Can You Separate Art From the Artist? (in music)
Is Taylor Swift really that great? Are Olivia Rodrigo's songs truly that sad? Is Harry Styles even a good singer? Or is it just the face. Is it the idea of these artists that really made them famous. Or better yet, are they a one-hit wonder? Did they just hit a peak and its all down hill from here? I think the answers to these questions are yes and no. I believe that most superstars in today's music industry earned their place, though their popularity may have kept them there.
I think that almost all singer/songwriters have something that makes them special. Something that had to catch the publics eye in the beginning of their careers. I think that the ones who go the furtherest have something in their music which true fans would never miss. This "spark" separates them from all of the other artists. This "spark" is the reason why most fans would say they like this artist. For example, I think that pop star Taylor Swift's "spark" is her songwriting. Many people may know of Taylor Swift for her relatable, catchy songs, or how she has music in categories ranging from country to pop. Though she has a lovely voice, I don't think that her voice is what made her career take off. I think that Taylor's "spark" or "selling point" is found in her lyrics. Eve Santos says, "Her songs, even when they're decades old, always feel familiar. She sings and writes them as if they're about your life too" (qtd. in Dodgson). Taylor Swift's music has a way of making listeners hear the lyrics and relate to them on a level that most artists can not.
Taylor Swift's ten minute version of "All Too Well" took over the internet in November of 2021. According to Billboard, "All Too Well" ranked number 1 on the music charts for a week, and remained in the top 100 for 15 weeks (Billboard). Rolling Stone describes the song as being about, "a girl, her piano, her memory, and her refusal to surrender her most painful secrets, even when it’s tempting to forget" (Rolling Stone). Many fans claim the ten minute "All Too Well" to be Taylor Swift's best song ever released. The reasoning behind this phenomenon of a song is in the lyrics. The story that she takes the listener through as she recalls her heartbreak throughout the song. Listeners adored the emotion in her lyrics. Her heartfelt lyrics are what made "All Too Well" do so well. Those same lyrics are what makes Taylor Swift stand out against thousands of other singer/songwriters. Her lyrics are her spark.
As explained through Taylor Swift, the best singers have this gold ticket that makes them stand out. While they may have used this spark to get recognition and grow fame, many have become a household name. There will always be loyal fans who helped the singer become famous in the first place, but typically with them an army of others follow. After singers have gained an audience through social media, radio, word of mouth, etc. it can become easier for them to stay on top of their fame. They now have a "name for themselves" and some would say they simply need content to feed to fans, regardless of quality. But I think that the singers who have truly made a name for themselves: are more than a name. I think that at some point, they had some raw talent to get them where they are. Many retain that talent and grow to become not just a name, but a voice that goes down in musical history.
-Julia Smith
Works Cited
"Taylor Swift." Billboard, www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/
hsi/. Accessed 29 Sept. 2022.
Sheffield, Rob. "All 206 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked." Rolling Stone, 26
Oct. 2021, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/
taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/long-live-2010-205162/.
Accessed 29 Sept. 2022.
Dodgson, Lindsay. "'All Too Well': Why the Internet Developed an Emotional
Connection to a Decade-old Taylor Swift Song, According to Experts."
Insider, 19 Nov. 2021, www.insider.com/
all-too-well-taylor-swift-jake-gyllenhaal-internet-viral-science-2021-11.
Accessed 29 Sept. 2022.
I agree with the idea of almost a token identifying a creator. We know different artists for certain things and that almost keeps them in our loop. Your ideas were very well described in your blog!
ReplyDeleteWhat an artist is represented as may keep our gaze for longer, allowing them to keep their fame. I am all for having a label but enjoying their artwork on it's own is good as well.
DeleteIt's cool how you talk about how Taylor Swift's spark is a reason she is popular and you show what makes it her spark! This is an interesting blog to read.
ReplyDelete-Citlali
DeleteI agree that Taylor Swift's songs are relatable and that singers earn their names in the music industry. Your final statement caught my attention a lot. I thought it was interesting how it truly summarized your argument and your blog in a single statement. I enjoyed your introduction very much; it truly sparked my interest in reading your blog.
ReplyDeleteI really like your introduction paragraph, it really sparked my interest! I found this blog super interesting and I think it's cool that each artist has a slightly different thing that makes them stand out to fans! I also really like that you touched on the idea that a lot of people like the artist just as much as they like the art, if not more, because i think that's very true and an interesting phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the singers voice isn't the only thing that makes them popular. I have many songs that the artist's voice isn't pitch perfect but that doesn't make me like the song any less. I always find that I'm pulled towards songs with more lyrical genius rather than good singer who keep singing the same thing throughout the whole song. I like that you add inputs from other artists to help convey that it's not just you who believes your claim.
ReplyDeleteLeo
ReplyDeleteThe idea of songwriters having a certain "spark" is an interesting one. Previously, I haven't thought about it much, but now that you've mentioned it, I think it's pretty cool.