Right now (2024) Taylor Swift is one of the most popular and commercially successful pop acts in the world. Her net worth is over $1 billion. I am aware of her, that she is popular, that after a dispute with her record company she has set about rerecording her early albums, and that last year (2023) she released a popular film of her Era tour which attracted a lot of attention. But I know little about her music or her history. So I thought it was time to investigate. just why is Taylor Swift so popular?
Wikipedia:
Wikipedia:
Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her songwriting, artistry, and entrepreneurship have influenced the music industry and popular culture, and her life is a subject of widespread media coverage.
Swift began professional songwriting at age 14 and signed with Big Machine Records in 2005 to become a country singer. She released six studio albums under the label, four of them to country radio, starting with Taylor Swift (2006). Her next, Fearless (2008), explored country pop, and its singles "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me" catapulted her to mainstream fame. Speak Now (2010) infused rock influences, while Red (2012) experimented with electronic elements and featured Swift's first Billboard Hot 100 number-one song, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together". She departed from her country image with 1989 (2014), a synth-pop album supported by the chart-topping songs "Shake It Off", "Blank Space", and "Bad Blood". Media scrutiny inspired the hip-hop-flavored Reputation (2017) and its number-one single "Look What You Made Me Do".
Swift signed with Republic Records in 2018. She released the eclectic pop album Lover (2019) and autobiographical documentary Miss Americana (2020), embraced indie folk and alternative rock on 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore, explored understated pop styles on Midnights (2022), and released four re-recorded albums subtitled Taylor's Version after a dispute with Big Machine. These albums spawned the number-one songs "Cruel Summer", "Cardigan", "Willow", "Anti-Hero", "All Too Well", and "Is It Over Now?". The Eras Tour, her 2023–2024 concert tour, and its accompanying concert film both became the highest-grossing ever in their respective fields. Swift directed music videos and films such as All Too Well: The Short Film (2021).
One of the world's best-selling musicians with 200 million records sold, Swift has earned 117 Guinness World Records and received the Global Recording Artist of the Year award three times from the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. She is the highest-grossing female touring act, the most-streamed woman on Spotify and Apple Music, and the first billionaire with music as the main source of income. The 2023 Time Person of the Year, Swift has appeared on lists such as Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time, Billboard's Greatest of All Time Artists, and the World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes. Her accolades include 12 Grammy Awards (including three Album of the Year wins), 1 Primetime Emmy Award, 40 American Music Awards (including Artist of the Decade – 2010s), 40 Billboard Music Awards, and 23 MTV Video Music Awards. Swift is a philanthropist and an advocate for artists' rights and women's empowerment.
Taylor Swift is that rarest of pop phenomena: a superstar who managed to completely cross over from country to the mainstream, becoming an enduring pop culture icon and conquering the world in the process. Swift shed her country roots like they were a second skin, revealing that she was perhaps the savviest populist singer/songwriter of her generation, one who could harness the zeitgeist, make it personal and, just as impressively, perform the reverse. These skills were evident on her earliest hits, especially the neo-tribute "Tim McGraw," but her second album, 2008's Fearless, showcased a songwriter discovering who she was and, in the process, finding a mass audience. Fearless wound up having considerable legs not only in the U.S., where it racked up six platinum singles on the strength of the Top Ten hits "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me," but throughout the world, performing particularly well in the U.K., Canada, and Australia. Speak Now, delivered almost two years later, consolidated that success and moved Swift into the stratosphere of superstardom. Her popularity only increased over her next three albums -- Red (2012), 1989 (2014), and Reputation (2017) -- and found her moving assuredly into a pop realm where she already belonged. Even when she scaled back her approach with 2020's stripped-down sibling releases folklore and Evermore, she remained atop the pop world, a position she maintained with re-recordings of her back catalogue along with Midnights, her chart-topping, synth-heavy 2022 set.
Early days
* Video of her doing "SSB" at the start of a local car race in 2006, same year as her first album was released.
Recordings
 |
| Taylor Swift (2006) |
Swift's debut is, as pretty much everyone says, impressive for a 16 year old, especially a 16 year old female wanting to be a country music artist. She had a hand in writing all the songs, though she had been writing songs from the age of 12, "Lucky You" was her first, and at that young age was already experienced at promoting herself as a country singer, singing the American national anthem at local sports events, and living in Nashville, flogging her unwanted demo tapes around the studios. There is talent her, without a doubt. The songs are solid, her delivery is attractive, and she is a good looking woman. But this is not the mesmerising and poetic work of the young Kate Bush. This is somewhat more pedestrian, commercial, and with an aim at popular rather than artistic achievement. Solid stuff, but what makes it stand out the most is that she is 16, female, pretty, and singing pop-infused country songs. That is going to get people's attention. The four tracks released as singles are well crafted songs - the lyrics have that country music approach of focus on story or incident - localised and personal and intimate, with which people can easily identify. The lyrics focus on personal relationships: about a relationship which is over, sad; a relationship which is over, slightly angry or resentful; an unrequited love, etc. And listeners need not have been through those sorts of relationships themselves in order to identify with the song, because many of the listeners, mostly teenage girls, would have imagined themselves going through these things. The first track I got into was "Tim McGraw", a song about a relationship that is over because the boyfriend has gone to college, and the singer misses him, and hopes that when he thinks of the country singer Tim McGraw that he will remember her:
But when you think Tim McGrawIt is simple, sweet, and effective. The images are evocative and universal - they may be based on truth or simply made up, there's nothing particularly telling about them, but they work because people can visualise them, and may indeed, if they were writing the song, have used those images themselves - dancing all night beside a lake, laying their head on someone's body, etc. The music is soft country, sweetly played, well produced, wistful and fitting for the lyrics. It's all very nicely done.
