Taylor Swift’s Popularity Is A Sign Of Societal Decline

[RoBo1988]

Avoid Opinion shows, watch the journalistc or straight reporting the news parts. Listen perhaps to the first 5 minutes of a particular piece of news, then avoid all the discussion of the news that follows

I've watched Nora O'Donnell, and her NBC counterpart Lester Holt. They editorialize even when they are not.
Real Clear Politics is probably one of the best places to get political news. I also check out Citizen Free Press, but he (Kane)definitely comes from the right with his reporting.
To quote Cal Thomas: "I read the Bible and the New York Times to see what both sides are up to"

 

[rjs330]

Taylor Swift's Popularity Is A Sign Of Societal Decline

Audiences and elite tastemakers have decided Taylor Swift's narcissistic lyrics and cliched music are a cultural triumph.

thefederalist.com

"Audiences and elite tastemakers alike have decided Taylor Swift’s narcissistic lyrics and cliched music are a cultural triumph — but why would we celebrate this?"



After the last 8 years of unrelenting narcissism, it is Taylor Swift's narcissism which which is leading to societal decline! The deflection is strong...

Lizzo is another.

 

[RoBo1988]

Yea, but getting more young people registered might just fix the problem.

Perhaps. But not if they are taking marching orders from Taylor Swift - methinks it will only get worse.

 

[rjs330]

I do have to say that the popular music of the day has been a sign of the times fo quite a while, so Swift isn't anything new.

 

[Arcangl86]

Perhaps. But not if they are taking marching orders from Taylor Swift - methinks it will only get worse.

Why? Why is she different from any pundit on TV?

 

[RoBo1988]

Why? Why is she different from any pundit on TV?

She isn't. They also will not bear the brunt of issues they advocate for or against. As Howard Beale (Peter Finch) said in the movie 'Network' "the TV lies to you"

 

[Tropical Wilds]

No problem with people registering to vote, as long as they have a general idea of how the state and federal governments are supposed to operate. And remember:
"Anyone who gets their political views from a rock star is a moron." - Alice Cooper

The right to vote doesn’t hinge on intelligence. While I’d also prefer an intelligent voter, ultimately voting is the privilege of a law-abiding citizen so we can’t say “please vote unless you’re dumb.” And the fact is an overwhelming number of people who vote don’t know how the government operates. Only 1/3 of voting Americans know how many senators there are. Less know who they are.

As for only morons get their political views from rock stars… Ignoring that Alice Cooper believing it, saying it, and expecting others to agree with it is in itself a rock star giving political advice and those who follow it are getting political views from a rock star… There are dumber ways to learn about politics. Considering that fans who like her enough to follow her advice likely know what her views are and agree with them, it’s not wholly illogical to say “the singer I like who i know supports A, B, and C likes candidate x. Those are topics I agree with her on, so if candidate X is who she’d choose holding those beliefs I also hold, maybe candidate X is a candidate I’d agree with too.”

Like, I love Lady Gaga, I know she’s a Democrat, pro equality, pro women’s rights, etc etc. I know her views line up with mine in a lot of places, so if she says “I support Candidate X,” I’m not going to run right out and vote for them because Gaga did, but I am going to learn more about them. It’s no different than if my mother or my friend said they were supporting a candidate and then me checking out that candidate because my mother and my friend have the same political views I do.

I find that less disingenuous than, say, voting down party lines for the sake of voting down party lines. Being in NH, we have a lot of traditional conservatives here who run as Republicans, but their traditional conservative “small government” beliefs means they’re pro gay marriage, pro choice, etc. Take Phil Scott (VT). Blindly voting down party lines means Democrats in VT during their last voting cycle would have chosen a candidate who was anti-choice and anti-gun reform, vs a Republican who was pro choice and pro gun reform. Instead, the elected the Republican.

 

[keith99]

Perhaps. But not if they are taking marching orders from Taylor Swift - methinks it will only get worse.

I'm sure you do. But then I see the current Republican party as the center of the problem.

