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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not get the Taylor swift hype?

509 replies

StopBeingASquare · 15/07/2023 13:31

I have my hard hat on.
Probably going to get my arse handed to me on a plate.

I really don't get all this fuss about Taylor swift, I just find her utterly boring. All this fuss about midnight / album / preorders / codes to then try and attempt to get tickets in Scotland when you live on the cliffs of lands end. Threads and threads about it and people planning their outfits when the gig is a year away, I thought gig attire was jeans and a tour T shirt?! From various YouTube videos I've seen of her singing live I have to say I wasn't impressed at all. Mediocre voice, dodging high notes. I'm obviously a minority here as there's people willing to sell a kidney to just get a code to be in with a chance of getting a ticket.

I saw Pink in Hyde park a few weeks ago where she was singing live, doing incredible acts, dancing, acrobats etc and it was incredible. I'm not trying to compare, but I just find Taylor so average!

Can anyone tell me why there's all of this hype. I'm fully aware my username is rather fitting.

(I'll get my coat..)

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Jigslaw · 16/07/2023 09:30

WomblingTree86 · 16/07/2023 09:26

Yes, her father is rich and record producer and owns a record company too, I think.

No he isn't and no he doesn't, he bought a 3% share in a label she was already signed to and he worked in finance not anything to do with being a record producer.

@StopBeingASquare but the conversations are very different about TS than other artists- it's interesting as to why that is. I say this as a black woman so I don't have a vested interest in fighting for white women particularly.

WomblingTree86 · 16/07/2023 09:26

Jigslaw · 16/07/2023 09:20

Because she's a white woman I expect. Yawn. Beyonce grew up in a wealthy family yet this never seems to get thrown back in her face and excused as the reason she's successful.

Yes, her father is rich and record producer and owns a record company too, I think.

StopBeingASquare · 16/07/2023 09:24

'Because she's a white woman I expect. Yawn. Beyonce grew up in a wealthy family yet this never seems to get thrown back in her face and excused as the reason she's successf'

@Jigslaw

Beyoncé falls under the category of 'every single young actor / mucision', as does TS. There is absolutely no need to bring race into this thread fgs.

OP posts:
Jigslaw · 16/07/2023 09:23

@StopBeingASquare your posts have been reasonable and I agree you don't have to see someone live to figure out whether you enjoy their music or not! I think the posters who wade in to not share their opinions but to use mistruths about her or make out people who like her are ridiculous and their tastes are superior are annoying.

StopBeingASquare · 16/07/2023 09:20

A question for everyone saying you can't judge unless you've seen her live, why?

Genuine question, not trying to be goady. Surely the reason those singles of hers are released are for the general public to listen to / PR / make judgement / attract people to buy her album etc?

Surely people make judgements all the time on what they hear in the radio. Whether it's not your taste and you turn the station over, or you listen to more of that artist and they become one you like and you purchase the album etc.

When I say I find her a bit vanilla, I don't mean her personally. It's just what I've heard on the radio or Spotify, what's been released etc. i don't think I've seen any of her your videos apart from a few on tiktok that have come up. My opinion on the mediocre live singing is the ones I've seen on YouTube or the telly like awards ceremonies and the like.

The songs that have been suggested in here have beautiful lyrics. She is an incredible poet. I just don't see what puts her leagues above her peers.

To PP who said about lots of teens just go and put their phones in the air and record I absolutely agree with this. When I went to Pink I was front row at the barrier. When I turned around every other person was recording. It's such a shame. When I go to a gig I'm there to enjoy the 2 hours and watch with awe. Someone else will be recording and it'll be on YouTube or tiktok to watch. I think it's such a shame that people go to gigs just to watch it through their phone screen.

I think it's great so many people love her and buy her tickets, it's wonderful to look forward to such a thing that means so much to the fans after covid etc (I'm the same with pink) I just don't get offended if someone says they find her vanilla, the general consensus is TS fans get very offended if someone doesn't get the hype.

But, I've learnt that she stands up for womens rights, is a great role model for women and young girls, she writes a lot of her songs, never put a foot out of line. These are wonderful attributes that a lot of artists don't have. I'm not judging her at all, I just didn't get the hype / hysteria THIS time around all over SM and MN about the tickets and people taking days off to get codes etc.

I understand a little more now. (And to PP who said I mustn't have any passion in my life just because I didn't understand the hype, I do have passion. Lots of it. For various different things. Just not for Taylor swift, unfortunately.)

