I could show you incredible things
October 27, 2023 12:50 AM Subscribe
This reading list collects pieces from the last decade that use Taylor Swift as a muse, a conduit, a springboard, or a punching bag in service of the authors’ own journeys. They demonstrate how, as Taylor’s Swiftdom grows, so too do the opportunities to use her as a lens through which we can project any number of issues—gender, race, identity, authenticity—and witness the prismatic results, a “kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats,” an easter egg waiting to be unwrapped. She’s a mirrorball, after all, reflecting every version of ourselves. from Imperial Eras: A Taylor Swift Studies Reading List
Don’t y’all think this Swiftie bit’s done got outta hand?
posted by chillmost at 2:50 AM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by chillmost at 2:50 AM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
How so, chillmost?
posted by Thorzdad at 3:42 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 3:42 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Don’t y’all think this Swiftie bit’s done got outta hand?You seem fun
posted by pxe2000 at 3:44 AM on October 27, 2023 [20 favorites]
Like her or not, this site has a strict policy on billionaires, so someone is now required to make a guillotine joke.
posted by mittens at 4:51 AM on October 27, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by mittens at 4:51 AM on October 27, 2023 [11 favorites]
A lot of her music kind of bounces off me, but there are certain songs that resonate deeply. And "Shake It Off" is the best kind of Big Dumb Pop. You can't help but dance to it, you can't help but side with it or you're one of the haters, and it demonstrates a valuable message about mental health. So while I might gravitate more toward Lana or Ariana musically, I can't help but root for Taylor Swift as a phenomenon.
posted by rikschell at 4:56 AM on October 27, 2023 [12 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 4:56 AM on October 27, 2023 [12 favorites]
Don’t see it on the reading list so I’m going to go ahead and highly recommend this essay about the Eras tour from Taffy Broedesser-Akner in a recent NYT magazine.
posted by heyitsgogi at 5:48 AM on October 27, 2023 [12 favorites]
posted by heyitsgogi at 5:48 AM on October 27, 2023 [12 favorites]
Finally, in 2023, I'm getting around to reading about Swift. I started with the NYT magazine's article referenced above. This Longreads article is fantastic. I'd like to further educate myself by seeing the movie, but I'm guessing a septuagenerian guy in a crowd of tween/teen girls might be tagged as a pedo, so maybe I'll wait for the streaming version.
posted by kozad at 5:54 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by kozad at 5:54 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
I *will* say I’d love to see more think pieces about Beyoncé and her world-shaking tour!
I’m not able to go se either show live but I loved the Eras movie. Very much looking forward to Renaissance in December.
posted by heyitsgogi at 5:57 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
I’m not able to go se either show live but I loved the Eras movie. Very much looking forward to Renaissance in December.
posted by heyitsgogi at 5:57 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
Still don’t get it. But I’m old enough to be a mother of swift fans and an underachiever.
The new Madonna bio is great
posted by thivaia at 6:11 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
The new Madonna bio is great
posted by thivaia at 6:11 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
I know some adults that are going to see the Swift movie at an afternoon showing on a school day.
posted by zenon at 6:11 AM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by zenon at 6:11 AM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
I know this would never happen, but I’ve been rooting for Taylor to buy Bandcamp. She cares about artists being paid fairly and some of her collaborators (Phoebe, The National, Bon Iver) use the platform. It doesn’t seem too farfetched…
posted by pxe2000 at 7:12 AM on October 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by pxe2000 at 7:12 AM on October 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
Not a Swiftie by any measure, but I'm kind of looking forward to comparing this to Stop Making Sense. How coked up is everyone on stage?
posted by emelenjr at 7:13 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by emelenjr at 7:13 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Like her or not, this site has a strict policy on billionaires, so someone is now required to make a guillotine joke.
I'm curious how this value estimate is made. About halfway through that article they have a list of what they included in the calculation, which is:
$400M for her catalog
$370M for merch and concert tickets
$120M for streaming
$100M for houses
$80M for sales
But that seems like a mix of revenue (concert tickets, streaming, sales) and assets (catalogue, houses) that shouldn't be counted together? And wouldn't she have paid at least a significant chunk of the $100M for the houses using money from one of the revenue categories? So can you really count them both?
