Can someone explain the Taylor Swift appeal to me?

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:00am

Look, I thought "Shake It Off" was as catchy and fun as everyone else did, but Jesus Christ!  Beck, (God help us) Joan Baez, Shirley Manson, Kendrick Lamar and many others are all singing her praises, recording with her or joining her onstage.

Is she that wonderful a songwriter?  That good a singer?  Was 1989 really the pinnacle of pop the critics claimed it to be?  I have seen mediocrities come and go, but I have never seen a pop artist turn into a one-woman Live Aid the way this one has.  Any day now, I'm expecting a duet with Patti Smith.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:17am

"Beck, (God help us) Joan Baez, Shirley Manson, Kendrick Lamar and many others are all singing her praises, recording with her or joining her onstage."

 

My guess is that Swift is such a huge name, that those mentioned above wouldn't mind grabbing a little exposure for their own careers.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:17am

I'm curious to know the answer to this too. I don't get it.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:22am

I don't get it at all.

She seems like a good person (but who knows really) but I do not get the massive appeal of her music.

 

It's not bad, I also like Shake it Off, but to me most of her songs sound the same.

 

I can see her appeal to young women and young gay men with her themes of empowerment and being/loving yourself though.

 

Still, the list of notables who vocally adore her is stunning. And it's not because their kids are into her. They genuinely seem to think she's the real deal.

 

For the record (pun intended) I've actually listened to her cds trying to see what all the fuss in about. I was bored after the second song on each one.

 

But what do I know. I'm more into jazz and blues than pop.

 

 

Updated On: 8/26/15 at 09:22 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:23am

I think it's like when someone asks you to explain the appeal of a comic or similar.  It's a subjective answer. 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:25am

Fantastic songwriter. Terrible singer/performer. 

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:25am

I still think the answer is simple. They want 15 minutes.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:27am

Beck and Joan Baez need fifteen minutes??

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:29am

well, when's the last time you heard anything from Joan Baez?

 

The managers of the singers you quoted probably thought it was a good idea to pair up with Swift for whatever reasons 

Updated On: 8/26/15 at 09:29 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 9:54am

 

I like her. Miley Cyrus too. They try.

 

 

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:00am

I love Miley!  I don't care about Taylor.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:01am

PalJoey said: " 

 

I like her. Miley Cyrus too. They try.

 

Talk about damning with faint praise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:04am

I love Miley! I don't mind Taylor.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:37am

Can someone explain Taylor Swift to you.

 

Hmmm. She's a prolific songstress and immensely talented hence all the legends you've listed singing her praises. She's f?cking phenomenal, and your losing sleep over it.

 

She rules.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:38am

YEAH!!!!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:53am

Oh, Carlos.  OF COURSE you have to take this personally.  OF COURSE you do.  It's what your PRA does.

And all your reasons are generalities. 

[Luscious]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:55am

Her appeal completely escapes me.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:56am

#TeamMinaj. Is that still a thing?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 10:57am

Borstalboy said: "Oh, Carlos.  OF COURSE you have to take this personally.  OF COURSE you do.  It's what your PRA does.

 

And all your reasons are generalities. 

 

I'm not taking it personally, so stop projecting. You asked a question and I offered an answer. If you don't like the answer(s) you're getting then don't ask questions moron.

 

"

 

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 11:04am

Ooooh, your [sic] gonna get blocked!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 11:09am

It's true.  Being a hot tempered reactionary may cause severe constipation.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 11:28am

Shake It Off and Blank Space were both catchy, but I don't get the LOVE. Yes, she writes her own stuff. I always thought her country songs were pretty terrible.

 

Our song is the slamming screen door,
Sneakin' out late, tapping on your window
When we're on the phone and you talk real slow
'cause it's late and your mama don't know
Our song is the way you laugh
The first date: "Man, I didn't kiss her, when I should have"
And when I got home ... 'fore I said amen
Asking God if he could play it again 

 

I just don't really see the awesomeness. People seem to worship her, though. I just assume I am too old. 

Updated On: 8/26/15 at 11:28 AM

[LYLS3637]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 11:31am

Her mediocrity doesn't bother me. I've learned to accept mediocrity in America's Top 40. What drives me up the wall about her is this latest "feminist" charge she's being applauded for. 

 

She writes song after song about her VERY public relationships with famous men (which she has NO problem naming when she's trying to sell records), but the minute someone questions her about airing this dirty laundry so publicly, she pulls this "No one would say those things about Bruno Mars! He writes about his relationships." The difference, of course, being that Bruno Mars doesn't say his exes by name...

 

She makes her living writing songs about the men she's been involved with. She tells the world who she writes these songs about, then cries "Sexism!" and everyone applauds her for it and calls her a role model for young women. 

Updated On: 8/26/15 at 11:31 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 11:38am

Is she still considered a country singer? I've stopped paying attention.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/26/15 at 12:09pm

To be fair, no one really believes Bruno Mars when he sings about women.