outtie�it's a summertime go-to.
Co-written by Maya Thompson, whose four-year-old son passed away from cancer last year, Taylor's balladperformed at this year's Stand Up to Cancer, still gives us chills.
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" wouldn't be the same if not for its spoken word breakdown filled with repeated use of that one word your high school English teacher tried his or her best to erase from your mouth entirely ("likeever"). In doing so, Taylor helped valley girl patois has had such positive attention since Cher Horowitz.
It would be a few months before the Jonas Brothers would creep backonto the live stageto the delight of theircommitted fans, butRed's lead single being such an obvious kiss-offbrought all of her famous exes back into the conversation, including the one who opted tobreak up with her via text message.
Humans dressed as animals has been a thing in pop music for the last 18 months or so, but we couldn't help but make the connection between Taylor's "WANEGBT" woodland creatures and those fuzzy suited adults who congregate atconventions by the airport.
Thanks to Taylor's influence, Timeflies delivered their owninterpretation of "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"from the male perspective, making our Tuesday (and every day after that) a little brighter.
If Vince Gilligan can create characters so beloved they work against a backdrop of ruthless cartel members andRedsongs, his AMC series truly is deserving of all the awards.
Just like she did with the middle JoBro, Taylor's music and liner notes brought back all sorts of memories of a leading man we'd otherwise forgotten about. (Sorry, Jake. We haven't seenEnd of Watchyet!)
With Taylor having thecherry-huedgame on lock, there was room for Solange and others to take a dive into the brighter brights of orange and yellow.
The powers that be can deny it all they want, but in 2012, even the vaguest outline of a "young country star" character description screams Taylor. Based on herhistory with Matt Saracenwe're confident Taylor would never treat Connie Britton with the same bitchy disdain that Hayden Panettiere's Juliette Barnes does.
Released in October,Redquickly became theÂbest-selling album released in 2012, delivering 1.2 million copies in its first week and holding the top spot of the Billboard 200 for three weeks. Who says kids don't buy albums these days?
We used to think 22 was the worst possible age since it follows college graduation and the popular rite of passage that is waking up on your bathroom floor the day after your 21st birthday here in the States. Yes, it's a time when figuring out rent and bills and health insurance feels less appealing than chewing on glass, but Taylor helped us realize that we only get a 12-month pass ondressing like hipstersand eating breakfast at midnight.
Correct us if we're wrong but who wouldn't want to fall in love "on a Wednesday, in a cafe"? Finding an empty seat at Starbucks has never been the same.
Taylor 's thirdRedsingle, "I Knew You Were Trouble," is a departure from her previous styles. Her willingness to experiment, and the adorable story ofhow she came to discover the genre, made us realize that there's more to wub-wub-wub from this constant club soundtrack than we originally thought.
Known for picking beloved lads to play the romantic lead in her music videos (still love you,7) Taylor's generous casting in her"Trouble" videogave Broadway's Spider-Man a chance to momentarily escape the dangers of Bono and the Edge's high-flying show, or at least their grumbles about Julie Taymor.
Not that they need extra reason to get excited, but adding YouTube sensation and rising starAustin Mahoneto herRedtour helps secure lasting love among tween girls.
Last week's manic Manhattan media tour also featured some highly photographedpre and post-sleepover walkswith One Direction's Harry Styles. Between karaoke and trips to the Central Park Zoo, even those who highly believe they are the true Mrs. Styles must admit they make a cute pair.
At her core, Taylor's a Nashville girl. Schmoozing with her fellow country acts comes easy, but she's had luck transcending genres thanks to her love of hip-hop and willingness to be goofy. You can't blame others for being envious. Enter: Florida Georgia Line, at this year'sAmerican Music Awards, whoprepared a nickname(T. Swizzle) they are praying will soon take off.
Season 9 castoff�and heartthrob�has recently resurfaced on YouTube, thanks to hischeeky take on Taylor's new romance. But let's not get too excited�everyone's doing it.
About a year ago, musical theater lovers were trying to wrap their heads around reports that Lea Michele, Evan Rachel Wood and Taylor were all gunning for the role of Eponine�iconic everywoman middle school girls instantly feel for�in the film version ofLes Miserables. Losing out on the role only opened Taylor up for all of what's come her way this year, and allowed for British theater star Samantha Barks to land her first film role, and an arguableaward season performance, in Tom Hooper's big screen adaptation. Win-win?
Yet another similarity with a memorableÂCluelesscharacter. Taylor's spent 2K12 expanding her reach and moving beyond country and pop to team up with B.o.B. (2011's live duet andmeet-cute with T.I.set the stage). At this year's Z100 Jingle Ball alone, she performed with both Bobby Ray and Ed Sheeran, while schmoozing with her pal Justin Bieber and 4/5 of One Direction; cheek kisses were reserved for Harry Styles. If the group was looking for some post-show karaoke, it's likely Taylor organized the outing.
It's been the source of many jokes andparodies, and finally, we learned Taylor has asense of humor about it all. After gaining momentum in 2011, Taylor's bewilderment at everything from awards to French pastries will continue to give us something to write about for the foreseeable future.
We decided ... the year's top 100 songs!
And asked you ... to vote for your favorite!
Ranked ... every Taylor Swift song!
Chatted with ... Carly Rae Jepsen!
Looked back ... at Chris Brown's Twitter feuds!
And showed you ... the year's most NAKED pop stars!
