Taylor Swift, Then and Now - Comparison & Contrast Essay

An essay I just wrote for my 1301 class. The requirement was compare/contrast and in the light of her new album being released, I decided to compare and contrast Taylor Swift's older album Fearless to 1989. It's not the best but it was requested to be put on here.

Taylor Swift, Then and Now

                The genre of pop music is a continuously changing industry that demands constant adapting from the artists who occupy it. One of the most difficult transitions is when an artist, originally from a different genre of music, decides to cross over into the realm of mainstream music. However, in recent years, one individual in particular has proved that a seamless conversion is possible. As a public figure, Taylor Swift’s image is changing from small-town country girl with a guitar to an adult woman with a popular modern music style, connecting her to new audiences and increasing her flexibility as a musical artist.

                Initially, Taylor Swift began as a young country music artist, arriving on the music scene at the age of fifteen. She had been songwriting for years before, but only at that time had been signed to a record label. Her eponymous album would start her career but nothing could compare to the immense success her sophomore album Fearless would bring, winning her many accolades and awards. The lyrics on the album’s songs pertain mostly to the experiences Swift had encountered during her final years of high school. Many songs make references to fairy tales or romantic novels, recognizing her belief that her romantic relationships seemed “magical.” This shows a naive perspective and lack of experience on Swift’s part, mostly due to the fact she was only seventeen. Her most recent album, 1989, demonstrated artistic growth. Written when she was twenty-two years old, the lyrical content on this album shows the extensive maturing the singer had gained in little more than four years. Much like her sophomore album, the lyrics explore Swift’s emotions during romantic relationships. However, it is clear that the transition from teenager to adult had a drastic effect on her songwriting, as the lyrics on the newest record reflect on relationships from a mature standpoint instead of the naive, fantasizing nature of her early songs.

                When Taylor Swift released Fearless in 2008, modern social media was in its early beginnings. MySpace had just lost its prevalence as the main social networking website for young adults while Facebook and Twitter were making their steady progression into popularity. Swift utilized these sites to promote the album, as well as appearing on various talk shows. Even with a good grasp on her own marketing, she was still shielded under a “good girl” image by her management. This image was directed toward a younger female audience along with their parents, who praised Swift as a role-model for not involving herself in Hollywood’s popular vices such as late-night partying. However, this alienated older audiences who perceived her songs and image as “childish” and “immature.” This image would shift as she grew older. For 1989, Swift practically did the promotion herself. She frequently logs onto micro-blogging social networking website Tumblr, joking and talking to fans like they’re her close friends. In recent events, the singer has acknowledged that in the past she had included a potentially homophobic lyric in a song and shamed women who dressed in short skirts. Now, Swift considers herself a feminist and is an avid supporter of equal marriage rights, proving that growth and maturity is possible even for a person who’s grown up in the public eye. Swift has never been fake, nor not herself; she simply has evolved into an adult woman who is fully capable of formulating her own opinions.

                The most noticeable change in Taylor Swift’s music is the genre itself. The album Fearless contains elements of the pop music genre, admittedly, but at its core is based entirely on country music. Even the two most successful singles from the album, “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me,” are predominantly country, with banjos and acoustic guitars accompanying her shrill voice. 1989, on the other hand, features almost exclusively pop and alternative songs. Popular tracks such as “Shake It Off” and “Style” incorporate electronic beats and synthesized guitars into the mix, straying completely from country music. This change in style gained new audiences who enjoyed the new music, but unfortunately also resulted in the loss of fans who preferred her country music style. This loss wasn't too much to worry about though, considering 1989 sold over one million copies its first week of release.

                By comparing Taylor Swift’s albums Fearless and 1989, it can be inferred that her views on life experiences, marketing techniques, and changes in her music genre reflect her maturing into an observant young woman with a definite understanding of her career and how it can be maintained. As long as Swift continues with the strategic actions she’s taken so far in her career, it is certain that she will stay relevant and successful for a very long time.

Katy's back, back again. Tell a friend.

Katy Perry debuts new video for 'This Is How We Do'

Pop sensation Katy Perry has restored her status in the pop music world today. In a summer with indie male bands and white rappers dominating the charts, there hasn't been a real jam in a while. Ariana Grande's "Problem" is still up there and getting the radio play, but we need something new. Unfortunately, "Fancy" is high up there too. Right now there are a lot of unknowns in the Top 10. I would say this is great but their music really hasn't impressed me. But that's just my taste. I always said TIHWD would be a summer jam, of course she'd wait until almost the end to release it.

