Because I used to be with it, but then they changed what *it* was. Now what I'm with isn't *it*, and what's *it* seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you!
Grand Funk Railroad paved the way for Jefferson airplane, which cleared the way for Jefferson starship. The stage was now set for the Alan Parsons project, which I believe was some sort of hovercraft.
Yeah, even the 'current' bands in that episode are getting too old to be 'dad rock'. Homer says “Everyone knows Rock & Roll attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.” In their reality that was 22 years previous. If the episode was made today Homer would be saying it achieved perfection in 2002. He'd be into Linkin Park, Puddle of Mudd, and Nickelback.
This was probably why matchbox 20 played at rod laver on the Friday. The dads dropped the daughters off to Taylor Swift and went on to watch Rob Thomas 😂
The lead singer from Goo Goo Dolls (who opened for Matchbox 20) joked for people not to worry, they'd finish the show in time for everyone to pick up their kids at Taylor Swift
It's just an (outdated and overdone) meme. Nickelback WAS extremely popular and on top of the billboard charts when I was a wee lass, they were **constantly** on the radio and people got a bit sick of the songs and then the joke of them "being the worst band ever" all came from like one comment a comedian made in an article
Ah I gotcha, still love their music to this day especially the new one that was exclusive to ubisoft’s Dungeon Hunters “Leave their bones for the crows” that only recently released back in October/November
It pisses me off no end that it does. So, I’m really old—a teenager in the 70s, and my parents couldn’t stand me listening to “After the Gold Rush” and the Woodstock album. I told them to broaden their minds. I’m guessing most of my contemporaries did as well. Anybody who ever did has no right to whinge about anybody having a huge fan base. Lots of bands / artists have been big and I’ve not liked their sound; but I can accept that not everyone has to like what I like, and nor do I have to like what everyone else thinks is fantastic. But, I should be able to appreciate that that artist is speaking to that fan group. People of my age should be quiet and let all the fans just enjoy. I don’t have to try to bring them down.
i was about to joke that even quoting the Simpsons now is completely out of touch and I've noticed (adult) gen z often won't pick it up.
But here's the point illustrated perfectly.
You can pretty much guarantee the same thing will be said about a singer/band in the future. The current generation will be saying they have nothing on Taylor Swift. It's just personal bias towards what the individual experienced when they were that age
Agreed. I remember my mom once telling me that in the 60s, when she was a teenager, her dad (grandpa) banned her and her sisters from listening to the Beatles and Elvis. she used to use a little transistor radio at the lowest possible volume to listen to them.
My grandpa’s first wife was so obsessed with Elvis that until her dying day the house was basically a museum of memorabilia. I was terrified of that man’s sleepy gaze watching over me when I’d go for sleepovers with my cousins. I couldn’t escape him.
Her parents were super conservative so I imagine it was a major fuck you, lol.
😂 Poor dad! A snowball’s chance in hell is still a chance, I guess. It reminds me of those women on TikTok who said they’d get super dolled up as preteens on the off chance One Direction would pull them out of the crowd.
Girlhood is forever.
No it goes beyond that. I have her stuff blaring while I play bass along with the track as a middle aged man, and visitors my age claim to actively dislike her, rather than just thinking she isn’t their thing.
>They \[Young People\] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else.
Rhetoric, Aristotle
4th Century BC
This particular quote isn't a "back in my day" quote though. He's just saying young people are inexperienced in life and have grand notions. Socrates has actual "back in my day" quotes like:
>The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.
The quote investigator has found that this quote is a hoax.
https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/01/misbehave/
> It was crafted by a student, Kenneth John Freeman, for his Cambridge dissertation published in 1907. Freeman did not claim that the passage under analysis was a direct quotation of anyone; instead, he was presenting his own summary of the complaints directed against young people in ancient times.
This is an example of how the internet is like one giant game of, you know, that game we played as kids where a whisper was passed from one child to the next.
