Taylor Swift – Lover

[nickd]

Jun 18, 2019 20:08:55 GMT -5 wjr15 said:

I gotta say that I'm loving the discussion in here right now. I know it's kinda off topic but both sides make good points.

For me, I'm happy to see Taylor being vocal about LGBTQ rights and incorporating it into her music, but I can't help but feel it's a bit calculated. She went from being quiet about her political views to full-on LGBTQ activist overnight. First saying ME! is for the gays, then all the rainbows/pride stuff at Wango Tango, followed by releasing You Need To Calm Down with lyrics featuring LGBTQ slang and a video full of LGBTQ icons, and then performing at Stonewall Inn. All during Pride Month.

Like I said, I appreciate what Taylor is doing and I'm glad she has vocally shown her support, its' just a bit much compared to where she was just one year ago, which makes it feel somewhat calculated. I think a more subtle, slow approach would've worked better. I just hope once Pride month is over, she continues this activism because she really can make an impact.

She helped raise funds for the Stonewall Inn in 2016, then dedicated one of her Delicate speeches to Pride during one of her tour dates last June,then she had her political coming out moment in October that had LGBT rights as a major focus, a performance at Ally Coalition in December (or November?), the performance of King of My Heart at a gay fan's engagement party... so I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere and only started with ME!'s release.


I think she might've wanted to make this shift in her image for a little while now, but maybe either Big Machine wasn't supportive or she didn't feel the it would fit or be as well accepted as part of the reputation era.

[kmbgs]

I'm just confused because, other female pop/R&B stars with comparable fan base sizes have been nowhere near as vocal as Taylor has been recently about gay rights, and they remain celebrated as gay icons, and no one drags them when they pipe up in support of gay rights.

As a gay man I am highly confused by the anger she's causing in many gays. Are we somehow unaware that she's on our team?

[Taylor.]

Jack Antonoff posted a pic of Taylor in the studio, so safe to say he's on the record.

He also posted a picture of a $1 bill in the studio, so people are speculating there's a song about her assault/trial?

[Deleted]

Jun 17, 2019 22:43:44 GMT -5 Mazo said:

I hate to bring race into the argument, but it seems like certain publications are trying their hardest to dismantle the white pop star in the “woke” era for clicks and views and twitter retweets. I don’t know if the people writing the articles are black/poc or just some white apologists or if that even matters. But you never see them trashing black musicians in such a way that feels deliberate.

Personally, I feel like music nowadays is so bad that quality is no longer subjective or even objective. It just is. It very much has to do with what is trendy. Rap is trendy right now so the likelihood of a pop song doing well is very small and that doesn’t mean it’s a bad song because it doesn’t chart high. The success of a song nowadays is NOT measured by quality even though chart fanatics want to believe so. Trash seems to “win” every day. I mean, look at Spotify and Apple Music top 50. Garbage rap songs are dominating with little to no effort.

I also find it extremely weird that streaming has made it easy to access music in a way that has never been done before in previous generations yet most of the world, the US anyway, opts to listen to generic, same ol’ same rap music. You’d think music would be more diverse because it’s so easy to access it but shockingly it isn’t. Then again, look at the BO and most of the movies dominating being superhero films. It’s like the world has regressed while being progressive at the same time. I feel like the 90s were more diverse. 

Lol this such a eurocentric take on the industry I wont even bother to counter such ridiculousness. I stopped at when you labeled a entire art form trash because there isnt enough mayonnaise in it for you to understand it.

"Dismantle white pop star" but when black artists cry for media attention and financial yall shrug your shoulders and say "that's just how the market is "

Hypocrisy and subconscious racism all blended up and down your post! The truth of the matter is alot of you cant handle black men and success and that seeps from your pores even when yall try to hide it

And while you're crying for these rich billionaire white pop stars how a slight concern for the Rnb females? Or they too dark and make trash music?

[nickd]

The song is currently #1 on the biggest streaming app in SE Asia.

[austin]

I am not surprised to see Antonoff has been working with her for this project but I can't help but be a little disappointed. His work with her is some of the absolute worst stuff she has put out the last two cycles, with a few bright spots (Getaway Car, Out of the Woods).

[Okay]

Jack is a good writer, but his production has been pretty awful. If she works with him I'd rather she write to track like she did with Out of the Woods and I Wish You Would.

[deepston]

Jun 24, 2019 10:31:03 GMT -5 austin said:

I am not surprised to see Antonoff has been working with her for this project but I can't help but be a little disappointed. His work with her is some of the absolute worst stuff she has put out the last two cycles, with a few bright spots (Getaway Car, Out of the Woods).

What. His tracks are incredible!

[austin]

Jun 24, 2019 11:57:28 GMT -5 deepston said:

Jun 24, 2019 10:31:03 GMT -5 austin said:

I am not surprised to see Antonoff has been working with her for this project but I can't help but be a little disappointed. His work with her is some of the absolute worst stuff she has put out the last two cycles, with a few bright spots (Getaway Car, Out of the Woods).

