FEATURE:
The Rise and Rise of Taylor Swift
IN THIS PHOTO: Taylor Swift in a promotional photo for 2020’s evermore/PHOTO CREDIT: Beth Garrabrant
Is She the Most Important and Influential Artist of Her Generation?
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WHEN a young artist called Taylor Swift …
PHOTO CREDIT: Beth Garrabrant
released her debut single, Tim McGraw, in 2006, who thought that she would be this megastar and hugely popular artist seventeen years later?! From modest (but impressive) beginnings, Swift has grown into be this colossus! I think that she is the modern-day equivalent of Madonna. In the sense she is on a par now with the Madonna was in the 1980s. Her current Eras Tour has broken records. There is going to be a film of the tour that will hit the big screen soon. I know I have written about Taylor Swift a fair bit lately. One reason is that it is amazing to see this incredible young artist succeeding and doing so much good. You never begrudge any of her wealth and success, as she is such a philanthropic person. I am thinking about Madonna too, as she starts her Celebration Tour next month. One of the most important artists in history, I think Taylor Swift will go down in history in the same way. At a time when so much sexism and imbalance reigns through music, Taylor Swift is empowering so many women in the industry. Whether you like her music or not, one cannot deny how amazing she is! Someone who loves her fans and has this very caring and considerate heart. I am back at her feet once more as some news and stories have broken recently. I am going to end with thoughts about Taylor Swift and her place in history. A mix of celebration and caution.
There are a few features that I want to bring in. Her work ethic and the sheer love and energy she puts into every show of the long-running Eras Tour is to be applauded. Some might not like her dating choices or some things she says. Nobody can refute the fact she is one of the hardest working artists in history. Even if she is gaining considerable wealth from it, this is not an artist who is driven by money and fame. Wanting to connect with her fans and give them an unforgettable live experience, you can see Taylor Swift using her income to change so many people’s lives. Maybe, as a director, she will finance incredible films and help affect changes. We are definitely seeing a modern-day icon make her way to immortality. There are few artists that come along that are cemented into the history books so emphatically – Madonna, David Bowie, Prince, The Beatles are rarefied and eternally influential. I want to bring in a few features from The Guardian relating to Taylor Swift. Earlier this month, they explored how she is the world’s biggest Pop artist:
“Eras has generated an estimated $5bn boost to consumer spending in the US, forcing cities to ramp up underprepared public transport systems and world leaders to turn into reply guys: Justin Trudeau pleaded with her on Twitter to come to Canada. And fair enough: I saw the final US Eras show in August and found it to be one of the most euphoric concerts I’ve ever seen, a reminder of Swift’s singular generational talent.
When Eras concludes in November 2024 it is likely to be the highest-grossing tour of all time with an estimated $1.4bn in revenue – half a billion more than Elton John’s farewell tour, the current record holder. Even a filmed version of Eras being released in US cinemas in October brought in $37m the day that tickets went on sale. All told, the tour has re-established Swift as the most successful pop star in the world, after a few years in which a resurgence seemed far from likely.
IN THIS PHOTO: Taylor Swift performs onstage during Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at the SoFi Stadium on 3rd August, 2023 in Inglewood, California/PHOTO CREDIT: Emma McIntyre/TAS23/Getty Images
By the time the South American leg commences in November, Swift will have released her third album in 12 months, the re-recorded version of 1989. It’s the album that, on its original release in 2014, made her as omnipresent as Michael Jackson and Madonna had been in the 80s. Newspapers and blogs obsessed about “the squad” – the revolving clique of models, actors and musicians that surrounded her. But by the end of the attendant world tour she was being accused of self-serving and superficial “girl boss” feminism and there were public squabbles with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj and Calvin Harris. A fierce backlash was soon under way.
But next month, when Swift releases 1989 (Taylor’s Version), it’s possible that it may debut with higher first-week sales than the album it’s recreating; her current cultural dominance makes the original 1989 era look small scale. How has Swift managed to restore her stature without succumbing to the pitfalls that felled her last time?
In the immediate aftermath of the 1989 fallout, Swift broke her pattern of releasing a new album every two years, instead waiting three to return in 2017 with Reputation, billed as her retort to the haters. Louis Mandelbaum, host of the pop music podcast Pop Pantheon, says that Reputation is “actually more interesting than that: it’s really about her finding refuge in a new relationship in the face of [being] ostracised”, but its presentation – she wiped her once effusive social media accounts and adopted gothic imagery – allowed Swift to play with her newly tarnished image. “She attempted to parlay the negative press about her into the narrative of the record; like, ‘I’m taking ownership over how you view me,’” he says.
Crisis publicist Lauren Beeching says that beyond the musical talent it’s Swift’s ability to recast her image that’s given her such longevity. “She is a snake in the most positive way,” she says, referring to an insult hurled at and then reclaimed by Swift during the Reputation era. “She sheds her skin and becomes a new version of herself to fit in with today’s culture. You never know what will come next, which is what keeps her fans so engaged.”
