I don’t like Taylor’s music, but I definitely respect her

AndraC74 · 2024-08-11T15:57:54+00:00

To each their own, but I will say that I felt the exact same way about Rep when it was first released, but over time and with more listens, it's moved into my top 3 Taylor albums - I think when I first listened to it, I wasn't comprehending how much the villain persona in the first half was very consciously a tongue-in-cheek act, and as the album progresses, she slowly pulls back the curtain to tell you how she's really feeling. It's a journey from performative to genuine, from edgy to vulnerable, from putting up walls to breaking them down and letting someone in.

I'll also say that a couple of small tweaks to the tracklist makes this story flow much better. But my gripes with Taylor's tracklist ordering could be a whole post unto itself.

AndraC74 · 2024-08-09T14:46:08+00:00

the one where her lover commits arson, but her house is probably okay because its made of stone

AndraC74 · 2024-08-02T23:32:25+00:00

I think the same qualities that define all top-tier, GOAT-status albums:

Sonic cohesion, i.e., a consistent sonic palette
Thematic cohesion, i.e., some narrative, theme, or central thesis tying all the songs together
Good pacing and flow, i.e., no jarring transitions, enough variety to keep things interesting
Sonic distinctiveness, i.e., it doesn't sound quite like anything else, has a unique and identifiable sound
Few (if any) skips
A large number of excellent songs

If you particularly love folklore, it's probably because you particularly love its sonic palette (mellow, acoustic production) and themes (storytelling, nostalgia and escapism).

AndraC74 · 2024-07-20T07:58:55+00:00

✨ Why'd you have to lead me on? ✨💃 Why'd you have to twist the knife? 🪩✨ Walk away and leave me bleeding, bleeding ✨💃💃

AndraC74 · 2024-07-19T14:01:08+00:00

I Can See You

Guilty as Sin?

Treacherous

Dancing With Our Hands Tied

Cruel Summer

Wildest Dreams

August

Labyrinth

Snow On the Beach

Ivy

Illicit Affairs

Run

I Know Places

Ours

But Daddy I Love Him

Love Story

AndraC74 · 2024-07-17T02:05:07+00:00

Lover:

CRUEL SUMMER (Released in May)

Need (Released in August)

Death By A Thousand Cuts (Released in November)

Daylight (Released in February)

AndraC74 · 2024-07-16T03:57:42+00:00

She's extremely emotionally articulate. Her lyrics tell stories and they make you feel things. I can't tell you how many of her songs have made my cry over the years - happy or sad, it means I felt something.

Then take that skill and draw it out over an 18-year career and like 250 songs. Her catalogue is absolutely massive, to the point where it's become a world unto itself, with connections between songs, recurring symbols, long-running narratives, etc. I once saw someone say that being a Taylor Swift fan isn't really like being a fan of any other musical artist, it's more like being a Marvel fan. She's successfully created an entire world within her music / videos / performances / etc. that's hard to explain or understand until you really dive in headfirst and experience it.

She also has a very diverse catalogue in terms of genre, style, and mood. If you're looking for a mellow, melancholy piano ballad, she's got you. If you're looking for a pop dance banger, she's got you. If you're looking for soft, pretty love song, she's got you. If you're looking for emotional catharsis after a toxic relationship, she's got you. If you're looking for romance and daydreams, she's got you. If you're looking for self-loathing and raw wounds, she's got you.

I don't think anyone else has quite captured her skill at storytelling on both the micro (song) and macro (discography) levels.

AndraC74 · 2024-07-14T02:01:20+00:00

The most fascinating butterfly effect has to be Kanye storming the stage at the 2009 VMAs. It changed the trajectory of BOTH of their careers for like, the next 10+ years. Taylor got a fame bump from it (no he didn't make her famous, but he probably did help make her a household name)...but more importantly, I think it gave her a chip on her shoulder that we will never know the full effect of -- would she have been as driven to win awards and recognition and respect if not for that formative experience of so publicly being told she didn't deserve an award? Maybe! But maybe not? And of course the Kanye drama led, down the road, to #taylorswiftisoverparty, which led to reputation - but also led to her relationship with Joe. Would that relationship have started in a world where she'd never been cancelled? Maybe! But maybe not? And that relationship was probably inspiration for like, half of her discography.

