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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to say Taylor Swift is a once in a generation songwriter?

606 replies

HomeatRoseCottage · 27/10/2023 19:33

I’ve had 1989 TV on all day and she’s just magic 🥰

OP posts:
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ooooahhh · 27/10/2023 22:38

It's a no from me.

EmmaEmerald · 27/10/2023 22:37

SpringboksSocks · 27/10/2023 22:35

My DD15 got up at 4.50am to listen as soon as it was out 😂 and we’ve had it on repeat all day. I agree with you OP.

I'm 47, got up with a hangover and forgot it was out till I looked at Twitter.

multi generational stuff 😂

edit - no I'm not proud of the hangover nor that I forgot that it came out today 😂

SpringboksSocks · 27/10/2023 22:35

My DD15 got up at 4.50am to listen as soon as it was out 😂 and we’ve had it on repeat all day. I agree with you OP.

HomeatRoseCottage · 27/10/2023 22:34

Teder · 27/10/2023 22:12

I’m a fan but I don’t care if anyone else is or is not. I like her music, not her as a person.

The problem is that people cannot say “I disagree. I am not a fan. I don’t like her music because of X, Y and Z.”

When people criticise those who like Taylor Swift, many people are super patronising, suggest we are all “very young” and start criticising her looks.

Exactly this - I don’t care if people aren’t fans but it’s frustrating to see the same old misogyny wheeled out - that her fans are children or emotionally immature, that she’s purely the product of good PR, that she doesn’t write her own songs because she isn’t the sole songwriting credit (somehow when men have co-writers it’s all good but when women have co-writers they obviously didn’t actually do anything themselves…), that she’s not pretty enough or that she’s only popular because she’s pretty…

To the posters who say ‘meh, not for me’ I think absolutely fair enough, it’s just an opinion and everyone is welcome to their own. But the posters being so revolting misogynistic deserve called out for it.

OP posts:
DeeCee77 · 27/10/2023 22:34

Teder · 27/10/2023 22:15

Why can you not accept that fully grown adults like her music and have done for many years? I don’t care if you like her music or not.
I do care if you come onto a thread patronising a bunch of fully grown women for liking certain music.

You're right I worded that badly. I think it's fair to say though that a significant number do come along with their kids (and like it too).

EmmaEmerald · 27/10/2023 22:33

therealcookiemonster · 27/10/2023 22:27

if all you listen to is pop, then sure... but there is no complexity, the songs are idiotic and she has very mediocre singing abilities. there are many many other singers/song writers out there including in her generation who are far more accomplished. she is just great at marketing herself and yes she is absolutely stunning. but it boils down to personal preference, i can't stand pop, it makes my skin crawl.

Edited

Just interested, which songs do you consider idiotic?

I'm guessing you don't like country or folk either? Or ballads?

i mean fair dos, but "Idiotic" is quite an accusation for songs like hers. I guess I think of "idiotic" as Mr Blobby or something.

therealcookiemonster · 27/10/2023 22:32

waiting to see if I now get thrown out of mumsnet....

therealcookiemonster · 27/10/2023 22:31

since I have probably already offended a lot of people by my last post, I also want to say - I can't stand Beyonce. glamorous, pretty, OKish dancer but her songs are crap and not an amazing singer.

chineapplepunks · 27/10/2023 22:31

YANBU! She is an incredible artist and songwriter. I think people just purely judge her on the top hits like Shake It Off which did get over-played. What are some of your favourite lyrics?!

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 27/10/2023 22:29

Ah Alanis, she's fabulous.

Jagged Little Pill is still an outstanding album and You Oughta Know is truly punch in the gut lyrics.

MelodiousThunk · 27/10/2023 22:28

Chypre · 27/10/2023 21:46

@EmmaEmerald that is not the hill I am willing to die on as I am generally into My Dying Bride, Type-O-Negative and Katatonia type of music cough bats and ravens fly out Me personally (and many - MANY more) people would appreciate Taylor if she would be a tad more daring? So far it's been played a bit too safe, obviously, Taylor does not owe us shit but surely a woman who has the guts to screw recording labels twice over is capable of SO much more than "lavender haze"

Precisely, and this is exactly what Miley Cyrus did, garnering a huge new audience in the process. But TS hasn’t got anywhere near the chops of Miley and she’ll carry on doing the same four chord vanilla pop because she knows it pays the bills.

She’s got great lyrics, but the songs themselves are just not very interesting because she doesn’t bother to step outside of bog standard chord progressions and simplistic melodies and rhythms. And tbh why should she as it’s obviously working for her, as it does for Ed Sheeran and Harry Styles (who doesn’t even bother changing the chords for the chorus, the lazy bastard).

therealcookiemonster · 27/10/2023 22:27

if all you listen to is pop, then sure... but there is no complexity, the songs are idiotic and she has very mediocre singing abilities. there are many many other singers/song writers out there including in her generation who are far more accomplished. she is just great at marketing herself and yes she is absolutely stunning. but it boils down to personal preference, i can't stand pop, it makes my skin crawl.

DeeCee77 · 27/10/2023 22:27

Tabbygabby · 27/10/2023 22:09

I dunno, her first album was released 17 years ago so almost halfway to 40 years and plenty of people still enjoy listening to her debut and know the songs. Sure not as huge of numbers as her current stuff but I don't see why people wouldn't know in 40 years. It might not be considered the greatest or even be considered highly, but I'd be really really surprised if she isn't still known and her music enjoyed, as will plenty of other artists people listen to today.