I hope you think my favourite song
The one we danced to all night long
The moon like a spotlight on the lake
When you think happiness
I hope you think that little black dress
Think of my head on your chest
And my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw
I hope you think of me
* "Tim McGraw" Modern pop-country, about a relationship that is over
* "Teardrops On My Guitar" Plodding, slightly mournful country song, about an unrequited love
* "Our Song" Upbeat pop-country, about a young couple creating their own song
* "Our Song" Upbeat pop-country, about a young couple creating their own song
| Released | October 24, 2006 |
|---|---|
| Recorded | 2005 |
| Studio | |
| Genre | Country |
| Length | 40:28 |
| Label | Big Machine |
| Producer |
All tracks are produced by Nathan Chapman except where noted.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tim McGraw" | 3:54 | |
| 2. | "Picture to Burn" |
| 2:55 |
| 3. | "Teardrops on My Guitar" |
| 3:35 |
| 4. | "A Place in This World" | 3:22 | |
| 5. | "Cold as You" |
| 4:01 |
| 6. | "The Outside" (
| Swift | 3:29 |
| 7. | "Tied Together with a Smile" |
| 4:11 |
| 8. | "Stay Beautiful" |
| 3:58 |
| 9. | "Should've Said No" | Swift | 4:04 |
| 10. | "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)" |
| 3:35 |
| 11. | "Our Song" | Swift | 3:24 |
| Total length: | 40:28 | ||
 |
| Fearless (2008) |
Difficult to get the original version since Swift decided to rerecord all her six albums she recorded with her first record company, who did the industry standard in that they kept the rights to the recordings they paid for (not the rights to the songs, which Swift has always had, but the rights to the recordings which they paid for and organised). Swift wanted to buy the rights to those recordings, which would deprive the record company of any more income from them. The record company agreed, as long as Swift continued to record with them on a new contract. Swift rejected this fairly decent offer (after all she was still earning money off those recordings, but the record company would be unable to print any more albums, so their earnings would cease), and in a curious move decided to re-record all the albums and resell them herself, bypassing the record company. She has largely been supported in this, and has put pressure on streaming services like Spotify, to replace the original recordings with her new recordings.
Anyway, Spotify has the Platinum Edition, which is the original album plus six extra tracks at the start. Skip to the seventh track, "Fearless", and you have the original album.
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
The 2009 VMA award show where Kanye West interrupted Swift's acceptance of Female video of the year. Swift says she wrote "Innocent" about the incident, while West later released "Famous" in which he claims he made her famous, and accompanied it with a video of her naked in bed with him.
| Released | October 25, 2010 |
|---|---|
| Studio |
|
| Genre | |
| Length | 67:29 |
| Label | Big Machine |
| Producer |
|
All tracks are written by Taylor Swift.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mine" | 3:50 |
| 2. | "Sparks Fly" | 4:20 |
| 3. | "Back to December" | 4:53 |
| 4. | "Speak Now" | 4:00 |
| 5. | "Dear John" | 6:43 |
| 6. | "Mean" | 3:57 |
| 7. | "The Story of Us" | 4:25 |
| 8. | "Never Grow Up" | 4:50 |
| 9. | "Enchanted" | 5:53 |
| 10. | "Better than Revenge" | 3:37 |
| 11. | "Innocent" | 5:02 |
| 12. | "Haunted" | 4:02 |
| 13. | "Last Kiss" | 6:07 |
| 14. | "Long Live" | 5:17 |
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
 |
| Red (2012) |
Opens with a U2 sound on "State of Grace", which - I've checked - has been noted. Then continues with a Swiftian teen power pop-country feel. "22" sounds like Busted. It's acceptable teen stuff. Less fun than Busted. Less attractive than her debut. But OK.
