Subscribe
Previous Post
Look, I’m all for a positive female role model who can sell music without taking her clothes off and singing about sex.
But I’m starting to get frustrated with Taylor Swift’s unwillingness to embrace adulthood and transition her music, as well as her attitude, so that it actually reflects her age and the fact that she’s a woman. Yep, a woman. Not a girl, not a teenager, but a real live 22-year old woman. Despite the fact she’s growing up, she seems determined to remain in this constant state of adolescence and innocence when it comes to her music.
This morning she went on The Today Show and discussed her upcoming role in The Lorax as well as how growing up has affected her music.
One of my “favorite” quotes from the interview:
“I’ll never have the moment where I’m like, ‘I’m a woman, now, guys, I’m only going to write dark songs and I’m going to dance in my bra all the time,’” she said. “That’s not really me.”
While many people may applaud her chastity and sobriety and proclaim that’s she a beacon of innocence and light among all the “dark” performers out there, I can’t join in on the accolade parade. Although she says in the interview she’s ready to start embracing a more mature sound, the interview and the quote above makes it sound like growing up hasn’t really affected her at all. At least the persona she chooses to portray to the public.
The whole sweet and innocent schtick was cute at first — and almost believable. Sure Taylor, you were the high school loser, write about that. But now it’s just getting old. She’s 22, she’s dated the notorious womanizer John Mayer, she’s been famous for several years. Surely that’s changed her outlook on life by now. Surely she has something more interesting to write about than G-rated topics like the material covered in her Grammy-winning song “Mean.”
You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again got me feeling like I’m nothing
You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard, calling me out when I’m wounded
You, pickin’ on the weaker man
Well, you can take me down with just one single blow
But you don’t know what you don’t know
Someday I’ll be living in a big old city
And all you’re ever gonna be is mean
Someday I’ll be big enough so you can’t hit me
And all you’re ever gonna be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?
If she was actually 13, this kind of music would be authentic. But she’s not and at this point it’s just coming off as fake as well as calculated. The music, the “oh goodness, did I really win, this big ‘ole Grammy” shock faces, and the interviews. How long can she really pull this off and how long will fans buy it? Does anyone want to see a middle-aged woman singing about the perils of young love?
I don’t find her choice not to dance her in her bra brave, I find it boring. Because, guess what, the average 22-year-old has danced around in her bra. She’s been to dark places and that’s what she wants to hear about when she’s listening to music. Not about another time some big meanie broke Taylor Swift’s fragile heart. It’s time for Taylor Swift to embrace her age and embrace her experiences and grow up.
[Photo courtesy of Celebuzz]
I know this will probably make me sound like the biggest hypocrite, but honestly im so tired of seeing this all the time. What is wrong with you people? Do you not have better things to do than argue with someone you’ve never even met? The articles are put up there for people’s entertainment, we don’t need an international fucking debate on Taylor Swift’s indubitably adolescent behaviour underneath. Are you all training to go to toastmasters? Christ.
Having read some of your previous articles, I can honestly say a self proclaimed “Hunger Games Fan girl” has no right to tell others to grow up.
This article is as stupid as the person who wrote it…The day when girls get critisized for not dancing around in their bra and for not doing dark things shows how expectations of young girls by people (like this Jenni Maier, who seems to have dedicated her time to writing Taylor Swift hate articles ) in society are negative and delusional
Omg this is ridiculous. So what if she’s still not growing up? Not your problem. If she’s going to dance around with her bra, the younger kids who looked up to her will be a fucked up generation. And her childish image is just an image, I’m here for her music, I don’t give a fuck for her image. Why don’t you write some more useful article like how to wash your dog or something? She doesn’t even know you exist, bitch.
Yall are pathetic. U obviously listen to her and stalk her life or else u wouldn’t kno have the shit. Get a real life and talk about something more important like drug use or violence. Ur post sounds as “bad” as her lyrics. Loser
THANK GOD SOMEONE FINALLY HAD THE BALLS TO WRITE THIS ARTICLE!!!!
Couldn’t agree more!
While I would agree that Taylor Swift’s lyrics focus on adolescent themes, I think that you’re wrong by suggesting that her becoming a woman means having to give up her “innocence,” as you put it, and start dancing around in her bra. Taylor is putting forth a positive image of women by being able to be as successful as she is without getting naked or singing lyrics about sex. Whether or not her innocent image seems calculated and boring to you, it’s a step forward in the progression of humanity toward an understanding of women as people as opposed to sex objects. Honestly, if you really believe in the things you wrote in the article, then you are also supporting the sexual objectification of women, which doesn’t limit itself to female pop stars dancing around naked, but also includes rape, abuse, and prominent issues such as Obama’s birth control mandate. So, thanks for undoing the progress women have made in the past century toward equality. I’m just glad we have people like Taylor Swift around to prove the narrow minded, patriarchal people like you wrong.
