# 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:** 31
**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 6, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/602 "2023-11-06T20:50:03Z")
I, for one am mildly amazed. Nice one! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2023, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/603 "2023-11-06T20:54:41Z")
Taylor Swift the individual performer _and_ Taylor Swift the Corporate Enterprise have evidently been able to hit that multiple-angles sweet spot that artists, promoters and ancillary businesses dream of. To a huge degree thanks to adding onto your usual Big Star traits, a sense of high engagement with the fandom as earlier stated. Is that _my_ sweet spot? No. But I’m not the demographic whose attention the pop entertainment industry craves, nor the one that craves this sort of fan engagement. _And that’s fine._ Even so from where I sit she’s a perfectly fine top charting star and I can acknowledge many of the various reasons mentioned upthread. And the ones I don’t get, well, I can always say “I don’t get it” and carry on listening to what I enjoy. … TBH “explain why Taylor Swift hit it so big” to me sounds like I could substitute in there “Beyoncé” or “Star Wars” — it will be because of many things, there will be parts that pass critics’ tests, parts where a demographic identifies, parts that touch upon a general zeitgeist, parts that are all about fanboy/fangirling, parts that are marketing, and it happens these were all hit at the right time and the right place(s). Good for her, I say. ---
**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 6, 2023, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/604 "2023-11-06T22:21:06Z")
Taylor Swift has been knocked out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100 by… Taylor Swift. > **[Taylor Swift’s ‘Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version)’ Debuts at No. 1 on...](https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-is-it-over-now-number-1-hot-100-debut-1235464462/)** > > The song is her 11th leader, and dethrones her own “Cruel Summer.” ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/605 "2023-11-08T00:11:00Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve gone through to the thread again to see if I missed anything. > [@martyg](#): > > What I have identified as Taylor Swift has nothing to stick to me to make it memorable. You realize it’s OK for people to have different tastes in music than you do, right? That’s really all there is to it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/606 "2023-11-08T01:31:19Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > You realize it’s OK for people to have different tastes in music than you do, right? That’s really all there is to it. My taste in music doesn’t affect my appreciation of skill. There are a lot of artists that I dislike yet I can recognize their skill. I’ve never liked Miles Davis yet his skill is off the charts. I’ve already posited a guess to the op’s question based on the answers given. Her fans like her clever lyrics. There is also is a connection between Taylor Swift and her fans that transcends what most musicians engage in. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/607 "2023-11-08T01:35:12Z")
NVM, too Pit-ish ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/608 "2023-11-08T03:44:20Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Taylor Swift has been knocked out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100 by… Taylor Swift. Given her business acumen she probably timed it that way. ---
**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 8, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/609 "2023-11-08T15:37:33Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Given her business acumen she probably timed it that way. In that case, about 2-3 weeks from now would be the perfect time for a surprise rerelease of her Christmas EP from 2007 so she can challenge Mariah Carey for the title of Queen of Christmas. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/T4pTMZuAux4/maxresdefault.jpg "Taylor Swift- Last Christmas (Lyrics)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4pTMZuAux4) ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/610 "2023-11-08T19:10:14Z")
She needs to do a Christmas concert at the Sphere. Not IN the Sphere. AT the Sphere. Given the 2 sided nature of the screen she can fill it inside and out. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/611 "2023-11-08T19:59:22Z")
Y’know, I can so totally see all these latest predictions/suggestions happening… ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/612 "2023-11-09T02:16:43Z")
If it the concert can be timed for a space station flyover I would pay good money for an image of Taylor Swift’s eye from space. ---
**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 10, 2023, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/613 "2023-11-10T02:34:47Z")
Taylor has 20 of the spots in Billboard’s Top 40 this week. > **[Taylor Swift Claims Half Of All The Top 40 Songs In America This Week](https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2023/11/07/taylor-swift-claims-half-of-all-the-top-40-songs-in-america-this-week/?sh=3c84bc187809)** > > Taylor Swift charts 20 top 40 hits on the Hot 100 this week as she invades the ranking with songs from her new album 1989 (Taylor's Version). ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/614 "2023-11-10T05:47:55Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Taylor has 20 of the spots in Billboard’s Top 40 this week. She’s going to totally lose her indie cred by being so well liked. ---
**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 10, 2023, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/615 "2023-11-10T05:48:30Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > She’s going to totally lose her indie cred by being so well liked Plus, by this point there can’t be very many indie records much cooler than hers, can there be? ---
**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 14, 2023, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/616 "2023-11-14T02:25:38Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Taylor Swift has been knocked out of the #1 spot on the Hot 100 by… Taylor Swift. The Taylor Swift song that knocked Taylor Swift’s song out of #1 has itself been knocked out of #1 by Taylor Swift. > **[Taylor Swift’s ‘Cruel Summer’ Returns to No. 1 on Hot 100, Jung Kook &...](https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-cruel-summer-number-one-hot-100-jung-kook-beatles-top-10-1235470495/amp/)** > > Taylor Swift's Cruel Summer" returns to No. 1 on the Hot 100. Plus, see where Jung Kook and The Beatles' debuted on the chart. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/617 "2023-11-14T03:34:19Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > Taylor Swift song that knocked Taylor Swift’s song out of #1 has itself been knocked out of #1 by Taylor Swift Someone had better been talking about getting bit by a møøse. ---
**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 14, 2023, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/618 "2023-11-14T04:40:01Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > møøse A møøse bit Travis Kelce once. ---
**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 30, 2023, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/619 "2023-11-30T02:52:33Z")
Sure, Taylor might be the most successful touring artist in history, but has she ever crashed the AARP’s website? Take that, you whippersnappers! > **[The Rolling Stones’ Boomer superfans crashed AARP’s website](https://www.inquirer.com/news/nation-world/rolling-stones-philadelphia-2024-ticket-cost-sales-20231129.html)** > > The Rolling Stones’ Boomer superfans crashed AARP’s website Wednesday morning while trying to secure Hackney Diamonds Tour tickets. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/620 "2023-11-30T20:18:30Z")
Isn’t the AARP website run on a Commodore 64? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2023, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/621 "2023-11-30T20:24:40Z")
Oh stop, the C64 is for kids. Their website is on an AS/400. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339.md?page=30) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339.md?page=32)