Taylor Swift

[ChiefEverythingOfficer]

Please can somebody explain the hype?

I have friends (I am 50) who were seriously sad when they didn't get concert tickets (not in UK) and others who did, who were practically celebrating.

I don't get it. Don't want to ask for fear of looking like a twit.

For context, I have a 16yo DD and she just rolls her eyes and says wouldn't be caught dead at a TS concert. So no help there.

Talented song writer and singer
Good ethics
Sets a good example
Genuinely seems to care about her fans and appreciates what she has
Performs for 3 hours+

The word hysteria is used against women expressing emotion, stemming from the days when it was considered a medical condition, and women would end up in insane asylums.

I, as a grown woman, express my emotions on a regular basis, although HRT and anti- depressants keep me on the level. I fucking hate the word hysterical, and it's use against women, it's worse when it's by a woman.

Some of my peers didn't get tickets and were disappointed, partly because it's a thing they share with their daughters. I don't know anyone that cried, but I wouldn't judge them if they did. We're all allowed to feel feelings.

I managed to get tickets to see TS in August, because a friend applied for a code and gave it to me. However I got lucky 2 weeks after the sale. I didn't cry, or get emotional when I initially it's usually possible to get concert tickets eventually, if you're patient.

I know it's going to be an amazing show, and then the next day I'm going to see PJ Harvey. Y'know, because my music taste is broad.

I had a Google and Harvard University offer a class studying Swift, so if you wanted to study how and why she is where she is, that would be a road to go down.

I'm almost 50 and I love Taylor swift , she writes her own Music , is a great role model and although very wealthy gives a great deal of her money to great causes , what's not to love about her?

I don't mind her music and I get you are probably being a bit facetious 😉 - but seriously - paying for a Harvard course (assuming that anthropology is NOT your field of study) would be OTT.

Don’t see that it’s massively different to Dd studying a modern text Atonement by Ian McEwan for English A level.

if I started a thread aboht all the hype things I don’t get: trad wives, TikTok, Disney holidays, Stanley cups, Skims, Kylie cosmetics…

some people like her some don’t. But saying was her BF potentially bothered about her overshadowing his super bowl win, what a stupid and misogynistic thing to say. He looks nothing but happy when she comes to the field and says nice things in every press conference.
he won the biggest trophy in his sport for the third time, probably could not be happier right now.

I feel like a lot of the criticism is ridiculous when some celebrities/musicians behave so much worse (see Kanye etc). so she dated Matth Healy for two seconds who said disgusting things.yes she uses private jets, surprise all A listers and billionaires do. Haven’t seen anyonr tracking Bill Gates or Kim Kardashian in such detail yet.
where are the Matty Healy bashing threads and why is a woman responsible for a man’s
behaviour? How many women on mumsnet have dated idiots?

Eh? I didn't mention the ex.

People start threads about many different things. Who are you? The thread police?

Wrong thread…? Bizarre point if not.

Other people mentioned the ex. The point of the thread is to put down a successful young woman - seems quite pointless to me and misogynistic.

Not really bizarre, poster clearly referencing the post above hers, the Taylor swift course from Harvard is from their English department.

I do like Taylor Swift, I am not a huge fan and wouldn't go to a concert but I like some of her music and the fact she looks real, unlike the usual plumped up Kim K fake look.
What I don't understand is the criticism of her using a jet to fly to see the Superbowl, I agree not great for the environment. However no one seems to have said anything about Prince Harry using his to fly back to the UK to see his Dad for 45 mins. I get his Dad has cancer but he's not on his deathbed and I am not sure warranted a flight that far for that short a visit, and Harry is constantly banging on about saving the environment.

Why is it bizarre? What’s the difference between studying modern texts? Is it because one is an elderly white man and one a Young attractive woman so couldn’t possibly write anything worthy of study? The misogyny is strong on this thread.

I didn’t check but I assume it‘s a masters or postgrad degree.

US courses can be weird and wonderful, a colleague‘s son does his masters in Alabama, civil rights movement development only through music and musicians.

I know of a course covering the origins of fairytales and legends under the assumption most had gay characters.

Taylor Swift can easily done in connection with English Lit (lyrics), sociology (how celebrities influence people).

Apologies, missed that.

Oh give over. Don’t pretend there is no difference of literary form between a major novel and pop lyrics, even if you choose to read them as poetry. Swap in Zadie Smith or Chimamanda Ngozie Adechie if it makes you feel better and drop your lazy accusations of misogyny.

TS is a pretty big deal in our house at the moment, but it's a stage that will pass I imagine.

It's her talent + decency + weird self deprication in songs ..like a strange relatability to a billionaire..that make her hyper-popular I believe.

This current boyfriend comes accross as a boorish , toxic male 'banter' bully. Typical 'jock' and I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't last much longer. Doesn't seem the type to accept being Mr Taylor Swift long term.

No I won’t. Stand by my opinion.

Suit yourself @TheaBrandt. Maybe I should have mentioned Jessie Burton instead of the other female novelists

To answer the OP’s question, I do not understand people who need to ‘get’ popularity (not hype, as this implies there is no merit behind that popularity). TS is a talented artist who has diligently built a loyal fan base for nearly fifteen years, uses her wealth and platform for some genuinely morally good work and makes no claim to be ‘little miss perfect’ as so nastily put by a pp. If you don’t understand why that combination is highly popular then I don’t think any of us can help you.

@ThanksItHasPockets i think I love you.

I understand this. No need to be snippy. I am curious about the excessive fandom - about TS, about lots of things.

It's a free country. You didn't need to respond if you think my question lacked merit.

We all like her in our house, from male DP to the 7yo. She writes good songs, is astute and is a feminist.

It's interesting, isn't it, the amount of people who hold her responsible for the actions of a brief dud boyfriend. Interesting too how women in music are held responsible for the actions of men while men who are violent and abusive (John Lennon, Elvis for starters) are held up as some kind of hero.

I was direct, not snippy (and that’s another very gendered word, isn’t it?). Your word choice of ‘hype’ was loaded and implied a value judgment from your very first post.

If you do indeed understand ‘all this’ then that’s honestly it. It’s OK if it’s not your cup of tea.

Totally agree with your analysis anyway Tjanjs. Hmm guess I am snippy about dd1s A level syllabus - all male authors 🙄🙄

I didn't hold her responsible, I said it demonstrates what views she finds tolerable. Her dating Matty indicates that she finds his level of racism acceptable, which isn't an example of upstanding values in my opinion. We all make mistakes, but no I haven't knowingly shared a bed with a nazi.

Other things, not at all tied to her dating life, which I find problematic are:

• her excessive private jet use (not just one-offs for the Super Bowl) she uses it like normal folk use taxis
• the crickets on Palestine - she has used her power to have bills in congress in DAYS when she spoke up about AI porn (which she did only because it effected her) but about genocide? Nothing. And, no, popstars aren't obligated to be activist but she used it as marketing to dress up in and sell albums and promote herself in the Lover era so her going quiet on things that matter is disappointing.
• the incitement of fans to speculate about the private life of someone no longer associated with her who is intensely private barely a month after a press release saying how damaging that is when it happens to her.
• her in her queen capitalist era at the cost of taking advantage of fans, I believe there are now 11 versions of Midnights, and not a single one has all tracks on it.