Aishwarya Week 10: How did Taylor Swift Gain Global Success?
Photo by Terry Wyatt.
It’s not hard to believe that music can add personality to our lives. Whenever you go on a trip or ride back home from school, you might start scrolling through playlists on Spotify just to find the right song to emulate the vibe of that day. But, have you ever wondered why you listen to the same song on repeat?
This is because music artists possess the power to capture a wider audience. First and foremost, artists like Taylor Swift can write songs. It may sound just as simple as hitting a random tune on a Tuesday, but when it comes to getting people to listen repeatedly, it requires skill to craft something relatable.
Taylor Swift’s global success is attributed to her understanding of her fans' desires. For instance, her album 1989 was released at the time Electronic Dance Music became popular. This was a time when people wanted to listen to pop music that had energy and was lively. When the pandemic came about, Swift released Folklore and Evermore to address the culture’s need for an escape from isolation.
A successful singer has the power to find the right time to release a song that dominates cultural needs. This helps to build a reputable brand. Dominating power also comes from invoking emotion through lyrics that relate to the audience. It does not just take a few words to get one person to listen to a song on repeat.
It takes emotion and makes people want to dance, laugh, or cry happy tears. In fact, Taylor Swift writes her songs as if it’s about your life.
Hi Aishwarya,
ReplyDeleteThe question in your title is a very interesting and relevant one as Taylor Swift has been popular for a while, however, recently, she blew up again and seemingly bigger than ever (re: earthquake caused by excited fans at one of her shows).
Celebrities, including musicians, reach to a wide audience certainly helps in their ability to reach global fame. However, there are so many celebrities and so many public figures that it is pretty much impossible to keep up with all of them. That makes it all the more impressive how Taylor Swift has made herself one of the most memorable names of the year.
Some of this is certainly attributed to her talent and her ability to produce quality work that people are willing to hear multiple times. The fact that she is able to evoke emotion from her audience and create a sense of relatability truly shows her skill (she doesn't have a doctorate in the arts for nothing!). Additionally, as you said, understanding her audience also helps a lot. Similar to how author's need to use the societal context of their time to appeal to their audience, artists have to ensure their work will be well received in order to be a success (commercially at least).
I think another two factors that allowed her success to become global is her long time presence in the music industry and the universal nature of music. First, Taylor Swift has been a pretty big name from her debut in 2006 (thats before many of us were even born!). This makes her name more memorable and her songs more popular. Next, music is a universal language. Although her songs are technically in English, I know I do not have to understand all the words to a song to understand it. As you said, she appealed to the desire for pop music. The actual audio apart from the lyrics that make pop music can be equally enjoyed by all, whether or not the language is understandable.
Hi Aishwarya,
ReplyDeleteAs someone who avidly listens to Taylor Swift, I deeply resonated with your blog. It struck me only after I read your blog that her album releases seem to capture the essence of the music genre overall mood of the time, as you pointed out with Folklore and Evermore coinciding with a period of isolation and escapism from reality. I definitely agree that was a large reason she gained such widespread success, as her music profoundly connects with audiences during different phases of life.
I also believe the variety of genre and sheer amount of songs she has written and released undoubtedly contribute to her widespread appeal and influence. With such variety, Swift has been able to create music that resonates with virtually everyone, making it nearly impossible not to find at least one song to love.
Furthermore, many of her tracks cover topics with rather broad appeals. The majority of her soundtracks revolve around the theme of romantic love, an experience shared by much of the population. Additionally, songs like “Marjorie” and “Soon You'll Get Better” touch on themes of grief and loss, another general topic that can be found relatable on a universal level. Overall, Swift’s analysis of her audience and her connection with them have propelled her to constantly produce radio hits, and therefore gain the power to succeed as a music artist on a global level.
Hi Aishwarya!! The example you provided of how Taylor Swift's albums are tailored to fit the cultural mood of their respective times, highlights the strategic approach artists can take to connect with their listeners on a deeper level, gaining higher attraction. It's fascinating to see how music can range from a reflection of societal trends to a means of escape during challenging times, as you pointed out with her albums, "1989" and "Folklore." Further, I believe the universal appeal of Swift’s music is most significantly attributed to her talent for crafting lyrics that evoke strong feelings in her listeners. It’s fascinating how much power a single song can have over an audience. In the ever-changing musical landscape, I can’t help but wonder how Swift’s style will evolve in the coming years to adapt to new preferences.
ReplyDelete