Today, the music video for Katy's song debuted. The song appears on her studio album "Prism" and is the fifth single from the album, following No. 1 Hits "Roar" and "Dark Horse", and then "Unconditionally" and "Birthday". 

The video draws heavy inspiration from the pop art style, of course, with Katy's own twist. The video and song choice are a great improvement over the disaster that was "Birthday". We're hoping the song will climb the charts like a tree and get us number 10.

Is Beyoncé a bad role model for teenage girls?

Is Beyoncé "too sexual"?

It may seem odd but not everyone is a Beyoncé fan. Especially not Fox News annoyance pundit Bill O'Reilly. On his show "The O'Reilly Factor", joined by co-founder of Def Jam Records Russell Simmons. Originally, the interview was about Simmons' new book on meditation and its importance in schools. But of course, that wasn't controversial enough for O'Reilly. Instead, he decided to bring up a hot topic: Knowles' music video for "Partition". The video was originally released along with the rest of the videos and songs from Knowles' fifth studio album "Beyoncé". However, due to success of the previous single "Drunk In Love" and its sexual nature, "Partition" has become the third single from the album. It is already climbed the charts, peaking just shy of Top Twenty at no. 23 on the Hot 100 chart. It's already peaked in the Top Ten at no. 9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-hop Songs chart and is currently at no. 10. Many choreographed dance videos have been uploaded to YouTube as well, adding to its popularity. So what did Mr. O'Reilly have to say about Queen Bey and her video?


"Teenage girls look up to Beyoncé ... why on earth would this woman do that? When she knows [about] the devastation [of] unwanted pregnancies and fractured families," O'Reilly said. "I believe an entertainer like Beyoncé [has] an obligation to protect children, not put out exploitive garbage ... what she's done here is inexplicable." (link)


That basically sums up what O'Reilly had to say about Knowles. Now we'll get to my opinions in a second, but first off, can I just say I feel so bad for Mr. Simmons? He's originally there to talk about his book and about meditation but instead he's drilled about a singer and the poor man is just trying to bring up meditation at any possibility he's given yet is still interrupted by O'Reilly every time. God Bless you and your patience, Russell Simmons.

Now here's my view on the whole matter: Beyoncé is NOT a babysitter. She does not raise your children for you. She doesn't have any damn obligation to "protect" children.

Knowles, and any other entertainer, is not responsible for how you raise your children. She has no "obligation" to protect anyone other than her own family. Her job is to entertain, hence why she is called an ENTERTAINER. And obviously she entertained Bill O'Reilly since he watched the music video. Music stations and television stations make an effort to reduce the largest amount of explicit material they can from daytime hours because it is at these times at which younger viewers and listeners will be tuned in, leaving more explicit material for later at night for adult viewers and listeners. If a parent doesn't want their child listening to an explicit Beyoncé song, guess who's responsibility that is? THE PARENT'S. The term "role model" is pretty shitty for anyone who gets labeled as one. If I had a dime for every time a parent complained about Miley Cyrus being a bad role model, I'd own the bank. These entertainers are not raising your children and if you have an issue with what their listening to, fix it. And the fact O'Reilly had the audacity to bring up "unwanted pregnancies and fractured families" baffles me, considering the Conservative and Republican parties he associates himself with are the ones who appose rights to birth control and abortion for women... idiot.

Even looking past that buffoonery, the fact is that Beyoncé Knowles is a successful married woman who has a young child. She is a grown woman, she even wrote a song about it for God's sake. If you know this blog or me, you know that I fiercely encourage female entertainers to express their sexuality as much as they want. Hell, I'm an advocate for it. I want them to flaunt it if they want. Yes, Partition is a very sexual song and video, I'm pretty sure that was the intention though. If Beyoncé wants to sing about having sex in back of her limousine, she has every damn right to. She's an adult woman who is comfortable with her sexuality and expressed it in an artistic form. I see no wrong here.

This whole hypocritical view on women and their sexuality needs to stop because it's 2014. We aren't stuck in an age without opportunities. These female entertainers are worth millions of dollars because they worked their asses off to get to where they are. Before you call these women 'sluts' for singing about having fun, why don't you think of your life? Do you go and party? Do you like alcohol? Do you like sex? You're most likely saying 'yes' to almost all if not all of these answers. So don't be a hypocrite. It's absolutely fine if you don't like a female artist because a) you don't like them personally b) you don't like their songs or c) you just don't even like pop music to begin with. Hating these women because they're expressing their sexuality, however, is wrong and you need to shut up, sit down, and reevaluate your role in a modern society.

