WHY TAYLOR SWIFT IS QUEEN OF THIS BUSINESS
The other day, Big Ed mentioned the new Taylor Swift video, SHAKE IT OFF. I watched just a few seconds of the video because frankly I was just WORN OUT ON SONGS, and couldn't deal with it at that time. Today, I have seen some news reports about her being RASCIST, and I had to go check it out.
MY GOD!!! I HAVE NEVER SEEN PEOPLE GET SOMETHING SO WRONG AS THEY DO TAYLOR SWIFT.
While, I was concentrating on the "pop' nature, of the song, and responding to what Phil was talking about, "will country radio embrace it?", I missed the entire point of that video. And Taylor, and how she plays into EXACTLY WHAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT.
That video is stunning, and just like her, makes a million points by doing. Not only is it not any bullshit thing like Racist (Here we go again, EVERY THING IS RACIST!) She celebrates diversity but POKES FUN AT HERSELF AND THE PEOPLE WHO HATE HER. What a GREAT WAY TO DO IT. It ties into a lot of my current thinking.
I am sick and tired of the ABSOLUTE HATE on FACEBOOK. Even friends of mine have turned totally insane and I am sick and tired of seeing it, reading it, hearing it. It makes me want to really re-assess my "friends" and get rid of more than a few.
NO ONE has been more dissmissed, dissed, ridiculed and written off than TAYLOR SWIFT. And each time, she uses it to reinvent herself and the format. She says things in the press that are dead on and shows why she is so far ahead of anyone else in their understanding of the culture and how to use that to her advantage. And she is REAL.
She said a few weeks ago that Autographs from celebrities are now a thing of the past. Everyone is taking SELFIES WITH THE ARTIST, and that has replaced the signature. Sure enough, now at every major concert, there are people taking pictures of themselves, with the artist they are watching in the background.
She said two days ago that the lines are being blurred between pop, rock, rap, country. And she is right. If you want to really take an interesting look at things, look at the current country play list, and see the different styles of country out there. Pop country, rock country, folk elements of country, rap and hip hop, and humor. Can you say that in ANY OTHER CATAGORY? I sometimes listen "begrudgingly to current pop and rock acts, to get a sense of where some of my younger clients are into. It makes me SICK. Talk about formats that EVERYTHING SOUNDS EXACTLY ALIKE! They have the same beats, the same tracks, the same noises, the same background garbage, rapping, etc.
Anybody that wants to condemn country? GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!
The point is that in that video, she actually takes on the people who "Think she stays out too late, has nothing in her brain, has too many dates, can't sing...." I have heard it once and already can quote lyrics. The video is funny as hell, featuring takes on all her contemporary's from Beyonce, to Miley's Twerakthons, and does it with amazing humor.
And what is she doing? Taking on the REAL THINGS IN HER LIFE. The critisism, the jealousy's the controversies, etc. and turning them into something that is REALLY COOL, very artsy,and turns it right back on their head. And as usual, she will laugh all the way to the bank.Her Legions of fans will be turning that into a slogan. SHAKE IT OFF,is going to be heard all over the place as the new GET OVER IT!!!! And at the same time, you will hear some more slickness in country. Now for purests this might not be your favorite thing.
BUT DO YOU WANT TO HAVE MUSIC OR DO YOU WANT TO DIE???
You can still write whatever you want to. You still can look for a home. But you HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. That girl is AMAZING!
I should've written with her when I had the chance huh?
Okay, I've got to drive, but I do wish you well. Check out thosre things and WRITE SOME DECENT SONGS!
MAB