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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

606 replies

HomeatRoseCottage · 27/10/2023 19:33

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Ktime · 27/10/2023 20:33

It’s always either Adele or Taylor they fangirl.

I always imagine they’re about 16 and have never heard real music.

Stillwaitingfor · 27/10/2023 20:33

Meh. Have you tried listening to Talking Heads?

whatamess100 · 27/10/2023 20:34

She's amazing

CantFindTheBeat · 27/10/2023 20:34

Nowherenew · 27/10/2023 20:25

I honestly don’t get the fascination with her.

I think she’s awful!
She can’t sing, she can’t dance and her songs are rubbish.
There’s not one of her songs that I like.

I can only imagine it’s because her parents are so rich that they’ve basically paid for her success.
They knew all of the right people and how to get her famous.
A bit like Kris Jenner.

I was thinking of this the other day.
Someone like Rihanna can’t sing or dance well but a lot of the songs she brings out are really good (I assume she doesn’t write them but I don’t know).

Whereas TS is way bigger than Rihanna but she’s like any other of the thousands of women her age trying to be singers.

What is it about her you like so much?

Alright, Victor Meldrew 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Original poster
HomeatRoseCottage · 27/10/2023 20:34

Lorelaigilmore88 · 27/10/2023 20:21

She is great. And my daughter loves her.
I would say though that most of her songs are writing collaborations. She is marketed as writing all her songs but in reality she could contribute 2 words and be listed as song writer.

Speak Now she wrote entirely by herself. If you watch any of the documentaries about her you’ll see that she isn’t just contributing a word or two here and there - she writes virtually all the lyrics and a lot of the music. She generally has the lyrics down in near final form before anyone else gets involved.

OP posts:
Lesina · 27/10/2023 20:34

Ah you haven’t listened to Michelle Shocked then.

EmmaEmerald · 27/10/2023 20:35

Thmssngvwlsrnd · 27/10/2023 20:32

My 10 year old loves her OP. Sorry, but some of her lyrics make me cringe. The speaking part in Shake It Off for example.

This is like only using Wake Me Up....to assess George Michael.

FMLWTF · 27/10/2023 20:35

She just sounds like your standard bland white girl

How is this acceptable? Insert black and a different pejorative adjective in there and see how it goes down.

Huhuhuhu · 27/10/2023 20:35

HomeatRoseCottage · 27/10/2023 20:30

London Grammar:

And so, you built a life on trust
Though it starts, with love and lust
And when your house, begins to rust
Oh, it's just, metal and dust

We argue, we don't fight
We argue, we don't fight

And all foundation that we made
Built to last, they disintegrate
And when your house begins to rust
Oh, it's just, metal and dust

Taylor Swift:

I look through the windows of this love
Even though we boarded them up
Chandelier's still flickering here
'Cause I can't pretend it's ok when it's not
It's death by a thousand cuts

london grammar:

I am still holding onto your waistband
Turn away and kick out the red sand
Summer is gone and now I'm bleeding
I can't tell now you're thinking of leaving

taylor:

Back when we were still changin' for the better
Wanting was enough
For me, it was enough
To live for the hope of it all
Cancel plans just in case you'd call
And say, "Meet me behind the mall"
So much for summer love and saying "us"
'Cause you weren't mine to lose
You weren't mine to lose, no

london grammar

I’m giving you a nightcall to tell you how I feel
I’m gonna drive you through the night down the hills
I’m gonna tell you something you don’t want to hear
I’m gonna show you where it’s dumped but have no fear

Taylor

The burgundy on my T-shirt when you splashed your wine into me
And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet, it was
The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones
The lips I used to call home, so scarlet, it was maroon

london grammar

Talk to me and watch me crumble
You will see me come undone
Faithfully I will look over
There I'll find what you've become

(What you've become)

You help me lose my mind
And you believe something I can't define

taylor

We gather stones, never knowing what they'll mean
Some to throw, some to make a diamond ring
You know I didn't want to have to haunt you
But what a ghostly scene
You wear the same jewels that I gave you
As you bury me
I didn't have it in myself to go with grace
'Cause when I'd fight, you used to tell me I was brave
And if I'm dead to you, why are you at the wake?
Cursing my name, wishing I stayed
Look at how my tears ricochet

I think London Grammar are great but on a side by side comparison I don’t think you can reasonably claim lyrical genius for them and designate Taylor as mere trashy romance

Show quote history

It's not the words alone it's the syntax and how they sound without music.
Taylor has 'poetic' words but they just don't fit like a poem. London Grammar's songs do. It's very obvious to me in the lyrics you've posted. The rhythm is off. I could go on but if you're a massive Swiftie there's no point in writing an essay, besides this is all a matter of opinion and you did post on AIBU.

You also didn't bother to check who actually wrote those lyrics - Nightcall is a cover, done on request so not written by LG. Way to prove your point - not. LOL.

