Page 4 | Can Anyone Explain This Crazy Taylor Swift Mania?

CHEESEY13 · 2024-06-02T10:52:27+00:00

Or am I very much alone in being vaguely foggy about it all? She sings a few decent-ish tunes but the phenomena is a Goliath. And I can't really think why? Oh well, time to finish knitting this cosy cardi......

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 14:25

spottyhotdog · 02/06/2024 14:21

Amazing songs? Powerful lyrics? Nah, they all sound like they've been written by a teenager and only relate to teens. Literally none of her songs have impacted society in ways like other singers. None will last, none will be or are listened to and loved by people who aren't even a fan but 'just like the song'. Who exactly will listen to Taylor Swift, decades from now??
I couldn't stand her music back when she started during my teen years and I can't stand it now. I couldn't even name one song from Taylor.

I'm so glad I'm drawn towards to Madonna. She's got a decent legacy and she's worked hard to get to where she is now and she's from a regular family. She's an incredible role model for women. There are at least 5 Madonna songs that most people really enjoy and name even if they don't like her. She writes her own songs and is in full control of her career. She's phenomenal.
I look forward to the day when I can pass her name on.

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Wow. You must be a truly remarkable individual if you can’t name a single one of her songs, and yet can confidently assert that they ‘all’ sound like they were written by a teen. And not only do you have that skill, you also have the honour of speaking for anyone who is not a teen! How lucky we are to have such an accomplished individual on this thread, to make sure anyone reading knows that beyond 19 her music is not relatable.

LutonBeds · 02/06/2024 14:27

Was saying this to DH this morning. Her songs are average, nothing wrong but nothing amazing either. Style over substance and a triumph of marketing to me 🤷‍♀️.

Pedallleur · 02/06/2024 14:27

MorrisZapp · 02/06/2024 13:54

The average hotel room price in Edinburgh next weekend is £600. This is all part of 'eventification', a word I've made up which means that everybody needs to be part of stuff, to the point of spending what would until fairly recently have been a lifetime holiday amount to attend events.

Industries spring up to cash in, and then the hype itself generates more buzz and attention.

Each to their own but I remember my pop heroes (Madness) playing our local cinema for four pounds. Obviously there's been a bit of inflation since the 80s but this would utterly bewilder eg my grandparents. It bewilders me tbh but it's personal choice. Feel sorry for the millions of Swifties for whom seeing her live is a dream on a par with a round the world cruise.

Have you seen the price Madness charge now? And they won't be playing in a small venue. It's the entertainment business and works on what will they pay? Everyone wants a share of that spend. Big football match? Popular flight? Prices ramp up.

ShadesofPoachedSmoke · 02/06/2024 14:29

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 14:06

her songwriting is quite one-dimensional (vast majority about men and relationships) and also co-written

hmm. If only Taylor had gotten completely fed up of the accusations that she wasn’t pulling her weight when it came to song writing by the time she was 19 and decided her third album (multi-award winning Speak Now) would be entirely self written so people couldn’t make these accusations…

She does write about a wide array of topics, but like most artists who don’t receive criticism for it, she does focus mainly on the shared human experience of love and I don’t see why that is a bad thing.

Good point!

Trinity65 · 02/06/2024 14:29

cerisepanther73 · 02/06/2024 13:23

@CHEESEY13

Every Decade era has had its dance 💃 or music craze somewhere along the line,

Only difference with Taylor Swift she is not that musically talented at all,

However she is quite acctractive and savvy switched on to know how 🤔 to brand herself appeal to the masses,

I think she is quite astute woman knows her mind

and i was well impressed by her speaking out about Trump in regards of race relations issues too,

She is Gusty sassy female

Actually i think i must be Taylor Swift oldest fan ever at my age
Very 50s yrs L.o.l 🤣

😆

spottyhotdog · 02/06/2024 14:34

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 14:25

Wow. You must be a truly remarkable individual if you can’t name a single one of her songs, and yet can confidently assert that they ‘all’ sound like they were written by a teen. And not only do you have that skill, you also have the honour of speaking for anyone who is not a teen! How lucky we are to have such an accomplished individual on this thread, to make sure anyone reading knows that beyond 19 her music is not relatable.

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It's not rocket science. It's called hearing the songs, but not paying much attention. I'm her generation, I've been bombarded with her music for years. I know of her voice. Am I actively listening? No. I didn't see the appeal back when I was a teen and I still don't now.

