Taylor Swift I just don't get it

[jayk]

who's been around long enough to remember the old saying-

'if it ain't country, it ain't music'!

and i just found this song to go with the saying-
http://popup.lala.com/popup/2810527681898745395

 

[Fisherdude]

Taylor Swift is manufactured.

Bob Dylan is real.

They're both good. They're just different.

Taylor Swift is what current country music is all about. It's past being "crossover", because it's 90% contemporary pop, and 10% country in the bottom of the cup. In the rock genre, 1980's had hair bands, and in the 90's country had hat acts.

90% of male country performers are just Taylor Swift with some muscles, in a white t-shirt and a hat. Formulaic. Manufactured. Pretty. Contemporary. Popular. Successful. Making money.

The vast majority of current country performers that are still pretty much in touch with the roots are the women. And I don't mean anybody much younger than 30.

 

[Bigerik]

Nothing at all manufactured about Taylor. Just a real nice 19 year old girl who happens to be a darn fine singer/songwriter. You old farts may not like her style of music, but that is where she is right now. Likely what Dylan would have been writing now too, were he of this generation. At least, if he wanted to make a living in music. With the talent she has, I look forward to seeing what kind of music she is writing in 10 years time.

Two observations:

1) I can't believe I am here defending Taylor Swift. I guess I am not as much of a crotchety old fart as I thought.

2) I would rather hear Taylor sing any day of the week then listen to Dylan moan and mumble his way through a song, great songwriter tho he may be.

 

[onepixel]

Nothing at all manufactured about Taylor. Just a real nice 19 year old girl who happens to be a darn fine singer/songwriter. You old farts may not like her style of music, but that is where she is right now. Likely what Dylan would have been writing now too, were he of this generation. At least, if he wanted to make a living in music. With the talent she has, I look forward to seeing what kind of music she is writing in 10 years time.

Two observations:

1) I can't believe I am here defending Taylor Swift. I guess I am not as much of a crotchety old fart as I thought.

2) I would rather hear Taylor sing any day of the week then listen to Dylan moan and mumble his way through a song, great songwriter tho he may be.

I'm with you man!

 

[kneeOhFight]

Nothing at all manufactured about Taylor. Just a real nice 19 year old girl who happens to be a darn fine singer/songwriter. You old farts may not like her style of music, but that is where she is right now. Likely what Dylan would have been writing now too, were he of this generation. At least, if he wanted to make a living in music. With the talent she has, I look forward to seeing what kind of music she is writing in 10 years time.

Two observations:

1) I can't believe I am here defending Taylor Swift. I guess I am not as much of a crotchety old fart as I thought.

2) I would rather hear Taylor sing any day of the week then listen to Dylan moan and mumble his way through a song, great songwriter tho he may be.

I got your old fart right here...I've never liked bullshit, whether some post adolescent blond was shilling it or not...what is the point in denigrating the many posting on this thread that appreciate authenticity?:scratch2:

 

[mid-fi-ry]

Hilarious, a bunch of grown men discussing the intricacies of Taylor Swift and even using Dylan comparisons to boot!

FYI, Bob Dylan is not interested in Miss Swift, he wants to get into Alicia Key's shorts, he's "been looking for her even clear through Tennessee".

 

[Fisherdude]

I got your old fart right here...I've never liked bullshit, whether some post adolescent blond was shilling it or not...what is the point in denigrating the many posting on this thread that appreciate authenticity?:scratch2:

Whoa, whoa. You're over the line. We're all getting along just fine.

 

[Fisherdude]

Hilarious, a bunch of grown men discussing the inticacies of Taylor Swift and even using Dylan comparisons to boot!

FYI, Bob Dylan is not interested in Miss Swift, he wants to get into Alicia Key's shorts, he's "been looking for her even clear through Tennessee".

Well, we're not discussing Taylor Swift, exactly. We're discussing the current state of what's being marketed as "country music" vs. what was considered country in the past.

Of course, the only constant here is change, like it or not. And changing it is.

 

[Bigerik]

Well, we're not discussing Taylor Swift, exactly. We're discussing the current state of what's being marketed as "country music" vs. what was considered country in the past.

Of course, the only constant here is change, like it or not. And changing it is.

I won't disagree with you on what is considered to be "country" nowadays. I always figured country to be the peoples music, written about the average guy and his problems and best performed live in a place you otherwise wouldn't want to enter. Commercially, I figure country has been slowly dying for a couple of decades. Johnny Cash's passing mark the end of true country as a viable commercial musical form.

 

[131east23]

I watched that video and it was crap. And it's not like I don't get it either. At best it's a novelty song, but not even good enough for Dr. Demento!

 

[fotno]

Nothing at all manufactured about Taylor. Just a real nice 19 year old girl who happens to be a darn fine singer/songwriter. You old farts may not like her style of music, but that is where she is right now.

Taylor has a nice voice, and she writes some decent pop songs, I won't deny that for a second. But I am at the point in my life where I have very little left to learn from the songs of a 19 year old, male or female, rock, pop, country, rap, R&B or otherwise. Been where they are, got the t-shirt to prove it. If I never hear another song about the perils of young love, it will suit me just fine. I don't begrudge this young woman her success, I just wish the music business would see that they're excluding millions of potential customers by not encouraging music us "old farts" can enjoy as well. After all, we're only young once... If were lucky we'll be crotchety old farts a lot longer.

Likely what Dylan would have been writing now too, were he of this generation. At least, if he wanted to make a living in music. With the talent she has, I look forward to seeing what kind of music she is writing in 10 years time.