What. His tracks are incredible!

I Wish You Would is the only bad song on 1989 - and one of my 5 least favorite in her entire catalog
LWYMMD has a horrible chorus that ruins the entire song and I don't like that it set up her fake bitch attitude last era or the baggy sweatshirts
New Years Day is really, really bad - lyrically and production-wise
Dress sucks all together

You Are In Love isn't anything to revisit - but is fine
This is Why We Cant Have Nice Things, is fine
Call It What You Want is good
Out of the Woods is good

Getaway Car is great


Whereas the Max Martin/Shellback collabs work more than they don't

[born]

Jack is one of my favorite people around. So glad he's working with him again.

[Joe1240]

I have liked the work that Jack has done with Taylor. Glad to see them back,I'm sure there is something great coming.

[adamalterlago]

She comes in at #2 on the Hot 100. Impressive but I really wanted her to take the crown from the damn Old Town Road song. I'm so sick of it!!

[nightshade]

Jun 18, 2019 8:06:01 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

The discussion around corporate pride often has to do with those corporations gunning for the gay dollar and that’s about it. Granted, any business that publicly supports LGBTQ rights is good for everyone (except homophobes) but there’s also the issue of pinkwashing (and whitewashing in a lot of cases) the story. People see pride and think of the parades and the colour and the celebrations but for many, pride is still meant to be a protest and a fight for rights. Trans people are still being killed simply for being trans. Trans POC in particular. People who don’t subscribe to the gender binary are mocked and misunderstood. So I think it’s understandable when people are a little critical of corporations sticking a rainbow flag on their logo and calling it a day. There’s so much more to pride than gay men and lesbians. And there’s more to LGBTQ than catch phrases and drag race. I enjoyed the music video for what it is but don’t let it mistake you. It barely scratches the surface on diversity within the rainbow. It doesn’t represent many.

Isn't Laverne Cox in the video?

[born]

Jun 26, 2019 14:07:55 GMT -5 nightshade said:

Isn't Laverne Cox in the video?

[alestevens]

Jun 19, 2019 3:20:55 GMT -5 nickd said:

Jun 18, 2019 20:08:55 GMT -5 wjr15 said:

I gotta say that I'm loving the discussion in here right now. I know it's kinda off topic but both sides make good points.

For me, I'm happy to see Taylor being vocal about LGBTQ rights and incorporating it into her music, but I can't help but feel it's a bit calculated. She went from being quiet about her political views to full-on LGBTQ activist overnight. First saying ME! is for the gays, then all the rainbows/pride stuff at Wango Tango, followed by releasing You Need To Calm Down with lyrics featuring LGBTQ slang and a video full of LGBTQ icons, and then performing at Stonewall Inn. All during Pride Month.

Like I said, I appreciate what Taylor is doing and I'm glad she has vocally shown her support, its' just a bit much compared to where she was just one year ago, which makes it feel somewhat calculated. I think a more subtle, slow approach would've worked better. I just hope once Pride month is over, she continues this activism because she really can make an impact.

She helped raise funds for the Stonewall Inn in 2016, then dedicated one of her Delicate speeches to Pride during one of her tour dates last June,then she had her political coming out moment in October that had LGBT rights as a major focus, a performance at Ally Coalition in December (or November?), the performance of King of My Heart at a gay fan's engagement party... so I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere and only started with ME!'s release.


I think she might've wanted to make this shift in her image for a little while now, but maybe either Big Machine wasn't supportive or she didn't feel the it would fit or be as well accepted as part of the reputation era.

In early 2008 Taylor participated in a campaign raising awareness for discrimination following the death of Lawrence King, who got killed by a classmate for being gay

youtu.be/qUsEgG5musk

In 2009, in the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, she said this:

"On the anniversary of Lawrence's death, we need to remember that he was killed just for being who he was. If we forget, this kind of crime could happen again. My parents taught me never to judge others based on whom they love, what color their skin is, or their religion. Why make life miserable for someone when you could be using your energy for good? We don't need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful. When you hear people making hateful comments, stand up to them. Point out what a waste it is to hate, and you could open their eyes."
—Taylor Swift

Source: www.seventeen.com/life/school/advice/a3549/mission-taylor-swift/

In 2011 she included a gay kid on her music video for "Mean" and had it playing on Country Music TV stations.

In 2014 she included the "boys and boys and girls and girls", and answered questions about it on interviews, saying she wrote the song after gay marriage became legal, and mentioning how she saw friends of hers be scrutinized after coming out and her not believing a big deal should be made out of who you love.

She had a long + consistent history being supportive of the cause even if you didnt see her screaming it from every rooftop. Contrary to several media publications and random twitter users' beliefs, this wasnt something that just randomly came up to happen within the past month

[👑 Eloquent ™]

Jun 28, 2019 20:21:44 GMT -5 alestevens said:

Jun 19, 2019 3:20:55 GMT -5 nickd said:

She helped raise funds for the Stonewall Inn in 2016, then dedicated one of her Delicate speeches to Pride during one of her tour dates last June,then she had her political coming out moment in October that had LGBT rights as a major focus, a performance at Ally Coalition in December (or November?), the performance of King of My Heart at a gay fan's engagement party... so I wouldn't say it came out of nowhere and only started with ME!'s release.


