As a 30-something woman who shares Taylor Swift‘s love for cats and independence, I have to admit that her music has become a significant part of my life. Growing up, I was never the gutsy eleven-year-old flying to Nashville with demo tapes; instead, I spent my days dreaming about it from the comfort of my suburban home. But Taylor’s success and resilience in the face of adversity have always been inspiring.
This summer just concluded, I enjoyed an unforgettable time with Taylor Swift at her groundbreaking Eras Tour. The second night she played at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh marked my first Taylor Swift concert since 2008, when I started listening to her music. The entire experience was remarkably dreamlike and ranks among the top concerts I’ve attended.
I cannot deny, though, that the way the Eras Tour has caused Swift Mania to take over has left me feeling conflicted about how much we idolize celebrities like Taylor Swift, and choose to love them unabashedly without room for nuance. While I enjoy identifying as a fan, I’m reluctant to throw myself into it so wholeheartedly without pause for critical thought.
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (Alice’s Version)
Experiencing live music, especially pop concerts, offers an exceptional feeling that you can’t find anywhere else. The ambiance is usually filled with warmth and acceptance, making it a unique space where people express themselves freely. It’s about sharing a hidden layer of joy and companionship, belting out lyrics about past relationships; skillfully drawing on eyeliner strong enough to intimidate anyone; exchanging friendship tokens, and eagerly anticipating the surprise track that Taylor might play.
I had an amazing time singing every last lyric to my favorite song “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” with my whole chest, and attempting to nail all the dance moves from the Reputation era. I loved pulling on my cowboy boots, and lived for seeing two of my favorite acts Paramore and Taylor Swift back-to-back like my own personalized music festival. I was one of hundreds of thousands of fans turning out to the Eras Tour to help Taylor break record after record, so I get why it’s difficult not to feel swept up in the feeling that Taylor is some divine, untouchable being.
It’s important to remember, though, that Taylor Swift is in fact a multifaceted, flawed human being. Perhaps more importantly, ‘Taylor Swift’ is also a brand and a business. And there are areas of that business model that leave me feeling icky.
It’s hard not to ponder about the potential earnings of the ongoing Eras Tour, which are estimated to surpass a staggering $1.93 billion by Forbes, across 121 out of its total 149 stops. This is more than four times the revenue generated during Taylor’s last tour in 2018. Despite having 96 more dates on this tour compared to her Reputation Tour (which had just 53 dates), when you factor in the 56 shows Taylor performed in 2023, the Eras Tour has already earned $780 million, marking a significant 125% increase from the Reputation Tour’s box office total of $345.7 million. In essence, based on ticket sales alone, it’s evident that Taylor’s popularity is on a steady rise.
Based on my observations, it’s common for many artists to raise their ticket prices as their tours progress. This is due to factors like inflation, but it’s also influenced by a significant 34% increase in costs since the pandemic.
Apart from acknowledging that the Eras Tour was exceptional, lasting over 3.5 hours and featuring her entire discography (which is usually twice as long as most headline sets), it didn’t feel hard to rationalize the £171.96 I shelled out for my Murrayfield ticket (priced lower than the UK average of £206, according to Barclays reports). Add to that the expenses for travel, accommodation, meals, and an outfit fitting the era, naturally. To put it simply, it was a unique event for me. Although costly, I considered it worth every penny. However, what bothers me is Taylor Swift’s business strategy that seems relentless in its pursuit of more.
Take the Midnights clock for instance. Four different versions of the album were released, as well as the components to build an actual clock – the only difference being the covers pieced together to make a clock face. And it wasn’t just Midnights. Every release since has come in a variety of vinyl color pressings and “collectable” album covers. The Tortured Poets Department famously offered different exclusive tracks depending on which iteration you chose, with fans obviously wishing to hear every song, encouraging the need to buy more and more. And it’s not dissimilar fans spending more than £400 on VIP packages.
In the United Kingdom, access to the area around the stage during concerts is on a first-come, first-served basis, without assigned seating – unlike in America. This means that VIP ticket holders get early entry, while those with general admission (GA) tickets can try to move closer to the front despite paying half the price. However, it’s important to note that Ticketmaster has faced numerous problems, particularly in the U.S., but Taylor Swift deserves recognition for her decision not to employ dynamic pricing for ticket sales to her “The Eras Tour,” a struggle many fans experienced when trying to secure tickets.
It’s undeniable that we live in an era characterized by extreme consumerism and capitalism, yet I understand everyone has the right to spend their earnings as they see fit. However, it does make me uneasy when a cultural phenomenon like Swift Mania, which appeals to all age groups, particularly captures the interest of a younger audience who might be more susceptible to peer pressure and feel compelled to buy more merchandise to show support for someone who, let’s admit, is already financially well-off.
Taylor doesn’t compel us to spend our money, but it’s hard to ignore that she knows her fans will likely buy what she offers. Similarly, male counterparts don’t face the same intensity of examination, and although I hesitate to criticize a woman who is exceptionally skilled in her music and business endeavors, I must admit I’m torn about this whole situation. Indeed, my feelings are quite complex.
OK, But Is Taylor Swift Actually Patti Smith?
Over the past several years, Taylor Swift has not only expanded her fame and wealth, but also sparked increased analysis and discussion among critics. Many universities worldwide challenge their students to delve into the intricacies of her music catalog.
