Gen Xers - Do you find Taylor Swift’s music bland?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I HATE IT!

I'm a woman. I don't mind her, but I literally cannot stand her music. It baffles me how many grown-*ss women think it's good.

I feel like women used to be so much more bad *ss. Like Alanis Morrissette, Fiona Apple (song Criminal!!) even Tori Amos. Gwen when she was in No Doubt. Courtney Love in Garabage. Then--the Missy Elliotts....

the hip-hop/rapper women have just gotten so exponentially disgusting--constantly talking about their v-jays and wetness or just 'talking through songs' sounding like idiots and exactly the same in every single song like Missy Elliott.

Bring back some variety in music. Even the men today sound whiny as all get-out. Give me some 90s grunge or even some new wave.

Bland, bland, bland.

There is plenty of variety in music, even more than in previous decades because of streaming and end of the monoculture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE IT!

I'm a woman. I don't mind her, but I literally cannot stand her music. It baffles me how many grown-*ss women think it's good.

I feel like women used to be so much more bad *ss. Like Alanis Morrissette, Fiona Apple (song Criminal!!) even Tori Amos. Gwen when she was in No Doubt. Courtney Love in Garabage. Then--the Missy Elliotts....

the hip-hop/rapper women have just gotten so exponentially disgusting--constantly talking about their v-jays and wetness or just 'talking through songs' sounding like idiots and exactly the same in every single song like Missy Elliott.

Bring back some variety in music. Even the men today sound whiny as all get-out. Give me some 90s grunge or even some new wave.

Bland, bland, bland.

There is plenty of variety in music, even more than in previous decades because of streaming and end of the monoculture.

There’s more music being produced but less variety. Music experts have proven this. Follow Rick Beato on YouTube. He talks about this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE IT!

I'm a woman. I don't mind her, but I literally cannot stand her music. It baffles me how many grown-*ss women think it's good.

I feel like women used to be so much more bad *ss. Like Alanis Morrissette, Fiona Apple (song Criminal!!) even Tori Amos. Gwen when she was in No Doubt. Courtney Love in Garabage. Then--the Missy Elliotts....

the hip-hop/rapper women have just gotten so exponentially disgusting--constantly talking about their v-jays and wetness or just 'talking through songs' sounding like idiots and exactly the same in every single song like Missy Elliott.

Bring back some variety in music. Even the men today sound whiny as all get-out. Give me some 90s grunge or even some new wave.

Bland, bland, bland.

There is plenty of variety in music, even more than in previous decades because of streaming and end of the monoculture.

Yes and no. I agree it's easier for someone with a niche sound to find an audience now because there are more ways to reach listeners and build a following via social media and streaming. However while I don't share the PP's level of anger I agree with her that I see a gap in the market when it comes to female artists. In the 90s there was a lot of women challenging norms about what a female artist had to look and sound like. Now there are fewer. Billie Eilish has unconventional style but a more conventional sound and the content of her lyrics is pretty mainstream. Olivia Rodrigo is surprising at times because she packs a lot of rage into her lyrics but her look is pure Disney princess and her sound also pretty conventional. Lizzo definitely pushes boundaries on her sound and general vibe -- she might come closest. And there are some artists in the indie world who push boundaries a bit -- I love boygenius and Courtney Barnett for instance.

But the last time an artist grabbed me by the throat with an album was probably when Fiona Apple dropped Fetch the Boltcutters during the pandemic. It wasn't a throwback album -- it sounded like Apple but also more mature and thoroughly new -- but Apple herself is not of the new generation.

But maybe I'm just a Gen Xer who doesn't get the new sound. Still I miss the rough and weird and anti-establishment female artists of the 90s. I miss listening to music and feeling like I was part of generation of women who weren't going to take crap anymore. I rarely feel that way when I listen to new music now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE IT!

I'm a woman. I don't mind her, but I literally cannot stand her music. It baffles me how many grown-*ss women think it's good.

