To not understand the fuss over Taylor Swift.

[Partyinthedark]

Now. I don’t dislike or have any hate for the woman at all. She is very pretty, talented and it sounds like she is a good person. Not my taste in music, but some of her songs sound good.

but omg. People seem to be bloody obsessed with the lady. £300 a ticket to the Edinburgh show. People queuing from 5am to get near the front.

as a guide leader in 2010 or thereabouts I remember some 12 year old girls declaring their love for her. But it seems like lots of adults seem to love her too!

She's been going since 2006. Not exactly a flash in the pan is she? There's also more to being a pop star than having the best voice in the whole world.

I'm not even a fan, i can only name "shake it off" but come on.

I do think some people hate her because she's a young female who has made a success of herself and she gives a voice to other young females and some people don't like that.

In my generation it was Pink who did that - she's widely hated by the patriarchy too for writing songs about stuff that matters but doing it in a pop style. It was ever thus.

You're the one who brought god into it saying people should put their energy into believing in that rather than paying to go to pop concerts.

If you're offended that people think that's ridiculous then maybe next time don't bring it up?

Taylor Swift could create the world in six days but God couldn't write the bridge to Death By A Thousand Cuts

I'd hate to not be able to get concert tickets for someone I adored, so I'm glad I'm not into her for that reason, but she makes people happy and that counts for something.

+As a society, how much do we help others compared to making the rich richer ? It's a hard pill to swallow and I understand why anyone would feel defensive over it.*

Given most things we buy make other people richer, I assume you spin your own thread for clothes, grow your own food and have a barely furnished house? It’s the opposite of pious to judge what other people chose to spend their hard earned money on - I’m sure you have paid for things that make rich people richer.

Taylor Swift is good at what she does, whether you like her music or not. It’s a good thing to see a young woman play the entertainment industry at their own game and win. I’m not going to any of the concerts, it’s not my thing but my life is much richer for the live music I’ve been to see including some very big, hyped artists. Music is a wonderful thing, live music more so.

8 year old DD loves her. I don't mind her, her songs are catchy. I'm into rock and metal so I don't find it baffling when I'm not into popular music. I'm usually the one getting asked why I like the music I do and having to justify myself! 🤣 I'd take DD when she's older to watch a concert. Youngsters have always loved pop singers, I don't know why it's such a surprise? No one should have to justify their music taste- it's purely subjective.

She’s very easy to avoid if she’s not your thing

I’ve heard her name but know nothing else about her. I couldn’t name a single one of her songs.

But obviously people like her and want see her in concert so they pay their money, they take their choice.

@butterflywingss

“Of course God knows I exist and you exist and everyone on this earth. He put us here and he loves you and me and everyone “

This is your opinion, your belief. It’s not fact. It is in fact disputing someone else’s opinion. They have the right to defend theirs too. See where this is going?

Like I said, have your belief, enjoy your belief - don’t expect others to share it if they choose not to.

Agree- I remember one of the things I liked about was that she had the courage to explore complex emotion and harsh truths about herself which of course led to her being called “shrill”. This was when she released 1989 and the press were already on her back about her love life etc.

As opposed to god who just…..doesn’t exist 🤷🏻‍♀️🫢

Goodness, there are some joyless fun sponges on this thread.

I don't understand why anyone would fork out a 4 figure sum for a handbag, but it isn't my concern or my money, but people who enjoy handbags are entitled to do so. Each to their own.

Haha, channelling big Kevvy B there, I likes it

People who complain about the price of her tickets must not go to many other events. Most events cover a range of price points - theatre tickets on the West End can range from £20 to £250+ for the same show. Taylors tickets or any other high level performer or event are the same, there were £50 seats, equally there were hospitality seats £1000+ and people who can afford all price brackets, Taylor didn't necessarily set the price of tickets either that was don't buy the venue. Getting a ticket on the other hand.....

No one in the industry seems to have a bad word to say about her personally(apart from Kimye). She is one of the only artists that covers her dancers medical insurance and health care, she gives her cast and crew life changing amount of money. She has a music school in Nashville. She has a ridiculous amount of money but appears far more generous than others at her level with the exception of JKR.

Yes, she jet sets around the world in her private jet but she certainly isn't the worst for that and she buys twice the amount she needs to of green credits. Whether those credits are managed properly and make a difference is a different matter but to be taken up with those companies.

I think a large amount of this hype for this particular tour is actually an after effect of the Pandemic. When we went to see the film version at the cinema and DD was up the front with all the other teens dancing it really hit how a couple of years before they couldn't do that. People have been waiting for this tour since it was announced in November 2022 and we were only just fully coming out of COVID restrictions. For all those young people and adults to come together in a large venue and with a global connection at a time when we are coming out of having limited connection is a big thing.

