Taylor Swift: America's Cultural Colossus

[Jeff Lebowski]

I had a friend who once told me he worked in the tallest building in Clovis, New Mexico. Which was true. But, ultimately, forgettably meaningless.

Just to be clear, I have no strong feelings about Taylor Swift. She crafts nice little pop songs using typically tried and true I-IV-V7 type chord progressions with lots of angsty lyrics that are just fine. I am sure she is very, very good at what she does and it appears that she appeals to lots of pre-teens, barely teens and even a few adult male attorneys. That said, and I could be completely wrong about this, I am not aware that she has done anything to stand out among people who craft pop tunes. She hasn't advanced the genre or made a unique contribution. Nothing wrong with that, of course. But, ultimately, her stuff seems pretty fungible and pretty forgettable. But, hey, I am glad your boat is being floated. how does she feel about wolves?

Super mean post.

[Levin]

I had a friend who once told me he worked in the tallest building in Clovis, New Mexico. Which was true. But, ultimately, forgettably meaningless.

Interesting. What about being the tallest building in New York, Tokyo, London, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, Johannesburg, Cairo, Seoul, Sydney, Auckland, and 80 others all at the same time? But good analogy to Clovis, New Mexico!

[creekster]

Interesting. What about being the tallest building in New York, Tokyo, London, Moscow, Berlin, Paris, Johannesburg, Cairo, Seoul, Sydney, Auckland, and 80 others all at the same time? But good analogy to Clovis, New Mexico!

Thanks! If you go back and follow the discussion you'll see how it worked.

You're awfully touchy about stick girl. Are you related? I really dont have strong feelings. I am glad her new set of songs is bringing you so much happiness and joy. May it ever be so.

[Levin]

Just to be clear, I have no strong feelings about Taylor Swift. She crafts nice little pop songs using typically tried and true I-IV-V7 type chord progressions with lots of angsty lyrics that are just fine. I am sure she is very, very good at what she does and it appears that she appeals to lots of pre-teens, barely teens and even a few adult male attorneys. That said, and I could be completely wrong about this, I am not aware that she has done anything to stand out among people who craft pop tunes. She hasn't advanced the genre or made a unique contribution. Nothing wrong with that, of course. But, ultimately, her stuff seems pretty fungible and pretty forgettable. But, hey, I am glad your boat is being floated. how does she feel about wolves?

I'll let The New York Times (and many other critics) answer this one:

But by making pop with almost no contemporary references, Ms. Swift is aiming somewhere even higher, a mode of timelessness that few true pop stars — aside from, say, Adele, who has a vocal gift that demands such an approach — even bother aspiring to. Everyone else striving to sound like now will have to shift gears once the now sound changes. But not Ms. Swift, who’s waging, and winning, a new war, one she’d never admit to fighting.

lol Creekster thinking he's smarter than the experts again. You should probably retreat to your Simian nomenclature expertise, and leave your armchair evaluations of art to the experts.

[Levin]

Thanks! If you go back and follow the discussion you'll see how it worked.

You're awfully touchy about stick girl. Are you related? I really dont have strong feelings. I am glad her new set of songs is bring you so much happiness and joy. May it ever be so.

lol. touchy touchy, indeed! It's okay your musical tastes are stale and sour. You're still a nice ape!

[creekster]

I'll let The New York Times (and many other critics) answer this one:



lol Creekster thinking he's smarter than the experts again. You should probably retreat to your Simian nomenclature expertise, and leave your armchair evaluations of art to the experts.

That is a hilarious quote. And as a point of reference for her timeless pop presence they use adele as a touchstone? Thats funny. What they seem to be saying is that her stuff sounds old but somehow she manages to sell it like Adele, except Adele sings better. I am not sure that insightful bit of analysis really helps swifty too much.

So like many apes I can learn and mimic; so tell me, what is her contribution to pop, apart from making songs that have no contemporary references? what should I listen to to convince me of the greatness of TS?

[MarkGrace]

Man, the monkey is getting stomped in this thread. Should have stuck to flinging poo in a cage.

[creekster]

Man, the monkey is getting stomped in this thread. Should have stuck to flinging poo in a cage.

they actually fling poo out of the cage. Again, just to be clear.

[TripletDaddy]

lol Creekster thinking he's smarter than the experts again. You should probably retreat to your Simian nomenclature expertise, and leave your armchair evaluations of art to the experts.

[Levin]

That is a hilarious quote. And as a point of reference for her timeless pop presence they use adele as a touchstone? Thats funny. What they seem to be saying is that her stuff sounds old but somehow she manages to sell it like Adele, except Adele sings better. I am not sure that insightful bit of analysis really helps swifty too much.

So like many apes I can learn and mimic; so tell me, what is her contribution to pop, apart from making songs that have no contemporary references? what should I listen to to convince me of the greatness of TS?

Hmmm, I would probably recommend Blank Space, Style, and Clean off of this album. Off of Red, listen to All Too Well and State of Grace. Also check out Fifteen from which album I don't know. And then watch her performance of Ronan at the cancer benefit concert; she wrote it for a mom whose son died age 4 of cancer.

[smokymountainrain]

I challenge anybody to look at that and not at least smile, if not chuckle or laugh right along with ol' Vlad. Nevermind, don't even try as it's impossible.

[San Juan Sun]

Hmmm, I would probably recommend Blank Space, Style, and Clean off of this album. Off of Red, listen to All Too Well and State of Grace. Also check out Fifteen from which album I don't know. And then watch her performance of Ronan at the cancer benefit concert; she wrote it for a mom whose son died age 4 of cancer.

My nine year old daughter likes those songs as well. You guys could be BFFs. Do you like One Direction too?

[Levin]

My nine year old daughter likes those songs as well. You guys could be BFFs. Do you like One Direction too?

Not really. A few of their songs are catchy, but not really my style. But thanks for asking, you big tough guy! Btw, it's okay for you to like stuff that appeals to a broad range of people, and not just to your insecure masculinity. Continued good luck on your journey.

[TripletDaddy]

3D is down with 1D.

[Levin]

3D is down with 1D.

You should become besties with SJs' nine year old daughter!