To not understand the fuss over Taylor Swift.

She seems lovely and I absolutely applaud her success but I'm a bit with the op, what is the big deal. She is pretty and sings nice songs but that usually isn't enough for such mega stardom.

For example, I wouldn't say I am big Beyonce fan but can absolutely see why she has such a fan base. I saw her live with my dc and she was brilliant but TS just seems so mediocre talent wise. I wonder what the fans see that many others don't.

I don't feel embarrassed at all. The workers deserve to get those bonuses. The bare minimum I said is for her to pay her staff, don't get it twisted.

It's not new. I seem to recall people getting quite excited about the Beatles.

I am not disagreeing that they don't get paid. I am saying she is doing the bare minimum and doesn't need to be praised because she is paying her staff for doing their job, and a really stressful one I imagine. Of course the bigger the more expensive but surely they understand that and are willing to pay to remain relevant. Celebrities are not that special and frankly don't deserve all that special treatment either. Some of them make it so big in the industry that they look down on those who keep them relevant. There is probably one actor I truly respect and that's because regardless of his status, everything he says and does shows a true reflection of what a genuine person he is.

The tough girls at my comp used to say “don’t dish it out if you can’t take it”. Rather applies to the butterfly poster. You can’t criticise other’s preferences and lifestyles then get upset when you and your preferences are criticised back!

Giving someone a bonus that is 95% more than they would normally receive is the bare minimum?

She knows her staff deserve the recognition. (Although i don't think the punters are coming to see Pete the tour bus driver - kind of need Taylor up front to earn the money in the first place) That's why she gave out £55 MILLION in bonuses. That's on top of salary.

You should probably stop, you're embarrassing yourself now.

They’re both amazing, strong women who have called out hypocritical bullshit in their own way.

The same way I feel sad for people who don't..

I think overrated and fairly average. She is attractive, plays instruments well and writes her own songs that are good, but not amazing to the degree that everyone loves IMO (personally).

I think the attractiveness, hard work, good pop songs, playing own instruments and star quality all combine to give her the star power. But it doesn't necessarily mean the songs are musical masterpieces. Just a successful pop formula. And good luck to her!

I was never a fan until I saw her on the Reputation tour, we managed to get amazing seats by the stage for cheap (I know) and I have to say it was an incredible show. I don’t like all of her music but there’s many great songs in her catalogue and she is someone who along with the likes of Beyoncé, Cher, Tina Turner, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Whitney etc knows how to entertain and captivate an audience. I’m not going to the Eras tour but I do wish I was.

There are. JK Rowling and Taylor Swift. Spot the common denominator.

The people in the background get paid though! As for the extra she gives, that’s on top of the extra she already has to pay day to day. People scoff at rich celebrities but the truth is, the bigger ‘superstar’ you are, the more expensive it is to simply exist. Security for example is a huge expense for someone like TS, and it’s 24/7. Many celebrities who go bankrupt, it’s because they have to reinvest their money back into themselves in the hope it keeps the wheel spinning - if it doesn’t they can quickly lose everything. I can’t imagine the stress of that to be honest.

I can reassure you right now, I am not one bit feeling sensitive or bothered. Just simply defending my God who doesn't deserve the hate people are spitting out. A true believer in God would know that the things of this world here are not to be worshipped or idolised. She is in fact the complete opposite. Her concerts are far from someone who claims to be a Christian, especially most recently. Unfortunately there are many like Taylor today. I am surprised no one questions, why is she all of a sudden so famous right now ? I am very suspicious tbh..

Guys harsh truth but there are no good billionaires.

I really don't respect anyone's religious beliefs. Its not personal. I just avoid talking religion with anyone i care about so as to not upset them but i do just feel quite sad for people that believe in god.

I don't get all this faux confusion. I think it is great that people have this huge connecting interest. The fans are really lovely with each other and in this difficult world to navigate that is an amazing thing.
Whatever your feelings on TS I do feel misogyny has a huge part to play, you don't see much of this aimed at male stars.
TS songs are on the whole masterpieces she has strong morals and is a great role model to all sorts of people of any age.

