Taylor Swift has received a lot of attention around her relationships over her 10 years in the public eye – and not all of it has been fair.
But she's been loved up with Calvin Harris for over a year now, and there's just something about this pairing which seems different.
But just what is it about Tayvin that's made us think this could be the ~real deal~? 💗
Well, first of all, the timing of their relationship was perfect. It came after Taylor made the conscious decision to remain single for two years.
During this time she took a real stance against the sexism she's endured in commentary around her relationships. And releasing "Blank Space" was a real turning point.
As a result, the salacious interest in her relationships completely disappeared, which meant when she went public with Calvin Harris at the Billboard Music Awards, the response was anything but negative.
But even with that positive reaction, there's a big difference between Taylor's previous relationships and the one she has with Calvin: They've kept things predominantly private.
Taylor's previous relationships were defined by instability. Her first four albums were marred by insecurity, and concern that either her boyfriend would leave her or being heartbroken that he had. And 1989 took things a step further.
It appears that things couldn't be any more different with Calvin. In her acceptance speech for Best Tour at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, Taylor thanked Calvin for being the grounding she needed after it was all over.
There's something very cute about the phrase "come home to", and it's heightened by this little framed print in the hallway of her Beverly Hills home.
The sign was spotted during an interview at her home with Vogue. The sign reads: "You have successfully buried yourself inside my head. 2/26/15" The date is the day after they first met at the Brit Awards. The words are not a song lyric or a quote, leading fans to speculate that it's something Calvin said to her after they'd met.
And as this fan pointed out, the position of the print by the door could be as a deliberate reminder of their relationship every time she comes home. 💔
But the stability is even literal too. For Christmas, Calvin planted an olive tree in Taylor's garden. She cites it as the best gift she's ever received.
It's led to the assumption that the decision to plant an olive tree is a statement from Calvin about the durability of and faith he has in the relationship.
But it should also be pointed out that Taylor is a huge fan of symbolism and metaphors in both her life and her lyrics (take the whole of "Clean", for example,) and if the olive tree is a symbol of love, it seems as though she's found someone who shares that passion.
But the fact she's found a stable relationship could be because the time she spent being single has completely changed her outlook and priorities.
Remember when she won a MTV VMA for "I Knew You Were Trouble" and made this comment about the subject of the song in her acceptance speech?
Well, her acceptance speech at this year's Grammys could not have been any different. She used it to implore young women to chase their dreams and not let others take credit for their achievements.
But, more than this, it was clear that her time spent single moulded the entire 1989 era into a celebration of her career. For the first time, that was more important than romance. Mainly because it was something she had achieved.
Her entire outlook on relationships and love has matured, too. Previously, her songs were all about hoping relationships last forever.
But the songs on 1989 were about acknowledging and accepting that most relationships will end.
She no longer describes everlasting perfection like she did in "Love Story", and when asked about marriage in her Vogue interview, she gave this telling answer.
While she acknowledged her relationship as "magical", she went on to say: "I'm taking things as they come."
It's possible that her change in mentality is what's made her relationship to Calvin so successful – in his Snapchat story of their first-year anniversary celebrations, he wrote: "One year down. That was easy."
Interestingly, though, the entire Vogue profile was conducted during the wedding of Taylor's oldest friends, with Taylor as maid of honour. And when she gave her speech, she described real love.
Calvin is also vocal about Taylor in a way none of her previous boyfriends have been. While he may not speak about the relationship often, when he does, it's clear he pretty much worships the ground she walks on.
But he's also been publicly supportive of her career, in a way no other boyfriend of hers has. For example, when Taylor Swift single-handedly changed Apple Music's entire policy by writing them an open letter, Calvin tweeted his pride.
I just played a gig inside a giant owl and my girl just changed the entire music industry what a day
And when she became the only woman in history to have won Album of the Year at the Grammys twice, he shared this tweet.
Congratulations to my beautiful girlfriend
But looking through his faved tweets also reveals just how proud he is to be with her. Everything from these words used to describe her...
...and this achievement...
...to this acknowledgement.
And, of course, the feeling is mutual.
And it's clear from looking at comments Taylor made about relationships during the time she was single that this one with Calvin seems to tick all of her boxes.
For example, in this interview from May 2015, she sounded jaded about the thought of dating anybody, especially living life so publicly.
She said:
No one's going to sign up for this and everything that goes with it. Like, "Hi, nice to meet you, want a date? Do you love camera flashes? I hope you do! I don't know what's going to happen if I'm ever content in a relationship – no idea how that's going to work. I don't even know if that's possible with the life I have.
But when she and Calvin began their relationship, he was asked how he deals with the paparazzi intrusion, and his answer couldn't have been more perfect in the context of Taylor's quote.
He said:
You know, it's not like every single time we go out we get a photograph taken of us. That's not the case. But for me, though, it could be a lot worse and I'd still be insanely happy with her. So I'm all good with it.
It's also clear that they share the same goddamn brain.
That moment when you buy scissors and then you try to open them but you can't because you DON'T HAVE SCISSORS.
Bought a packet of scissors that you need a pair of scissors in order to open the packet of scissors I just bought. Do I buy another pair?
At the fancy hotel, I may have broken the fancy curtains because I didn't know they have a fancy electric button you push to close them. Hm.
Can't figure out how to close the curtains in this hotel room
But perhaps the most interesting quote from Taylor in the past is this. Which frankly has just given us all hope that Calvin could be ~The One~.
Now, we all know that Taylor is an excellent person. But she's decided to take a bit of time off after the success of 1989. And when Vogue asked her what she'll be spending this time doing, Taylor's answer couldn't have been more fitting.
She said:
I would really like to take a little time to learn things. I have lots of short term goals. I want to be a well-rounded person who can make a good drink. To be able to save somebody if they're drowning. So CPR, all the various kinds of chest impressions. People tell you little tips, but that's different from actually taking a class and getting certified.
Taylor once said she was going to hold off embarking on a relationship until she could "find a man who fascinates me as much as my career". Well, as this Tumblr edit shows, she's not just fascinated by Calvin, but goddamn mesmerised by him, too.
It's pretty fitting that the 1989 period is now officially over, after the world tour wrapped up a few months ago. Taylor has always said she'd never want to make the same album twice, so 1989 and its subject have been put to bed.
So now it could be the case that this dream of hers, of being in such a good relationship that previous ones are completely forgotten about, is being realised too.