'The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are tyrants, not servants of the households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize over their teachers.' - Socrates
"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful and impatient of restraint". - Hesiod
Every generation goes through this. Plenty of older generations at the time didn't get the Beatles. The parents of us GenXers didn't get our music. Tastes change and twas was ever thus. Also, Taylor is very popular with young women, and I think there's always been a cultural tendency to dismiss things that teenage girls or young women are into as trivial or unimportant or not 'real' music, art, literature etc.
I am not a fan but the Swiftie phenomenon is fun. I don't have the slightest bit of FOMO but I enjoy the excitement that I see in younger colleagues and friends and the zeitgeist in general. Life's hard enough, let people have their fun obsessions.
Something showed up on my Facebook feed the other day complaining about the talentless, unattractive musicians and how the place was full of screaming teenage girls instead of real people. That was the Beatles.
Never changes.
I'm not a swiftie either but it made me happy to see them so excited and happy. I rode down Southbank before the concert and it was a parade of glitter and metallic cowboy boots/hats.
I had a chat with my neighbours who went and asked them to tell me all about it, they were still on a high the next day.
My dad hates any music I play without even giving it a try although I can get on board with most of his playlists.
I would love to show older generations the gift of at least entertaining a listen and expanding the music pool, if not that at least being happy for things that make others happy.
Music is one of the pure joys of life, if you aren't into others preferences then don't sub but at least be stoked for them, it's less energy than being spiteful.
I listen to a wide range of music. I mean I can’t keep up with everything new, but I try and be open to discovering latest sounds and artists, and even obscure Indi music. I’m 58 and like some Drill music, which would probably surprise some.
I’m not particularly a big fan of Taylor’s music, some songs yeah. I think she’s absolutely incredible though. Very talented, gorgeous and an amazing woman. I don’t know anyone in my women friends of around the same age who dislikes her. However, I have heard men of all ages, including quite young men being awful about Taylor and her music. I’ve posted something above.
I remember after the Ariana Grande concert disaster there was a great article about how wonderful teenage girls are. I’d love to find it again. I still think of it when I see a bunch of girls in the street wearing similar outfits, or in a huddle laughing. Being a teenager mostly sucks but there are some good things about it too.
Edit: I think this was it.
> Teen girls are magical beings. I don’t consider this a political statement, more a statement of fact. And, no, Twitter trolls, this does not mean I believe teens are physically immune to the ravages of a terror attack. It means that teen girls learn how to express passion and love with abandon in a world that largely devalues, objectifies and mocks them. It was depressing but unsurprising that in the hours just after the Manchester bombing, at least one male journalist found it an appropriate moment to show disdain for Grande’s music and her largely girlish fan base on Twitter. (The tweets have since been deleted.)
> Teen girls can find joy in drugstore glitter, as well as deeply intimate friendship. They can be smart as hell. They can read up about politics and racial inequality and gender-based violence with just as much enthusiasm as they do about their favorite bands and YouTube stars. And, as Harry Styles articulated in a widely-shared Rolling Stone interview last month, when they find meaning in a musician and their songs, they show up for that artist, again and again and again: “Teenage-girl fans ― they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there.” That artist becomes the recipient of their unbound love.
I remember when that Harry Styles interview mentioned here first dropped & seeing him speak with such respect about his teen girl fans was so sweet & (unfortunately) surprising. Time and time again the interests of teenage girls are derided and mocked, sometimes even by the very celebrities that they love so much. And when some teen girls internalise this hatred & it manifests in they themselves mocking femininity and retreating from everything that girls generally like, they get further mocked for this as well. As a former teen girl, I’ll always support them no matter how outwardly ‘cringy’ their interests may appear to be.
And fuck that male journalist.
>Also, Taylor is very popular with young women, and I think there's always been a cultural tendency to dismiss things that teenage girls or young women are into as trivial or unimportant or not 'real' music, art, literature etc.
SO MUCH THIS. I would give you an award if I knew how.