I know these things are always just estimates, but are they even estimates that make any sense?
posted by jacquilynne at 7:27 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm curious how this value estimate is made. About halfway through that article they have a list of what they included in the calculation, which is:
$400M for her catalog
$370M for merch and concert tickets
$120M for streaming
$100M for houses
$80M for sales
But that seems like a mix of revenue (concert tickets, streaming, sales) and assets (catalogue, houses) that shouldn't be counted together? And wouldn't she have paid at least a significant chunk of the $100M for the houses using money from one of the revenue categories? So can you really count them both?
I know these things are always just estimates, but are they even estimates that make any sense?
posted by jacquilynne at 7:27 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'm not the guy to talk about the artistic quality of the show, but in my set as an economic phenomenon it was an absolutely wretched nexus of conspicuous consumption. Guys bidding against each other for skyboxes and floor seats until they hit 5 figures per person. Dads of half a dozen girls in the same school each having 6 or 8 seats and their daughters ruthlessly competing with one another for the most prestigious guest list of other girls, throwing in limo pickups, pre-parties at nightclub$$$$ they paid to open up early, overnighting at five star hotels after the show.
Which is another way of me saying: Taylor Swift is friggin' genius.
posted by MattD at 7:47 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
Which is another way of me saying: Taylor Swift is friggin' genius.
posted by MattD at 7:47 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
I'm not much of a fan, but this article (and the one heyitsgogi linked) and this previously are fascinating. So thanks for posting.
I'll always be grateful to her for "Shake It Off", which led me to my love of Screaming Females (which I know isn't to everyone's taste)
I'm writing an "about me" (an analyst) for our intranet, and this is the last part:
We will always, always, always look at stats together,
We are always, always, always making charts together,
You've got lots of questions, need some answers, come see me,
And I'll be always, always, always, always making your job better
(the rest of it is pretty good, but not quite finished)
posted by Gorgik at 7:54 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
I'll always be grateful to her for "Shake It Off", which led me to my love of Screaming Females (which I know isn't to everyone's taste)
I'm writing an "about me" (an analyst) for our intranet, and this is the last part:
We will always, always, always look at stats together,
We are always, always, always making charts together,
You've got lots of questions, need some answers, come see me,
And I'll be always, always, always, always making your job better
(the rest of it is pretty good, but not quite finished)
posted by Gorgik at 7:54 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
She’s done pretty well for the girl who babysat for professional wrestler Jeff Jarrett.
posted by Parasite Unseen at 8:32 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Parasite Unseen at 8:32 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
Which is another way of me saying: Taylor Swift is friggin' genius.
Her actual genius is that she makes music that spans from young daughters to older daughters to moms, which is like 30 years worth of age difference for hardcore fans, it's mostly respectable middle class -not too crass, cute, is 'rock' enough to appease the dads who would normally be disinterested, and she personally hasn't ruined herself with controversy or drugs or extremely stupid money wasting side ventures, and she seems to have a very strong work ethic.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:45 AM on October 27, 2023 [10 favorites]
Her actual genius is that she makes music that spans from young daughters to older daughters to moms, which is like 30 years worth of age difference for hardcore fans, it's mostly respectable middle class -not too crass, cute, is 'rock' enough to appease the dads who would normally be disinterested, and she personally hasn't ruined herself with controversy or drugs or extremely stupid money wasting side ventures, and she seems to have a very strong work ethic.
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:45 AM on October 27, 2023 [10 favorites]
Don’t y’all think this Swiftie bit’s done got outta hand?
