# 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:** 38
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/742 "2023-12-24T01:43:30Z")
Oh, that shitbag. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2023, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/743 "2023-12-24T12:57:19Z")
I watched the first half of the Netflix reputation tour show last night. It’s the first time I’ve spent much time listening to Taylor Swift. I was impressed. Not especially with the music, which was fine, but not anything i want to listen to again. But it was a terrific show. Great spectacle. Great choreography. She’s sexy. She was extremely generous. She introduced the dancers and the band, individually by name. (Well, i saw her introduce the female dancers. I expect she introduced the guys in the second half, which i haven’t watched, yet.) She talked to the fans, thanking them for being there, knowing stuff about their venue and their home, telling them she cares about them. I’ve rarely, maybe never, seen a celebrity connect so directly to her fans. I’ll watch the rest this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/744 "2023-12-24T13:27:54Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > She’s from quite a nice neighborhood in Pennsylvania, though. Very upper middle class. Lots of tree-lined streets. A decent local museum. That sort of thing. She’s from Reading, PA. I know they town because it has a massive outlet mall near my college where everyone used to go to get discount Ralph Lauren and J Crew clothes. Maybe Taylor’s neighborhood was unusually affluent, but Reading itself isn’t a particularly nice city (nor is it associated with the music industry the way Nashville is). ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/745 "2023-12-24T13:28:52Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I’ve rarely, maybe never, seen a celebrity connect so directly to her fans. Even if you’re not a country music fan, you should see Garth Brooks live. There’s no reason I can think of for someone that age to be so energetic, and put on such a great show. He does all the same things - he’s incredibly gracious to his band, to the audience, to the roadies, the staff, venue, etc. He made a giant college football stadium feel cozy and intimate - and it was 45° and raining! The second half of the shows I’ve been to he takes requests. Anything from his catalogue, or literally anyone else’s. He sang [Ashley McBryde’s “Girl Goin Nowhere”](https://youtu.be/-RhdqUFRUS8?si=lIYi5kWICCz0TSnB), which is just a wonderful song, and introduced me to her music. But back to Taylor - she’s great too! ---
**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:** [December 24, 2023, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/746 "2023-12-24T13:38:30Z")
Oh, it’s a nice house. Not that it matters. > **[Take a look inside Taylor Swift's childhood home in Pennsylvania, a...](https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-childhood-home-pennsylvania-tour-photos-2022-3)** > > Taylor Swift lived in the 3,560-square-foot historic Pennsylvania home before she moved to Tennessee to pursue a music career. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/747 "2023-12-24T21:33:02Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Not especially with the music, which was fine, but not anything i want to listen to again. That’s kind of how I land. Every time someone recommends one of her songs I listen to it. And it’s…fine. But not something I’d find myself listening to or adding to my music collection. I think she’s probably a very nice person, but she’s not my type. Oh, well, I’m sure she cares! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/748 "2023-12-24T22:11:03Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > These are pathetic clowns. They aren’t sexy. Good men do not call women ugly (hard eyeroll) and they certainly don’t talk about whether they have any eggs left. ick Too early for these idiots to get on my nerves, but there it is. > > I’m sure their ideal girlfriend isn’t above 14 years old or so. > > [https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1733925545597878732](https://twitter.com/patriottakes/status/1733925545597878732) It makes me sad because I feel like this collection of obnoxious beta males is becoming the standard by which the younger generation of men aspire to. ---
**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:** [December 24, 2023, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/749 "2023-12-24T22:29:55Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > Not especially with the music, which was fine, but not anything i want to listen to again. > > That’s kind of how I land. Every time someone recommends one of her songs I listen to it. And it’s…fine. But not something I’d find myself listening to or adding to my music collection. I think she’s probably a very nice person, but she’s not my type. Oh, well, I’m sure she cares! I think a lot of people develop their musical tastes as teenagers. I’m not very musically sophisticated, and haven’t expanded my tastes a lot since then. I guess i really enjoy Adele, and some of Lady Gaga. Probably if i listened to enough of Taylor Swift I’d find some songs i like. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2023, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/750 "2023-12-24T22:31:06Z")
I own music by both Adele and Lady Gaga, and I enjoy listening to it. Now, my younger sister on the other hand … ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/751 "2023-12-25T14:34:49Z")
