celeb news UK newspaper calls Taylor's music "uninteresting, repetitive and entirely basic"

[SylMacPer]

2 hours ago, Rihannito said:

Yeah but isn't an artist supposed to keep evolving and top their past effort? At least artistically. Commercially might depend on the GP and their reception. Now more than ever, that her work is looked on with a magnifying glass should really push her to blow out the expectations everytime. For this to happen, she must take breaks, reflect what she has done, things that she needs to improve but instead she is giving us half assed albums just for the sake of money. All of our faves are money seekers but she is on a completely other level and it keeps getting worse.

 

Thank you for your willing to listen to critics and give back constructive answers instead of…numbers and spotify.

I felt that with TTPD and the whole "poetry" narrative she thought she would slay the charts and get unprecedented acclaim! In all fairness the album is not bad! It has some great songs and a replay value! It's just too long! 

 

She's on her 11th album and expecting her to outdo herself every single time would be a reach on my part! She kept coming back bigger and better than before many times! I bet she can do it again! I mentioned folklore and evermore because everyone was praising the albums and taylor's writing 3 years ago and now all of a sudden her music is repetitive, blunt and she was never interesting??

 

The hate she gets this time comes from overexposure and her being all over the media for the money she makes! Also, a negative headline will draw more clicks than a positive one, no?

[More Than A Melody]

I don't understand this sort of criticism of her lyrics, because while they're definitely not my cup of tea, they're also just... lyrics. Very few people are pushing the envelope more in that regard. I find them a little tryhard and overly wordy, but that's a personal appreciation because I don't like that, not because it's inherently bad. Her peers aren't doing anything better in that regard, for the most part, aside from esteemed lyricists such as Kendrick or maybe Hozier in the mainstream.

 

Now, in terms of music, I have always, always thought she was stagnant. Previous albums felt like she tried at least. She had hooks for days, and she had interesting melodies, even if the chords were basic and her instrumentation was lacking. There was something interesting there. You could tell the songs apart, for one. I haven't sat down to listen to any of her albums. Personally, I find her tone of voice grating, so I literally can't do it. But what I have heard of her older efforts was varied and distinctive enough. What I have heard of her last few albums sounded like the same melody over and over, the same instrumentation over and over. I'm sure if I studied the albums I'd find the nuances, but that seems a little bit like a chore when the albums are so long.

 

I also don't understand the appeal of her live shows because I don't personally like concerts that are Cirque-Du-Soleil-esque, I prefer music concerts to be about music. Aside from the surprise songs, which I heard from friends is a great touch if you're a hardcore fan, what I have seen from her shows is basically performing the studio version of her greatest hits. There's very obviously an audience for it, and that audience isn't me. I like live interaction, I like different arrangements, I like to see the live band be a live band. That's what I want from live music. But once again, that is a personal appreciation. I don't find her compelling because I'm not her audience.

 

What I don't understand about articles like these is the posturing of the author as some entity above everyone else. This artist she's lambasting is breaking all sorts of records. Do I personally understand it? Absolutely not. Do I think highly enough of myself to think that I have superior taste to everyone who worships her? That IIIIIII know better than them what real music and real arttt is and they are the pleb who's just consuming McDonald's? No? I'm not a self-centered idiot.

 

I can have my own opinion and realize I do not own the truth, especially on something as incredibly subjective as opinions about ART. Saying that you side-eye adults who like her or that they have to have "the intellect of a small worm"... who died and made you the unique sommelier of music?

[ForgottenSoul]

I think its popular to hate on Taylor again it seems because lets be real if her writing is considered basic then so are like 99% of pop girls who dont even write? 

 

People trying so hard to pain a picture that the album is disliked when clearly its not? 

Edited June 16 by ForgottenSoul

[ForgottenSoul]

2 hours ago, britxbrit said:

Fans, critics, and journalists need to start demanding more from pop stars. The beauty of poptimism is the belief that pop can be important, innovative, and forward-thinking. But the artists themselves aren't living up to that. Poptimism has made pop stars complacent and I can tell it's starting to frustrate pop fans/critics who TRULY believe that pop can be more than what it currently is.

 

TTPD was lazy and Taylor knows it. That's why she's been so hell-bent on releasing dozens and dozens of variants to increase her sales. She knows this album hasn't lived up to her expectations and she's trying to drown out the lukewarm reception it received from critics.

 

She's capable of better, but her current success doesn't inspire her to do better.

It's literally rated a 76 on Metacritic people trying to pain a picture that critics hated it are pretty shameless and just spouting bs. 

 

Even without her variants she still outsells all other females by a lot like what? 

