Taylor Swift

[thyme]

As someone who remembers the Beatles arriving in NY in 1964 to screaming crowds of young women, I've wondered that myself. I don't get "Taylormania", but she clearly makes millions of people happy. That is no small feat in today's world. And even if they're not groundbreaking, I'll admit I find some of her songs quite catchy. Sir Paul certainly seems to enjoy her music.

Well said!

I have to add I didn't recognise Mr. Jon Bon Jovi when I saw him in the tent. Kept saying to my friend there's a guy rocking a pretty pink cap with sunnies on - wondered who he is! I only found out in the news later that it was him 🤣🤣 Him in a pink cap??!

I saw Phoebe Waller Bridge and Andrew Scott and didn't know who they were at the time. Saw their pics in the news after..

 

[Jayne1]

As mentioned above, Dave Grohl's daughter wrote a tweet saying something like, "why can't she drive more" referring to Swift taking her PJ to travel around the way the rest of us use a car.

Swift's fans went... vicious as only the Swifties can do. Death threats, that sort of thing. Someone criticized their idol's excessive carbon footprint which deserves a brutal and savage backlash.

I also was a huge Beatles fan back in the day, but did we threaten violence when someone criticized George? I don't think so, we were just silly lovesick kids.

 

[LibbyRuth]

I’m sure it comes from a place of frustration, but there’s obviously a good amount of sour grapes thrown in. Musicians like Grohl see Taylor as being a cookie cutter pop star who sings her simple pop songs and for some unfathomable reason is receiving insane adoration and acclaim from millions of fans worldwide (and the media.) The Foo Fighters were big in their day but even at their peak they never had anything close to that.

Fame isn’t always about who is the most talented. Grohl needs to keep quiet, otherwise he risks looking petty and spiteful.

Dave has said some very nice things about Taylor in the past. He's told a story on several talk shows (it may be in his book also) about being at a party with Paul McCartney, being asked to sing and being incredibly nervous, and Taylor stepping in to help him out and doing a great job. He also went to see the Eras tour in LA and raved about it after.
I think this is a protective father making sure the wrath of her fans is directed to him rather than his daughter. Taylor should shake it off.

 

[piperdog]

As mentioned above, Dave Grohl's daughter wrote a tweet saying something like, "why can't she drive more" referring to Swift taking her PJ to travel around the way the rest of us use a car.

Swift's fans went... vicious as only the Swifties can do. Death threats, that sort of thing. Someone criticized their idol's excessive carbon footprint which deserves a brutal and savage backlash.

I also was a huge Beatles fan back in the day, but did we threaten violence when someone criticized George? I don't think so, we were just silly lovesick kids.

There was also the hypocrisy of Violet (?) Grohl's tweet because Dave goes on at length in his book sharing the sweet story of how he flew back to LA from Australia to take her to a daddy/daughter dance at school when she was little. Then flew back again for his next show. The whole round trip was in a 36? hour period. It was a great story, but that made it cringe-inducing for her to comment about Swift's travel. A world tour (like Foo Fighters are on right now, too) is going to leave a large carbon footprint.

All of that said, death threats and excessive backlash are, of course, unnecessary.

 

[protein_]

TBF, her concerts are, like, 3.5 hours long...

Should she really be expected to sing for that long while running up and down half a football field length catwalk? I imagine she does some songs live and for others she has a track.

I don't think Dave was looking to start something with her/Swifties, tbh - just a self-deprecating joke that was spun by the press for clicks.

 

[LavenderIce]

Someone needs to explain the mass hysteria.

I understand her filling up stadiums to a point, she's relatable because she sings about BFs who just don't appreciate her. Apparently she's a good performer, very energetic on stage and some of her songs are catchy. She's prolific and also very tall and pretty... but Dave Grohl just made fun of her by insinuating she doesn't sing live.

I read her small vocal range works in her favour, because it's easy for her fans to sing along.

But what makes her so huge compared to other artists who do the same?

It's a cult.

I watched the Max two part documentary Bad Blood and the fans explained their connection to her and her music. They felt her music was the soundtrack to their lives. And, she was present, "accessible" by attending her fan's engagement parties and listening parties.

 

[charlottawill]

It's a cult.

I watched the Max two part documentary Bad Blood and the fans explained their connection to her and her music. They felt her music was the soundtrack to their lives. And, she was present, "accessible" by attending her fan's engagement parties and listening parties.

I SMH when I see adult women sobbing because they could't get tickets to her show.

 

[bisbee]

I understand pre-teens, teenagers and young women loving her (though NOT to the extent of threatening violence), but I am still perplexed at many adult women idolizing her. But, to each their own!

 

[Swanky]

She's an entertainer!
I'm not a fan, so I don't "get it", but I get it lol
I love other artists because their lyrics or music resonates with me, so I get that. I don't fan over celebs, athletes or others, so that part I don't get, but it's not my place and I don't care lol

She's pretty clean so it's an easy activity for lots of parents and kids, and the kids that have grown up listening, seem to be fans forever. It's pretty remarkable.

