Music: Taylor Swift dropping a sister album to Folklore tonight

[WeThreeKings]

I know this forum doesn't really love T. Swift and is more into the AC/DC style of music, but for those who are a fan of music and can appreciate how great Folklore was, this is pretty exciting to get another drop featuring Aaron Dessner of the National and Justin Vernon.

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[tarheelhockey]

I know this forum doesn't really love T. Swift and is more into the AC/DC style of music, but for those who are a fan of music and can appreciate how great Folklore was, this is pretty exciting to get another drop featuring Aaron Dessner of the National and Justin Vernon.

I don't dislike her necessarily. I just find it really hard to get excited about her. She's sort of a Carole King.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

I don't dislike her necessarily. I just find it really hard to get excited about her. She's sort of a Carole King.

Yeah, I don't think you need to be into AC/DC or be a certain way to not get into her music. She's largely bland, bubblegum pop that doesn't really have a distinct sensibility. To my ears anyways.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Yeah, I don't think you need to be into AC/DC or be a certain way to not get into her music. She's largely bland, bubblegum pop that doesn't really have a distinct sensibility. To my ears anyways.

And not even the kind of pop that forces you to have a strong opinion one way or another, like Nicki Minaj. Taylor Swift's just kind of... there. The Toyota Corolla of music.

To her credit, she does seem to have staying power and an ability to make herself relevant. Hard to believe this, but we're coming up on 14 years since she released "Teardrops on My Guitar". In the meantime she seems to have barely aged and barely strayed from the musical formula. She just keeps churning 'em out.

I think Swift makes an interesting contrast with Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, who emerged around the same time with a similar pop appeal, and have matured and changed much more dramatically since then.

 

[Rodgerwilco]

I think my fiancée got upset this morning when I said I couldn't bring myself to care that Swift is releasing another album. Not that hard to crank out album after album when you stick with the same musical formula and have basically unlimited industry resources, along with a pandemic.

 

[SirClintonPortis]

I know this forum doesn't really love T. Swift and is more into the AC/DC style of music, but for those who are a fan of music and can appreciate how great Folklore was, this is pretty exciting to get another drop featuring Aaron Dessner of the National and Justin Vernon.

AC/DC had a certain Robert "Mutt" Lange produce some of their biggest hits. That same Mutt Lange that produced some of Shania Twain's biggest hits, and Shania's music was one of Taylor's biggest inspirations.

That fella is one of the modern music geniuses in the world.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

And not even the kind of pop that forces you to have a strong opinion one way or another, like Nicki Minaj. Taylor Swift's just kind of... there. The Toyota Corolla of music.

To her credit, she does seem to have staying power and an ability to make herself relevant. Hard to believe this, but we're coming up on 14 years since she released "Teardrops on My Guitar". In the meantime she seems to have barely aged and barely strayed from the musical formula. She just keeps churning 'em out.

I think Swift makes an interesting contrast with Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus, who emerged around the same time with a similar pop appeal, and have matured and changed much more dramatically since then.

I think the major difference between Taylor Swift and the other two is that, in short, Swift is a way better actress. Cyrus and Bieber just screamed 'try-hard' and edgy in the most poseurish ways for the longest time (and so far as I can tell, still do?) whereas Swift who always gave me a try-hard impression as well but in a different, slicker, more family-friendly but with a well-calculated tinge of a ever so slight transgressive quality that the public at large loves to eat up that's allowed her to keep a lot of good-will. That whole genre of music is to me, less than appealing to say the least (even when people say they matured and their music is now more 'adult'), but the gaming of popular culture I've always found fairly fascinating, especially considering how long it's gone on through different public figures across different era's. It's forever and in the past 10 years has really changed to add a social/progressive aspect that has muddied the waters even more.

 

[SirClintonPortis]

I think my fiancée got upset this morning when I said I couldn't bring myself to care that Swift is releasing another album. Not that hard to crank out album after album when you stick with the same musical formula and have basically unlimited industry resources, along with a pandemic.

Folklore and this album doesn't use the same formula as their immediate predecessor. This information is there in writing, so listening is not necessary(I have not bothered to listen either, but some assumptions need to be corrected)

 

[Rodgerwilco]

Folklore and this album doesn't use the same formula as their immediate predecessor. This information is there in writing, so listening is not necessary(I have not bothered to listen either, but some assumptions need to be corrected)

Our conversation was more in the context of talking about the amount of content Swift has churned out over her career, not necessarily on this specific album.

Edit to fix "Over her career"

 

[tarheelhockey]

I think the major difference between Taylor Swift and the other two is that, in short, Swift is a way better actress. Cyrus and Bieber just screamed 'try-hard' and edgy in the most poseurish ways for the longest time (and so far as I can tell, still do?) whereas Swift who always gave me a try-hard impression as well but in a different, slicker, more family-friendly but with a well-calculated tinge of a ever so slight transgressive quality that the public at large loves to eat up that's allowed her to keep a lot of good-will.

I think it's mostly just that Bieber and Cyrus were initially aimed at younger children, which always leads to vicious blowback. Typically that leads to the aforementioned "edgy" phase as a way of breaking into the adult music market, which more often than not amplifies the blowback to an even higher level.

Whereas Taylor Swift was initially marketed as adult-listenable "coming of age" music for teenagers, which is far less offensive on the front end, so therefore she never really needed to change very much on the back end. Her music started off as pop-country, then shifted slightly away from the country element, but has always retained the quality of being Basic White Girl music. If Bieber started off as a Yoo-Hoo and grew up to be a vodka/Red Bull, Swift has been a Pumpkin Spice Latte since day 1.

the gaming of popular culture I've always found fairly fascinating, especially considering how long it's gone on through different public figures across different era's.

