Taylor Swift

[Midpack]

I am objective, I base my opinion of musicians on their music, not their popularity or total sales.

WADR, objectively false. I'm also a lifelong "music lover."

You're suggesting I Want To Hold Your Hand, She Loves You, From Me To You, Can't Buy Me Love, Love Me Do, I Saw Her Standing There, Please Please Me, All My Loving and all the songs that originally made them famous are/were musically more sophisticated than Taylor Swift's catalog? I have played many of the Beatles songs, and seen the sheet music/chord structures, they are laughably simple by today's standards. Fortunately the Beatles DID become way more sophisticated musically in the years that followed, especially with Sgt Pepper and after.

And people seem to have forgotten the Beatles put a surprising number of covers on their first few albums.

Again I love the Beatles, not Taylor Swift...but I respect what she's accomplished with her audience (of contemporaries).

 

[Music Lover]

I'm not limiting my appreciation of The Beatles to their early records.

That being said, although their early stuff was simple it was also groundbreaking at the time because no one else was doing what they were doing.

 

[freedomatlast]

Even with today's higher than normal inflation levels, apparently there's plenty of money available in the economy for many to be able to spend thousands on TS tickets for a few hours of entertainment, given the different Covid stimulus programs, forgiven student loans and other similar programs in recent years.

I can appreciate people's talents and achievements but have never understood the "idol worship" mentality often received by musicians and sports stars but rarely by scientists or medical researchers.

It is encouraging to see that a large slice of the population enjoys music that's not laced with profanity for a change.

 

[Ronstar]

I don't think I've ever heard a Taylor Swift song. At least not a whole song. I did hear that she gave big bonuses to her tour crew. Sounds like she's a good person.

 

[easysurfer]

I am objective, I base my opinion of musicians on their music, not their popularity or total sales.

Music is a form of art which is so very subjective.

One person's music is another person's noise.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Even with today's higher than normal inflation levels, apparently there's plenty of money available in the economy for many to be able to spend thousands on TS tickets for a few hours of entertainment, given the different Covid stimulus programs, forgiven student loans and other similar programs in recent years.

The broadbased student loan forgiveness program was never implemented because it was invalidated by the Supreme Court last June. Subsequent attempts by the Biden administration has resulted in the announcement that approximately 200,000 people will have their loans forgiven. These programs have not yet started.

Student loan payments were suspended during Covid. They resumed in October.

Covid stimulus payments ended in 2021 with the American Rescue Act.

I think the idea that people are blowing their government checks on Taylor Swift concerts is inaccurate.

I can appreciate people's talents and achievements but have never understood the "idol worship" mentality often received by musicians and sports stars but rarely by scientists or medical researchers.

Musician's performances strike an emotional chord in people. That can affect them on a daily basis. Many lyrics are relevant to people's lives.

It is encouraging to see that a large slice of the population enjoys music that's not laced with profanity for a change.

Yes, indeed.

 

[Qs Laptop]

I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Stones, etc. Does Taylor Swift even have one song that compares to the impressive body of work from those bands?

Sure. Not only that, but her voice is hands down better than any singer from any of those bands.

 

[Music Lover]

Sure. Not only that, but her voice is hands down better than any singer from any of those bands.

Please post a good song by Taylor Swift

 

[Midpack]

Please post a good song by Taylor Swift

I could but why? Your mind was made up a long time ago. Your opinion of what's musically good and bad entirely, and what you think makes up the appeal of a recording artist. Everyone else is just wrong. OK Boomer...yawn.

 

[MichaelB]

.

 

[ERD50]

Please post a good song by Taylor Swift

I don't understand the over-the-top responses to this request.

I'd also be *interested* in hearing a few of her songs that people might consider some of her best (musically, not necessarily most popular) works.

Maybe there aren't enough fans here to offer that up, I might look online.

It's just out of curiosity, would I consider her best works something interesting/compelling?

Not that it matters, like I said earlier, if her fans like it, they like it. It's all good.

I do recall a discussion about her years ago on this forum, and I watched a few of her videos at the time. IMO, pretty ho-hum, but not bad, and I can see that some people would like them. But particularly, her guitar playing in those videos was really ho-hum, simple strumming, very little picking, or lead-in notes to chord changes. It 'works' for her, so I'm not criticizing, just analyzing.

Maybe she's progressed from there, or maybe those weren't the best examples. Or maybe that's all she wants/needs.

-ERD50

 

[CaliKid]

She is a sharp business woman, and apparently generous with those who did the grunt work to get her show on the road. Out foxing the record companies to regain some control over her early material, was an admirable move, IMO.

If I am going to spend hundreds of dollars to hear a performance, I still would rather spend it locally, where for the same money I can attend 4 to 5 performances by talented local artists and sit maybe 30 feet away from them as they perform.

I have wondered what her views are on the "Tax the Rich" movement.

Lol on spend hundreds to hear a performance. Upper deck, BEHIND the stage, were selling $600+ on the resale market. I sold them at that price in LA. Decent tickets $2k. This was across the country. Plus, you have to get the right outfit to wear too! Lol. Plus you have to buy a ton of merch! Ticket pricing actually went up as the tour went on. That is, on the resale market. Her initial prices were reasonable ($150-$600ish). Phx and LV you could get decent seats for $1k or so. Luckily, that's when my daughter went! By the later cities, Pittsburgh, LA, etc... was $2k for decent seats. Try to get four tickets together you'd have to spend $3,500 each! No joke. I dabble in the ticket business.

 

[CardsFan]

What's wrong with all you old codgers?! I think she's hot as hell.

And I hear she sings, or something. .

Somehow she has been able to be "hot as hell" and the wholesome girl next door at the same time.