I know, because I’m from there too. Wyomissing is an affluent suburb. And the VF and other outlets are now long gone. Fun fact: Reading is where John Phillip Sousa died. Although I don’t think Reading was responsible for that. But I digress. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/752 "2023-12-25T17:07:09Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Wyomissing > [@Gyrate](#): > > I know, because I’m from there too. Wyomissing is an affluent suburb. And the VF and other outlets are now long gone. > > Fun fact: Reading is where John Phillip Sousa died. Although I don’t think Reading was responsible for that. > > But I digress. Not to get off topic further, but that strikes me as a very PA (and NJ or CT) thing. The city of Reading itself often ends up on “worst cities in PA” lists, but just a few miles away or even within certain parts of town there are very nice homes and neighborhoods. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2023, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/753 "2023-12-25T19:08:37Z")
I’m just watching the fabulous “What We Do In The Shadows” on Netflix, Season 5 episode 8 at 16’30", Colin Robinson out of left field: > I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative. [https://www.reddit.com/r/WhatWeDointheShadows/comments/161jknl/colin\_robinson\_confirmed\_swiftie/](https://www.reddit.com/r/WhatWeDointheShadows/comments/161jknl/colin_robinson_confirmed_swiftie/) ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/754 "2023-12-25T20:04:28Z")
I believe she’s out of touch wrt reducing her carbon footprint and making changes that result in a more sustainable tour. Carbon credits or offsets sure she’s bought into it for her private jet setting But what difference does that make? Very little I suspect. Her angels halo is a little tarnished imo. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2023, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/755 "2023-12-25T20:41:13Z")
How many artists even think about reducing their carbon footprint when touring? And I’d guess private jets that take the crew to where they need to be are at least as efficient as trying to get them into commercial flights, and a hell of a lot more logistically practical. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/756 "2023-12-25T20:44:39Z")
> [@chela](#): > > But what difference does that make? Very little I suspect. She could stay home and plant herbs and it would make negligible difference versus the actual major sources of carbon output and climate change. Pop music stadium shows aren’t what’s driving global warming (there’s about 8200 commercial flights in the air at any given time). ---
**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:** [December 25, 2023, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/757 "2023-12-25T21:38:41Z")
> [@chela](#): > > I believe she’s out of touch wrt reducing her carbon footprint and making changes that result in a more sustainable tour. Carbon credits or offsets sure she’s bought into it for her private jet setting But what difference does that make? Very little I suspect. This is misdirected criticism. There’s a huge difference in a wealthy person using a private jet for gallivanting around and using one for a concert tour. The hydrocarbons burned in flying her tour (say) across the Atlantic benefit the ~ 1 million people who will see her shows in Europe. The hydrocarbons burned in flying you or me across the Atlantic in a commercial jet for a vacation benefit 1 person. Based on the carbon footprint per unit of utility to mankind, you & I should stop going on vacation by commercial jet well before Taylor Swift should stop touring by private jet. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2023, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/758 "2023-12-25T21:39:24Z")
# [Can someone explain the Taylor Swift phenomenon to me?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339) Beats me. I still can’t explain the Michael Jackson phenomenon. ---
**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:** [December 25, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/759 "2023-12-25T22:05:48Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > This is misdirected criticism. There’s a huge difference in a wealthy person using a private jet for gallivanting around and using one for a concert tour. This, too. I suppose the minimal carbon footprint would be if she just released music online, and never performed at venues that attract crowds (who travel to get there.) But there’s a lot of value in live concerts. And if she’s going to give live concerts, it’s way more efficient for her and her entourage to travel than for all her fans to travel to her. (And my guess is that a private her is the efficient way to move that many people.) ---
**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:** [December 25, 2023, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/760 "2023-12-25T22:14:19Z")
She gonna fly her jet and have her band and crew. She ain’t gonna be sitting home tending her herb garden. She’s doing what she’s obviously talented to do. Tell me, anyone, in the same situation you wouldn’t do exactly that. Damn a tree. Or if you make millions plant a few thousand. That oughta take care of it . She has a right to accomplish her dreams as best she can. ---
**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:** [December 26, 2023, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339/761 "2023-12-26T03:39:39Z")
Expecting Taylor Swift to fly commercial at this point would basically be like expecting the president to do so. The airlines definitely wouldn’t want the headache. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-someone-explain-the-taylor-swift-phenomenon-to-me/981339.md?page=39)