[ForgottenSoul]

25 minutes ago, More Than A Melody said:

I don't understand this sort of criticism of her lyrics, because while they're definitely not my cup of tea, they're also just... lyrics. Very few people are pushing the envelope more in that regard. I find them a little tryhard and overly wordy, but that's a personal appreciation because I don't like that, not because it's inherently bad. Her peers aren't doing anything better in that regard, for the most part, aside from esteemed lyricists such as Kendrick or maybe Hozier in the mainstream.

 

Now, in terms of music, I have always, always thought she was stagnant. Previous albums felt like she tried at least. She had hooks for days, and she had interesting melodies, even if the chords were basic and her instrumentation was lacking. There was something interesting there. You could tell the songs apart, for one. I haven't sat down to listen to any of her albums. Personally, I find her tone of voice grating, so I literally can't do it. But what I have heard of her older efforts was varied and distinctive enough. What I have heard of her last few albums sounded like the same melody over and over, the same instrumentation over and over. I'm sure if I studied the albums I'd find the nuances, but that seems a little bit like a chore when the albums are so long.

 

I also don't understand the appeal of her live shows because I don't personally like concerts that are Cirque-Du-Soleil-esque, I prefer music concerts to be about music. Aside from the surprise songs, which I heard from friends is a great touch if you're a hardcore fan, what I have seen from her shows is basically performing the studio version of her greatest hits. There's very obviously an audience for it, and that audience isn't me. I like live interaction, I like different arrangements, I like to see the live band be a live band. That's what I want from live music. But once again, that is a personal appreciation. I don't find her compelling because I'm not her audience.

 

What I don't understand about articles like these is the posturing of the author as some entity above everyone else. This artist she's lambasting is breaking all sorts of records. Do I personally understand it? Absolutely not. Do I think highly enough of myself to think that I have superior taste to everyone who worships her? That IIIIIII know better than them what real music and real arttt is and they are the pleb who's just consuming McDonald's? No? I'm not a self-centered idiot.

 

I can have my own opinion and realize I do not own the truth, especially on something as incredibly subjective as opinions about ART. Saying that you side-eye adults who like her or that they have to have "the intellect of a small worm"... who died and made you the unique sommelier of music?

Completely agree with everything you said here tbh 

[peacok]

I still can't comprehend how we let someone so basic become so big 

[State of Grace.]

There's a (very) long list of things to criticize Taylor for and there are some points she could have made, but this article was so terribly written. It's all very #realmusic'd. Muffy sis....the pretentiousness

 

 

 

Edited June 16 by State of Grace.

[ReH2o]

Get her jade 

[LOTF]

On 6/16/2024 at 2:48 AM, Jay07 said:

Madonna, Prince, Janet, David Bowie, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga. All massive popstars. Pop doesn't have to mean artless and sophomoric. It's just that audiences have become so dumbed down and complacent they actually want the same content warmed over and served back to them over and over because it's not challenging or confrontational. She literally sells her old albums back to them in multiple variants, that's how low the standard is. Literally a capitalism wet dream.

This is the sad Realty of today, yes

Edited June 17 by LOTF

[Riot]

6 hours ago, Arrows said:

"I physically flinch when adults tell me they love Swift"

Therapy!

 

Meanwhile:

 

Ringo Starr: "I love Taylor Swift, that's just how I am. I love her."

 

Bruce Springsteen: "She's a tremendous writer."

 

Carole King: "Over the years, I have known some great songwriters and I have also known some great singers and performers. It's rare to see all those talents in one person. Taylor Swift."

 

Dolly Parton: "I think she's spectacular, [a] great writer, and I love how she presents herself. She's always been such a pro, and I've admired her all these years."

 

Billy Joel: "She's like that generation's Beatles"

 

Britney Spears: "The most iconic pop woman of our generation"

 

Shania Twain: "I'm a big supporter of Taylor. I think she's just incredibly brilliant."

 

Jon Bon Jovi: "Taylor Swift is going to be here for as long as she chooses to be."

 

Patti Smith: "She's trying to do something good."

 

Stevie Nicks: "Taylor is writing for the universal woman and for the man who wants to know her. The female rock-'n'-roll-country-pop songwriter is back, and her name is Taylor Swift. And it's women like her who are going to save the music business."

 

Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins): "Taylor Swift is one of the most gifted pop artists of all time."

 

Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day): "Great production. Great voice. Great entertainer. Great songwriting."

 

Gene Simmons (KISS): "There's no question, Taylor Swift has taken over and she's great"

 

Keith Urban: "I mean, God, Taylor's songwriting, it's so extraordinary. There's really no adjectives for it. She's such a great, great writer. So this new album (TTPD) is just more proof of that in really great ways."

 

Raye: "She is just one of those rare timeless artists who gets it right every time. She's an absolute powerhouse.