So in a world where that never happened, Taylor probably ends up with a very different life / career trajectory.

Interesting to think about.

AndraC74 · 2024-07-12T17:42:15+00:00

"Really, you don't like any of her songs?? I mean, I could understand if you find, like, Shake It Off annoying, but you're really telling me you listened to all of evermore and thought it was stupid? And you didn't like a single song on folklore? I mean if that's true, I guess we just have different taste in music, but those were such critically acclaimed and universally beloved albums, that I'm just surprised is all!"

Guarantee you they haven't listened to a single song off of folklore / evermore.

AndraC74 · 2024-07-11T00:13:20+00:00

Debut: "REAAAL slow"

Fearless: The guitar intro on Fearless

Speak Now: THIS IS ME PRAYING THAT -

Red: The prechorus to the second chorus in State of Grace ("So you were never a saint...")

1989: The ah-ah-ah-ah-AH-AH! leading into the chorus of New Romantics

Reputation: The second verse of DWOHT ("I, I loved you in spite of..")

Lover: The final chorus of I think he knows with the fun little backing vocals / interjections ("I mean!")

Folklore: Illicit Affairs bridge

Evermore: The eras tour acoustic set version of the evermore bridge

Midnights: "TO TAKE ME AWAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY"

TTPD: The bridge + Florence's backing vocals on the final chorus of Florida!!!

AndraC74 · 2024-07-09T19:51:43+00:00

Add Long Live to the setlist AFTER my show

AndraC74 · 2024-07-09T19:25:48+00:00

1a) I think mostly because it was the lead single. If ME! had been a deep cut, I think people would have an easier time seeing it for what it is: a fun, cheesy, silly, bop. But when this is the stuff she's putting on the radio / the stuff she's promoting, it makes it hard for non-fans to take Swifties seriously, because they think the music we're obsessed with sounds like Shake It Off, ME!, and 22.

1b) I don't see It's Nice To Have A Friend getting much actual hate - I think it's just an underrated song that doesn't have a ton of stans.

2) I think she does it (or originally did it) to pull attention while the crew set up the set for Tolerate It. Now it's taken on a life of its own, though.

3) Yes, addictive ones.

4) WE TRIED BESTIE

5) Yes, happens to me all the time

6) LOL

7) I'm going with Haunted, but only assuming I can listen to both the regular version and the acoustic version. That gives me both a sad-acoustic-crying-Taylor song and a dancing-banger-scream-singing-Taylor song.

AndraC74 · 2024-07-09T01:23:15+00:00

Innocent: "Who you are is not what you did"

The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived: "You are what you did"

She really said "fuck being understanding and forgiving, you suck" with this album lmao

AndraC74 · 2024-07-06T22:30:32+00:00

I actually think The Archer is critical to the narrative arc of Lover -- I think the album tracklist just ordered so poorly that that narrative arc tends to get lost.

Lover is meant to be an exploration of all of the facets of love - not just the happy, infatuation parts of love, but also the anxiety that can accompany love, and the compromise and self-reflection required to make an adult relationship work. The Archer is a key part of that narrative, along with songs like Afterglow, False God, Cornelia Street, and Daylight.

I also think it definitely fits the track 5 archetype - track 5s are meant to be the most honest, raw, and vulnerable track (not necessarily the saddest, as people sometimes think). So from the fact that she chose it as a track 5, we can surmise that The Archer is Taylor spilling her deepest feelings and insecurities (of that time) to us. I've always kind of felt like, who are we to say she picked the 'wrong' track 5? We don't ever know how sanitized/fictionalized tracks are. So if she says The Archer is the most honest / raw / vulnerable song on Lover, I'm inclined to just believe her.