That's my opinion and it's what I believe. I still stand by that, God 100000% deserves more attention & respect than these 2 bit celebrities. If you disagree, that's absolutely fine and I am not condemning anyone over it. However, that doesn't mean you can start attacking me and not expect a response & then cry later in the comments that I am offending you. Simply move on. I am happy to be in my 'delusional' bubble because I know my truth & no one can shake that but it's absolutely your choice to think otherwise. People love being so one sided when it doesn't suit them. The same way you expect me to respect your decision to not believe, please respect mine that is the opposite. I am honestly not asking anything hard. 🤷🏽

It was the same with The Beatles. This sort of thing happens every so often. Harmless. I don’t really get it if I’m honest but other people are tribally attached to performers. It’s just like a club that admits anyone snd she’s sparkly!

Yabu. People spend the money how they want. I once spent £200 to see the opening ceremony of the paraOlympics in London...that crunch when everyone bit into the apple together....I never forgotten and it's an experience I remember well.

Would you pay £300 to see queen if all the members were alive or £300 to see elvis.... Put in any star you like dead or alive....

Not a swiftie but my god she’s got some catchy songs and comes across as having a good head on her shoulders. Also the fortnight video is so beautiful in parts- as an author it was quite inspiring!!

@butterflywingss if makes you feel any better Taylor is very much a Christian and she donates huge amounts of money to the food banks of every city she plays in, so even if her fans don't donate to those causes themselves she does.

She also brings attention to social justice issues that many of people her younger fans age may not get behind normally.

Her career has spanned a long time now, she's the first artist that bothered DD and I are a big fan of. Love Story came out when I was 14 and I loved it, DD is 10 and loves her music. We didn't get tickets this time around but if/when she tours again we'll be there!

@Mokp how many years are you planning on giving it because she's been consistently making hit records since 2006

to add further to this (though it may have been mentioned already) - yes Taylor is insane rich and yes she keeps a large chunk of her wealth, but she is also generous with every single individual working for her/on her tour. I believe she gave out around $50million of bonuses across all levels of staff at the end of the US leg, no-one too small to have their contribution to making the show happen overlooked. Truckers were given between $250,000-$450,000 depending on the amount of shows they covered to give you an idea. You could say she could give more, and she could (couldn't we all), but trickle down economics is in full force with this woman.

I’m typing this from a train heading to Edinburgh. I’d say 1/3 of the people are going there for the concert. There are sequins everywhere, and lots of people making bracelets on the journey.

Lots of people have made my daughter feel great about her outfit. Not just, “you are pretty” message, but asking her how long it took, how she’s talented, what album inspired her… there’s a bubbly excitement in the air. I just watched a girl go to another group and say she had spare stickers - and everything is just being so LOVELY to each other.

I can live with that kind of hype!

I don’t get it either. Cannot for the life of me see the frenzied appeal. It's almost like a cult following. I don’t rate her as a singer, there are a million better singers out there but she has something, Otherwise she wouldn’t be doing as well as she is.

I do find it amusing when I see women my own age losing their minds over her though, kids and teenagers I understand but 40 + women baffles me.

Taylor Swift is something of a phenomenon though, she is consistent, churns out popular (if not bland and samey) songs and literally has a lot of the world in her hand. She is doing something right and I admire her for that. The music world is fickle but yet she stays on top. That is no mean feat.

Personally I wouldn’t go and see her if she was playing in my garden, neither would my teenagers but for every one of me there are a thousand who would pay exorbitant prices to attend her concert. They can’t all be wrong I suppose. People like what they like and Taylor Swift obviously has what millions of people want and she will keep giving it to them.

What is there to get? Surely it's not difficult to understand different people have different musical tastes ? Or are some people so arrogant they don't "get" why other people like someone they dont?

I find it pretty interesting! Her music and persona never captured me and it sort of passed me by that she had become such a massive cultural phenomenon - the BBC pointed out her 2018 UK tour was far from a sell out for example. In the last couple of weeks I've got really analytical over her career and music to try and make sense of it.
She doesn't have the type of musical virtuosity of say Beyonce or the stylistic impact of someone like Rihanna whose music I think massively influenced overall trends. I'm not a particular fan of these artists either but I can't avoid seeing what it's about. When you ask people why Taylor Swift, they often reference her storytelling and lyrics so that's part of it. It seems more like TS is the blank canvas people project themselves onto, plus an effective marketing machine.