 

 

 

You forgot Aretha

[Arrows]

3 minutes ago, Riot said:

You forgot Aretha

The artists I listed are mainly songwriters. While Aretha is very talented, she is not a songwriter. She only wrote about 10 of the hundreds of songs she ever released.

 

I'll take the opinions of those who know Taylor's craft over Arethas and yours!

[georgechxng]

1 hour ago, ForgottenSoul said:

I think its popular to hate on Taylor again it seems because lets be real if her writing is considered basic then so are like 99% of pop girls who dont even write? 

 

People trying so hard to pain a picture that the album is disliked when clearly its not? 

not really. billie and olivia who are arguably two of the main faces of pop nowadays are writing circles around taylor. she isn't the standard for great pop songwriting currently and i'm glad peope are calling her out on it. 

Edited June 16 by georgechxng

[Jglj]

Taylor haters are as exhausting as her fans. Be for real, albeit she has been in a creative rut of late - Midnights was mediocre and TTPD was a bloated bland mess - she has delivered many great and interesting songs. 1989 is one of the great pop albums of the last decade, with Style being notoriously recognized as one of the best pop songs out there, folklore and evermore have the beautiful interesting lyrical writing people are debating here, and many more other things. Yes, she has been bland and basic at some points, but she also had really interesting highs.

 

While I agree she needs to capture the creativity again, an insane exaggeration discarding her almost 2 decades in the music business is a bit insane. All artists have flaws and many of our beloved pop girlies have done basic bland ****, it's not that serious.

[Bubble Tea]

5 minutes ago, Jglj said:

Taylor haters are as exhausting as her fans. Be for real, albeit she has been in a creative rut of late - Midnights was mediocre and TTPD was a bloated bland mess - she has delivered many great and interesting songs. 1989 is one of the great pop albums of the last decade, with Style being notoriously recognized as one of the best pop songs out there, folklore and evermore have the beautiful interesting lyrical writing people are debating here, and many more other things. Yes, she has been bland and basic at some points, but she also had really interesting highs.

 

While I agree she needs to capture the creativity again, an insane exaggeration discarding her almost 2 decades in the music business is a bit insane. All artists have flaws and many of our beloved pop girlies have done basic bland ****, it's not that serious.

This is a fair comment. Taylor has definitely had some magical pop moments. 1989 era was full of bops, reputation had some amazing music videos. She's never done it for me as a live performer but she's been coasting these past years with a rinse-and-repeat "if it's not broke why fix it" method which is cute to sustain the "mcdonalds of pop" reputation but it says nothing for her diminishing artistry. 

 

Folklore/evermore was cute I'll give her that, and someone pulled me up on that yesterday.

[NextBish90]

Agree with every single word there, it will definitely fireback at her sooner or later. McDonalds Swift.

[Dante Silva]

I respect objectivity so it is a shock to me certain less experienced moderators have drank the Kool-Aid.

[FrederickGa]

15 hours ago, peacok said:

I still can't comprehend how we let someone so basic become so big 

WE??

 

It's Taylor and her capability to control her blind fanbase mefears

[Keeandga]

The fact her writing is so hyped makes her mid/okay work look even worse.
If it was just pushed as regular old pop the music would be fine/better regarded. 

[Movimento Perpétuo]

[Virgos Groove]

This new wave of articles that are written like stan Twitter posts, throwing heavy adjectives and "DrAgs!!11!" with the clear purpose of generating clicks, needs to end. We saw it with J.Lo, JT and now Taylor.

 

Sentences like "Swift's music sounds to me like what I would listen to if I had the intellect of a very small worm" are the kind of thing that is funny when stans say it, but has NO place in cultural journalism. You are the chief content officer in a major newspaper, not a 16-yo with an Ariana Grande avi. Write accordingly.

 

There are so many valid criticisms of Taylor's brand and music (some of which are made in this article), which only make the superiority complex of the author look tackier. They're trying to give 00s Pitchfork and failing terribly.

Edited June 17 by Virgos Groove

[shark_heather]

[Erreur2 La Nature]

19 hours ago, peacok said:

I still can't comprehend how we let someone so basic become so big 

This is probably going to remain a mystery that will be studied in the future. I feel like no one understands why she's commercially so relevant. She's the most basic and generic popgirl. Maybe it's relatable to her fans ?

Edited June 17 by Erreur2 La Nature

[ICLDXU4HS]

On 6/16/2024 at 10:21 AM, The7thStranger said:

Funana.

How had I never played this one until 5 minutes ago.

 

 

[prézli]

On 6/16/2024 at 10:13 AM, midnightdawn said:

More a brand than an artist

 

[prézli]

On 6/16/2024 at 10:13 AM, midnightdawn said:

More a brand than an artist