OP posts:
Jigslaw · 16/07/2023 09:20

WomblingTree86 · 16/07/2023 09:19

I think every single young actor or a musician has a connection and/or rich parent nowadays. I can't think of anyone who came "from nothing" so wonder why people keep mentioning it in the case of Taylor Swift.

Because she's a white woman I expect. Yawn. Beyonce grew up in a wealthy family yet this never seems to get thrown back in her face and excused as the reason she's successful.

WomblingTree86 · 16/07/2023 09:19

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 07:46

Both can be true

Of course they can I don't disagree. It is also true that those with rich or celebrity parents probably have a better chance than the rest of us. That's not the same as saying they don't work hard.

I think every single young actor or a musician has a connection and/or rich parent nowadays. I can't think of anyone who came "from nothing" so wonder why people keep mentioning it in the case of Taylor Swift.

nonmerci99 · 16/07/2023 09:17

Just posting in solidarity. I find her massively overrated and the fan hysteria totally bizarre. Takes all kinds, though.

Taylorswiftly23 · 16/07/2023 09:03

Another song suggestion for anyone who genuinely wants to understand more about why she is popular is ‘Marjorie’ It’s about her grandmother. Regardless of your age, if you’ve been bereaved of a beloved grand parent, this one resonates.

Againstmachine · 16/07/2023 08:46

With tours not limited to TS, I find that people want to go to things so they can say they have been and post of social media about it, more than the actual enjoyment of the concert.

Againstmachine · 16/07/2023 08:41

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 06:36

Me too OP.

I must be missing something. I feel the same way about Ed Sheeran and Adele too. Don't get me wrong they obviously have talent but I just find their music boring personally.

I'm with you, I find ed Sheeran, Adele, swift, capaldi, all really boring.

It's all boring safe music nothing interesting or groundbreaking or exciting.

Youarenotseriouspeople · 16/07/2023 08:36

Firstly of course not everyone has to like the same thing, but to try and explain TS hype:

-you cant really judge TS on what you may have heard on the radio - her singles are probably her weakest songs - she has 10 albums and over 200 songs all written by her
-She's in her 30s and has built up from being a teenager - she's always stayed true to herself
-Very hard working, loyal to her fans, great role model to young women in terms of her values etc

  • Built up more fans during Covid due to releasing 2 of her best albums therefore this tour has been much anticipated
-Her set for this tour is 3 hours long spanning all her back catalogue
  • The tour in the US never made it to general sale and sold out in presale therefore much angst about the ticket sale here
-Because of that the way the way the tickets are being sold here is very different (and quite complicated) hence generating a lot of discussion.

Personally for me, I do rate TS, more because of who she is rather than her voice, but I have two teen DDs who adore her, so I am enjoying the common ground we have in liking her, liking her music and looking forward to the tour. i think it is important for me to make the effort to take an interest in their stuff even if its spending money/time on something you would not normally choose to do.

Piccolow · 16/07/2023 07:58

I'm not a Swiftie, always liked some of her songs but wouldn't say I was a fan as such. I went to one of her first US shows with my SIL and I have to say, even though I didn't know all of the songs, it was PHENOMENAL. I won't say any spoilers even though there are tonnes out there, but the atmosphere was brilliant, the staging, the lights, the performance she gave, the surprises just all of it was amazing. I can absolutely see how there's hype over this tour even for some who aren't mega fans. I now listen to all of her albums on rotate and those who are seeing the show are in for a treat. I've been to many many gigs around the globe and it's up there as the best.

What I find sad is that instead of people just saying they aren't a fan that no doubt because she's a woman they feel the need to explain why she's crap, why she doesn't work hard, why people who like her don't have taste in music; most of which turns out to be untrue anyway! People don't feel the need to tear men down in the same way, most just say nah not my cup of tea. Perhaps some so keen to do so might wish to reflect on their misogyny.

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 07:52

tabulahrasa · 16/07/2023 07:50

I mean, her parents moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville when she was a teenager to help get her foot in the door, even just being rich enough to do that probably helped just as much as buying the 3% stake in the company.

So yeah, her parents and their money definitely won’t have hurt her chances.

But after that it’s talent and work that does it, I mean Chilly tee the rapper isn’t selling out stadium tours despite his dad being one of the founders of Nike and building him a studio in his house

Yes... so both true. She obviously works hard and has talent. But she obviously also received help from extremely rich parents which most definitely helped her chances success.

tabulahrasa · 16/07/2023 07:50

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 07:38

I mean the PP wasn't wrong though that it does make your chances of success higher. Lots of celebrities have celebrity parents or rich parents. It doesn't mean they don't work hard. Just that they most likely definitely received a helping hand that many do not.