I am going with my dd 16 to the opening night at Wembley. I didn't have much of an opinion on TS but my daughter wanted me to go with her. I have now listened to a lot of her music and can confirm I have been converted.
TS is different things to different people and as a 46 year old woman what I like about TS is slightly different to my dd.

It is ok not to like her music but don't keep banging on about it.

She is doing the bare minimum of someone in that wealth bracket. Truth is she and many celebrities, need those people and fans more than we need them and her giving out 'generous' bonuses shouldn't need to be praised. Yeah she might have talent but it's the people in the background you don't see who deserve the recognition more.

Im not offended or crying at all. I'm also not attacking you. You seem very sensitive for someone who brought up god in the first place but then doesn't want people talking about it.

How do you know Taylor wasn't sent by god to encourage peace and harmony on earth through the medium of pop music? She makes lots of people very happy, brings them together in a positive way and after all, god works in mysterious ways.

It would make me feel better but unfortunately I don't buy into it. I've seen videos of some of her concerts which look like demonic rituals. A true Christian would not mess with that stuff for any reason. & It's really sad because many celebrities are doing the same and claim to be Christians. There is more sinister stuff going on than they let off. I am not against her as an individual, I am sure she is lovely and does help but I personally wouldn't spend a dime to go see her. Also, not everything we see in the media is as it seems. Many famous people front as these good people but behind doors they are the worst. It's all publicity and keeping a good face for the fans.

I find it pretty interesting! Her music and persona never captured me and it sort of passed me by that she had become such a massive cultural phenomenon - the BBC pointed out her 2018 UK tour was far from a sell out for example. In the last couple of weeks I've got really analytical over her career and music to try and make sense of it.
She doesn't have the type of musical virtuosity of say Beyonce or the stylistic impact of someone like Rihanna whose music I think massively influenced overall trends. I'm not a particular fan of these artists either but I can't avoid seeing what it's about. When you ask people why Taylor Swift, they often reference her storytelling and lyrics so that's part of it. It seems more like TS is the blank canvas people project themselves onto, plus an effective marketing machine.

What is there to get? Surely it's not difficult to understand different people have different musical tastes ? Or are some people so arrogant they don't "get" why other people like someone they dont?

I don’t get it either. Cannot for the life of me see the frenzied appeal. It's almost like a cult following. I don’t rate her as a singer, there are a million better singers out there but she has something, Otherwise she wouldn’t be doing as well as she is.

I do find it amusing when I see women my own age losing their minds over her though, kids and teenagers I understand but 40 + women baffles me.

Taylor Swift is something of a phenomenon though, she is consistent, churns out popular (if not bland and samey) songs and literally has a lot of the world in her hand. She is doing something right and I admire her for that. The music world is fickle but yet she stays on top. That is no mean feat.

Personally I wouldn’t go and see her if she was playing in my garden, neither would my teenagers but for every one of me there are a thousand who would pay exorbitant prices to attend her concert. They can’t all be wrong I suppose. People like what they like and Taylor Swift obviously has what millions of people want and she will keep giving it to them.

I’m typing this from a train heading to Edinburgh. I’d say 1/3 of the people are going there for the concert. There are sequins everywhere, and lots of people making bracelets on the journey.

Lots of people have made my daughter feel great about her outfit. Not just, “you are pretty” message, but asking her how long it took, how she’s talented, what album inspired her… there’s a bubbly excitement in the air. I just watched a girl go to another group and say she had spare stickers - and everything is just being so LOVELY to each other.

I can live with that kind of hype!

to add further to this (though it may have been mentioned already) - yes Taylor is insane rich and yes she keeps a large chunk of her wealth, but she is also generous with every single individual working for her/on her tour. I believe she gave out around $50million of bonuses across all levels of staff at the end of the US leg, no-one too small to have their contribution to making the show happen overlooked. Truckers were given between $250,000-$450,000 depending on the amount of shows they covered to give you an idea. You could say she could give more, and she could (couldn't we all), but trickle down economics is in full force with this woman.

@Mokp how many years are you planning on giving it because she's been consistently making hit records since 2006