Now Swift is more famous than ever, fans and critics are wondering if another backlash is brewing. The Eras tour has become a huge story, not just for Swift’s performance but for its unprecedented cultural and political impact – Ticketmaster’s mishandling of the Eras tour rollout, criticised by Swift, has led to an antitrust investigation – while moments from the show constantly go viral online”.
Taylor Swift’s fandom is gigantic! There is so much devotion to her from fans around the world. It is hard to gauge the legacy of a modern artist. How they are impacting the world and whether they are going to endure for years to come. You know, with Taylor Swift, she will continue to make phenomenal music for decades more. Able to inspire such love and commitment from her fans, it is intriguing seeing some of the projects and events in her honour. A new Taylor Swift club night is sweeping the U.K. It is this safe space where people feel secure and with their tribe:
“It is barely 10pm in Limehouse, east London, when the first pyro goes off and a crowd of sequined, red-lipped Taylor Swift fans lose their minds: “I did something bad,” Swift is singing, “So why’s it feel so good?”
A man has ripped off his top, and is whirling it around his head. Every foot stomp, every ad lib is perfectly replicated by a sea of dancing fans and you can almost taste the euphoria in your warm can of White Claw. But Swift is thousands of miles away on tour in the US: this is Swiftogeddon, a club night dedicated to the singer’s music that started as a novelty one-off event and has snowballed into a UK-wide phenomenon.
The brainchild of Dave Fawbert, a DJ and former journalist who has been an unlikely fan of Swift since her 2010 album Speak Now, Swiftogeddon began in London in August 2019, weathered the pandemic and now takes place across the UK every weekend (it almost always sells out).
Fawbert is not the person you might picture as the mastermind behind a Swift club night. He gives off strong dad energy in his uniform of long baggy shorts and T-shirt, and often runs out from behind the decks to air drum and dance. He takes his job as master of vibes very seriously: “If you get out the front, sing along and make yourself look a bit of an idiot, then people feel free to do the same,” he says with a grin when we meet up before the event. He may have been the first to spot the potential in an all-Swift club night (there is now an unaffiliated night that tours the US), but even he had no idea how big it would become. “I thought, it’ll fizzle out at some point; it’s not a real job,” he says. “But it just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger.”
PHOTO CREDIT: David Jeffery-Hughes
Now, Swiftogeddon is a real job. Fawbert won’t be drawn on specifics, but he makes enough money running the night to support his young family without needing what he calls “sensible” work. He still DJs the London dates and has recruited and pays Swifties from around the UK to DJ elsewhere, in some cases training them up from scratch.
In the pub, I meet Hannah and Caitlin, two 19-year-old Swift fans having pre-drinks after travelling for more than an hour to get to Limehouse. They are sporting matching pink cowboy hats and have choreography planned for I’m Only Me When I’m With You. “It’s the nicest club night I’ve ever been to,” says Hannah. “Everyone’s just like, ‘I love your outfit!’ and taking pictures with each other.” Her only complaint is that the queues for the ladies are too long.
Swiftogeddon is a very feminine space. Most of those in the crowd are women or gay men, with the odd hetero boyfriend gamely trying to sing along. Everyone I speak to stresses how safe it feels, with no fear of judgment or harassment. “I feel like a lot of her music really captures the collective female experience,” Fran, an older Swiftie, tells me. “That’s what I love to be part of – singing those songs with a room full of people who feel the same”.
Taylor Swift’s stock and name is so high now, that there is a bespoke Taylor Swift role! Undoubtably seen not just as an artist, but this cultural and historic figure who is changing thew landscape and will go down as one of the most influential artists ever, there is this new and rare opportunity for a fan of Taylor Swift to have their dreams come true:
“While no journalism job is perfect, a new role posted by Gannett, the US media company, may just be a Taylor Swift fan’s wildest dream.
On Tuesday, a job simply titled “Taylor Swift reporter” appeared on the Gannett Careers’ Dayforce site. The desired reporter, who is being sought by both USA Today and the Tennessean, is to be “experienced, video-forward” and adept at capturing “the music and cultural impact of Taylor Swift”.
“Swift’s fanbase has grown to unprecedented heights, and so has the significance of her music and growing legacy,” the posting reads. “We are looking for an energetic writer, photographer and social media pro who can quench an undeniable thirst for all things Taylor Swift with a steady stream of content across multiple platforms.”
It added: “Seeing both the facts and the fury, the Taylor Swift reporter will identify why the pop star’s influence only expands, what her fanbase stands for in pop culture, and the effect she has across the music and business worlds.”
The role also requires the reporter to “chronicle the biggest moments on the next portions of Taylor Swift’s tour” and travel internationally.
Experienced journalists who have yet to see the Eras tour, perhaps this is your biggest break yet.
In a statement to the Guardian, a spokesperson for Gannett confirmed that the role was real, full-time and with benefits.
“Are you ready for it? Being essential to our readers means providing the content they crave and we have a blank space with Taylor’s name,” said Kristin Roberts, Gannett media chief content officer.
As most Swift-centric things tend to do, the role made the rounds on the website X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday afternoon. One person simply called the role “incredible”, while another quipped: “heaven help whoever has to review applications for that Taylor swift reporter job”.