I mean, her parents moved from Pennsylvania to Nashville when she was a teenager to help get her foot in the door, even just being rich enough to do that probably helped just as much as buying the 3% stake in the company.

So yeah, her parents and their money definitely won’t have hurt her chances.

But after that it’s talent and work that does it, I mean Chilly tee the rapper isn’t selling out stadium tours despite his dad being one of the founders of Nike and building him a studio in his house

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 07:46

Both can be true

Of course they can I don't disagree. It is also true that those with rich or celebrity parents probably have a better chance than the rest of us. That's not the same as saying they don't work hard.

Jigslaw · 16/07/2023 07:43

He bought a tiny stake in it once she was already signed to it, he doesn't have a background in music. Sure she had a leg up and was able to move to have a better chance at a career, but the work she has put in since isn't mitigated by that. Both can be true.

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 07:40

It puts you in touch with the right people for a start.

I studied music at university funnily enough. I still wouldn't really know where to start in terms of a music career now. If my dad owned a record label though... might be a bit easier.

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 07:38

stayathomer · 16/07/2023 07:34

Her Dad BROUGHT a record label. She’s in the top 1% from birth. And plenty with rich parents DO make it (Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Lana Del Ray, Lady GaGa). It does make your chances of success 1000x higher.
Do you honestly think none of them worked to get where they are? Look at Ed Sheerans documentary- he went out gigging to the smallest venues multiple times A DAY! Taylor swift writes her own songs and fought to have her stuff as her own. It’s that horrible thing that society has now begrudging people any success unless they came from absolutely nothing and never ever got help in their whole existence. You can’t just write off a whole career because of some help!!

I mean the PP wasn't wrong though that it does make your chances of success higher. Lots of celebrities have celebrity parents or rich parents. It doesn't mean they don't work hard. Just that they most likely definitely received a helping hand that many do not.

ShallowHallow · 16/07/2023 07:35

tabulahrasa · 16/07/2023 06:41

I’m gen x and my DD likes her because I played her music and I know a friend of mine has liked her since her second album, and my sister is coming to see her with me and was planning to come to the covid cancelled show with me.

Obviously a very small sample size 🤣 but it’s definitely not just teenagers.

@ShallowHallow I’d get the money off them now, yes, if they swap later on for some reason they can sort it out amongst themselves.

Thank you for the advice! As my kids would say, you are an OG fan!

stayathomer · 16/07/2023 07:34

Her Dad BROUGHT a record label. She’s in the top 1% from birth. And plenty with rich parents DO make it (Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Lana Del Ray, Lady GaGa). It does make your chances of success 1000x higher.
Do you honestly think none of them worked to get where they are? Look at Ed Sheerans documentary- he went out gigging to the smallest venues multiple times A DAY! Taylor swift writes her own songs and fought to have her stuff as her own. It’s that horrible thing that society has now begrudging people any success unless they came from absolutely nothing and never ever got help in their whole existence. You can’t just write off a whole career because of some help!!

billy1966 · 16/07/2023 07:33

YSoSirius · 16/07/2023 06:36

Me too OP.

I must be missing something. I feel the same way about Ed Sheeran and Adele too. Don't get me wrong they obviously have talent but I just find their music boring personally.

Me too.

Presumed its my age.

RatatouilleAndFeta · 16/07/2023 07:31

ComputerInitiateJump · 15/07/2023 14:03

I remember how I felt about Madonna so if that's how fans feel about TS, I absolutely get it!

I didn't get to see Madonna live so I'm really trying to get TS tickets for my dd's but I'm only waitlisted so probably no chance this time.

This is probably a good comparison

RatatouilleAndFeta · 16/07/2023 07:28

Florenz · 15/07/2023 13:47

There really aren't that many great, iconic musicians around nowadays, so the likes of Beyonce and Taylor get treated like icons when they really shouldn't be.

Ah I do get the Beyonce hype though.

RatatouilleAndFeta · 16/07/2023 07:26

Screamingabdabz · 15/07/2023 13:43

Taylor Swift is a hard working young woman who has had consistent success whilst also being a great role model to young girls. Her song writing lyrics are, far from mediocre, they’re f’cking genius if you were to listen to them carefully. Her catchy pop songs are beloved and bring joy in the world whenever you hear them in shops or on the radio. Pink is also great but Taylor is next level goddess.

Are you a teenager?