If you don't like the "Partition" video because it's too sexual for your taste or you don't like the genre, that's fine. Do what you do and like what you like. No one is making you watch that video or listen to that song. If you're a parent who is uncomfortable about your child seeing the video or hearing the song, prevent it from being a part of your child's life. Don't point fingers at the singer or the radio stations. If you honestly do that, I think you should reevaluate your parenting priorities and skills before you judge Beyoncé.

How much does 1D and Zayn Malik have to do with Little Mix's success?

How much does 1D and Zayn Malik have to do with Little Mix's success?

It's a strange title in itself really. I mean, how much can a high-profile relationship affect the music success of each other's band or group? Apparently quite a bit.

One Direction is a group that is no stranger to attention and success. Over the past three years, the British-Irish boy band has reached tremendous levels of success and many accolades. No. 1 albums in the U.S. and no. 1 singles in the UK; a world-wide arena tour that sold out in minutes; a high-grossing film, beating out the likes of Katy Perry and Justin Bieber in sales; millions of copies sold of infectious hits like "What Makes You Beautiful" and "Best Song Ever", just to name a few. They don't need anymore attention than they already have, nor do they want more. The poor boys can't go anywhere without being swarmed by screaming girls and pushy paparazzi alike. Are their female-counterparts experiencing this kind of success?

Definitely not. I wouldn't say Little Mix is a flop, they have moderate success in the UK and have just started to break their way into the States. I enjoy their music and the quality of their songs and voices is very unique. Now obviously if you make it far enough in a singing competition show you have to have some sort of fan base, there are people calling to keep you in! Unlike other notable X-Factor contestants, Little Mix actually won the competition, landing them a record deal and a bright future. Extremely popular acts such as Cher Lloyd and One Direction from two years before took no time at all to get signed to record labels and start recording albums, even after losing the competition. Now why didn't Little Mix have a "What Makes You Beautiful" or "Want U Back"? Where was their catchy tune that broke not only the masses in their native UK but also to the United States, which launches any musician globally? They were there! "Wings" and "DNA" were popular in the UK from what I could tell, with their single from the X Factor "Cannonball" and debut single "Wings" going no. 1 on Official Charts. I know that once I heard those songs, I couldn't get enough of them. However haven't broken in the States yet, which is a downfall if you want global success. 

Still, they are successful and have a growing, loving fan base, and now, are touring with Demi Lovato on tour as an opening act. So why are people doubting their success? 

Because a girl groups has a LOT  to live up to! Boy bands do as well. One Direction had to live up to the expected to the success and adoration of N'Sync, The Backstreet Boys, and JLS. Did they? Obviously! But has Little Mix lived up to Destiny's Child, Spice Girls, or All Saints? Well, no. Sadly, every music group created is on a timer because they don't last forever. So their time should be spent with as much happiness and success possible.

It has been recognized the possibility that a fraction of the girls' success is attributed to One Direction fans, in an act of love for the band's own Zayn Malik, helped boost the group in sales and popularity. In this generation, the internet is our source of knowledge of things. People communicate their ideas, thoughts, and interests more than human beings have ever done before. I can guarantee you a large fraction of Tumblr's registered users have blogs dedicated to the One Direction boys; uploading GIFs and pictures of the boys, having conversations (and many arguments) over them, and even writing fan fiction about them is a lifestyle for these users. Similar accounts are popular as well for other pop musicians, but One Direction fans own the internet. 

In a very terrifying way, fans have the ability to make or break an artist's success. What if something terrible happened or something was said so terrible that all of those girls (and boys) who are dedicated fans turned their back on the group? How long would One Direction last without such popular blogs, constant YouTube views on their music videos, and endless calls requesting the latest single? I can assure you, not very long at all. Without an audience, there is no performance, in most cases. However, since One Direction and Little Mix are groups, they are not solid and never will be. Their fate is unpredictable. Their critics are counting down until the breakup happens. This is why it is imperative for their managements to secure them a spotlight as long as they can. Is One Direction obliged to assist Little Mix with success and popularity just because their beloved member is engaged to the starlet of the girl group? I don't think they are. And if I were a member of Little Mix, I would shut my mouth about the "stupid little Zayn Malik fans". Turning fans against you isn't smart for any artist, especially if those fans' real allegiance lies somewhere else. Some (most) of 1D's female fans are crazy, sending death threats and saying obscene things. This is to be expected when dating one of music's most popular men, however.

Do I believe Zayn Malik, One Direction, and their fans have attributed to Little Mix's success? Definitely. I'm not saying Little Mix owes 1D anything, I'm just suggesting its members should try to focus more on the music and less on the rumours and criticisms.