NYU's Class of 2022 had quite the graduation ceremony this year. Taylor Swift was their commencement speaker, receiving an honorary Doctorate's degree in Fine Arts! She eloquently expressed her personal experiences and music as words of wisdom, including 2012 song "22". I discuss the original background of "22"'s single, lyrics, music video, instrumentation, and setting up her commencement speech.

Theme Song: "Dance Track", composed by Jessica Ann Catena

"22" Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgFeZr5ptV8

Red (2012 album): https://open.spotify.com/album/1EoDsNmgTLtmwe1BDAVxV5?si=AavWV-yqSWip5UZJVtLeJQ
Red (Taylor's Version) (2021 album): https://open.spotify.com/album/6kZ42qRrzov54LcAk4onW9?si=Tskybu1QRCKqQPmxeq8Jjg

Taylor Swift NYU course:
https://sis.nyu.edu/psc/csprod/EMPLOYEE/SA/c/NYU_SR.NYU_CLS_SRCH.GBL?&

Commencement speech video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR4_oJYgpBM

Commencement speech transcript:
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-nyu-speech-1355121/

Other Music Notes episodes that mention Taylor Swift:
Episode 10 - Taylor Swift Top 10 & Her 30th: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/46399646
Episode 13 - Top 40 Songs of 2019 (Part 2): https://www.spreaker.com/episode/21365169
Episode 42 - folklore (Track-by-Track): https://www.spreaker.com/episode/40105453
Episode 65 - Top 40 Songs of 2020 (Part 2): https://www.spreaker.com/episode/45209052
Episode 117 - Top 40 Songs of 2021 (Part 2): https://www.spreaker.com/episode/48218402