I feel like women used to be so much more bad *ss. Like Alanis Morrissette, Fiona Apple (song Criminal!!) even Tori Amos. Gwen when she was in No Doubt. Courtney Love in Garabage. Then--the Missy Elliotts....

the hip-hop/rapper women have just gotten so exponentially disgusting--constantly talking about their v-jays and wetness or just 'talking through songs' sounding like idiots and exactly the same in every single song like Missy Elliott.

Bring back some variety in music. Even the men today sound whiny as all get-out. Give me some 90s grunge or even some new wave.

Bland, bland, bland.

Also love all of these ladies, especially Hole. That was Courtney's band, not Garbage. Loved Garbage too!

Also adore Taylor and her music. She is pretty badass in her own way and her music has lots of variety.

I really respect Taylor as an artist and a business woman but I don't think she's badass. This isn't an insult -- I don't think I'm badass generally either. But she's not a rrrrriotgirl. I think sometimes she kind of wants to be and those songs are the ones of hers I think I like most. But she keeps both feet firmly planted in a conventional pop music space.

Also as others have noted her marketing is really clearly marketed toward young girls and tweens. It's actually a fascinating line she walks because I get the sense she's a bit of a partier and likes to drink and probably is not particularly "sweet" IRL. But her public persona is very carefully curated to never be offensive to kids (and more importantly their often protective and sensitive-to-controversy parents). I think this is why she will never truly speak to me as a Gen Xer. I see glimpses of a person I could relate to in songs like Anti-Hero or I Can Do It With a Broken Heart. But most of her music is kind of wistful and soft and not even a little bit rebellious. That works for her and no one can argue with her success. But it's not badass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE IT!

I'm a woman. I don't mind her, but I literally cannot stand her music. It baffles me how many grown-*ss women think it's good.

I feel like women used to be so much more bad *ss. Like Alanis Morrissette, Fiona Apple (song Criminal!!) even Tori Amos. Gwen when she was in No Doubt. Courtney Love in Garabage. Then--the Missy Elliotts....

the hip-hop/rapper women have just gotten so exponentially disgusting--constantly talking about their v-jays and wetness or just 'talking through songs' sounding like idiots and exactly the same in every single song like Missy Elliott.

Bring back some variety in music. Even the men today sound whiny as all get-out. Give me some 90s grunge or even some new wave.

Bland, bland, bland.

There is plenty of variety in music, even more than in previous decades because of streaming and end of the monoculture.

Yes and no. I agree it's easier for someone with a niche sound to find an audience now because there are more ways to reach listeners and build a following via social media and streaming. However while I don't share the PP's level of anger I agree with her that I see a gap in the market when it comes to female artists. In the 90s there was a lot of women challenging norms about what a female artist had to look and sound like. Now there are fewer. Billie Eilish has unconventional style but a more conventional sound and the content of her lyrics is pretty mainstream. Olivia Rodrigo is surprising at times because she packs a lot of rage into her lyrics but her look is pure Disney princess and her sound also pretty conventional. Lizzo definitely pushes boundaries on her sound and general vibe -- she might come closest. And there are some artists in the indie world who push boundaries a bit -- I love boygenius and Courtney Barnett for instance.

But the last time an artist grabbed me by the throat with an album was probably when Fiona Apple dropped Fetch the Boltcutters during the pandemic. It wasn't a throwback album -- it sounded like Apple but also more mature and thoroughly new -- but Apple herself is not of the new generation.

But maybe I'm just a Gen Xer who doesn't get the new sound. Still I miss the rough and weird and anti-establishment female artists of the 90s. I miss listening to music and feeling like I was part of generation of women who weren't going to take crap anymore. I rarely feel that way when I listen to new music now.

+1 Taylor made a head fake in this direction with Ms. Americana, but her dating trials and tribulations and mass variants just feel like the biggest woman in the world is mostly defining her work through men and over-consumption rather than championing women or really anything of societal importance.
Yes, yes I know she gives to food banks, but it felt like gen x women rockers stood up to power and were more egalitarian more than Taylor who tries to be the power, not give the power to the people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I HATE IT!