Sleepydoor · 02/06/2024 14:34

@spottyhotdog

"I couldn't even name one song from Taylor."

And yet you are an expert on how terrible her music is...

VinnieVanDog · 02/06/2024 14:41

MorrisZapp · 02/06/2024 13:54

The average hotel room price in Edinburgh next weekend is £600. This is all part of 'eventification', a word I've made up which means that everybody needs to be part of stuff, to the point of spending what would until fairly recently have been a lifetime holiday amount to attend events.

Industries spring up to cash in, and then the hype itself generates more buzz and attention.

Each to their own but I remember my pop heroes (Madness) playing our local cinema for four pounds. Obviously there's been a bit of inflation since the 80s but this would utterly bewilder eg my grandparents. It bewilders me tbh but it's personal choice. Feel sorry for the millions of Swifties for whom seeing her live is a dream on a par with a round the world cruise.

I think the cost is part of the phenomenon though isn't it? A sign that it must be a rare, amazing 'experience' you're having because it's so expensive and difficult to get tickets.

I think in 60 years time social historians will talk about how Taylor Swift was world famous in her time and now completely forgotten.

changeison · 02/06/2024 14:41

@spottyhotdog I love Madonna too.
madonna and taylor are both amazing.

TheaBrandt · 02/06/2024 14:43

Why? Lots of her fans are passionate about her music and play it all the time - many are or will be parents so this music will form part of the background to their childhood so sadly for you I see the exact opposite happening!

SallyWD · 02/06/2024 14:47

I don't understand it myself. I do realise she's very talented and writes most of her own songs but to me her music isn't particularly interesting. It doesn't stand out.

spottyhotdog · 02/06/2024 14:55

Sleepydoor · 02/06/2024 14:34

@spottyhotdog

"I couldn't even name one song from Taylor."

And yet you are an expert on how terrible her music is...

I've already said I've grown up with her music around, pretty much. Her original "teen fans" from her Country music years are now early 30s. Her music is terrible. I remember thinking it then. Why is it so hard to understand that although I don't like her music, I am aware of it? 🙄

Her fanbase is another reason I could never get into her. It was crazy then and it's still crazy now. Hers hasn't seemed to have grown up much either and there's been times where there's been drama surrounding it, and she's been known to encourage it or not put a stop to it. She's not a positive role model at all. It was the same back in her early years, and I feel it's another reason why she hasn't really evolved to relate to "all ages". She's stuck with teens.

User135644 · 02/06/2024 14:59

YellowHairband · 02/06/2024 14:08

However her songwriting is quite one-dimensional (vast majority about men and relationships)

Aren't the vast majority of all songs about relationships of some kind or another? This feels like an odd standard to hold her to, when the criticism applies to the whole music industry.

Depends on the artist. Some obviously but the best songwriters are more varied. The Beatles or Dylan wrote songs about all kinds of things.

The Beatles started off like that but evolved lyrically over the years and then into their solo work.

Original poster

CHEESEY13 · 02/06/2024 15:02

It was The Guardian article that set off my train of thought.

OP posts:

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 15:02

spottyhotdog · 02/06/2024 14:55

I've already said I've grown up with her music around, pretty much. Her original "teen fans" from her Country music years are now early 30s. Her music is terrible. I remember thinking it then. Why is it so hard to understand that although I don't like her music, I am aware of it? 🙄

Her fanbase is another reason I could never get into her. It was crazy then and it's still crazy now. Hers hasn't seemed to have grown up much either and there's been times where there's been drama surrounding it, and she's been known to encourage it or not put a stop to it. She's not a positive role model at all. It was the same back in her early years, and I feel it's another reason why she hasn't really evolved to relate to "all ages". She's stuck with teens.

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being aware of someones music is pretty different to having enough familiarity to make statements about "all" her songs. My TS playlist has over 250 different tracks and is over 17 hours long, I really doubt someone who has detested her from the start has heard even 1/3 of them. You surely will have only heard radio hits and the ones that get played in shops? Which is fine, but it means you cannot speak on her music from a place of authority.