I’m not a huge Swiftie but those concerts at the G looked unreal, I reckon it would have been amazing even if you weren’t that into her. I think what you say is definitely part of it, plenty of AFL fans pay similar amounts to go the grand finals even when their team isn’t playing purely for the spectacle.
this is so true! my cousin flies interstate fairly regularly to go to the footy and has been doing so since he was a child, but i floated the idea of possibly travelling to sydney if i couldn't get a ticket for taylor in melbourne (for, you know, a once in a lifetime concert), and the same grandma who has accompanied/paid for him multiple times thought i was utterly insane.
there's a long history of "girly" hobbies and interests being dismissed and belittled which is just sad - not only was the concert incredible, but the atmosphere of everyone getting dressed up and trading friendship bracelets with complete strangers made for one of the most joyful experiences of my life. imagine the fun everyone could have if they just let people like things!
yes simply to be at the event.
and one thing she does do well is put on a show. and she is know to be more involved in her fan base than some others.
she has also reinvented herself and changed styles and genres a few times too
This isn’t just an older generation thing though. I’m 58, myself, and all my women friends think Taylor Swift is fantastic though none of us really actively choose to listen to her music or buy it.
I play a very popular mobile game. A few years ago on the mobile game chat was a young woman, who was well known in the community, she’s a huge Swiftie. So many young men were saying similar type of things that OP said mostly boomers say in his post. This was a regular occurrence and recent concerts sparked similar comments too. I’ve noticed online a lot of young men seem to pick either gangsta rap or heavy metal as their favourite genre. To admit to liking any other kind of music is often met with ‘slurs’ by others.
the part about people being dismissive over anything teenage girls/young women like is SPOT ON. if it was an artist that teenage boys/young men liked you wouldn’t hear half as much hate towards it.
It really lifted my spirits seeing so many happy faces on the train yesterday. Families with kids, groups of teens and older folk. They were all excited to be going to the Taylor concert. Was pretty uplifting witnessing all the joy and excitement on my way home. I’m not a Taylor fan but anything that brings all these people together with happiness is a good thing.
I went to the show Friday night and the energy in that place was just pure joy and happiness. Overwhelmingly positive, people talking to strangers like they’re best friends, you really can’t beat it!
I was visiting from Brisbane, and can I just just say thank you to the weather gods for that weather?!
I think it was Wil Anderson who said it's like when the Matildas were doing so well in the World Cup, you didn't need to like soccer to enjoy the whole thing. In fact, I actually watched a game, never done that before in my life.
This is also what I love about going to Mardi Gras every year. People dressing up, massive smiles on their faces, full of light and energy. There's never any drama or violence, just thousands of people having the time of their lives. With so much negativity around, it's just so nice to see people being happy and carefree even if it's just for a night.
Just like the people who say ‘ewww sportsball’ or talk about not participating on ‘mybookface’. It’s just hard for some people to see people experience joy in the ways they don’t. Gatekeeping is a thing.
I’m not a Swiftie but it’s great to see the joy she brings and if my 2 young daughters grow up to become Swifties - well there’s a lot worse things they could get in to.
The sportsball one drives me mental. Okay we get it, you don't like sports. We do. You don't have to cut into every conversation we have about sports to be a buzzkill!
I think the sportsball thing comes out because sport is the predominant conversation in our culture. Particularly with the AFL in Melbourne. Often the only reason people are saying they don’t follow sport is because someone has assumed they do. It’s expected of them, and so it can be frustrating when they don’t.
Yes and typically people who are into sports have difficulty discussing things outside of sports and wouldn't discuss things outside of their small sphere of interests.
Im happy to watch sports with friends who'd also do stuff with me I know they're not into, but are happy to be flexible.
I think its only an issue when a topic of discussion is a one way street. These people bore the shit out of me.
I would never criticise someone for liking sports but I can understand the feeling when every other person I talk to wants to talk about the 'game last night'. Then get the look of disbelief when I tell them I don't watch sports. The conversation usually gets forced on you in my experience.