On a related note, one thing I find interesting is that in at least a couple of cases, Swift appears to have taken common internet phrases and used them as the core phrasing for her lyrics (here and here). That's like... anti-songwriting. Basically just taking a meme and repackaging it as a song that is designed to get re-memed.

 

[Osprey]

What's wrong with liking AC/DC and Taylor Swift?

Honestly, I started listening to Folklore when it was released and still haven't finished it. Each time that she re-invents her musical style, I like it less. I'll finish it and listen to the sister album, and then listen to each a couple more times (because I often don't appreciate songs on the first listen), but I'm much more of a fan of her earlier songs (before she traded in country for the Big Apple).

 

[ghostnights]

I just hope it's as good as Folklore. I find her releases to be very hit and miss.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Once she started opening her mouth to talk politics she quickly went downhill. Stick to making music and quit trying to mold the minds of your younger fans.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I didn't expect the AC/DC comment to take on so much attention

All I meant is that I know the musical sensibilities of a large portion of the entertainment forum doesn't typically lean into the realm of Taylor Swift, so this announcement may not hold much weight with a majority, but for those who do enjoy her music its a pretty intriguing development.

My favorite bands are Tool, Deftones and The Mars Volta, so Taylor Swift is far outside of my musical sensibilities too and I definitely held a lot of the earlier stated opinions on her music until 1989 came out.

1989 is actually a remarkable pop album and is arguably one of the best pop albums ever done. The production and layering of rhythms, sounds and melodies is a stroke of genius. It made me go back and revisit her catalogue and find out that there is a lot of really good content, even on the earlier bubblegum stuff. Really, she has mastered making some poppy, radio friendly, stuff that appeals and gets people to buy in and its in the grit of the album where her good material is.

But even if you didn't like 1989 and other offerings, Folklore really is completely different. She definitely isn't formulaic on the majority of her music (radio hits excluded) and I don't think you get to partner with Aaron Dessner of The National and Justin Vernon to create not one, but two albums, if you lack substance, depth and musical value.

The National and Bon Iver basically dominate a genre that is outside of Taylor Swifts musical journey prior to Folklore and they were excited to partner and collaborate to conceive these albums. I think that does make a statement about the quality of music that she has and can create. Neither of those bands need the added attention of the Taylor Swift fan base and even if they did, I don't know if it would resonate with them in a meaningful way to make it a marketing ploy.

And.. she absolutely can use her platform and fame to speak politically and talk about issues that are relevant to her. That is within her rights and nobody should be told to stick to sports, or music, or whatever else because you don't like what they have to say. She is passionate about women's rights and if she wants to promote political candidates that are also pro-women's rights, she gets to do that.

 

[MetalheadPenguinsFan]

Oh goody!! Yet another album of her whining about her ex’s or whatever

 

[member 51464]

Once she started opening her mouth to talk politics she quickly went downhill. Stick to making music and quit trying to mold the minds of your younger fans.

Are any public figures allowed to use their platform to share their political views? If yes, why not her? If no, how should people have their opinions shaped?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Are any public figures allowed to use their platform to share their political views? If yes, why not her? If no, how should people have their opinions shaped?

I dont know, maybe listen to the different sides and making their own opinions? They need Taylor swift, who has no knowledge of politics, to tell them how to think? If i need a good heartbreak song, i’ll ask for her advice.

 

[member 51464]

I dont know, maybe listen to the different sides and making their own opinions? They need Taylor swift, who has no knowledge of politics, to tell them how to think? If i need a good heartbreak song, i’ll ask for her advice.

So it really isn't that she shared her views that bothered you. Only that she does not have the same politics as you. Got it.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

So it really isn't that she shared her views that bothered you. Only that she does not have the same politics as you. Got it.

Guess this conversation is too difficult for you to understand. Have a great night.

 

[Beau Knows]

Once she started opening her mouth to talk politics she quickly went downhill. Stick to making music and quit trying to mold the minds of your younger fans.

Lmao what a baby

 

[DingDongCharlie]

So it really isn't that she shared her views that bothered you. Only that she does not have the same politics as you. Got it.

Im not even convinced she’s simply sharing her views as much as cashing in on attempting to be their unofficial celebrity spokes person. When she came out with the documentary about speaking her truth etc I couldn’t be convinced this wasn't her teams agenda to keep her bland just there persona in the mainstream of current teen pop culture.

 

[sr edler]

Can't be a coincidence both Taylor and JT are standing outside in the woods on their latest albums? Budding middle age crises?

I listened to (most of) Folklore yesterday and found a lot of it kinda boring. The Last Great American Dynasty though is a catchy song (although with a kinda annoying message that women always get blamed for everything, which I don't think is true) and I like Swift when she's making catchy pop songs. I think she's a great artist at her best, just like Ed Sheeran is a great artist at his best. Everything doesn't have to be artsy.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

edit - Nevermind, not worth it.

 

[K Fleur]

Taylor Swift makes Starbucks music.

 

[JetsWillFly4Ever]

Folklore is an incredible album, haven't listened to this one yet.

I don't think you listen to Taylor Swift if you say she hasn't changed as an artist. She went from country, to full out pop to now indie type music. Her sound is no where near the same as it was when she was making country albums.

Also complaining about her politics is hilarious lol conservatives loved her until she said DT was the idiot he is.