* Traditional Republicans, please note I said the current version of the Republican party, not the historical Republican party.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I am aware of this, but there is the Internet to help with that.
Swift, and many others like her are "limousine liberals" nothing they endorse or oppose, will affect their lives one jot or tiddle. Her money is probably offshore somewhere, and (probably)as the late Harry Reid once said of Romney: "(she) has never paid any income taxes "

That’s not a “limousine liberal” phenomenon. That’s a “rich person” phenomenon.

You think if abortion was made illegal tomorrow that the leadership who pushed for it couldn’t get abortions for their wives, daughters, or mistresses? Of course not. They’re rich enough to go to where they need to in order to get it done or pay off somebody or hire the lawyer who finds the loophole they can use to do it anyway.

The divide isn’t politics. It’s gender, skin color, and, ultimately the biggest factor, money.

 

[WolfGate]

* Traditional Republicans, please note I said the current version of the Republican party, not the historical Republican party.

Noted and appreciated.

 

[keith99]

I decided to listen to a bit of Swift to see what the problem was. Honestly, I found nothing. To me her stuff is bland. Beyond bland if one is looking at it through political glasses. Not bad, not at all bad. But empty in any political sense.

The only thing I really dislike is that once one listens to a couple of Tyler Swift songs you can't play U-tube roulette! You get nothing but Swift.

As a child of the late 60s and 70s, I could find fault in her not being all that political. But that makes the Trumpublican attacks all the more startling. She is no second Country Joe, Donovan or Joan Biaz.

Perhaps I am mistaken. I only listened to a few of her songs. But enough that if I listened to the same number of songs from any of the groups I grew up listening to I would have expected at least one with serious political ramifications.

So I ask, are any of her songs political. I'm not even asking for something on the level of Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag, The Universal Soldier or Joe Hill. But Something at least close to Pat Benatar's Hell is for Children would be nice.

Am I missing something?

 

[WolfGate]

I decided to listen to a bit of Swift to see what the problem was. Honestly, I found nothing. To me her stuff is bland. Beyond bland if one is looking at it through political glasses. Not bad, not at all bad. But empty in any political sense.

The only thing I really dislike is that once one listens to a couple of Tyler Swift songs you can't play U-tube roulette! You get nothing but Swift.

As a child of the late 60s and 70s, I could find fault in her not being all that political. But that makes the Trumpublican attacks all the more startling. She is no second Country Joe, Donovan or Joan Biaz.

Perhaps I am mistaken. I only listened to a few of her songs. But enough that if I listened to the same number of songs from any of the groups I grew up listening to I would have expected at least one with serious political ramifications.

So I ask, are any of her songs political. I'm not even asking for something on the level of Feel Like I'm Fixing to Die Rag, The Universal Soldier or Joe Hill. But Something at least close to Pat Benatar's Hell is for Children would be nice.

Am I missing something?

Her songs are rarely political. A notable exception would be “you need to calm down” which clearly support LGBTQ community. She has done songs that criticize patriarchy and her view that women deal with double standards and glass ceilings. “The Man” is the most out front example.

She recently did start endorsing candidates most notably in a TN senate race and the candidate was a Democrat. I think the rub for some comes because people know she is more liberal and has influence with the Swifties.

Musically I am a fan. Not every song, but she can write some great lyrics and the storytelling trait that she learned from country works its way into her pop songs, which is rare. I also don’t let political disagreements I have with her get in the way of enjoying her art and concerts. But then again, I’m not tribal so I don’t cancel out things I enjoy because they don’t fit my personal conclusions.

 

[Pommer]

Am I missing something?

From the OP link:
“And it’s not just that Swift has conquered the unwashed masses, America’s elite tastemakers have also become unrepentant Swifties. This summer, The New York Times covered Swift with an enthusiastic zeal not reserved for any other figure since maybe Obama — even going so far as to publish a distasteful meditation on internet randos’ lesbian fantasies about her.

