Can someone please explain the Taylor Swift thing to me

[HomerJS]

I don't get it. She seems to pushed as the greatest thing ever. I just don't see it. I'm not trying to hate...hate...hate but just comparing musical ability vs reputation.

Watched the Stevie Wonder tribute at the Grammys and took note of the people they asked to perform for him. All super talented musically. I looked up her excuse for not performing. You wouldn't ask the most popular female artist currently to get on stage with Stevie Wonder? My theory she doesn't measure up. Yes she can sing but there is no depth to her voice. Its hollow. Any meaning behind her lyrics? No ability to dance/perform on stage.

I compare the collective works of a 25 year old TS vs 25 yr old Stevie Wonder vs 25 yr old Prince vs 25 year old Michael Jackson. Not even the same universe.

If you want to make a more current comparison while not the greatest fan of Adelle that girl has some serious chops. Compared to her style of music there is a soulfulness to her voice.

Everyone on that stage is far more talented then TS and I think the producers know it.

So again why is she all that?

 

[TheSiege]

Great sales numbers != great singer and vice versa. I mean look at christina aguilera or ariana grande. They both have WAY better vocal range than TS or Katy Perry, they just weren't/aren't as commercially successful. Its all about marketing.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Marketing and image, and Pro Tools.

Can she sing? As in, literally carry a tune? She's okay.

Does she have a great voice? Absolutely not.

The only pop singer who has all the chops, both vocally, instrumentally, and lyrically right now, is Lady Gaga.

Her rendition of the Sound of Music was just stunning. I knew she could sing...I've heard her with just a piano. She's fantastic, but I didn't see that type of performance with that style of music coming at all.

But Taylor Swift...she's in the category of Rihanna, Britney, Katy Perry, etc. They are studio creations. Can't back it up live.

 

[Sephire]

Pointy elbows?

 

[Imp]

She's blonde, young, thin, white, tall, attractive, American, and has blue eyes -- not sure about the last one, probably true.

She also seems to bond well with her fans, isn't a big bitch always doing drugs and partying with photos of her drunk off her ass lying in the street, comes off incredibly nice, actually. No confirmed nudes yet either.

Her music is catchy, she mostly writes her own songs and plays at least two instruments, isn't a one hit wonder with five albums now and the latest broke sales records at a time of declining music sales. She should be worth over $200 million now at 25.

No, she isn't the best singer. Her music doesn't have as much depth as the other stuff you referred to, I think, but it's still very personal that, for some reason, kids and adults can relate to in one way or another.

 

[LTC8K6]

I think you entirely missed her early work. She had an album that did very well on the charts in 2006 at the age of 16. She was a star already, long before she went pop.

Her second album, in 2008, hit at #1 on the charts and sold ~600,000 copies in a week. It's at almost 7M copies now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Taylor_Swift

 

[Pacfanweb]

Great sales numbers != great singer and vice versa. I mean look at christina aguilera or ariana grande. They both have WAY better vocal range than TS or Katy Perry, they just weren't/aren't as commercially successful. Its all about marketing.

How do you figure Christina Aguilera isn't commercially successful? She's sold over 50 million. Taylor Swift might be marketed a bit better, but Christina doesn't have anything to be ashamed of in comparing album sales.

Vocal range doesn't make somebody a good singer. Look at Axl Rose....he has more vocal range than pretty much anyone, ever, but he's a terrible singer live. A studio creation.
Look at Adele...she doesn't have a big range, but she can SING. Singing is about being able to control your voice and carry a tune and work what you have. Not hitting some stupid high note at the end of a song to show people "you can sing because you can hit a high note". American Idol gave us that phenomenon.

 

[LTC8K6]

She's done her time and work, imo. At least as much as Stevie Wonder and Prince at the same age, imo.

She's far from an overnight sensation.

She took a huge risk in changing her style.

She deserves the spot she has, imo.

 

[sportage]

Oh I disagree on Lady Gaga.
She had a gimmick first off, and a so so voice second off.
She was definitely no madonna, where madonna always had that incredible voice, and never needed a gimmick, even though madonna went with the gimmick thing, eventually.

However, I will add that Lady Gaga "has" since developed a much better voice.
Everyone knows she took voice lesson or has been taking, and it has made a huge difference in her vocal talents.

And I give Gaga credit for realizing she needed help (voice lessons and training), and that too much gimmick was never going to carry her long term.

Now that Gaga has advanced into that higher level of entertainer with a more powerful talented voice, a much improved vocal ability, and has moved beyond that American Idol class of signer, I think Gaga would be safe with dropping the gimmick.