Woooow. Seriously? Write about something better. Maybe…something that doesn’t make you sound like a 13-year old girl who thinks the world is “unfair.” Grow the hell up.
You may think that every 22 year old has some deep dark secrets, but you should know that that’s a horrible conclusion. That’s like saying every cow in the world is going to have their black spots in the same places because they’re cows.
Uh, no.
It’s really horrible what you “gossip” websites do for some attention.
Mona Mona Mona… you my friend win for having the most nonsensical contradicting response to this post. Congrats! Now you may be asking yourself why you won this honor…well let me tell you!
1) you quoted the word “unfair” but the author never used the word unfair. So why did you quote that? Who were you quoting? She never said the world was unfair… she said she doesn’t like Taylor Swift’s lack of maturity in both her music and public image… so I’m not sure where this made up quote is from….
2) you tell the writer to “grow the hell up”. You realize that her whole post was about trying to tell Taylor Swift to grow the hell up.. right?
3) “You may think that every 22 year old has some deep dark secrets, but you should know that that’s a horrible conclusion.” I want to say this is my favorite line…but we haven’t even gotten to the cows yet! Ok why is this a “horrible conclusion” to say that 22 year olds have some dark experiences? I would hope that by the time you are 22 you have experienced both good and bad in life, that you have been challenged, that you have been to dark places and that in the end you came out a stronger person. That is the only way you will ever truly know yourself.
4)”That’s like saying every cow in the world is going to have their black spots in the same places because they’re cows.” And we have a winner! COWS? SPOTS? TAYLOR SWIFT? HUH? Good try but i think what you were trying to say is that it’s not fair to generalize an entire group. If you want to stick with cows theme next time try this… That’s like saying every cow is raised on a grassy farm, when in fact some cows have different experiences (raised in killing fields!). The only way your “spots” (see proper use of quotes) argument would make sense is if the author said all 22 year olds have blonde hair… because then you would be making 2 physical comparisons… make sense?
5) and finally ” It’s really horrible what you “gossip” websites do for some attention” ……. really? attention? or do you mean their jobs? They are not needy children looking for attention THEY ARE A GOSSIP BLOG. Gossip, as in they write about celebrities, give their opinions, you read or you don’t read (free will remember? we all have it). Attention would be the author going to a Taylor Swift concert holding a sign that says “grow up and check out Crushable.com”
Well Mona I hope you’ve learned an important lesson here…. that maybe “gossip” websites just aren’t your thing. Now get back to those crazy cows!
so she’ll become a well-socialized bore, just like those norming ninnies on “what not to wear”
and become just another well-socialized bore. just like those norming m0r0ns on “what not to wear”
and become another well-socialized bore. You’re about as interesting as the norming morons on “what not to wear”.
your article sounds like the women who complained that they couldn’t relate to Hillary Clinton because she didn’t stay home and bake cookies.
I wish some reporter would write a story on her abortion in a Nashville hospital last summer. That would put the kibosh on this wholesome young girl act of hers.
what’s wrong with having good values? what’s wrong with making the young girls happy? if you dont like her then go focus your attention to those half naked girls you want instead its not her job to make YOU happy. stop being so selfish
it will ONLY last so long..they did the same thing to britney but everyone has 2 grow up.I really dont like it when they have someone have a fake innocent image when she dated all those men before she was even 21,how does that add up?but who cares…she will be doing the oh my god i guess as long as she can.
You know that song, “Mean” that you just quoted. She wrote that about people like you.
I am so tired of this talentless phony.
Must suck for Swift that her only good song Love Story was done better by a Rock/pop rock/pop punk band then her. I’m referring to Forever The Sickest Kids covering her one good song. No I am not a fan. I can’t stand Swift
So you want her to join the rest in the gutter? How …. droll.
I Think It’s Time For this writer to stop being a snatch.
I’ll bet if this was your daughter you would be proud that she doesn’t sing dark songs and that she potrays innocense. Keep it as long as you can honey because once it is gone it’s gone. Too many girls are in a big rush to grow up. Be sweet and innocent as long as you can, there is nothing wrong with that.