I'm a woman. I don't mind her, but I literally cannot stand her music. It baffles me how many grown-*ss women think it's good.

I feel like women used to be so much more bad *ss. Like Alanis Morrissette, Fiona Apple (song Criminal!!) even Tori Amos. Gwen when she was in No Doubt. Courtney Love in Garabage. Then--the Missy Elliotts....

the hip-hop/rapper women have just gotten so exponentially disgusting--constantly talking about their v-jays and wetness or just 'talking through songs' sounding like idiots and exactly the same in every single song like Missy Elliott.

Bring back some variety in music. Even the men today sound whiny as all get-out. Give me some 90s grunge or even some new wave.

Bland, bland, bland.

Also love all of these ladies, especially Hole. That was Courtney's band, not Garbage. Loved Garbage too!

Also adore Taylor and her music. She is pretty badass in her own way and her music has lots of variety.

I really respect Taylor as an artist and a business woman but I don't think she's badass. This isn't an insult -- I don't think I'm badass generally either. But she's not a rrrrriotgirl. I think sometimes she kind of wants to be and those songs are the ones of hers I think I like most. But she keeps both feet firmly planted in a conventional pop music space.

Also as others have noted her marketing is really clearly marketed toward young girls and tweens. It's actually a fascinating line she walks because I get the sense she's a bit of a partier and likes to drink and probably is not particularly "sweet" IRL. But her public persona is very carefully curated to never be offensive to kids (and more importantly their often protective and sensitive-to-controversy parents). I think this is why she will never truly speak to me as a Gen Xer. I see glimpses of a person I could relate to in songs like Anti-Hero or I Can Do It With a Broken Heart. But most of her music is kind of wistful and soft and not even a little bit rebellious. That works for her and no one can argue with her success. But it's not badass.

You don’t have to be rrrriot girl to be a bad ass.

Taylor is the first person to admit she’s not edgy. As I said, she’s a badass in her own way. She uses her songwriting gifts to create her art and she works her tail off on the other things she is less gifted at. And I think her songwriting is maturing along with her. TTPD is certainly not meant for young girls and tweens.

[Anonymous]

Gen X and love her music. That said, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the music had I not been steeped in it via my young daughters.

At first I thought it was fluff, but then I watched her Netflix documentary and was surprised to see that she’s a truly talented lyricist and songwriter.

More importantly, she’s overtly kind and generous, self assured, hard working, and she uses her public platform to benefit others and to champion causes she believes in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gen X and love her music. That said, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the music had I not been steeped in it via my young daughters.

At first I thought it was fluff, but then I watched her Netflix documentary and was surprised to see that she’s a truly talented lyricist and songwriter.

More importantly, she’s overtly kind and generous, self assured, hard working, and she uses her public platform to benefit others and to champion causes she believes in.

And she makes great Kool-aid too! Oh Yeah!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X and love her music. That said, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the music had I not been steeped in it via my young daughters.

At first I thought it was fluff, but then I watched her Netflix documentary and was surprised to see that she’s a truly talented lyricist and songwriter.

More importantly, she’s overtly kind and generous, self assured, hard working, and she uses her public platform to benefit others and to champion causes she believes in.

And she makes great Kool-aid too! Oh Yeah!

I guess I will never understand this sort of negativity. Maybe it just irks certain people that so many see Taylor for the positive force and talent that she is, because they can't see it.

[Anonymous]

Just a decade ago, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry were on top.

What happened for Taylor is there was a gap in pop when all these women retired

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X and love her music. That said, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the music had I not been steeped in it via my young daughters.

At first I thought it was fluff, but then I watched her Netflix documentary and was surprised to see that she’s a truly talented lyricist and songwriter.

More importantly, she’s overtly kind and generous, self assured, hard working, and she uses her public platform to benefit others and to champion causes she believes in.

And she makes great Kool-aid too! Oh Yeah!