Nope.
posted by jdroth at 8:48 AM on October 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
Nope.
posted by jdroth at 8:48 AM on October 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
I'd like to further educate myself by seeing the movie, but I'm guessing a septuagenerian guy in a crowd of tween/teen girls might be tagged as a pedo
I can't tell if this is serious or not. I'm 54. I'm an unabashed Swiftie. If people want to tag me as a pedo for going to watch the movie (or the concert) by myself, that's on them not on me. Go see the movie in the theater!
posted by jdroth at 8:54 AM on October 27, 2023 [7 favorites]
I can't tell if this is serious or not. I'm 54. I'm an unabashed Swiftie. If people want to tag me as a pedo for going to watch the movie (or the concert) by myself, that's on them not on me. Go see the movie in the theater!
posted by jdroth at 8:54 AM on October 27, 2023 [7 favorites]
Following jdroth, I will say that the energy in the room for a theatrical viewing of the Eras Tour was pretty great, and you won't get that watching at home. It's a happy and inclusive crowd - they will be delighted to have you there!
posted by sockshaveholes at 9:14 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by sockshaveholes at 9:14 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
America's sweetheart. She is what we need right NOW...Singer, lyricist, musician...a triple threat And the current beau!...A love story like no other...Move over Juliet!
posted by Czjewel at 9:36 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by Czjewel at 9:36 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
She’s inspiring on a multiple of levels, including her business acumen and how she handled that dj groping lawsuit. She’s a great example of unapologetic strength.
The movie concert is an excellent idea to make it affordable and accessible!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:46 AM on October 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
The movie concert is an excellent idea to make it affordable and accessible!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:46 AM on October 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
I'm a late Swiftie as well - really got roped in for 1989 and then noped out after she didn't speak up during the 2016 US election campaign and then yupped back in after she finally spoke up before the 2020 election. I find that her impact on the current generation of artists is really understated but it's obvious everywhere, even in the indie darlings.
I'm also on the Gaylor side of TikTok (though I'm Gaygnostic myself about it) and so I end up seeing a lot of the analyses of her every word and action, which I find fascinating because it's has such a deep, deep lore and they pick apart every word of every song and of everything she says and posts.
I know this would never happen, but I’ve been rooting for Taylor to buy Bandcamp. She cares about artists being paid fairly and some of her collaborators (Phoebe, The National, Bon Iver) use the platform. It doesn’t seem too farfetched…
I honestly don't understand why one of the mega-rich supposedly socially-conscious musicians don't do this type of thing and turn it into something of a coop, except I do in that they are not actually that level of socially conscious. But someone like Taylor or Springsteen or McCartney should buy Bandcamp or start a Bandcamp alternative that pays artists fairly.
posted by urbanlenny at 10:45 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
I'm also on the Gaylor side of TikTok (though I'm Gaygnostic myself about it) and so I end up seeing a lot of the analyses of her every word and action, which I find fascinating because it's has such a deep, deep lore and they pick apart every word of every song and of everything she says and posts.
I know this would never happen, but I’ve been rooting for Taylor to buy Bandcamp. She cares about artists being paid fairly and some of her collaborators (Phoebe, The National, Bon Iver) use the platform. It doesn’t seem too farfetched…
I honestly don't understand why one of the mega-rich supposedly socially-conscious musicians don't do this type of thing and turn it into something of a coop, except I do in that they are not actually that level of socially conscious. But someone like Taylor or Springsteen or McCartney should buy Bandcamp or start a Bandcamp alternative that pays artists fairly.
posted by urbanlenny at 10:45 AM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
She’s done pretty well for the girl who babysat for professional wrestler Jeff Jarrett.
Whoa, I thought that was a joke of some kind but nope, this checks out.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:50 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Whoa, I thought that was a joke of some kind but nope, this checks out.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:50 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
Apparently there are "cam" versions of the "Eras Tour" movie already shared online, but the audio is terrible because it gets swamped by absolutely everyone in the theater singing along.
(Allegedly, I wouldn't know, you wouldn't download a stadium tour, etc.)
posted by wenestvedt at 10:58 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
(Allegedly, I wouldn't know, you wouldn't download a stadium tour, etc.)
posted by wenestvedt at 10:58 AM on October 27, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm conflicted, never knowingly heard any of her stuff.
I love love love that she stuck it to the man by re-recording all her back catologue.