User135644 · 02/06/2024 15:03

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 14:06

her songwriting is quite one-dimensional (vast majority about men and relationships) and also co-written

hmm. If only Taylor had gotten completely fed up of the accusations that she wasn’t pulling her weight when it came to song writing by the time she was 19 and decided her third album (multi-award winning Speak Now) would be entirely self written so people couldn’t make these accusations…

She does write about a wide array of topics, but like most artists who don’t receive criticism for it, she does focus mainly on the shared human experience of love and I don’t see why that is a bad thing.

I wouldn't put Speak Now among her best work though.

VinnieVanDog · 02/06/2024 15:05

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 15:02

being aware of someones music is pretty different to having enough familiarity to make statements about "all" her songs. My TS playlist has over 250 different tracks and is over 17 hours long, I really doubt someone who has detested her from the start has heard even 1/3 of them. You surely will have only heard radio hits and the ones that get played in shops? Which is fine, but it means you cannot speak on her music from a place of authority.

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That's nonsense - there must be bands/musicians you don't like without having to hear their output to justify your opinion?

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 15:05

User135644 · 02/06/2024 15:03

I wouldn't put Speak Now among her best work though.

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matter of opinion I guess. I feel Speak Now is criminally overlooked by fans and the songwriting is brilliant on there (Mine, Dear John, Last Kiss, Long Live, Back To December, Enchanted, Haunted...), I personally feel it is much stronger than Midnights which was a bit of a miss for me, but everyone else seems to love it!

Fizbosshoes · 02/06/2024 15:06

MagentaRocks · 02/06/2024 12:29

I never understand threads like this. Different people like different things. I don’t like football, or tennis but I understand that others do.

There has always been lots of popular people in lots of different industries. There are viral toys, gadgets and all sorts.

Agreed!
There seems to be a "I don't get Taylor Swift" thread every couple of weeks! 🙄
My unpopular opinion is that Beyonce is slightly overrated.....and I wouldn't pay £££ to see ABBA holograms as opposed to actual people... but it's not beyond my comprehension that lots of other people like them!

See also golf and cricket- I think they look unbelievably dull and I'm too impatient to wait days to find out who won....but they seem pretty popular!
I do like tennis though! 😃

User135644 · 02/06/2024 15:09

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 15:05

matter of opinion I guess. I feel Speak Now is criminally overlooked by fans and the songwriting is brilliant on there (Mine, Dear John, Last Kiss, Long Live, Back To December, Enchanted, Haunted...), I personally feel it is much stronger than Midnights which was a bit of a miss for me, but everyone else seems to love it!

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Its a good album and she's a good songwriter. I'm not denying she is, but I wouldn't put her among the best. One of the best at the moment definitely.

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 15:09

VinnieVanDog · 02/06/2024 15:05

That's nonsense - there must be bands/musicians you don't like without having to hear their output to justify your opinion?

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Of course there is, and I'm not saying anyone should justify why they don't like any musician. But I don't make statements implying I'm knowledgeable about 'all' an artist's songs if I don't like them, that is ludicrous. I would simply say, they're not my cup of tea and move on my with life.

YellowHairband · 02/06/2024 15:11

That's nonsense - there must be bands/musicians you don't like without having to hear their output to justify your opinion?

I know that question wasn't aimed at me, but of course there are. I just wouldn't make a statement that "all" their lyrics were bad if I'd only heard a few songs on the radio and decided it wasn't for me. I would comment on, for example, Beyoncé's music because I know I've only heard a handful of songs, haven't paid much attention, and haven't listened to the albums. So I wouldn't have any opinion beyond "heard a bit, it didn't grab me, so I didn't listen to any more".

spottyhotdog · 02/06/2024 15:14

SummaLuvin · 02/06/2024 15:02

being aware of someones music is pretty different to having enough familiarity to make statements about "all" her songs. My TS playlist has over 250 different tracks and is over 17 hours long, I really doubt someone who has detested her from the start has heard even 1/3 of them. You surely will have only heard radio hits and the ones that get played in shops? Which is fine, but it means you cannot speak on her music from a place of authority.

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Uh, I never said I was. And if her singles are anything to go by, I wouldn't want to listen to the rest of her music. It's not great at all. Not that I would choose to listen to her music.

kitsuneghost · 02/06/2024 15:22

Why are people so confused by the concept that people enjoy a singer iwhich makes them popular and kids share music so popularity spreads.
It is really not a difficult concept
It has happened since mozart

Iwantamarshmallowman · 02/06/2024 15:23

nope, she's massivly overrated in my opinion.