She was huge before that incident, it just enhanced her image/exposure.
She's got some catchy tunes and she's infinitely better and more talented than 99% of the other bitches in the business. She just comes across as a young, sweet, harmless singer/songwriter. I'd take that over Miley fucking Cyrus any day.
How does that change anything? Most, if not all, awards are completely meaningless. Why should country music awards be any different? No number of awards changes the fact that there are layers upon layers of stupid cliches in her songs. You could read through some idiot high school student's diary/poetry notebook and find the same kind of tripe.
Further, posting half a dozen pictures to show how pretty Swift is does nothing to help the "but she's got a record contract because of her writing, not her looks" argument. lol
EDIT: Gout, no. It's not a bad thing. But people should at least admit why she's got a career instead of praising empty lyrics. lol
So what sucks about her lyrics compared to Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus? I figure if you are so passionate about this, you must have thought about it.
So what sucks about her lyrics compared to Britney Spears or Miley Cyrus? I figure if you are so passionate about this, you must have thought about it.
I must admit, i taught she was the other Taylor in High School Musical ( I think , i dont even know, my niece has her poster) but had heard the song on the satellite music channel, and liked it! But never knew her face :lol
Don't think the Kanye thing is going to make or break her. Wish them the best tho
Also I hate the beginning of the song, and totally didn't think it was country
She was signed as a songwriter to Sony/ATV Records when she was a 14 year old eighth grader. She is listed as the sole writer on 3 of the 11 tracks on her debut album and 7 of the 13 tracks on her second album, which won Album of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards (which, as a sidenote, earned her 2 trophies since she co-produced it along with some fellow named Nathan Chapman).
Before the VMAs this year she had two 4x Platinum albums, several #1 songs, a sold out tour which included selling out Madison Square Garden in 1 minute, and a boatload of awards. If that doesn't make some one a superstar, I don't know what does.
Ridiculous. I always hate when people try to take ownership over why people like something. Disagree all you want, but don't make the offensive assumption that someone can't possibly be liked for something you don't like that someone for.
I like her music a lot, and much of my affection has to do with the lyrics. They're insightful in an adult way while at the same time captures a certain spirit and expression of the youth she's looking on and back on. "Taylor Swifts genius lies in her ability to bring familiar, well-worn scenarios to vivid, brilliant life without ever losing the value of their familiarity.", as critic Alex Macpherson put it. And you're making prejudicial assumptions, of course. She's critically acclaimed, from lofty publications such as New Yorker to Robert Christgau to classic rock critics like Frank Kogan, all praising her lyrics, the vivid storytelling, the subtle twists and turns her tunes take.
As Slizz pointed out, the best thing to happen to her was bridging the gap between country and pop music. So she's now one of the biggest artists in the US. Kanye might've made her well known to people that somehow manage to ignore mainstream music entirely, but she was still very well known before that.
I forget the official term for this, but I think it's pretty common. Basically the OP probably saw her everywhere before this event, but ignored her. This Kanye incident brought her to the forefront of the OP's attention. Therefore, the OP recognizes and sees her all over the place.
Same thing happens to me after I learn a new word. I start to see it everywhere. I probably just ignored it before though.
Ridiculous. I always hate when people try to take ownership over why people like something. Disagree all you want, but don't make the offensive assumption that someone can't possibly be liked for something you don't like that someone for.
I like her music a lot, and much of my affection has to do with the lyrics. They're insightful in an adult way while at the same time captures a certain spirit and expression of the youth she's looking on and back on. "Taylor Swifts genius lies in her ability to bring familiar, well-worn scenarios to vivid, brilliant life without ever losing the value of their familiarity.", as critic Alex Macpherson put it. And you're making prejudicial assumptions, of course. She's critically acclaimed, from lofty publications such as New Yorker to Robert Christgau to classic rock critics like Frank Kogan, all praising her lyrics, the vivid storytelling, the subtle twists and turns her tunes take.