| Released | October 22, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Recorded | c. 2011–2012 |
| Studio |
|
| Genre | |
| Length | 65:09 |
| Label | |
| Producer |
|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "State of Grace" | Taylor Swift |
| 4:55 |
| 2. | "Red" | Swift |
| 3:43 |
| 3. | "Treacherous" |
| Wilson | 4:02 |
| 4. | "I Knew You Were Trouble" |
|
| 3:39 |
| 5. | "All Too Well" |
|
| 5:29 |
| 6. | "22" |
|
| 3:52 |
| 7. | "I Almost Do" | Swift |
| 4:04 |
| 8. | "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" |
|
| 3:13 |
| 9. | "Stay Stay Stay" | Swift |
| 3:25 |
| 10. | "The Last Time" (featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol) |
| Lee | 4:59 |
| 11. | "Holy Ground" | Swift | Jeff Bhasker | 3:22 |
| 12. | "Sad Beautiful Tragic" | Swift |
| 4:44 |
| 13. | "The Lucky One" | Swift | Bhasker | 4:00 |
| 14. | "Everything Has Changed" (featuring Ed Sheeran) |
| Butch Walker | 4:05 |
| 15. | "Starlight" | Swift |
| 3:40 |
| 16. | "Begin Again" | Swift |
| 3:57 |
| Total length: | 65:09 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | "The Moment I Knew" | Swift |
| 4:46 |
| 18. | "Come Back... Be Here" |
| Wilson | 3:43 |
| 19. | "Girl at Home" | Swift |
| 3:40 |
| 20. | "Treacherous" (original demo recording) |
| Wilson | 4:00 |
| 21. | "Red" (original demo recording) | Swift |
| 3:47 |
| 22. | "State of Grace" (acoustic version) | Swift |
| 5:23 |
| Total length: | 25:19 | |||
Various session musicians. Guests include Ed Sheeran
 |
| 1989 (2014) |
This is the one where she got into synth pop. There were seven singles released from the album:
"Shake It Off" is pleasant. "Wildest Dreams" is a bit Ed Sheeran. It's all quite soft and poppy and pleasant, but not arresting in any direction. Nothing really grabs. Though "Shake" has a good hook.
Ryan Adams did a cover of the entire album: 1989 (2015). It's an interesting, attractive and compelling album. Somewhat deeper, more resonant and satisfying that Swift's own. It's not a pop album. It's more rooted in country rock. And it kinda shows that Swift does write good songs, and if she wasn't dallying so much with pop in an apparent attempt to be more popular than Madonna, she could be a great and vibrant and meaningful artist. My feeling is that she is developing in the wrong direction. But then, I could just be one of the Luddites shouting "Judas" at her because she's gone poppy......
Lover (2019)
Folklore (2020)
Evermore (2020)
Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
Midnights (2022)
1989 (Taylor's Version) (2023)
| Released | October 27, 2014 |
|---|---|
| Studio | |
| Genre | Synth-pop |
| Length | 48:41 |
| Label | Big Machine |
| Producer |
|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Welcome to New York" |
| 3:32 | |
| 2. | "Blank Space" |
|
| 3:51 |
| 3. | "Style" |
|
| 3:51 |
| 4. | "Out of the Woods" |
|
| 3:55 |
| 5. | "All You Had to Do Was Stay" |
|
| 3:13 |
| 6. | "Shake It Off" |
|
| 3:39 |
| 7. | "I Wish You Would" |
|
| 3:27 |
| 8. | "Bad Blood" |
|
| 3:31 |
| 9. | "Wildest Dreams" |
|
| 3:40 |
| 10. | "How You Get the Girl" |
|
| 4:07 |
| 11. | "This Love" | Swift |
| 4:10 |
| 12. | "I Know Places" |
|
| 3:15 |
| 13. | "Clean" |
|
| 4:30 |
Various sessions musicians plus the individual producers
| Studio |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Length | 55:38 |
| Label | Big Machine |
| Producer |
|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "…Ready for It?" |
| 3:28 | |
| 2. | "End Game" (featuring Ed Sheeran and Future) |
| 4:04 | |
| 3. | "I Did Something Bad" |
|
| 3:58 |
| 4. | "Don't Blame Me" |
|
| 3:56 |
| 5. | "Delicate" |
|
| 3:52 |
| 6. | "Look What You Made Me Do" |
| 3:31 | |
| 7. | "So It Goes…" |
|
| 3:47 |
| 8. | "Gorgeous" |
|
| 3:29 |
| 9. | "Getaway Car" |
|
| 3:53 |
| 10. | "King of My Heart" |
|
| 3:34 |
| 11. | "Dancing with Our Hands Tied" |
|
| 3:31 |
| 12. | "Dress" |
|
| 3:50 |
| 13. | "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" |
|
| 3:27 |
| 14. | "Call It What You Want" |
|
| 3:23 |
| 15. | "New Year's Day" |
|
| 3:55 |
Lover (2019)
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
Folklore (2020)
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
Evermore (2020)
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
Midnights (2022)
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
Speak Now (Taylor's Version) (2023)
"Innocent" - both versions played simultaneously.
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
1989 (Taylor's Version) (2023)
Wikipedia
AllMusic:
Score:
Discography
Taylor Swift (2006)
Fearless (2008)
Speak Now (2010)
Red (2012)
1989 (2014)
Reputation (2017)
Lover (2019)
Folklore (2020)
Evermore (2020)
Midnights (2022)
Re-recorded albums
Fearless (2008)
Speak Now (2010)
Red (2012)
1989 (2014)
Reputation (2017)
Lover (2019)
Folklore (2020)
Evermore (2020)
Midnights (2022)
Re-recorded albums
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