The difference between Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift is not when they were born, it's who they are as people. When Bob Dylan came on the scene, he was just a kid too, but his writing was deep, insightful and profound. If he were just getting his start today I don't believe he would operate any differently as an artist (tell the truth, I don't think he's able to be what he's not). The difference would be that record company execs would take one look at him, hear his voice, and show him the door and the world would likely never know his name, or have his music.

I may not be here in 10 years to eat my plate of crow, or say "I told you so" but I would be very surprised if Taylor Swift will still be getting any air time 10 years from now.

 

[33&athird]

I watched that video and it was crap. And it's not like I don't get it either. At best it's a novelty song, but not even good enough for Dr. Demento!

Hey! someone remembers Demento! good call. Weird video, but not in my taste anyhow...so, who am I to comment.

I won't disagree with you on what is considered to be "country" nowadays. I always figured country to be the peoples music, written about the average guy and his problems and best performed live in a place you otherwise wouldn't want to enter. Commercially, I figure country has been slowly dying for a couple of decades. Johnny Cash's passing mark the end of true country as a viable commercial musical form.

That is actually a good description, I think. Country music really is the peoples music, but generally from specific geological segments. I always thought that country music is the kentucky or tennessee equivilent of mississippi blues, different regions have different versions of similar songs. A fair assesment, to be sure. Generally, both forms of music are by people that are normal citizens, that worked a standard job and have had tragedy, so they sing about it with a guitar...that is the root of it all, from "dad gave my dog away"(Texas Tyler) to "death letter blues" (Son House).

Very intesting to see all these opinions on music, undoubtly music is changing and blending, but I don't know if it's for the best. I think it is safe to say that taylor swift is more pop than country though, who isn't.

 

[fotno]

I won't disagree with you on what is considered to be "country" nowadays. I always figured country to be the peoples music, written about the average guy and his problems and best performed live in a place you otherwise wouldn't want to enter. Commercially, I figure country has been slowly dying for a couple of decades. Johnny Cash's passing mark the end of true country as a viable commercial musical form.

I see this from a vantage point that many of you don't. Traditional country music did not die a natural death, it was murdered (in cold calculating blood) by the record companies. In my years as a radio announcer, I saw countless trad-country albums come across the PD's desk, but we never got to play them on air, because it's not what the record companies were pushing us to do. They wanted pop-country so pop-country was the only thing they would pay for, they wanted cute poster kids that could hold their own in videos, so they stopped hiring the homely no matter how good they were. Pop-country is what they advertised, it's what they invested millions of dollars in, so now they got their wish, and pop-country is almost all there is.

I guess my greatest complaint is, that we're being fed what they want us to eat. Regardless of what we might have asked for if given the choice.

 

[Bigerik]

I see this from a vantage point that many of you don't. Traditional country music did not die a natural death, it was murdered (in cold calculating blood) by the record companies. In my years as a radio announcer, I saw countless trad-country albums come across the PD's desk, but we never got to play them on air, because it's not what the record companies were pushing us to do. They wanted pop-country so pop-country was the only thing they would pay for, they wanted cute poster kids that could hold their own in videos, so they stopped hiring the homely no matter how good they were. Pop-country is what they advertised, it's what they invested millions of dollars in, so now they got their wish, and pop-country is almost all there is.

I guess my greatest complaint is, that we're being fed what they want us to eat. Regardless of what we might have asked for if given the choice.

Don't disagree with a word of what you are saying. But it isn't only country. Every kind of popular music has gone down the same road over the last few decades. It sucks for us and it sucks for the artists trying to make music in that environment. To keep beating the dead horse, if Bob Dylan were born now, he would have to choose between writing what is in his heart, and writing what will bring him commercial and financial success. Both are nice things. Thankfully, his time was one in which he did not need to choose.

 

[onepixel]

...The difference between Bob Dylan and Taylor Swift is not when they were born, it's who they are as people.

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.

"When they were born" is all the difference in the world. We all are a product of our respective environments and times.

If Dylan grew up playing Gameboys, skateboarding, listening to Radiohead and the Backstreet Boys he would not be the great poet as we know, and if Taylor grew up in the turbulent 60s...well it would be another story.

As well as everyone who has posted in this thread, we are all different and unique individuals pulling from past experiences which defines what we like or do not like.

If you really think about it... it's really not a big deal.

 

[EchoWars]

What the record companies have done to further the cause of shitty music is hardly confined to Country.

As for Taylor Swift, would you rather find your 11 year-old listening to her? Or Gangsta-Rap?

 

[Bigerik]

I'm gonna have to respectfully disagree with you on this one.

"When they were born" is all the difference in the world. We all are a product of our respective environments and times.

If Dylan grew up playing Gameboys, skateboarding, listening to Radiohead and the Backstreet Boys he would not be the great poet as we know, and if Taylor grew up in the turbulent 60s...well it would be another story.

As well as everyone who has posted in this thread, we are all different and unique individuals pulling from past experiences which defines what we like or do not like.

If you really think about it... it's really not a big deal.

I'm with you, Carl.
Not old enough to remember the 60's, but I remember the early 70's, and that was a very different time then today, with very different values.

 

[cableguy]

I can't believe that I just read this whole thread.....
(In conclusion I am still an elitist snob...)

 

[onepixel]

I can't believe that I just read this whole thread.....
(In conclusion I am still an elitist snob...)

lol... good for you Bill!

 

[onepixel]

...As for Taylor Swift, would you rather find your 11 year-old listening to her? Or Gangsta-Rap?

Well, it was my teenage daughter who turned me onto Taylor Swift and... Gangsta-Rap. Yo.

I like Taylor's music, but Gangsta-Rap makes me wanna kill someone.