Taylor Swift Band • Page 86

I don't have access at work (no speakers) - got a synopsis?

 

jumping on the top 5 wagon

-all too well
-sparks fly
-wonderland
-treacherous
-state of grace

honorable mentions to: fearless, dear john, and new romantics

 

What's everyone's thoughts on the deep cut "Crazier"?

I actually love it.

 

I only listened to the first 20 minutes or so, but in that time they essentially blamed Taylor for Trump getting elected.

 

*heavy sigh*

I wish she'd use her platform as much as anyone, but that's not even a reach. That's an outright leap off a canyon ledge.

(Side note: I think the "Swift probably voted for Trump" is the most irritatingly irrational hot take I've seen so far (which is no small feat) given that everything we know about her makes her the quintessential "I'm with her" problematic white feminist. It just... doesn't logically track.)

 

How much of the alt-right and Nazi support of Taylor is there, actually? I know Breitbart was tweeting her lyrics and Stormfront or whatever has a ton of stuff praising her lately but is it like, actually a movement that warrants her publicly denouncing them? I saw a few headlines about it but I don't know how much it's actually happening.

 

you are in love
holy ground
last kiss
teardrops on my guitar
ronan

 

Can't Shake It Off: How Taylor Swift Became a Nazi Idol

But I don't think she has any reason to say something necessarily

 

She has black men dancing in tights and high heels in her latest music video. Even on a very microvisual level, it's clear she's not someone they'd actually support.

Pretty clear case of them using the roll out to steal clicks.

 

I agree. When I said I wish she'd use her platform, I meant it as more of a general thing, not necessarily that she specifically ought to prove she doesn't support Trump.

 

Oh I agree, her not being an ally is noticable

 

I just feel like...it's weird to act like you're entitled to anyone's political statement, you know? If she wants to go on record and say something publicly, that's awesome, but it's totally her choice. And I know it's an uncomfortable thing in country music, even if she's not currently a "country" artist.

 

One of my faves tbh! I think it was on my top 5 when we'd rank on ap lol

 

Which is why I've never felt comfortable piling on about it publicly, especially when so much of the discourse surrounding it is coming from people who want her to be the devil incarnate, or people who are just as problematic and seem to want her to be the distraction/scapegoat. It would be nice if she spoke - but I also understand the decision not to and I don't think it should be as controversial as it is, given that she HAS allowed her money to speak on issues that matter to her.

A large part of activism is performative now more than ever, especially among celebrities, and it's very hard to know what kind of impact that actually does or does not have on the public. That said, the disappointment in her silence from disenfranchised communities is also reasonable and there's room for that discussion, as she's chosen to make feminism a core tenet of her persona. She has certainly made some pretty cringeworthy missteps (as have we all) in the past few years, although the resulting discourse has had a tendency to lean towards hyperbole to the extent that it is completely unhelpful and impossible to have a real conversation about it unless everyone involved agrees 100% with each other on whether she's the devil or not.

A lot of what's been laid at her door isn't her fault, and that makes it very complicated to expect any kind of real accountability for the stuff that IS on her, especially since internet discourse tends to be a zero sum game. I don't know what the answer is. I'm just hoping the album rips.

 

It's in my top 6 ;) haha

 

I don't think she owes anyone a public statement on her stances at all. But as she's talked more about feminism and encouraged voting and come off a sexual assault trial, a neutral stance feels like a missed opportunity since she's introducing politics into her image anyway. I'm sure so many of her fans come from white households that likely voted Trump or are Republican, and introducing even more critical thinking to her fans feels like something that could be valuable. Even just telling Breitbart to fuck themselves (in a Taylor way) for tweeting her lyrics would be dope or some nicely written statement that mentions how what she's been through with sexual assault is part of a systemic problem embodied by the President of the United States would probably mean a lot. She has a right to do what she likes and disclose what she likes about herself, and influence a lot of young white girls who would be benefited by hearing someone they idolize saying something like that. Again, she introduced politics into her image, to then be publicly silent or neutral is irksome. I have the same criticisms of any neutral white celebrity who "doesn't talk politics" but then piped up after Charlottesville like "Nazis are bad! This isn't the America I know!" It's like, this happens because white people can ignore it. The bar is so low, I sort of roll my eyes when celebrities don't even try to pass it or play it tepid and uber safe. But that's because of this political climate more than something I hold against Taylor specifically, even if I've been hard on her.

 

I think the hyperbole is what gets me. Implying (or overtly suggesting) that we "got Trump" because she didn't speak out is insane. Could she have changed some people's minds? I don't know? Maybe? I feel like most of the Trump-leaning people I've encountered are disgruntled with celebrities trying to tell them what to do or how to think. I'm not sure if she could have reached those people, but I am pretty sure she would have hurt her career trying to do so. And I know that seems like weighing "good of the country" against "Taylor Swift album sales," but she's a businesswoman! I can't fault her for making the decision she made.

Anyway, I am also hoping the album rips.

 

Given the transparent and aggressively racist and sexist and hateful and bigoted person Trump was, if I were certain a rich person prioritized album sales over speaking out against it, I would absolutely fault them for that. Not that I think Swift would have swayed the election.

 

also we fault businesspeople for decisions they make all the time. i too don't think taylor would have swayed the election regardless, and not to say she definitely should have said more, but i don't think its too harsh a criticism, especially given how successful she already is.

 

I think Taylor didn't speak out so that she wouldn't irk or put off (potential) listeners, which I do think is a good financial decision. I do see points in the arguments about her being an outspoken feminist at certain points and remaining silent in others. I definitely think celebrities have the right to voice their opinions, but I also respect it being their choice to do so or remain silent.

 

Anyone who actually believes Trump would've lost if Taylor Swift had endorsed Hillary is very dumb and naive. Celebrity endorsements clearly meant nothing in that election anyway. If Jay-Z and Beyonce couldn't help sway the outcome, nothing could've.

 

Maybe because that's not necessarily a quality I admire, but when people bring up others being good businesspeople I'm like meh who cares lol. Like I know it takes intelligence and savvy that I do not possess but idk like congrats u got capitalism to work heavily in ur favor do you wanna trophy. Well I guess the millions of dollars is the trophy. When people build empires and stuff I just think its kinda gross honestly. Like I know they earned it or whatever but nobody needs that much money so it just seems tacky to me but idk maybe if someone offers me a few million I'll change my mind!! OK tangent over.

I'm so glad I switched my major from business cause clearly its not my deal lol

 

Cold as you
Fearless
Dear John
Sparks fly
All too well

I think.

 

I wish a rich person would just give me like 1 million. They wouldn't even miss it and I'd just be happy with that.

 

I'd make it last a life time that 1 million haha.