Karmaisagod · 27/10/2023 20:36

Bravo, @HomeatRoseCottage.

Cumbrianlife · 27/10/2023 20:36

Ha ha ha, seriously?

SquishingWell · 27/10/2023 20:36

I mean she’s fine.

there are many artists that write songs for other people and you wouldn’t realise the sheer amount of amazing songs they have written. Bruno Mars, for example.

girlyjim · 27/10/2023 20:38

I think she's brilliant and definitely one of the best songwriters of her generation. 1989 is my favourite album so I'm buzzing that I can finally listen to it again!

EmmaEmerald · 27/10/2023 20:38

Huhuhuhu · 27/10/2023 20:35

It's not the words alone it's the syntax and how they sound without music.
Taylor has 'poetic' words but they just don't fit like a poem. London Grammar's songs do. It's very obvious to me in the lyrics you've posted. The rhythm is off. I could go on but if you're a massive Swiftie there's no point in writing an essay, besides this is all a matter of opinion and you did post on AIBU.

You also didn't bother to check who actually wrote those lyrics - Nightcall is a cover, done on request so not written by LG. Way to prove your point - not. LOL.

Edited
Show quote history

But the whole point is how they fit with the music. She isn't selling poetry.

Missmysister · 27/10/2023 20:38

I think you're bang on because she's covered so many genres and is consistently reinventing whilst also keeping her authenticity. She's amazing.

Sugarfish · 27/10/2023 20:39

She’s alright, but there’s a lot better out there. They just don’t have a rich dad or million dollar record company who promoted them. But everyone is going to think the musician they’re into is a once in a lifetime talent. I love metal for example, and Nightwish have some of the most beautiful and poetic songs I’ve ever heard. And considering the writer’s first language isn’t English, it’s quite impressive.

taylorswift1989 · 27/10/2023 20:39

Someone like Rihanna can’t sing or dance well but a lot of the songs she brings out are really good (I assume she doesn’t write them but I don’t know).

Lol. One of Rihanna's biggest hits was written by Taylor Swift.

And I'm sorry, it's just bullshit to think that Taylor Swift could become one of the biggest artists in the world with no talent. The world just doesn't work that way.

taylorswift1989 · 27/10/2023 20:40

SquishingWell · 27/10/2023 20:36

I mean she’s fine.

there are many artists that write songs for other people and you wouldn’t realise the sheer amount of amazing songs they have written. Bruno Mars, for example.

Or like... Taylor Swift?

Nowherenew · 27/10/2023 20:40

EmmaEmerald · 27/10/2023 20:28

Karma thank you.

Nowherenew would you consider listening to this?

Yes I will absolutely give it a listen.

Original poster
HomeatRoseCottage · 27/10/2023 20:40

Nowherenew · 27/10/2023 20:25

I honestly don’t get the fascination with her.

I think she’s awful!
She can’t sing, she can’t dance and her songs are rubbish.
There’s not one of her songs that I like.

I can only imagine it’s because her parents are so rich that they’ve basically paid for her success.
They knew all of the right people and how to get her famous.
A bit like Kris Jenner.

I was thinking of this the other day.
Someone like Rihanna can’t sing or dance well but a lot of the songs she brings out are really good (I assume she doesn’t write them but I don’t know).

Whereas TS is way bigger than Rihanna but she’s like any other of the thousands of women her age trying to be singers.

What is it about her you like so much?

Rihanna absolutely bloody can sing and dance!!

I like her because her lyrics are pure poetry and the melodies hauntingly beautiful. I think she speaks to a certain kind of all ‘all in for love’ philosophy which moves me very deeply, but she also takes no shit. There is an earnestness and sincerity to her lyrics which I consider rare these days, and her use of metaphor is so sophisticated and bold. I never tire of her.

OP posts:
MrsHughesPinny · 27/10/2023 20:41

I’m so bored of hearing about this stupid woman.

SquishingWell · 27/10/2023 20:42

I like her some of her lyrics but a lot of the music is not to my taste.

MNEK is another one who has written a lot more than you would expect (and I like!)

Tiredandgrumpy31 · 27/10/2023 20:42

I admire her longevity and the fact she writes her own songs which many in the music industry don’t do but I do find most (but not all) of her songs a bit bland and generic and don’t really connect emotionally with them. She is certainly talented but not a once in a generation talent, there are many as equally and imo more talented artists out there. I think she is an artist who has a large fan base made up of a lot of fans who would literally buy anything she released and proclaim it as a great work of art regardless. True of many fan bases though.

MassageForLife · 27/10/2023 20:43

MrsHughesPinny · 27/10/2023 20:41

I’m so bored of hearing about this stupid woman.

I would love to hear why you think she is stupid.

RabbitsRock · 27/10/2023 20:43

She absolutely rocks! Gutted that I was going with DD14 in Cardiff but she only got 2 tickets & 1 is for her girlfriend 😢But I can hang around outside & watch on the big screens.