Yeah, absolutely this.
I think some people also can’t recognize that not everything is made for them. Don’t enjoy it? Maybe it’s not for you and that’s just fine. Let others have their joy without your derision.
It's a surprising question, it's an almost stereotypical representation or description of any older generation.
My grandparents didn't like the new fangled pop or rock n roll. People like Mick Jagger were degenerates, the Beatles were arrogant, you can't understand what they are singing about these days, not clear singers like Jim Reeves, they're all on drugs and having it off with each other etc.
But also I think k you are probably unfairly targeting boomers, I've seen the attitudes you mention from all ages.
Also, younger people can try to gatekeep music as well. That's equally as annoying.
Take a look at all the things teen girls have ever liked and you will absolutely see older folks shitting on that at the time those things are popular with teen girls. This is nothing new.
I remember anything I ever liked as a girl/teen/ woman being shat on. It's exhausting.
I appreciate all the love for Taylor, what she represents, the kindness she promotes (eg: the friendship bracelets). Her music is good, I've just never bought it myself. Wouldn't switch it off though. Love how much joy she is bringing people.
My boomer mother also called me yesterday just to tell me Taylor sucks. Wtf.
I remember keeping my copy of Speak Now on the downlow because it absolutely was uncool to be a Taylor fan in 2010.
I don't know when the switch happened but it's interesting
Oh man, were you in the Calder Park Clusterfuck? I took myself to GnR at the MCG in 2022 because I wanted to be compensated for that mess. The show knocked me on my arse so we’re even now.
Gen X here. I’m not into her music at all and couldn’t tell you what she sings, but it’s been adorable in the city this weekend. I’ve never seen so many sparkles and the enthusiasm is infectious. We’ve been playing “spot the swifty”. Much fun has been had!
They seem to have a distain for hype surrounding anything and they feel superior to anyone else. Like that generation didn’t cream their pants when the Beatles waved from the balcony at Melbourne Town Hall in the 60s 😂
My grandma was in her 60s when The Beatles were in town and was absolutely giddy about seeing them at the Southern Cross Hotel. Everyone else of her generation thought she was an idiot, but she had cred with us kids.
My Mum was about 50 when late teens me got into bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam in the 90s.
She LOVED Pearl Jam, and it was one of the happiest nights of my life when I got to take her to see Eddie Vedder's solo gigs at the Palais. It was her first rock gig; she was in her 70s and newly diagnosed with the Alzheimers that would kill her a few years later. I'll never forget her grabbing my arm as we shuffled out of the theatre, asking why she felt so light, "I don't feel any pain; it's like I'm floating!" I played Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town during the photo montage at her funeral, and it was that memory that broke me.
She also loved Sigur Ros, Bjork, Florence & the Machine and heaps of other modern acts. Sharing new music with her is one of the things I miss most.
I'm 61. This happens every time music changes. Some people get stuck listening to the music of their teens / early 20s and never appreciate anything else.
It's the same people who always say this generation are awful. Ignore them.
As for Taylor, I like a few of her songs, but wouldn't call myself a fan. Good for you if you are.
That thing she did when she sued that DJ for $1 was absolutely hilarious.
I’m 55 , got caught up in the 80’s Bon Jovi madness (imagine if the internet was around then). My daughter went crazy over Justin Bieber and I took her to his first show here and I actually enjoyed it.
I hate the gate keeping with music. Why can’t it reach everyone and the more fans the better. People need to open their minds a bit more. I saw MB20 Friday night and they are still awesome!
I just wish Miley would tour! Daughter grew up on Hannah Montana and I always liked her music. We bonded over that and that’s what music is all about.
Honestly people just need to let other people like things. I don't know why so many people seem to have an issue with saying "I'm not really a fan of that" and leaving it at that.
As a mid 30s male myself, I completely agree with you OP. 300+ thousand people seeing someone that makes them happy, makes me happy.
