Taylor Swift Phenomenon

I am listening to it this moment!

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I would hear a song or two and think, that’s not bad. Then, during early pandemic, Folklore came out, and then Evermore, and they seriously got me through those days. I listened to them, particularly, Folklore, over and over. Just brilliant.

I’ve been discovering the earlier albums since (tending to wait for the Taylor’s Versions). Didn’t make an attempt to go to one of the shows, but loads of people I know did, and to a person, talk about it as life-changing.

The nearest I’ve experienced is many, many Bruce concerts, some as long as four hours, and a bunch of U2. Those were my most intense big-concert experiences.

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Yikes - I usually skip her songs when they come up in my Spotify mix playlist (though I do like Purple Haze in the context of one of my Peloton routines). Her vocals have gotten better over the years - especially when she stays in her wheelhouse, but she’s just generally not my jam. Maybe if I listened to some of her more recent music? I’m probably too old.

She’s a phenomenally talented songwriter. She puts to music what so many 13-23 year olds are feeling (and what so many 7-12 olds hope to feel one day). She seems sweet and a mostly positive role model. I think it’s great that she makes so many people happy and feeling good about themselves. No doubt that she puts on an awesome show and adores her fan base. Kudos to her for singing for 3 hours in the pouring rain (in Nashville, I think?) She is definitely putting in the work for every dollar of her tour earnings.

That said, I am secretly grateful that neither daughter was ever a “Swifty”. I remember watching videos of ticketless kids crying during the infamous Ticketmaster Ticket Debacle and thinking :flushed: :flushed:

The moms spending $$$$ on tickets, travel and the outfits can probably live off their “Mom of The Year” status for at least several years - seriously :clap: :clap:

I took my daughter and 3 friends for her 11th Birthday in 2011. My wife and I took both of my daughters in 2013 and heard for the first time Ed Sheeran who was a warm up act. (We are going to see Ed tonight.).

For the Era’s Tour I was able to get 6 tickets in the lottery. My daughters now 23 and 20 each got to bring a friend. My 23 year old flew up from Miami where she is working this summer.

The vibe in the stadium was unbelievable. I have been to AFC championship games in the stadium and it was louder than any of those. The stands shook as every one danced just about the entire show. Most of the people in the stadium sung every word at the top of their lungs. The choreography was amazing. As someone said it was not just a concert it was a spectacle. Of course there was also the 20-30K people that partied, danced and sang outside the stadium.

The money the two nights generated for the hotels, bars, restaurants of Pittsburgh (and I’m sure every city she plays) was incredible.

Probably the best part of the whole night for me was to look down the aisle at my two daughters and seeing the joy on their faces as they danced and sang for those 3 and a half hours. Like those Mastercard ads priceless.

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I love reading this thread. And I love the title because I think it’s very accurate.

A different take and NOT a diss. My two girls are 34 and 26 - they definitely grew up as candidates for musical crushes. They liked/love music. They were HUGE HUGE Jonas Brothers fans. (sort of see Taylor and them as peers at least back in the day). Among other big pop people. But they have ALWAYS disliked Taylor. I don’t know if it’s her music as much as HER - like the Taylor of a few years ago. I think they felt she had attitude and overconfidence. And got tired of her relationship woes - and the music resulting from it.

With her new music coming out - which is clearly so dearly loved - I wonder if they will have some change of heart. Their music taste has changed over the years - might they find some room to appreciate her music at least?

When my middle D was in middle school, she asked for Taylor Swift “Red” and a One Direction CD for Christmas. We listened to them all the way to grandma’s house and I recall the rest of us kind of making fun of One Direction, but Taylor has endured. D and her husband successfully navigated the Ticketmaster fiasco to nab the $60 seats to the second tour date in Arizona and loved every second of it. Her only regret was not buying six tickets instead of two! I’ve even watched the Reputation tour documentary on Netflix and found it impressive. Taylor is the entire package. I don’t connect to all her lyrics (wrong age range/relationship status I guess) but her music is brilliant.

Interesting because neither of my kids were fans of TS some years ago but now they are. They recognize what a truly talented person she is and she is a good role model and a really hard worker.

Had to chuckle at the Jonas Brother reference. D likes them (and has seen them several times), one of her friends is a superfan who travels around to see them.

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I totally relate to this although we only managed two tickets during presale, so just our daughters went (MetLife). They are 21 and 22, and Taylor brings them together like nothing else in life, even topping the family dogs! They may argue about which songs or albums are the best, but her music has resonated deeply with both of them as they grew up.

When two sisters are close in age, the world really wants to compare and contrast them in unhelpful ways. They clashed so much growing up (and still do sometimes). Discovering Taylor’s music together, song by song, helped them see their similarities rather than their differences. The videos of them dancing together at the show, belting out the lyrics in unison, were priceless.

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Folklore and Evermore are the only TS albums I have listened to over and over. But for many years, even though I didn’t really listen to her stuff, I have marveled at her ability to write a hit song. She is a prolific creator.

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I honestly don’t see how anyone could dislike Taylor. She’s a talented kind hearted soul who brings people together :heart:

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Not new as I’ve seen universities offering up classes about all things Taylor Swift in recent years, just as they did Madonna back in the 90s - I don’t know much about her music but I like all kinds (and I have a couple of hers on my iPod) but it sounds like I might want to listen to Folklore & Evermore.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/25/entertainment/taylor-swift-course-university-texas-cec/index.html

Yes those two covid made albums show how TS has matured as an artist and song writer. They are outstanding.

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Perpetual victim but she sure is popular. D1, a mature 27yo with a director level job, is going with a group of friends and they’ve all spent a ridiculous amount of time coordinating their outfits. I don’t understand Swift’s popularity, but I hope D1 and her friends have a blast.

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Lol - one of the last ways I would describe Taylor Swift is as a “perpetual victim”.

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I bet your mature 27yo with a director level job doesn’t see Taylor Swift that way. Nor do I, or about a zillion other people.

Also, try listening to the lyrics of “Anti-Hero.” More self-awareness than a lot of folks twice her age.

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Wow, I thought this thread was a place to share thoughts about TS. Apparently, that’s only allowed if one is a fan. Calling her a victim was charitable on my part.

D1 is a Swiftie so of course she disagrees with me. I and her siblings, who are also not Swifties, tease her but, because she’s mature, she’s not easily triggered.

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What do you mean “only allowed if one is a fan”? You said your opinion-it wasn’t taken down, censored, or disallowed. Someone simply verbalized disagreement with you. This site is founded on feedback, which you received in a respectful manner.

While it’s a fact that Taylor often writes about her life/experiences, not every song she writes is a confession. Sometimes she just writes stories because she is a very talented story teller.

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I think she’s brilliant!

I admire her talent as a song writer but also like her voice.

I must be a teenager inside an old body because I excitedly download her new music at midnight when it comes out and listen to her albums on repeat until I can sing along.

I really love Evermore and Folklore and have liked most of her Taylor’s Version recordings.

I’m a little sorry I didn’t try to see her when she was in town recently, just to feel part of the excitement, but I think I’m content being a homebody fan.

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My husband bought her latest albums, and we have been listening to them non-stop. Too old and too cheap to brave the crowds and to pay :moneybag::moneybag::moneybag::moneybag: for tickets respectively, but go Taylor!

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