Taylor Swift and Her "Brand Era."

Whether or not you want to, we all know about the infamous Taylor Swift. Sweeping the music scene since 2006, the country-turned-pop star has dominated the charts for the better part of a decade- and there doesn't seem to be anything stopping her. This past weekend, audiences watched (unsurprisingly) as she nabbed four Grammys for her 10th studio album, Midnights. While I am one to blast "Cruel Summer" with the bass on high, I can't help but wonder if her claim to superstardom has more to do with Taylor the "brand" than Taylor, the singer-songwriter. Yes, she has the songwriting skills of a modern Shakespearean Goddess, but I can't help but glaze over when I see another version of Taylor's bleeding heartbreak on a "brand new album." Since her successful switch from country to pop, Taylor has become widely known for her recognizable red-lip and bang-donning persona, fast-tracking her from ordinary cutie queen to mega-pop icon and turning an ordinary sidewalk moment into an instant click-bait headline. The public loves to love her as much as they love to hate her, and we can't get enough.

I understand making money in the music industry is a win for labels and artists alike. Still, with glittery and girly performances that sell for $500 a pop, I can't help but notice that what we're getting from Taylor is more of a product line over a true music experience. She sells, shines, and makes a considerable profit singing the same songs with different titles. Swiftie or not, we can all agree that Taylor Swift is more of an icon than a musician. One who pushes the envelope in ways that have nothing to do with musical talent than it does with public perception of her latest hot-takes on men and how people are reacting to her reactions, with 280 million Instagram followers to boot.

Taylor Swift and Publicist Tree Paine

Image Sourced from Info Nation

From the viral meme moment of her hugging Travis Kelce after his big win, catapulting his team to the 2024 Super Bowl, to announcing her new album release at the Grammy Awards, she continuously surprises fans with strategic moves that continue to garner public attention. Guys, I do not dislike Taylor Swift by any means, and I applaud her actions to remain relevant in the pop stratosphere, but when will people see her for what she is? A musician whose prominent acclaim to fame was to strategically relate to the third prettiest girl in the room who felt she deserved all the attention. Seeing her continuously win Grammy after Grammy with zero music variety in foresight makes me believe the woman is famous just for the simple fact of being famous. At least the Stanley Cup has more depth than her four re-recorded studio albums fans have already listened to. I'll wrap up my point with this: there are several more prominent names out there (I see you, Beyonce, girl) that deserve the same level, if not more, awards, fame, and hell-red lipstick than she currently has. How many more award shows does one have to watch where the same person making the same music wins the most prestigious awards time after time? That being said, if you are looking for fresh new music that hasn't been re-hashed over and over, check out my weekly playlists that feature music from multiple genres and parts of the world that have yet to be discovered. After all, music discovery is the backbone of any musical artist's existence who doesn't have the means to market themselves all the way to the Grammy's.

Until next time.

-The Vibe Chronicles