In the well-known track on her album titled “The Tortured Poets Department,” Taylor Swift penned, “You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith” – but does that hold water? To clarify, she’s certainly not the grunge artist who surged to prominence in the 1970s. However, is she deserving of the same profound literary acclaim bestowed upon artists like Patti Smith? Or is this an instance of celebrity elevation beyond its limits? This raises intriguing questions about the nature and boundaries of artistic merit.
Dr. Clio Doyle oversees a 150-hour course titled “Taylor Swift and Literature” at Queen Mary University of London, where students ponder whether Taylor Swift’s work qualifies as literature.
When I conversed with Dr. Doyle, naturally he didn’t provide a straightforward response to that query – you’d need to enroll in the course to form your own opinion. Regarding what sets Taylor Swift apart and warrants deeper critical analysis compared to her contemporaries, Dr. Doyle explained:
I find Swift’s writing intriguing from a formal perspective, notably her unique choice of vocabulary, repetition of words, and subtle variations in the use of metaphors across different periods of time.
Additionally, they discussed the extensive scope of Swift’s literary works, likening it to that of William Shakespeare’s.
Pondering this, we can say that if only a single play by Shakespeare remained, it wouldn’t be as enjoyable to analyze him because we wouldn’t be able to make as many links between the plays and observe how his writing style evolved over time. On the other hand, Swift has reached a point where there is enough of her work available for us to delve deeply into her creations.
Dr. Doyle proposed an intriguing thought: although the class doesn’t pass judgment on whether Swift’s work is excellent or not, much like fans would, it can be observed that enthusiasts and critics alike delve deeply into analyzing Taylor’s collection of works, similar to how one might scrutinize literature in a classroom setting. Here, Taylor serves as a platform for engaging in discussions and critiques about what constitutes literature as a whole.
Here’s a suggestion for paraphrasing: Let’s inspire fans to analyze not only Taylor Swift’s music but also her persona and image as a brand. Engaging deeply with her work can be enriched when esteemed institutions offer insights into the pop culture sphere, thereby fostering a more thoughtful fan experience.
My main thought boils down to this: Could it be that only Taylor Swift, with her privileged status, is worthy of analysis within her industry, or are there others from underrepresented groups who could contribute to the ongoing conversation about what constitutes literature? In other words, is a course like Dr. Doyle’s merely catering to popular demand and capitalizing on the trend of celebrity culture, or is it smartly maintaining currency and relevance by doing so?
Taylor Swift Is Doing It For “Childless Cat Ladies” Everywhere
What’s preventing me from fleeing Swift Mania quickly, using an escape vehicle, due to my strong disagreement with Taylor Swift’s business strategies and her influence in popular culture?
To put it simply, Taylor Swift and I share very few common traits. I am not a renowned singer-songwriter nor did I, at the age of eleven, boldly travel to Nashville to hand out my demo tapes to record labels. Yet, in an odd way, her life and accomplishments make me feel recognized and validated.
It struck me that when Taylor Swift ended a post on Instagram that had political undertones with ‘Childless Cat Lady’, she represents independent, empowered women. As a woman in her thirties, Taylor isn’t married and doesn’t have kids, but instead cherishes her feline companions. This resonates deeply with someone like me who is single, surrounded by loved ones who are married with children, yet shares the same love for cats.
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)
A photo posted by on
It’s important to clarify that just because the women in my life may follow more traditional paths in their careers or personal lives, it doesn’t make them any less accomplished or valuable. Similarly, I still aspire for those things, but I relate to Taylor Swift in her pursuit of independence and self-fulfillment rather than compromising her identity for a presumed fairy tale ending. Her lyrics hint at a woman who values her individuality over conforming to societal expectations of marriage or settling down, which is something I admire.
In a world that sometimes seems tailored for duos, powerhouses like Taylor Swift inspire me to embrace joy and satisfaction, whether solo or not. There must be countless other unsung heroines, equally gifted, carving their paths, but I can’t help but see a piece of myself in them – a reminder that I, too, can find my niche, like turning cat-love into the essence of my identity. At least, this gives me hope that I can be as unique and cherished as they are.
Is Taylor Swift Ruining Our Lives?
In some fan communities, it can feel like there’s an expectation that fans should love unconditionally, or else they may be questioned about their loyalty.
Regarding music, the musicians who resonate strongly with me are those who compose their own tunes and write lyrics that seem strikingly relatable. So yes, I’m quite fond of Taylor Swift. However, there are aspects of her that I don’t completely align with: the frequent merchandise promotions, specific legal decisions she has made, and perhaps the fact that she doesn’t frequently express opinions on social and political issues.
She holds a significant impact, demonstrated by her success in persuading over 400,000 people to register and vote during the recent presidential election. A part of me longs for her to voice her opinions more frequently on global matters. Regrettably, it seems that our world has reached a point where we rely on celebrities and those with extensive influence to stir our interest in crucial issues.
Similarly, while many of us might hold Taylor Swift and other celebrities in high regard, it’s not guaranteed that our views will always be aligned with hers. Just as swiftly as we might desire her to express her opinions, we could just as suddenly wish she hadn’t said anything at all. After all, who knows?
It’s great when our favorite celebrities share similar values as us. We expect them to live up to our standards, yet sometimes they may fall short. Being a fan is exciting and I eagerly anticipate Taylor Swift’s next move. However, it’s important to remember that admiration doesn’t necessarily equate to agreement on every action. While I cherish being a fangirl, I also believe that true fandom involves acknowledging an artist’s imperfections alongside their talents.
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2024-12-06 23:37