That's true, but she's still current so more will know her back catalogue.

What about when she no longer is current (or even flavour of the month)?

Alanis Morissette who I just mentioned, I think that's a decent comparison. She has been out of the limelight (relatively speaking) for quite a while, but her music is still very much relevant.

"Ironic"...sorry Taylor you have nothing quite like that.

Tiredandgrumpy31 · 27/10/2023 22:23

Tabbygabby · 27/10/2023 22:09

I dunno, her first album was released 17 years ago so almost halfway to 40 years and plenty of people still enjoy listening to her debut and know the songs. Sure not as huge of numbers as her current stuff but I don't see why people wouldn't know in 40 years. It might not be considered the greatest or even be considered highly, but I'd be really really surprised if she isn't still known and her music enjoyed, as will plenty of other artists people listen to today.

Fans will always remember but I think the question is whether the wider public will remember enough of her music bar 1 or 2 songs in 40 years. I don’t think enough to be considered a once in a generation talent.

DeeCee77 · 27/10/2023 22:21

AngeloMysterioso · 27/10/2023 22:12

hahahahahaha. That's hilarious.

EmmaEmerald · 27/10/2023 22:18

"When people criticise those who like Taylor Swift, many people are super patronising, suggest we are all “very young” and start criticising her looks."

47 and 53, probably more people our age, without kids in tow, than teens or kids are the cinema showing we attended.

generationally, my friend's 8 year old does the best Adam Ant dance ever! This stuff carries on through generations.

NeverTalksToStrangers2 · 27/10/2023 22:15

Teder · 27/10/2023 22:15

Why can you not accept that fully grown adults like her music and have done for many years? I don’t care if you like her music or not.
I do care if you come onto a thread patronising a bunch of fully grown women for liking certain music.

1000000% this.

EmmaEmerald · 27/10/2023 22:15

Screamingabdabz · 27/10/2023 22:08

Absolutely no cognisance that ‘look what you made me do’ might be ironic 🙄 she’s a very clever lyricist.

Who has she ‘stolen’ from?

Lord knows what they'd make of No Body No Crime or Getaway Car

or even Mike Oldfield "Crime of Passion"

i remember a poster here saying the 1975 have insipid lyrics - thought "It's Not Living" was a love song (about a person, not about heroin).

Still here. Avoiding tidying up.

Teder · 27/10/2023 22:15

DeeCee77 · 27/10/2023 22:13

She does get the mums via them supervising their kids at the shows. But yes her demographic is very specific. Teen angst is her subject matter.

Alanis Morisette, while she also collaborated with other songwriters her material caters to a much bigger demographic, hence her songs (from one stacked album) are still part of pop culture.

Why can you not accept that fully grown adults like her music and have done for many years? I don’t care if you like her music or not.
I do care if you come onto a thread patronising a bunch of fully grown women for liking certain music.

NeverTalksToStrangers2 · 27/10/2023 22:14

I'm 44. Love her.

DeeCee77 · 27/10/2023 22:13

PictureOfFlorianTray · 27/10/2023 21:50

She's not widely known outside her very young demographic.

She does get the mums via them supervising their kids at the shows. But yes her demographic is very specific. Teen angst is her subject matter.

Alanis Morisette, while she also collaborated with other songwriters her material caters to a much bigger demographic, hence her songs (from one stacked album) are still part of pop culture.

Teder · 27/10/2023 22:12

PlusOneTwoThree · 27/10/2023 21:58

I really hate that Taylor Swift fans can’t accept that others don’t get it or don’t love her more than their firstborn

So many people in here have said they quite like her but think she’s overrated or just don’t consider her the most amazing thing they’ve ever seen, but all the Swifties can not accept this and start shouting lyrics at them or songs at them and demanding they change their mind

I can’t think of any other fan base who just won’t accept that not every single of the 7 billion people on the earth will worship them

It’s so weird and cult like

I’m a fan but I don’t care if anyone else is or is not. I like her music, not her as a person.

The problem is that people cannot say “I disagree. I am not a fan. I don’t like her music because of X, Y and Z.”

When people criticise those who like Taylor Swift, many people are super patronising, suggest we are all “very young” and start criticising her looks.

notforonesecond · 27/10/2023 22:11

I’m a huge Swiftie (late 30s for all the nutters on here who think 12 year olds are who her last 6 albums have been made for) and she has written some beautiful songs.

But, I don’t think they hit the same if you’re not a fan and you don’t know the backstory or care about the links between the songs etc…

It feels like she writes for us now, not to convince other people she’s good, and I love that.

Once in a generation? I don’t know if I’d go that far.

I’m jealous gen z get to claim Noah Kahan though. He’s next level.

tellmewhenthespaceshiplandscoz · 27/10/2023 22:10

U2HasTheEdge · 27/10/2023 20:53

I think Taylor is amazing. So very talented. Ed Sheeran? He does not compare, IMO. I don't rate him as a song writer at all.

I don't think I've ever heard such a weak voice as his. Just awful

Bloody love Taylor and think she's a great role model for our girls and young women