Music critic Carl Wilson noted the unusual nature of the job and posed the question: “Has anyone ever heard of a single-artist reporter job before?”.
There are a couple of features I want to get to before rounding off. Together with the success of her Eras Tour, Taylor Swift recently swept the VMAs. It is hard to think of an artist ever who has had the same amount of success as her at such a young age. One can think of Madonna or Michael Jackson. Swift is thirty-three. There is something scary and sensational happening. Such an inspiring woman who is establishing herself as one of the most successful artists ever, I wonder how things are for Swift behind closed doors. Can she get downtimes and privacy? Her recent VMS success adds another golden layer to the huge monument that is her wonderful career:
“Taylor Swift once again dominated the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), winning for every televised category in which she was nominated, in a night that otherwise celebrated Latin music, including the pre-eminence of Shakira, as well as 50 years of hip-hop.
Swift, currently in the middle of the first billion-dollar stadium tour in history, took home the night’s top prize, video of the year, for her Midnights track Anti-Hero, as well as best direction, best pop video and song of the year.
The 33-year-old singer dedicated her wins to the art of songwriting as well as to presenters ‘NSync, who reunited for the first time in over a decade to give her one award, and her video editor Chancler Hanes and cinematographer Rina Yang, who spoke on Swift’s behalf for her video of the year win.
After splitting emcee duties with LL Cool J and Jack Harlow last year, Nicki Minaj took over as the sole host of the 40th annual VMAs at the Prudential Center in New Jersey, and won an award, best hip-hop, for her track Super Freaky Girl. “So often I joke around and play around and stuff, but tonight, I don’t know why, this morning I just woke up and I had this really strong sense of gratitude,” she said.
The performance-heavy, relatively chaos-free VMAs devoted a significant portion of its nearly four-hour ceremony to celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, from a night-opening performance by Lil Wayne to the VMA debut of Metro Boomin to a finale medley featuring Doug E Fresh, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, LL Cool J, Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC, Lil Wayne and Minaj herself”.
There will be books written about it – other than the ones that have already come out – and documentaries made. There is no doubt that we are seeing a music icon straddling the planet. This recent article talks about the legacy of Taylor Swift. What she means to the world. How she is this artist who looks out for other people and uses her fortune to support charities:
“Taylor Alison Swift, the singer-songwriter with multiple Grammy awards to her name, has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Her journey began with a collaboration with songwriter Liz Rose during two-hour writing sessions every Tuesday afternoon after school. She later became the youngest artist signed by the Sony/ATV publishing house. From there, she evolved into a 12-time Grammy award-winning music artist, embodying the essence of inspiration.
A Symbol of Empowerment & Inspiration
Swift has become an iconic symbol of empowerment for many young women from her generation and those that followed. She dominated the charts with a series of hit albums and challenged gender stereotypes. At times, she has faced criticism and backlash for crafting songs that delve into her past relationships and romantic experiences, raising valid questions about the double standards faced by male artists like Bruno Mars and Ed Sheeran, who don't receive the same level of scrutiny for singing about their exes.
Swift's philanthropic efforts include supporting organizations that aid sexual assault victims, a cause she personally identifies with. She has vocally addressed unfair blame and responsibility placed on her for events in others' lives that result from their own choices. Her lyrics and activism have provided visibility and support to countless individuals.
Beyond her musical accomplishments, Taylor Swift, named Billboard's Woman of the Decade, should be recognized for her numerous charitable contributions.
This remarkable 33-year-old woman has changed the lives of many by donating to over 33 different charities. She even stepped up to help a 19-year-old fan whose mother was in a coma by contributing $15,500 towards her medical expenses. So, Taylor Swift is not just an artist favored by young girls; she has inspired millions of people and made a substantial positive impact on the world”.
In addition to her tour, Swift is releasing albums still. In terms of her forthcoming album, 1989 (Taylor's Version), that arrives on 27th October. There was a rumour that her ex, the odious Matty Healy, will feature on the album. Maybe one of the only black marks against Taylor Swift’s name is her association with The 1975’s lead. In any case, he will not appear on the album. We are seeing this artist go from strength to strength. Not someone drive by ego or this idea of their success and role in the world being manifested and always meant for glory, there is still an honesty, earnestness and modesty to Taylor Swift – as much as you can be with her fanbase and fame! Whilst she may not current hold the record, I think Swift will soon become the most successful female artist of all time. I do worry about the pressure and expectation. Reaching the stage she has, there is going to be increased expectation for her to tour longer and harder. She will want to record a new album soon enough. As the press takes an interest in her personal life, that is going to add yet another strain. Taylor Swift has her head firmly screwed on. She has a great team looking after her. Regardless of your relationship with Swift’s music or opinions of her, we are seeing this phenomenal artist achieve so much and make such an impact. When the Eras Tour concludes next year, there will be a necessity for Swift to take her foot off the gas for a little bit. Decompress and take some time out to live as normally and quietly as possible. When that time comes and she has had that time to reflect and breathe, it will be fascinating watching…
HER next steps.