Clearly, we are not her target audience, just like our parents were not the Beatles target audience. But I know several of our friends daughters and grand-daughters made the trek from STL to KC to see her a while back.

 

[easysurfer]

My attempt at being a peacemaker (good luck with that ) here, my disclaimer is I'm neither a big Beatles nor Taylor Swift fan. Yet, I've heard them both named.

So, I decided to compare some lyrics of songs from each. Beatles song "Twist and Shout" ...

"Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)
Well, shake it, shake it, shake it, baby, now (Shake it up, baby)"

Taylor Swift song "Shake It Off" ...

"I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off"

Both have a whole lot of shaking going on!

The other thing in common, I see is songs are the sound track of their respective fans' lives. Before the Swifties were shaking to Shake it Off, the Beatlemania fans were shaking to "Twist and Shout."

As I said, I'm not a big fan of either, but can see their significance as movers and shakers (pun intended) .

 

[Music Lover]

I could but why? Your mind was made up a long time ago.

She's had 17 years to impress me with a song, it hasn't happened yet.

Your opinion of what's musically good and bad entirely, and what you think makes up the appeal of a recording artist. Everyone else is just wrong. OK Boomer...yawn.

Yes, it's just my opinion. Also, I'm not a boomer.

 

[Midpack]

FWIW The Beatles didn't write Twist and Shout...

 

[boog]

Please post a good song by Taylor Swift

IMO, a great example of her songwriting talent - especially as she was a teen herself when written. I’m an old retired dude, but if I try to place myself in the mindset of a young teen girl, I can understand why Taylor appeals to them. Much more positive influence on young minds than so many other popular genres of music.

 

[GrayHare]

Seems to me that Swift fanning has been going on for a long time. Someone even wrote a song about it. "Oh, Bennie. She's really keen - She's got electric boots, a mohair suit - I read it in a magazine."

 

[target2019]

Old people just don't get it.
Where have I heard that before?
It was true then and it is true now.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Please post a good song by Taylor Swift

I afraid I don't know what you consider to be a "good song."

There are songs by Taylor Swift that I might hear on the radio or see on YouTube and I won't turn them off. I don't go looking for them. They are not examples of paramount artistic endeavor; they are pop songs after all. I don't know many of her songs, and I don't know the titles (only know them as "that one about so-and-so") I don't even know if she writes them or not.

Her voice is the attraction, not necessarily the underlying music or the themes of the songs. (And she's not bad to look at either...)

But, since you asked I Googled a few that I can remember. Again, these are pop songs, not deeply profound songs.

"Love Story" is a take off on Romeo and Juliet story.
https://youtu.be/8xg3vE8Ie_E?si=ZDWQ8PUV6onAsHW5

"Blank Space" is about a shaky relationship.
https://youtu.be/e-ORhEE9VVg?si=Ylt1vhQtpmCaBJkJ

"You Belong to Me" is an early hit about the guy next door.
https://youtu.be/VuNIsY6JdUw?si=yUOxmY1_rSKYW4QU

I think everybody has heard this year's "Anti-Hero" even if you don't know it.

 

[Gumby]

The broadbased student loan forgiveness program was never implemented because it was invalidated by the Supreme Court last June. Subsequent attempts by the Biden administration has resulted in the announcement that approximately 200,000 people will have their loans forgiven. These programs have not yet started.

Student loan payments were suspended during Covid. They resumed in October.

Covid stimulus payments ended in 2021 with the American Rescue Act.

...

Now you're confusing us with facts, man.

 

[Qs Laptop]

Now you're confusing us with facts, man.

Sorry, sorry. I'll get me coat...

 

[Aerides]

It might match in scale to The Beatles but that says more about her uneducated audience than the artist. She's currently the biggest artist in the world but outside of her immediate fan base almost no one can name a single one of her songs.

I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Stones, etc. Does Taylor Swift even have one song that compares to the impressive body of work from those bands?

You should change your user name to "Only-the-Music-that-I-grew-up-on Lover"

 

[GenXguy]

It might match in scale to The Beatles but that says more about her uneducated audience than the artist. She's currently the biggest artist in the world but outside of her immediate fan base almost no one can name a single one of her songs.

I grew up listening to The Beatles, The Cars, Dire Straits, The Stones, etc. Does Taylor Swift even have one song that compares to the impressive body of work from those bands?

No, you can't compare Taylor Swift to those. But music in general just isn't the same these days. A lot of it I can't stand hearing.

Taylor Swift sounds fine, but it's much like the typical young female singing voice to me for anyone with any talent. I wouldn't recognize it was her singing vs. any other.

As someone mentioned, she is decent looking, which is always a plus for popularity. Most of the popular female singers are somewhat attractive. There are exceptions.

 

[GenXguy]

The broadbased student loan forgiveness program was never implemented because it was invalidated by the Supreme Court last June. Subsequent attempts by the Biden administration has resulted in the announcement that approximately 200,000 people will have their loans forgiven. These programs have not yet started.

Student loan payments were suspended during Covid. They resumed in October.

But I have seen in the news that a lot of people were anticipating they were not going to have to repay their loans, so they started spending money they had on other frivolous things hoping to stick it to the rest of us taxpayers to pay off their loans.

Covid stimulus payments ended in 2021 with the American Rescue Act.

I think the idea that people are blowing their government checks on Taylor Swift concerts is inaccurate.

I didn't get my final stimulus until mid 2022 because I had to file for it on my 2021 tax return because I didn't receive a payment in 2021 due to them basing eligibility for those payments off previous year's income which was much higher.

But that aside, I've always heard a lot of that stimulus money was still in people's savings and that they are still spending it down.