I think she might've wanted to make this shift in her image for a little while now, but maybe either Big Machine wasn't supportive or she didn't feel the it would fit or be as well accepted as part of the reputation era.

In early 2008 Taylor participated in a campaign raising awareness for discrimination following the death of Lawrence King, who got killed by a classmate for being gay

youtu.be/qUsEgG5musk

In 2009, in the one-year anniversary of the tragedy, she said this:

"On the anniversary of Lawrence's death, we need to remember that he was killed just for being who he was. If we forget, this kind of crime could happen again. My parents taught me never to judge others based on whom they love, what color their skin is, or their religion. Why make life miserable for someone when you could be using your energy for good? We don't need to share the same opinions as others, but we need to be respectful. When you hear people making hateful comments, stand up to them. Point out what a waste it is to hate, and you could open their eyes."
—Taylor Swift

Source: www.seventeen.com/life/school/advice/a3549/mission-taylor-swift/

In 2011 she included a gay kid on her music video for "Mean" and had it playing on Country Music TV stations.

In 2014 she included the "boys and boys and girls and girls", and answered questions about it on interviews, saying she wrote the song after gay marriage became legal, and mentioning how she saw friends of hers be scrutinized after coming out and her not believing a big deal should be made out of who you love.

She had a long + consistent history being supportive of the cause even if you didnt see her screaming it from every rooftop. Contrary to several media publications and random twitter users' beliefs, this wasnt something that just randomly came up to happen within the past month

Can we get an amen.

[nickd]

Scooter buys Big Machine Records for $300m which means he owns Taylor's masters. I wonder if he'll come up with a plan for her to put Enchanted on a Disney Princess soundtrack so it can finally start getting the recognition it deserves.

www.billboard.com/articles/business/8518119/scooter-braun-acquires-big-machine-label-group-scott-borchetta

[Deleted]

Hello I'm here, did someone mention Enchanted?
Aka one of the best songs of Speak Now which should have been a single but unfortunately it got screwed over and is looked over by so many people

[ampersand]

"Enchanted" should be on All Too Well-levels of legendary among her fanbase.

[slowmo]

taylorswift.tumblr.com/post/185958366550/for-years-i-asked-pleaded-for-a-chance-to-own-my

For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work. Instead I was given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and ‘earn’ one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in. I walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future. I had to make the excruciating choice to leave behind my past. Music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums.

Some fun facts about today’s news: I learned about Scooter Braun’s purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world. All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years.

Like when Kim Kardashian orchestrated an illegally recorded snippet of a phone call to be leaked and then Scooter got his two clients together to bully me online about it. (See photo) Or when his client, Kanye West, organized a revenge porn music video which strips my body naked. Now Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.

This is my worst case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept. And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it.

When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever.

Thankfully, I am now signed to a label that believes I should own anything I create. Thankfully, I left my past in Scott’s hands and not my future. And hopefully, young artists or kids with musical dreams will read this and learn about how to better protect themselves in a negotiation. You deserve to own the art you make.

I will always be proud of my past work. But for a healthier option, Lover will be out August 23.

Sad and grossed out,

💔

Taylor

[born]

I am absolutely shocked reading this. Wow. She truly has the ability to write and publish a powerful, emotional essay. This is not okay. This is absolutely shocking and disgusting. And one would think that someone at Taylor Swift's level and impact would have a bigger say in this.

[kanimal]

Very interesting and heartbreaking piece, but I am a bit unclear on the "never in my worst nightmares did I think the buyer would be Scooter" part, because he's been a rumored buyer for a while. And he and Scott have seemed to have a warm relationship for even longer - remember the "Who Is Fancy" partnership?

[ampersand]

I love it when she names names. reputation Taylor is not dead.

[14887fan]

We’ve all known for over a decade that Borchetta is slime.

Really sad to hear all of that. I feel bad for her.

[nickd]

I'm mostly just surprised that Scott wouldn't let her buy-back her masters the way he allowed Scooter to, although maybe that had more to do with Scott being unwilling to sell her masters and the rest of his label business separately. Anyways, sounds like this means Taylor will block Scooter from trying to license her back catalog for movies, commercials, etc.

[austin]

I feel horrible for her. That truly was a worst case scenario for her and I am absolutely stunned at this news, and even moreso that she wasn't clued in before a press release.

[deepston]

Scooter is disgusting...

[Lumi]

MEN CONTINUE TO BE TRASH

[Linnethia Monique]

Naw that piece should've been about Scott and not Scooter. He's the one that screwed her over.

[ItGirl]

Would he have been able to get that price if Taylor Swift’s catalog was not included? That’s why he wouldn’t give her the opportunity to buy them back.

This essay is just...Wow.