Oh, she can retain some gimmick with a touch of class tossed in, like Cher has, but the alien from outer space thing needs to go.
And if I was her, which obviously Im not hehe, I would want to be taken more serious outside of her appeal range.

Gaga could easily advance into that class of entertainer with Sinatra, Dinah Washington, Cher, Madonna, and possibly Billie Holiday. However, approaching Billie Holiday would still be a real challenge to achieve for any entertainer.
But Gaga could possibly make that if she really wanted to, one day.

Ps. God I miss Amy Winehouse.... Such tragic, unnecessary loss.
.
.

 

[Imp]

Vocal range doesn't make somebody a good singer. Look at Axl Rose....he has more vocal range than pretty much anyone, ever, but he's a terrible singer live. A studio creation.
Look at Adele...she doesn't have a big range, but she can SING. Singing is about being able to control your voice and carry a tune and work what you have. Not hitting some stupid high note at the end of a song to show people "you can sing because you can hit a high note". American Idol gave us that phenomenon.

Forgot about this... Taylor is very very photogenic. She knows how to look good in front of a camera, still and video -- natural performer, very comfortable with herself and open, even when she was 18 or younger.

Singing is great, but if the person is uncomfortable or a stiff, it doesn't work as well.

 

[motsm]

She's a pop star, stop being so dramatic.

 

[Printer Bandit]

fine as fuck. that's her passport.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Just shake it off.

 

[TXHokie]

She can write and sing a song about an ATOT thread bitching about her having no talent and make millions.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I'm trying to understand her relationship with Karlie Kloss. Are they, um, girlfriends or girlfriends?

 

[ninaholic37]

I compare the collective works of a 25 year old TS vs 25 yr old Stevie Wonder vs 25 yr old Prince vs 25 year old Michael Jackson. Not even the same universe.

If you're right, and I think you are, 10-20 years from now nobody will really talk about Tayler Swift anymore, but they'll still talk about those other 3 artists you mentioned. Legends live on, gimmicks are just around to feed the media until their popularity dies and get replaced by something else.

 

[WelshBloke]

She's blonde, young, thin, white, tall, attractive, American, and has blue eyes -- not sure about the last one, probably true.

She also seems to bond well with her fans, isn't a big bitch always doing drugs and partying with photos of her drunk off her ass lying in the street, comes off incredibly nice, actually. No confirmed nudes yet either.

Her music is catchy, she mostly writes her own songs and plays at least two instruments, isn't a one hit wonder with five albums now and the latest broke sales records at a time of declining music sales. She should be worth over $200 million now at 25.

No, she isn't the best singer. Her music doesn't have as much depth as the other stuff you referred to, I think, but it's still very personal that, for some reason, kids and adults can relate to in one way or another.

Pretty much this.

She's a nice, safe, non challenging pop star. She's got an ok voice that doesn't make you reach for the radio when she comes on in the car and she's a safe choice for parents to buy for their kids.

 

[LTC8K6]

She's a pop star, stop being so dramatic.

Yeah, how many people have been a big country star and a big pop star by age 24?

 

[z1ggy]

Are you old?

If yes then that's why.

If no, then it's because your not a teenage girl.

 

[waggy]

I think you entirely missed her early work. She had an album that did very well on the charts in 2006 at the age of 16. She was a star already, long before she went pop.

Her second album, in 2008, hit at #1 on the charts and sold ~600,000 copies in a week. It's at almost 7M copies now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_awards_and_nominations_received_by_Taylor_Swift

just what i was going ot say. When she was younger and doing country she had some "good" songs.

 

[SKORPI0]

She's been singing since a kid. Some videos at age 11 or earlier too. If you look back in her history, it took time to become recognizable/popular.
She worked hard to be where she is right now. Not an overnight sensation by any means. The looks and voice helped too. And I read that she writes most of her songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgqDXmDr8X8&
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rie9k75wK8E&l

 

[Homerboy]

Subjectivity is subject.

 

[Newell Steamer]

You may not like her talent - but, that doesn't mean she lacks it. Or, it's not as good as XYZ.

She has a rather specific audience and she keeps them happy, due to her talent.

 

[Vdubchaos]

It's like any other "success story".

Combination of talent, luck, timing, hard work and creativity.

MILLIONS tried, VERY few made it. Taylor was one of those people.

What else do you want to know?

 

[tortoise]

Taylor Swift . . studio creations. Can't back it up live.

Her SNL after party performance with Sir Paul McCartney was impressive.