You’re still an innocent. Taylor Swift brings some class to the VMAs.

A long time ago, I learned the following lesson: never doubt the Fearless One, she will prove you wrong every time. It’s been a year since the VMAs from 2009 and I just had to learn that lesson all over again.

Lady Gaga got the award for the Female Video of the Year as well as Video of the Year. Well deserved. Congratulations 🙂

Taylor didn’t win any awards. That doesn’t really matter. Hear me out. It doesn’t. I feel relieved she never had to accept anything. What she did do is perform. She brought out a new unreleased song, a song that remains nameless so far but has the word Innocent in its chorus, although a few people have made references to Back To December which is a title she once mentioned during an interview about the other songs in Speak Now. It could be named either or neither way, it’s still a very powerful song.

Taylor set up a stage, a home with an old TV showing a scene we know all too well from last year. Taking the stage to accept the award, then a quick edit to show she was getting interrupted, and the figure of the rapper whose name I forget barely on a second, then skips the whole speech from him altogether to show her again. As the TV fades into silence, Taylor begins to sign. The Agency is there, but this time they’re in the shadows. Present but not spotlighted. Taylor is doing this alone. She sings and strums a guitar while sitting in a chair but very briefly. Leaving guitar and chair, she takes a mike and steps onto the stage. She’s barefoot. Her hair is up, she could be a star from the 50’s or 60’s but her dress is simple.

I’ve never seen her more vulnerable as when she stepped out onto that huge stage alone. No shining sparkly dress, no boots. Her vocals are crisp clear. Her backup is minimal. Yet I found this performance so powerful that it’s chilling. The lyrics are about innocence, and about growing up. Yes it’s inspired by the VMA experience from 2009 but it could apply to anything and anyone. Not once in her lyrics does she ever mention… the guy I never mention myself.

And I couldn’t be prouder of her if it weren’t my own little sister on stage. No, she didn’t bring any smack down. She brought class. You didn’t get it, I don’t care. I don’t give a flying rat’s behind if you didn’t understood what she was singing about. Everyone has been ridiculed, and most of us have at one point ridiculed somebody. We all need forgiveness and we all need to forgive. It is relatable and it’s Taylor Swift. You wanted controversy, she brought class. You wanted immature antics, she showed growth. If you think the song really is about revenge, payback or getting back, you’ve missed the point entirely.

I know some will say Taylor can’t let go of the past, but I will both accept and object to that. I believe Taylor can’t let go of the past without learning a lesson from it. And now she’s sharing that with whoever will listen, either because they have gone through something similar or they’re about to.

Sorry I couldn’t get into the show after that. Eminem and Rihanna were great. I missed Paramore and Hayley Williams, I regret that. Katy Perry was cool and funny. Most of the show was a commercial for MTV shows.

And how was the rapper whose name I forget? Well, let’s forgive and forget. So, he’s forgiven. And forgotten.

(Sources: The Swift Agency, MTV.com)