# Can someone explain the Taylor Swift phenomenon to me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [March 19, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339 "2023-03-19T02:50:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 30
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/582 "2023-11-05T03:08:57Z")
Seriously, though, of course she had help. Her parents were well-to-do and helped finance her aspirations. Toby Keith invested in Big Machine when they were getting off the ground. She had a cowriter for most of her first album. That doesn’t make her “bought” or imply that she’s just a pretty face that Big Music found and molded into a formula guaranteed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. It took a lot of effort for her to get from doing free shows at Sea World at age 12 to being the biggest act on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/583 "2023-11-05T03:16:25Z")
And…she did it without Disney. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/584 "2023-11-05T04:11:06Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It took a lot of effort for her to get from doing free shows at Sea World at age 12 to being the biggest act on the planet. It’s really quite an achievement. I wonder if she envisioned becoming a billionaire by her early 30’s. Her future is limitless. I’d like to see her stretch her voice a bit and do some blues covers or collaborate with a blues band. ---
**Author:** ![martyg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@martyg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martyg)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/585 "2023-11-05T13:19:24Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Her parents were well-to-do and helped finance her aspirations. Toby Keith invested in Big Machine when they were getting off the ground. What’s that you say? So this isn’t about music, it’s about generating money by appealing to the lowest common denominator. Seems like the word for that is “contrived.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/586 "2023-11-05T14:15:41Z")
> [@martyg](#): > > What’s that you say? I can help: he said: > [@](#): > > Her parents were well-to-do and helped finance her aspirations. Toby Keith invested in Big Machine when they were getting off the ground. > [@martyg](#): > > So this isn’t about music, it’s about generating money by appealing to the lowest common denominator. Seems like the word for that is “contrived.” What on earth? That’s not at all what he said. Are you yanking our chains? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/587 "2023-11-05T14:21:35Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Are you yanking our chains? Ya think? ---
**Author:** ![martyg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@martyg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martyg)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/588 "2023-11-05T14:29:19Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Are you yanking our chains? No I’m 100% serious. If you go for lowest common denominator you’re not trying to appeal to people who live and breath music. The music takes a back seat. What’s the fascination then? Pick any article and it’s far less about the music than it is about the sales. As if massive sales were the yardstick for measuring great musical art (hey, Macarena!! AIGHT!!). ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/589 "2023-11-05T14:31:41Z")
> [@martyg](#): > > appealing to the lowest common denominator So mainstream. Like iPhones and dogs are shit because they do stuff _everyone_ likes. I use semaphore and have a pet iguana. > **[Hipster Gets Furious About His Photo Being Used For An Article About All...](https://www.boredpanda.com/hipsters-looking-same-article-photo-hate/)** > > Recently, MIT Technology Review posted an article, titled 'The hipster effect: Why anti-conformists always end up looking the same.' And in an incredibly ironic turn of events, it almost instantly proved itself right. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/590 "2023-11-05T14:32:33Z")
> [@martyg](#): > > No I’m 100% serious. That’s somehow even worse. > [@](#): > > If you go for lowest common denominator you’re not trying to appeal to people who live and breath music. Right: Swift’s fans are way too obsessed with her music, and don’t realize that people who live and breath music don’t find it appealing. Cool story, bro. ---
**Author:** ![martyg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@martyg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martyg)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/591 "2023-11-05T14:33:30Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Swift’s fans are way too obsessed with her music Uh, no they’re not. They’re obsessed with cult of celebrity. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/592 "2023-11-05T14:34:00Z")
> [@martyg](#): > > Uh, no they’re not. They’re obsessed with cult of celebrity. You tell 'em! It may be worth, at this point, distinguishing between “serious” and “sincere.” I’ll accept that you’re sincere. What you’re saying is deeply unserious. ---
**Author:** ![martyg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@martyg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/martyg)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/593 "2023-11-05T14:35:21Z")
The point is that I’m saying this stuff to you and many of the answers I’m getting are roundabout agreeing. Smapti’s last message is a fine example. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/594 "2023-11-05T15:03:26Z")
So only musicians with poor parents and non supporting fellow musicians should ever be recognized as worthy of having fans? Nah, I’m pretty sure it’s the yanking chains thing. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/595 "2023-11-05T15:18:29Z")
Moderating: > [@Maserschmidt](#): > > More than 570 posts. Do we have it yet? Yes. I think the question asked has been answered, and this thread is now heading into unpleasant territory. I’m going to close it for a while. Maybe for good. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2023, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/596 "2023-11-05T15:18:35Z")
---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/597 "2023-11-06T17:53:06Z")
Moderating: By popular demand, I am re-opening this thread. I am also banning @martyg from it. This > [@martyg](#): > > The part that I hate is that Swifties demand that you like her. I heard her and I didn’t hear a thing that stood out as hers. I also didn’t hear anything adventurous. It was all way too safe for me. > > Perhaps all the Swifties should move to North Korea where there’s laws to tell you how to wear your hair. is basically a thread shit. And while you posted a couple of constructive items, your recent posts have been borderline trolling. Taylor Swift is not to your tastes. That’s fine. But please let the fans and the curious non-fans get back to discussing her. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/598 "2023-11-06T17:53:19Z")
---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/599 "2023-11-06T18:36:37Z")
Thanks, for reopening, @puzzlegal. Just in time to note that [Taylor’s latest album is her 13th No 1 debut record in a row](https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-number-one-billboard-200-albums-chart-1235463917/). And I do mean _record_ - it’s particularly interesting to me that the album has been put out in so many physical formats. I usually associate physical formats with hipsters and old fogies. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/600 "2023-11-06T19:45:13Z")
Finally, there’s a musical artist who is capable of outselling Taylor Swift… …and her name is Taylor Swift: > **[Taylor Swift defeats Taylor Swift, also everybody else, with sales for 1989...](https://www.avclub.com/1989-taylors-version-outsells-original-1850993918)** > > As with each (Taylor's Version) to date, the new version of 1989 has eclipsed the sales of the original ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/601 "2023-11-06T20:41:43Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > [Taylor Swift - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift#Early_life) > Taylor Alison Swift was born on December 13, 1989, in West Reading, Pennsylvania Now that this thread is open again, I’m going to go truly mundane and pointless. Until I saw that snippet, I had not known that Taylor Swift and I were born in the same hospital, though nearly two decades apart. Other than amusing (to me) to bring up when I’m around people talking about Taylor Swift, I really don’t see how this fact is important or useful. Now I need to go find some other Taylor Swift conversations to drop this in, or wait until we’re both riding the same lift at Beaver Creek. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339.md?page=29) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339.md?page=31)