Saturday, November 8, 2014

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.