to think Taylor Swift is our century's answer to William Shakespeare

[beastlyslumber]

She's such an incredible storyteller and lyricist (and her songs are ridiculously catchy. It's all about the hooks.) Listening to her album 'folkore' this afternoon - she wrote two whole albums in lockdown, you know. And they're both great, but 'folklore' is insanely good. As she moves away from autobiographical writing into character stories, her storytelling is getting even more emotionally direct, and even more fun. She's a total genius. Even on the rare occasions when her hooks and melodies don't grip you, her lyrics always get right to the heart of things.

If there's any justice in the world, Ms Swift will still be celebrated in 500 years for her original, moving, funny, perceptive and subversive writing.

YANBU = Obviously! She is the Bard of Pop
YABU = WTF? She's way better than Shakespeare

I still can't listen to that song @DaisyNGO unless I'm feeling especially tough. I listen to the first few bars and skip it every time, because I'm just like, UGH the heartbreak is too much. It took months before I was able to listen to it all the way through. (I am a massive wuss, though.)

As a teacher of English, I’d say you are being utterly bloody ridiculous.

Then again, as a teacher of English who didn’t get full marks on this quiz, I’d also say you might have a point.

www.buzzfeed.com/abbyyelizabethh/is-this-a-taylor-swift-lyric-or-a-line-from-willia-2akie1flv1

But there's also no point in looking up and reading her lyrics out of context. They only work within the songs themselves as a whole.

I agree with that. The music and phrasing is part of what makes her writing so effective.

Ahh lockdown. Look what you made her do.

[quote WhatAShilohPitt]As a teacher of English, I’d say you are being utterly bloody ridiculous.

Then again, as a teacher of English who didn’t get full marks on this quiz, I’d also say you might have a point.

www.buzzfeed.com/abbyyelizabethh/is-this-a-taylor-swift-lyric-or-a-line-from-willia-2akie1flv1[/quote]
Hahaha! I got 10 out of 10. It's like that quiz was made for me.

Am also an English teacher. Well, lecturer. I've taught both Shakespeare and Taylor Swift to my students over the years. I might nick this quiz and teach them together!

I'm so winning my aibu vote! Awesome

TBF the vote is meaningless and a fix. I think as a straight AIBU or not 'vote' it may have been very different.

@Sparklingbrook

I'm so winning my aibu vote! Awesome

TBF the vote is meaningless and a fix. I think as a straight AIBU or not 'vote' it may have been very different.

I also think people might just be reading the thread title and voting.

[quote WhatAShilohPitt]As a teacher of English, I’d say you are being utterly bloody ridiculous.

Then again, as a teacher of English who didn’t get full marks on this quiz, I’d also say you might have a point.

www.buzzfeed.com/abbyyelizabethh/is-this-a-taylor-swift-lyric-or-a-line-from-willia-2akie1flv1[/quote]
Not sure whether I got full marks because of my masters in English literature, or because I’ve listened to every Taylor Swift album at least ten times through

@Sparklingbrook

I'm so winning my aibu vote! Awesome

TBF the vote is meaningless and a fix. I think as a straight AIBU or not 'vote' it may have been very different.

Do you have a Jack Dee face on?!

I got 8/10. Should do better.

I feel like there's a Taylor lyric similar to Menas, Antony and Cleopatra
"He who seeks
And will not take when once tis offered
Shall never find it more".

Now that's going to bug me.

The recent stuff isn't my favourite but Champagne Problems is more excellent storytelling.

Have I walked into an alternative universe?

slowly backs away

@HikingforScenery

Have I walked into an alternative universe?

slowly backs away

There are more things in heaven and earth, Hiking, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

I am a huge TS fan - think she's an amazing lyricist.

Folklore and Evermore are both amazing (especially Exile - I defy anyone to hear that song and not temporarily be sad about a horrible relationship in their past!).

@OliverBabish

Also those criticising on this thread have clearly CLEARLY never listened to ‘Exile’ featuring Bon Iver on a lonely Friday evening after a couple of glasses of wine

Exactly! A gorgeous song by any measure.

I'm surprised Maggie o'Farrell omitted her from Hamnet frankly.

@scarpa

I am a huge TS fan - think she's an amazing lyricist.

Folklore and Evermore are both amazing (especially Exile - I defy anyone to hear that song and not temporarily be sad about a horrible relationship in their past!).

I honestly thought it was another political song till I googled it. The side door didn't add up but a lot does

I think I've seen this film before
You're not my homeland anymore
So what am I defending now
So who am I offending now
There is no amount of crying
Etc

@Jericha

I'm surprised Maggie o'Farrell omitted her from Hamnet frankly.

😂😂😂 MN is on rare form tonight!

Amazing songwriter

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2

Ahh lockdown. Look what you made her do.

😂 How to get out of boring family discussions?

I would VERY much like to be excluded from this narrative!

Brilliant that you got full marks! You’ve proved your case

Err NO.

But I think you will find those 2 recent albums are rather good because of the quite brilliant Aaron Dessner's contribution (look him up).

Delighted to see other teachers getting full marks on the Swift / Bard quiz, but can I just vent to you about this?

@BillywigSting

I mean she's OK but she's no Hozier

1 hit wonder alert.

Lots of T-Swiz love on this thread.

@Classica

Pah. She is nothing compared to Carly Rae Jepsen who is surely, the superior, Kit Marlowe of our modern times.

'I Verily, Verily Like Thee...'

@beastlyslumber I love Taylor Swift, but comparing her with Shakespeare?

Not sure, as they're a bit different.

She is a very talented and gifted singer/songwriter/musician though. Beautiful young woman too.

I do prefer Taylor to Adele actually. Adele is good, but quite overrated IMO. I could listen to TS all day, but 6 or 7 songs by Adele is enough ta...Yet Adele is revered, and treated by the media as some kind of God.