CELEBRITY
Some people say Travis is ugly? But for God’s sake, let them see again. Taylor….once again i congratulate you because daaaamn
You’re never going to tear down the system if youre still trying to get their approval. I think Taylor’s art is never going to be as good as it could be because she wants sales and records.
While I support Taylor re-recording her albums, her actions have reportedly inspired labels to introduce contracts that make it more difficult for their new artists to ever be able to do the same. For someone who rightfully values having creative control and ownership of her own work, the fact that she hasn’t spoken up about this has made me lose a lot of respect for her. It seems that she only cares when it happens to her, but not to others.
She has a very big record of only caring about things that directly impact her reputation or lifestyle. I was expecting her to say something as well when contracts were tightening the leash about a potential for the artist to re record their stuff. She engages in so much revisionist history and narrative control that it’s hard to give her your genuine appreciation. Somehow she always comes off Scott free and in the right even when the story doesn’t always make sense (Joe was the problem after being perfect lover, her records were stolen although she had a chance to buy them just not an ideal chance, people who oppose her are are women haters, etc).
Personally, I like her better when she’s off the grid and not trying to get every ounce of fame that she can. I get that is why her business/brand is as strong as it is but it just all feels fake and selfish and is used to enhance the bizarro parasocial relationship with her fans. Even the supporting Sophie Turner walk post divorce was actually a “I’ll look like the good guy here” walk.
Taylor will never be as good as her biggest fans claim, but never as bad as her harshest critics say. To call her the best songwriter of this generation is to ignore stronger artists, as well as her worse songs with weaker lyrics, while also often failing to acknowledge that large contributors to her fame were connections and privilege. To call her mediocre is to ignore her songwriting prowess, and her ability to use that skill to connect with a wide range of people.
Ultimately, whether you love her or hate her, I don’t think the real Taylor lives up to the image most people have in their heads.I think Taylor did herself a disservice with maintaining her girl-next-door wholesome and safe image as long as she did—like well into adulthood—because I’ve found that since rep, trying to shoehorn cussing, drinking, and sexual lyrics into her songs comes across very try hard.
Most if the cussing in her songs is just very clunky and seems unnatural, every time she mentions alcohol, I’m just like “we get it, you drink” and her songs that try to be sexy just do not exude anything of the sort to me.