Dude, you need to chill out. lol. I find it hilarious you're taking such offense to what I'm saying. The reality of the situation is that Swift's writing isn't wonderful. It's repetitive. Its situations are juvenile. Most importantly, it is no better than 99% of any teenager's angsty poetry journals. I mean, honestly here. What "vivid storytelling" are you seeing in those lyrics? Lyrically, all I'm seeing is a teenager bitching about her life.
Look, to prove my point about the attraction to her being physical rather than lyrical:
If the lyrics remained the same, but her music wasn't bouncy-country-pop and she weren't a tall, pretty, blonde, soft-spoken, wispy-eyed teenager, would anyone be so enamored with her?
Dude, you need to chill out. lol. I find it hilarious you're taking such offense to what I'm saying. The reality of the situation is that Swift's writing isn't wonderful. It's repetitive. Its situations are juvenile. Most importantly, it is no better than 99% of any teenager's angsty poetry journals. I mean, honestly here. What "vivid storytelling" are you seeing in those lyrics? Lyrically, all I'm seeing is a teenager bitching about her life.
Look, to prove my point about the attraction to her being physical rather than lyrical:
If the lyrics remained the same, but her music wasn't bouncy-country-pop and she weren't a tall, pretty, blonde, soft-spoken, wispy-eyed teenager, would anyone be so enamored with her?
Ridiculous. I always hate when people try to take ownership over why people like something. Disagree all you want, but don't make the offensive assumption that someone can't possibly be liked for something you don't like that someone for.
I like her music a lot, and much of my affection has to do with the lyrics. They're insightful in an adult way while at the same time captures a certain spirit and expression of the youth she's looking on and back on. "Taylor Swifts genius lies in her ability to bring familiar, well-worn scenarios to vivid, brilliant life without ever losing the value of their familiarity.", as critic Alex Macpherson put it. And you're making prejudicial assumptions, of course. She's critically acclaimed, from lofty publications such as New Yorker to Robert Christgau to classic rock critics like Frank Kogan, all praising her lyrics, the vivid storytelling, the subtle twists and turns her tunes take.
From the way you people describe her, I would think she was the Roger Waters of country. She is in no way a great lyricist. It's full of stupid cliches and meaningless rhyming.
That doesn't necessarily invalidate what I'm saying about her writing quality or lack thereof.
To point: had that song been, I don't know, some dissonant, brooding and moody emo-on-the-mic funeral dirge, would you still have enjoyed it as much as you had?
"You're on the phone with your girlfriend, She's upset
She's going off about something that you said
She doesnt get your humour like I do
I'm in the room, its a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesnt like
And she'll never know your story like I do
But she wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming bout the day when you'll wake up and find
That what you're lookin for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me
You belong with me
Walkin the streets with you in your worn out jeans
I cant help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on the park bench thinkin to myself
Hey isnt this easy?
And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I havent seen it in awhile, since she brought you down
You say you find I know you better than that
Hey, Whatcha doing with a girl like that?
She wears high heels, I wear sneakers
She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming bout the day when you'll wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time
If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me
Standin by, waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know that?
You belong with me
You belong with me
Oh I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're about to cry
I know your favorite songs and you tell me about your dreams
I think I know where you belong. I think I know it's with me.
Can't you see that I'm the one who understand you?
Been here all along so why can't you see?
You belong with me
Standing by or waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know that
You belong with me
You belong with me
Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me
You belong with me"
Best lyrics EVER!
Not really. But I don't care when she's as fucking adorable as she is
Dude, you need to chill out. lol. I find it hilarious you're taking such offense to what I'm saying. The reality of the situation is that Swift's writing isn't wonderful. It's repetitive. Its situations are juvenile. Most importantly, it is no better than 99% of any teenager's angsty poetry journals. I mean, honestly here. What "vivid storytelling" are you seeing in those lyrics? Lyrically, all I'm seeing is a teenager bitching about her life.
