Children are never too young to become Swifties, which is why one mom has delighted the internet by educating her four kids on the singer’s backlog of music videos (AKA theatrical masterpieces).
Laney Morello is a long-time fan of Taylor Swift, having been a devoted listener ever since her self-titled debut album was released in 2006. Now, the 30-year-old is introducing her young children to her music, which soundtracked so much of her life. Morello, from Virginia, didn’t waste any time in playing Swift’s songs for her kids, aged 6, 5, 3, and 6 months, as she tells Newsweek that “they are also huge fans.”
Now that her children know Swift’s music by heart, it’s time to take things to the next level by showing them her iconic music videos. What better way to start than with the “Blank Space” video from the 2014 album 1989. Needless to say, they didn’t hold back with their opinions.
“They know (and love) her entire discography, but they are experiencing the music videos for the first time now,” Morello said. “I love hearing their insights and I never want to forget their sweet little voices or what they noticed.
“I couldn’t help but laugh when my 6-year-old asked if it was the same boyfriend because it ‘might as well be.’ She really seemed to get the point of the video,” she continued.
The music video for “Blank Space” shows a man arriving at Swift’s serene idyllic countryside manor and they begin dating. Everything seems rosy at first; horseback riding together, lavish dinners, and carving their names into a tree. But when Swift catches him messaging someone else, things turn for the worse.
The tone changes to one of anger and destruction, as she is seen tearing down their romantic bubble. She rips his clothes, smashes his car, and throws his cell phone into a fountain. The song plays on her media depiction, as she was portrayed as someone who jumped from one relationship to another, as though every new suitor was merely filling a blank space.
Morello told Newsweek that she loved watching the music video with her children and “seeing things through their eyes.” They all loved every moment of it, and Morello found it interesting to see what each of them took away from the video.
Among some of their best comments, the kids were quick to point out “that’s not safe” when Swift rode a bicycle indoors, the adorable dogs, and, of course, Swift’s famous Louboutin heels. That last one left Morello “nervous for our future of shopping” and her bank balance.
She continued: “My oldest is always interested in the symbolism of the lyrics and videos, my middle daughter tends to react to anything that she finds unsafe or unsanitary, and my youngest daughter watches for the clothes and shoes.”
Since then, they’ve moved on to the music video for “Karma,” and they couldn’t get enough of it.
The Internet Responds
Morello shared the video of her children reacting to “Blank Space” on Instagram (@hellomorellos) and it has delighted social media users. Since being posted on November 14, the video has gained more than 330,000 views and 15,300 likes at the time of writing.
The online reaction has been wonderful for Morello to see, and it’s helped her to connect with plenty of other Swifties across the internet.
“It’s been so much fun to share this fun part of my life with my daughters. We were so lucky to be able to attend the Eras tour together and it was so special. I hope we’re always able to find common interests and share them,” Morello told Newsweek.
With over 150 comments on Instagram, many praised their poignant responses to the video.
One comment reads: “I love how safety conscious these little girls are.”
Another person wrote: “They get it. You’ve done well.”
While another Instagram user added: “Love how they are concerned about Taylor’s safety!!! They know what’s up!”