Most recently, The New Yorker issued its high-toned blessing by publishing a remarkable essay, “Listening to Taylor Swift in Prison: Her music makes me feel that I’m still part of the world I left behind.” There was a time when we imagined that everyone in the prison yard would stand around overwhelmed by the sheer emotion and elevation of the soul produced by hearing “Sull’aria” from Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro, even though they had no idea what those two Italian ladies were singing about. But if “Blank Space” is what you’ve got on the cheap commissary radio to help you count the days, I’m not going to begrudge you.

Apparently the reactionary author at the Federalist has decided that since the “lefty-press” seems enamored by Taylor Swift, she’s tainted and therefore the cause (or symptom of) “societal decline”.

 

[rjs330]

I'm sure you do. But then I see the current Republican party as the center of the problem.

* Traditional Republicans, please note I said the current version of the Republican party, not the historical Republican party.

Yes the left preferred a quiet Republican party that only talked about taxes and small government as opposed to the Democratic Party who cared about big government and cultural issues. It was much easier to get your agenda done when the other party stayed out of it.

 

[rjs330]

From the OP link:
“And it’s not just that Swift has conquered the unwashed masses, America’s elite tastemakers have also become unrepentant Swifties. This summer, The New York Times covered Swift with an enthusiastic zeal not reserved for any other figure since maybe Obama — even going so far as to publish a distasteful meditation on internet randos’ lesbian fantasies about her.

Most recently, The New Yorker issued its high-toned blessing by publishing a remarkable essay, “Listening to Taylor Swift in Prison: Her music makes me feel that I’m still part of the world I left behind.” There was a time when we imagined that everyone in the prison yard would stand around overwhelmed by the sheer emotion and elevation of the soul produced by hearing “Sull’aria” from Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro, even though they had no idea what those two Italian ladies were singing about. But if “Blank Space” is what you’ve got on the cheap commissary radio to help you count the days, I’m not going to begrudge you.

Apparently the reactionary author at the Federalist has decided that since the “lefty-press” seems enamored by Taylor Swift, she’s tainted and therefore the cause (or symptom of) “societal decline”.

Did they actually say she caused it?

 

[Pommer]

Did they actually say she caused it?

I believe the title of the thread which is also the title of the OP’s link, telegraphs their point-of-view.

 

[comana]

Perhaps. But not if they are taking marching orders from Taylor Swift - methinks it will only get worse.

I’d rather them be influenced by an open minded, successful woman than much of what is coming out of the mouths of political figures today. I imagine most of her fans were already on the same page as her anyway.

 

[rjs330]

I believe the title of the thread which is also the title of the OP’s link, telegraphs their point-of-view.

Then I think you misread both. A sign is not the same thing as cause.

 

[Belk]

Yes the left preferred a quiet Republican party that only talked about taxes and small government as opposed to the Democratic Party who cared about big government and cultural issues. It was much easier to get your agenda done when the other party stayed out of it.

*Blink*

When was that? I assume before the "Moral Majority"?

 

[rjs330]

I’d rather them be influenced by an open minded, successful woman than much of what is coming out of the mouths of political figures today. I imagine most of her fans were already on the same page as her anyway.

Music, musicians are just one thing and one group than can have influence upon people. Especially young people. Books, movies, teachers etc can all influence how young people think. I believe that's been proven quite well.

The question is always what are they influencing kids about? What's the message? Because kids do listen to it because they look up to the person. It doesn't matter at that they are a woman or not. Their sex is quite irrelevant. It's their message that is.

Now I do think you are also correct in that a lot of people look for others that think like them as well. Many of her fans probably are on the same page. But we have also seen artists LOOSE support when people find out their positions on certain things as well. People loved the music, but when the person decided to step out I to the political arena and start talking about their stancea on some things their fans reacted negatively.

I guess what I'm saying is that they can influence people, sway them one way or maybe push them in a certain direction but I'm not sure we can say it's all their fault or that they caused it. Kids these days are really being hit hard from media and education to think and go one direction. When people like Taylor start joining in she becomes part of the influential soup.

By the way I do like her music. I think she's extremely talented.