The fact that she is a billionaire, well, dibs on the leg.
posted by Meatbomb at 11:03 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
I love love love that she stuck it to the man by re-recording all her back catologue.
The fact that she is a billionaire, well, dibs on the leg.
posted by Meatbomb at 11:03 AM on October 27, 2023 [2 favorites]
She may be a billionaire, but only as of this year, and she's been good about spreading the wealth around a bit.
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:15 PM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
posted by Ipsifendus at 1:15 PM on October 27, 2023 [5 favorites]
Don’t see it on the reading list so I’m going to go ahead and highly recommend this essay about the Eras tour from Taffy Broedesser-Akner in a recent NYT magazine.
That article is SUBLIME!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:56 PM on October 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
That article is SUBLIME!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:56 PM on October 27, 2023 [4 favorites]
And also since we’re swifting right now, she eats she pays she gets the fuck out is also a fun read
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:58 PM on October 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 1:58 PM on October 27, 2023 [6 favorites]
In 2020, after watching the documentary about her, Miss Americana, I wrote, "Still, I was left at the end of this documentary not so much interested in the woman Taylor Swift has been but the woman she may become. She seems like someone who wants to learn and genuinely wants to try to use the power she has in the best way.
She's just not quite there yet."
I still don't think she's entirely there yet -- she's still a work in progress (as most of us are), but wow, has she impressed me so much since then. I wasn't really a fan when I wrote that but I'm basically all-in now. She's a force.
posted by edencosmic at 2:15 PM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
She's just not quite there yet."
I still don't think she's entirely there yet -- she's still a work in progress (as most of us are), but wow, has she impressed me so much since then. I wasn't really a fan when I wrote that but I'm basically all-in now. She's a force.
posted by edencosmic at 2:15 PM on October 27, 2023 [3 favorites]
Shade never made anybody less gay. I'm glad she included that in Eras
posted by Jacen at 3:11 AM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Jacen at 3:11 AM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
Oh, and I can confirm the bit in the eats, pays, article that she's one of those people who has the permanent personal spotlight, that inner glow that really driven and talented people have. I nearly (literally) ran into her earlier in her career, and have always sorta regretted not saying something dumb about how I love her music.
posted by Jacen at 3:26 AM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by Jacen at 3:26 AM on October 28, 2023 [2 favorites]
From the NYT link above:
“There’s not a lot of sex in this show,” one of the HUSBANDs, the other one, said now. They had switched seats, and he was bored by the “Speak Now” era.
“That’s because this isn’t for you,” I told him, and I found myself getting angry as I spoke. “She wasn’t created to please you like the other women pop stars. She created herself to please me. She escaped the machine where women are only allowed to be pop stars if they don’t anger or threaten men. This just isn’t for you.”
posted by Gorgik at 9:16 AM on October 28, 2023 [9 favorites]
“There’s not a lot of sex in this show,” one of the HUSBANDs, the other one, said now. They had switched seats, and he was bored by the “Speak Now” era.
“That’s because this isn’t for you,” I told him, and I found myself getting angry as I spoke. “She wasn’t created to please you like the other women pop stars. She created herself to please me. She escaped the machine where women are only allowed to be pop stars if they don’t anger or threaten men. This just isn’t for you.”
posted by Gorgik at 9:16 AM on October 28, 2023 [9 favorites]
I *will* say I’d love to see more think pieces about Beyoncé and her world-shaking tour!
The contents aren't about Beyonce in the specific, but there's a syllabus/reading list for Lemonade.
posted by creatrixtiara at 2:20 AM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
The contents aren't about Beyonce in the specific, but there's a syllabus/reading list for Lemonade.
posted by creatrixtiara at 2:20 AM on October 29, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'm just gonna share this article here. I actually don't know much Swift music, but I found the article fascinating, especially the comparisons to Prince's record label woes. (I thought about making a FPP, but I don't think we need another Swift post right now.)
posted by hydra77 at 7:10 AM on November 9, 2023
posted by hydra77 at 7:10 AM on November 9, 2023
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posted by Jacen at 2:07 AM on October 27, 2023 [6 favorites]