Taylor Swift has gained many fans with hit songs like “Love Story,” “You Belong with Me” and “We are Never Getting Back Together.”
For as long as Swift has been famous for her country/pop blend, I have questioned the artist. I play guitar and have long complained that Swift only plays songs with three chords.
However time has gone on, Swift released her “Red” album, and I have begun to like her catchy tunes more, though I still undoubtedly question her.
Swift appears to be an all-American sweetheart and sings about heartbreak and love.
“Sitting on a bedroom floor crying is something that makes you feel really alone. If someone’s singing about that feeling, you feel bonded to that person. That is the only way I can find an explanation for why 55,000 people would want to come see me sing,” Swift told Rolling Stone back in August.
In the beginning portion of Swift’s music video for “I Knew You Were Trouble,” her voiceover accompanies a montage of “memories” constructed to tell a story. “I think that the worst part of it all wasn’t losing him, it was losing me,” is how she leads into the song.
I do not think Taylor Swift could sound more hopeless. The worst part is that she represents my generation with her “I need a man to be a woman” attitude. To top it all off, 55,000 people want to see her sing.
It seems to me that Swift’s songs about crying are more personal than related to the audience.
Why not tell a story about struggle other than relationship issues? Maybe it is because Swift has an easy life.
Taylor Swift, a Pennsylvania native, seems to live a life where boys drool over her and when she is done with them, she chronicles the descent of the relationship in her songs.
The most traumatic thing to happen to her was probably Kayne West stealing her thunder at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
Now this is purely speculation, and I am not saying that all singer/songwriters should go through some tragedy to be a good artist, but I do not think that making tragedies out of your break up is a good strategy either.
Swift is not famous for irresponsible acts like many other celebrities, but she still is not a good role model for little girls.
Her problematic attitude in regard to men and relationships sets up younger generations and her fan base for a dependency on love to gain success and happiness.
My suggestion? Until Swift sings uplifting, empowering music for ladies, do not listen.
In a world where women are already at a disadvantage, Taylor Swift is only regressing the feminist movement and hope for young women in the future.
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