My friends and I took my now 23 yr old DD and her besties when they were around 11. A relatively unknown Ed Sheeran opened for her with just his guitar, I loved him more leaving that night tbh. That was a HUGE sold out arena that night, her longevity is amazing.

 

[LittleStar88]

TBF, her concerts are, like, 3.5 hours long...

Should she really be expected to sing for that long while running up and down half a football field length catwalk? I imagine she does some songs live and for others she has a track.

I don't think Dave was looking to start something with her/Swifties, tbh - just a self-deprecating joke that was spun by the press for clicks.

I have no idea what she’s actually doing on tour, but sounds like she trained for singing and all the things for the whole set.

Taylor Swift Shares Her Eras Tour Workout and Self-Care Regimen

Swift’s Eras Tour requires physical, mental, and emotional fortitude from the artist.

time.com

I think she and Travis are a good match in this regard. They understand and support each other’s fitness and health needs as required for their jobs.

I think Swifties can be pretty unhinged. I don’t get that level of fandom where you collectively attack and take down someone just because someone said something disagreeable about their star. It’s weird to me. But I see that happening in a lot of things these days (politics, etc) like a bizarre tribal mentality.

 

[bag-mania]

Fandoms in the social media age are nuts. They feed off of each other’s insanity.

I’m indifferent to Taylor as a performer. She has some really catchy tunes that get in your head. She won’t be at the top level of fame forever, but she’s had enough endurance where her music is the soundtrack for a generation, maybe two generations.

Even when her popularity inevitably wanes, she’ll always be in demand to some extent. If nothing else, in 10-20 years the nostalgia factor will kick in among the fans who grew up with her.

 

[kipp]

I have no idea what she’s actually doing on tour, but sounds like she trained for singing and all the things for the whole set.

Taylor Swift Shares Her Eras Tour Workout and Self-Care Regimen

Swift’s Eras Tour requires physical, mental, and emotional fortitude from the artist.

time.com

I think she and Travis are a good match in this regard. They understand and support each other’s fitness and health needs as required for their jobs.

I think Swifties can be pretty unhinged. I don’t get that level of fandom where you collectively attack and take down someone just because someone said something disagreeable about their star. It’s weird to me. But I see that happening in a lot of things these days (politics, etc) like a bizarre tribal mentality.

I've read that she trains for concerts by singing the entire set on a treadmill---slower walking or running for slower songs and faster running for faster songs. It's about 3 hours of this---incredible!

 

[A1aGypsy]

I think Swifties can be pretty unhinged. I don’t get that level of fandom where you collectively attack and take down someone just because someone said something disagreeable about their star. It’s weird to me. But I see that happening in a lot of things these days (politics, etc) like a bizarre tribal mentality.

I think you are really onto something here. We are pack animals. We thrive on connection. As our world becomes more insular, I think people are trying to find community and, more importantly, belonging anywhere they can.

 

[protein_]

I have no idea what she’s actually doing on tour, but sounds like she trained for singing and all the things for the whole set.

Taylor Swift Shares Her Eras Tour Workout and Self-Care Regimen

Swift’s Eras Tour requires physical, mental, and emotional fortitude from the artist.

time.com

I think she and Travis are a good match in this regard. They understand and support each other’s fitness and health needs as required for their jobs.

I think Swifties can be pretty unhinged. I don’t get that level of fandom where you collectively attack and take down someone just because someone said something disagreeable about their star. It’s weird to me. But I see that happening in a lot of things these days (politics, etc) like a bizarre tribal mentality.

1000000% - I've tried even speedwalking and singing her setlist out loud, I lasted like one song.

Have so much respect for her career, music, and her athletic capabilities, hahaha.

As much as I identify with being a Swiftie, I agree, many are unhinged...

It can be like, you prefer some of the non-Taylor's Version songs more than TV? You're stealing! You enjoy John Mayer's music? How could you!... and don't even think about respecting Jake Gyllenhaal as an actor...!

Her rise in popularity, IMO, is due to the pandemic, two "surprise" albums during it, re-recordings that made old fans renewed fans and brought in people who became fans due to folklore and evermore, and then the Eras Tour/FOMO associated with not going - I'd even say Barbie movie played a role with making last summer & The Eras Tour so unabashedly and unapologetically "girl power-y!"

 

[LittleStar88]

I think you are really onto something here. We are pack animals. We thrive on connection. As our world becomes more insular, I think people are trying to find community and, more importantly, belonging anywhere they can.

I feel like it really became a big thing with social media and Facebook. I mean, big artists had mega fans but they didn’t behave like pack animals.

Mariah Carey has her Lambies, Beyonce has the Beyhive… But the Swifties are a different breed. All I can think is they have this need to protect her since she’s shown more vulnerability and gets picked on in ways that differ from most artists.