I guess I will never understand this sort of negativity. Maybe it just irks certain people that so many see Taylor for the positive force and talent that she is, because they can't see it.

Comfort yourself with the thought that I’m a member of the to be pitied, ‘other group’ composed only of ‘certain people.” Don’t worry, you won’t catch the evilness of negativity and gen X snark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X and love her music. That said, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the music had I not been steeped in it via my young daughters.

At first I thought it was fluff, but then I watched her Netflix documentary and was surprised to see that she’s a truly talented lyricist and songwriter.

More importantly, she’s overtly kind and generous, self assured, hard working, and she uses her public platform to benefit others and to champion causes she believes in.

And she makes great Kool-aid too! Oh Yeah!

I guess I will never understand this sort of negativity. Maybe it just irks certain people that so many see Taylor for the positive force and talent that she is, because they can't see it.

Comfort yourself with the thought that I’m a member of the to be pitied, ‘other group’ composed only of ‘certain people.” Don’t worry, you won’t catch the evilness of negativity and gen X snark.

I actually love snark. I was a card-carrying member of TWOP. (RIP.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X and love her music. That said, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the music had I not been steeped in it via my young daughters.

At first I thought it was fluff, but then I watched her Netflix documentary and was surprised to see that she’s a truly talented lyricist and songwriter.

More importantly, she’s overtly kind and generous, self assured, hard working, and she uses her public platform to benefit others and to champion causes she believes in.

And she makes great Kool-aid too! Oh Yeah!

I guess I will never understand this sort of negativity. Maybe it just irks certain people that so many see Taylor for the positive force and talent that she is, because they can't see it.

Comfort yourself with the thought that I’m a member of the to be pitied, ‘other group’ composed only of ‘certain people.” Don’t worry, you won’t catch the evilness of negativity and gen X snark.

I actually love snark. I was a card-carrying member of TWOP. (RIP.)

I have no idea what that is, but you seem excited by your membership or former membership.

To be not snarky for a minute- I hate hearing Taylor because her songs are so boring and it feels like the same 3 notes are being drummed into my head. She has zero melody. If she is giving her money away- great but I don think that makes her “generous, hard working and blah blah blah. I love certain artists but I know nothing or little about what they do in their personal lives. She made a cult of personality out of her music and you (already a card carrying fan member of another group) appreciate that . I don’t care one way or another

EXECPT

I can’t just walk away when I’m in giant or at target or even the gas station. All places where I have heard her in the past 2 weeks and her 3 notes over and over again. I can’t walk away from work where my boss quotes her in staff meetings.

“If you're horrible to me, I'm going to write a song about it, and you won't like it. That's how I operate.“
-Taylor swift

She said that and I don’t think that is generous or kind or a role model or who I would want to be like. You say I’m negative, I say I’m tired of people thinking someone who trains her fans to look for Easter eggs and operates by writing mean songs is kind generous and nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find every single thing about her to be boring and I cannot for the life of me pinpoint why it annoys me. Her music is dull, her lyrics are boring crap I would’ve written in my journal between the ages of 17-22, her stage presence is lifeless, she doesn’t strike me as a person who would ever have an original idea or feeling. I am bored just thinking about her.

LOL I love how so many of you say that and yet every three days someone has to start a new thread about bland and boring Taylor or add to the 400 pages of the million other threads there are about her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gen X and love her music. That said, I probably wouldn’t have noticed the music had I not been steeped in it via my young daughters.

At first I thought it was fluff, but then I watched her Netflix documentary and was surprised to see that she’s a truly talented lyricist and songwriter.

More importantly, she’s overtly kind and generous, self assured, hard working, and she uses her public platform to benefit others and to champion causes she believes in.

And she makes great Kool-aid too! Oh Yeah!

I guess I will never understand this sort of negativity. Maybe it just irks certain people that so many see Taylor for the positive force and talent that she is, because they can't see it.

I like Taylor fine but even I find the PP a bit silly here-- "I didn't really respect Swift until they watched a commercial she made for herself." Come on.