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

[HomeatRoseCottage]

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

She's arguably one of our greatest living poets. Her language and use of words is incredibly powerful. No one else is writing like she is.

Give Hollie McNish or Kate Tempest a try.

There are plenty of amazing female poets out there.

I'm a recently converted swiftie.
I always liked her, But now I love her.

Her songwriting is outstanding and when people I know tell me otherwise, I ask them to listen to 'All too well' but imagine it's Springsteen who'd written and is singing it. It usually gets my point across but there is the occasional one who doesn't think Bruce is a good songwriter either.

So YANBU! 😁

Taylor doesn't have the same level of popularity here as she does in the US for 3 reasons;

1. she started off in country
2. she's American and blonde so people assume cheesy (yes she has some cheesy singles but most are genius behind the cheese)
3. she was cancelled in 2016 (for something she was innocent of) and people still think it's cool to hate her

Those of you who don't see her as the biggest artist in the world right now are wrong. She absolutely is.

And they are all men.

I see no poetry in shake it off.

On the other hand, I like thoughts and meaning behind lyrics of less commercially successful artist Sam Fender quire impressive.

Yeah I was stunned by how popular she is now, in 2018 when she played Ireland they had to give away free tickets to fill the stadium.

But over lockdown 'bedroom pop' became very popular with Olivia Rodrigo etc, there's loads of Taylors babies out there who have a similar vibe, Gracie Abrams etc, I think that genre was very influenced by Taylor and so a lot of the newbies brought people back to Taylor.

I personally cannot stand the beatles. I appreciate the rest of them but don't like their music particularly, Elton is probably my fave out of that bunch but he doesn't write his own songs does he?

I don't dislike TS but don't feel strongly about her either way. She's talented and seems a decent person.
But she's the same generation as Amy Winehouse, no comparison.

Being American, means better access to huge record deals and best of marketing and PR machines.

Tread very carefully all you who don't think Taylor Swift is a genius. Her fans have a huge chip on their collective shoulders. This thread has gone the way of all the others - evangelical Swifties quoting lyrics at you and accusing you of snobbery, ignorance and misogyny. You MUST listen to x, y or z or you're not allowed to have an opinion. Every. Single. Thread.

Elton is probably my fave out of that bunch but he doesn't write his own songs does he?

Yes, generally with a collaborator, but he writes them. He also wrote songs for The Lion King.

What I can be bothered to type out, and fro memory

• The Last Great American Dynasty.
• Innocent
• You need to calm down
• Clean
• You're On Your Own, Kid.
• Long Live.
• No Body No Crime
• Forever Winter.
• Welcome To New York.
• The Lucky One
• Miss Americana - still sums up politics now
• Epiphany
• Anti Hero

It seems fitting to put the video for "The Man" here as there's so much misogyny

Repeatimg
Shake it off = Wake me up before you gogo

love Sam Fender.

Generally, no. She has written some cheesy pop songs for teenage girls - she used to be one, so that makes sense. But even her early work displays a depth and maturity that her peers' didn't, and her songwriting, storytelling and lyricism have grown as she has. She's now a woman in her mid-30's, and her fanbase today and her recent work is a reflection of that. There's not one "cheesy pop song" on any of her last 3 albums. I don't know a single teen who listens to her music but plenty of my friends who are also in our mid-30's are fans - I'm going to one of the Wembley shows next year with some friends and I think the average age in our group is about 39.

Honestly... Shake It Off is to her entire discography as Yellow Submarine is to The Beatles, or Bicycle to Queen. Freddie Mercury wrote Bicycle but I don't see anyone bringing that up and saying he only wrote cheesy pop songs.

Just because it's one of her more famous songs doesn't mean it's her best. We have said her single choices are at times dubious (although I get why this was a single).

We have listed dozens of her more poetic songs on here. Why not listen to some?

Anchorage is the best song ever written.

He composes the music but doesn't write most of the lyrics I believe.

The music is the most important part for me though 😊

Is this right? I know plenty of women 40+ who are fans but my teenage DCs are more into her.

I really don't get the hype she's just a pop singer (I'm 34).

I absolutely agree, even her early stuff but the later stuff, for me particularly Midnights and Folklore - honestly even if people don’t like her I don’t think anyone can deny the complexity of her lyrics, the story telling, not to mention the Easter eggs littered in amongst there. I for one am overbloodyjoyed that I got tickets to the tour!

She is exceptionally talented and she is an incredibly astute business woman.

Does it? I would argue that many British acts have as much chance at global popularity as Americans. Look at Adele, Ed or Harry.

Regardless of this, even if you're correct, does that mean her talent should be disregarded? Or that she doesn't deserve success?

True and I think unfortunately many artists end up releasing what record companies deem the most commercial rather than their best work. The thread though is about TS being a once in a generational songwriter and although a lot of her less well known songs are lyrically impressive, I think there are others who can equal her lyrically and musically so therefore what is it that means she should be seen as a once in a generational songwriting talent? Tbh I don’t think anyone should be described as that as it’s all subjective, what touches one person, leaves another cold.

Youneedkittens

"Midnights become my afternoons” is one of the best ways to sum up the directionless time-wasting of depression I’ve heard. <eyes the time>"

Yes, I'm cleaning the flat now.

"I should not be left to my own devices,
They come with prices and vices,
I end up in crisis".

Going for a smoke before I put the rubbish out.

When she opens the door to herself, all the depressives and anxious among us were just like "oh my god". Fucking genius.

Oh, I'm sure we've all disguised covert narcissism as altruism like some kind of congressman....

I know some of the purists don't like the Bleachers collab version but I love it and it's nice to hear the "Taylor, you'll be fine" chorus on the concert videos.

The only women I know who are going to her concerts are the ones bringing teenagers.

I don't know any group of women who listen to her or tried to get tickets even though they would have all went to Rihanna, Beyonce etc.