Look, to prove my point about the attraction to her being physical rather than lyrical:
If the lyrics remained the same, but her music wasn't bouncy-country-pop and she weren't a tall, pretty, blonde, soft-spoken, wispy-eyed teenager, would anyone be so enamored with her?
Taylor Swift was fucking huge way before the incident. Her latests album sold over 5 million copies and its still charting. She just wasnt under GAF's radar.
My opinion? Sorry, but no. Swift has a career because she's young, cute, nonthreatening and inoffensive. Not because she's a good writer. In fact, from what I've seen and read, some of which has been linked in this very thread, her songs are inanely sophomoric, stumbling around prototypical high school angst. And to that end, if Swift were some trollish little goth who moaned and moped through those same lyrics, she'd be ignored, would have never been nominated, and this thread would have never been created in the first place. lol
Plus, stuff like "Taylor Swifts genius lies in her ability to bring familiar, well-worn scenarios to vivid, brilliant life without ever losing the value of their familiarity" is pure pseudo-intellectual hyperbole, because her songs are high school cliche after high school cliche of being ignored, of not having a date, of running into an ex from a fresh break-up, and so on. Her lyrics are just as empty and vapid as Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats."
Maybe you should listen to more than 2 songs of hers. Picture to Burn and Should've Said No are 2 great kiss off songs and her current single Fifteen is a wonderful song using her experiences to give advice to younger girls.
My opinion? Sorry, but no. Swift has a career because she's young, cute, nonthreatening and inoffensive. Not because she's a good writer. In fact, from what I've seen and read, some of which has been linked in this very thread, her songs are inanely sophomoric, stumbling around prototypical high school angst. And to that end, if Swift were some trollish little goth who moaned and moped through those same lyrics, she'd be ignored, would have never been nominated, and this thread would have never been created in the first place. lol
Plus, stuff like "Taylor Swifts genius lies in her ability to bring familiar, well-worn scenarios to vivid, brilliant life without ever losing the value of their familiarity" is pure pseudo-intellectual hyperbole, because her songs are high school cliche after high school cliche of being ignored, of not having a date, of running into an ex from a fresh break-up, and so on. Her lyrics are just as empty and vapid as Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats."
I have a soft spot for You Belong With Me, but it does make me a little sad that Love Story is what a lot of people think of when they hear Taylor's name. She has better singles.
But why would you expend your calories on someone you think so little of? What draws you to this thread? Fan of Kanye? I see threads for other artists I dismiss as awful and never bother clicking on it. Why would you feel so compelled if you didn't care?
Why can't there be degrees of "good" among pop artists? Why can't Fiona Apple be superior to Ashlee Simpson? Why can't Justin Timberlake have more talent than some other himbo?
So not only are you claiming that you understand music better than that of many respected publications and venerable, well-known music critics whose job is to critically analyze, write about and review music, but you're also claiming your own opinion as fact?
The Blue Jihad said:
to that end, if Swift were some trollish little goth who moaned and moped through those same lyrics, she'd be ignored, would have never been nominated, and this thread would have never been created in the first place.
You're right. When Sony hired her at 14 as a staff songwriter, before she started putting out her own material, those executives were obviously thinking about how they needed a really hot, tall blonde girl to "pretend to write" songs for other artists.
I never even commented on her writing, all I know is that she writes her own songs or some of them. I never said she was some song-writing genius and her lyrics are profound, but that's the market she writes for in country and pop don't require them especially if she's marketed to younger adults. If you want to hate on her because she writes such predictable lyrics fine, but you original point was that she did not write her own music, and when everybody jumped down your throat to say otherwise, you changed what you were really saying, it's not you doubt her authenticity, but either way her songs don't appeal to you. You make it sound like we are arguing the wrong point to you, when you said it first... you doubted she wrote her own music. That is why we are questioning you. You are talking about something else.