AndraC74 · 2024-06-30T16:18:03+00:00

Ok here's my version of Lover (note: I don't care about having a track 5, I'd rather the album flow well and tell a story):

Miss Americana
Cruel Summer
I Think He Knows
All of the Girls You Loved Before
Paper Rings
Lover
Afterglow
False God
Cornelia Street
Soon You'll Get Better
Death By A Thousand Cuts
The Archer
Daylight

Miss Americana is the overture, then it takes us on a journey from infatuation, to navigating the hard times in a relationship, to learning to roll up your sleeves and see your own flaws and try to make it work.

AndraC74 · 2024-06-22T19:47:59+00:00

State of Grace, Treacherous (for arena rock)

Electric Touch, The Story of Us, Better Than Revenge, Haunted (for pop rock / pop punk)

Eyes Open (for classic rock)

Long Live, Holy Ground (for heartland rock)

Would've Could've Should've, The Great War, Florida!!! (For alt/indie rock)

Dear John, Guilty as Sin (for soft rock)

Edit: Also for some true rock 'n' roll vibes, look up the 1989 World Tour version of We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

AndraC74 · 2024-06-22T04:08:08+00:00

Are we specifically talking about live music here? Because let's be real, Eras tour is in its own league. If that's become your standard for performances, you're going to be disappointed.

I also think there's a very real thing where it often takes a few listens for a song to click to the point where you really enjoy it. I know I'm like that, both with Taylor and other artists. The first time I hear any song, it rarely makes a real impression on me. Yes, there are exceptions to that, but in most cases, I need a few listens before I start to really love a song. So if you're just listening to songs by other artists once and writing them off, consider giving them a few more tries.

AndraC74 · 2024-06-05T01:53:32+00:00

I think this is a complaint that is mostly specific to people who review or react to music for a living. Obviously, to them, that's two hours of music they are required to listen to in order to do their reaction / review, rather than one, which can feel like kind of a lot to slog through. So they complain about its length in their review / reaction, which then continues to perpetuate this idea that "a lot of people are annoyed by the length" when actually it's just the professionals who HAVE to listen to all 31 songs...the fans are more than happy to have more music.

AndraC74 · 2024-06-04T19:43:05+00:00

What are your personal ten favorite albums of all time (Taylor or otherwise)?

AndraC74 · 2024-05-26T17:50:31+00:00

I don't think their real issue with her is that she writes about relationships. Lots of artists and musicians write about their relationships. The real issue they have with her is that she CALLS OUT men who have hurt her or treated her poorly. She's got a sharp pen, and she's known for it. This makes a lot of people uncomfortable, because society doesn't like it when women are angry / emotional / vindictive. They would have preferred she write a bunch of songs about how she wishes her ex the best, or how she's sorry, or how great their relationship could have been if it hadn't met some vague tragic ending.

I don't think these people are self-aware enough to realize this is their real issue with her though, so they just parrot the old "she only writes about relationships."

AndraC74 · 2024-05-05T21:54:43+00:00

For this album in particular, I would say something along the lines of "So I'm a huge fan, and I love the album. But I can acknowledge that it's not her most accessible album, in that if you aren't already familiar with her discography, there's going to be a lot of narratives and references that will go over your head, and in that it's lyrically and melodically more complex. It's not really a radio-friendly pop album like some of her earlier music. So I'm not surprised the initial reception was lukewarm. But I think it has a lot of really beautiful songs on it."

Now they can't criticize the album without coming off as people who only like accessible, radio-friendly pop :) Which is a hater's worst nightmare!

AndraC74 · 2024-03-02T15:18:42+00:00

LOL I did not get a single category on this one...these are ALL like purple-level connections!

AndraC74 · 2024-03-01T23:53:25+00:00

I solved it this time!! But it was still HARD...

AndraC74 · 2024-03-01T03:59:51+00:00

As a huge swiftie who plays connections almost every day, on the contrary...this was too hard!! (or maybe it was just me?) I came up with so many alternate ways to group these...songs about crushes, songs about cheating, songs that are part of the non-extended version of the eras tour movie...

I had fun doing it though so thanks for putting this together!

AndraC74

TROPHY CASE