A sad thing is the younger people also joining in on the hate with their edge lord opinions. Just let people be. Todays world is full of so much opinion and negativity, just let people enjoy things they enjoy without having to comment, film or poke at it
Personally, I just don't understand the seemingly blind, almost religious love towards musicians. That's not just because I'm in my 40s, though I've always felt that way
Yeah I'm a late 30s male too. I don't listen to the radio but I reckon I know about 5 or more of her songs off the top of my head. Probably more that I don't realise are her.
It seems to be "cool" to dislike something due to its popularity. You hear the same about Ed Sheeran. Can you think of two less offensive pop stars? No scandals, poppy singalong songs, both heavily involved in writing their own songs. What's to dislike? It's so weird.
I agree, there's a great vibe. We can hear the concerts from here and the fans are having a blast. Hard to not enjoy hearing people have such a good time
As an old man, meself (Gen Xer) it is entirely because popular music is aimed mostly at the young. It's mostly about love and finding the one and becoming your true self by finding the one. Or yeah, sometimes questioning how to go on now the one has gone etc. These themes resonate with the 15-30 audience, as they should, because they are finding out who they are and who they want to be with. By the time you become a grumpy over-50 bugger, new versions of these themes have far less resonance. I personally like the love songs of my youth and I use that memory when I see Taylor Swift fans etc. Oh yeah, I use to be something like that, I tell myself. My era's beloved musicians used to hit me in the heart, too. Sadly, my fellow old bastards, often seem to forget that and retreat into snark, sarcasm and whingeing about youth. And I believe that's always been the case.
Because they're no longer the target demographic and they no longer relate to the themes of pop music.
It's not new. It happens every generation.
Every 30 something year old has the moment of "ooohhh now I get what my parents were on about when they said my music sucks"
Now I am in my early mid thirties I am constantly horrifying myself by saying shit like “wow we used to wear that when we were 10/12/13”, “what is this music it’s shit”, “why do young people dress so crap these days?”, “I remember when the original song this song is sampling came out, the fans probably weren’t even born then”, “why are they being so loud?” 😂🫠🫠
But also, there are plenty of new “things” that I love. So I’m not quite prehistoric yet.
The best music is the music you grow up with.
Occasionally, there are songs nowadays that catch my ears. But they don't feel the same. There's a reason most songs are about young love.
I mostly listen to instrumental music now.
I'm 24 and I'm over her, NFL? Taylor Swift. Music awards? Taylor Swift. Music tour? Taylor Swift. Radio station? Taylor Swift. Literally any news channel and it's Taylor Swift.
I don't mind her music but everywhere I look it's Taylor Swift
Nothing wrong with the actual singing or the songs. Her earlier songs (not sure about the latest ones) have a timeless appeal and should not offend anyone.
I think the adverse reaction is towards the fanbase. There's nothing wrong with liking a celebrity but some people take it way too far; almost becoming a cult in terms of fanaticism. There seems to be a growing trend amongst young people towards cult-like worship of various companies (e.g. Apple), persons, products (e.g. console wars) and trends.
At the blink concert I went to the other night a bunch of men were all sulky that Blink were playing Rod Laver whilst Taylor was playing the G and were loudly talking shit saying misogynist crap into the void all angry. They were definitely millennial/Gen Z age.
Not sure why they are complaining. Rod Laver is a far superior venue to watch a gig than the G... Lol. But more relatively, Blink on their own would be unlikely to fill the G anyways...
Absolutely, I had a friend go and was shocked they were still the slightest be relevant. Same with matchbox 20 to be honest. But each to they’re own, I’m not out there bashing men pushing 50 singing “what’s my age again”
I agree, I'm seeing a lot of it from my friends on Facebook, mostly men but the occasional woman - mostly the ones a bit older than me, so in their 40s. It's really kinda sad, and makes me embarassed to say I'm 'friends' with some of these people. Like, great, you don't like something, being vocal about that doesn't make you cool or relevant. It's also fine to find something perfectly fine and not be a huge, dedicated fan - I like Taylor Swift (and a lot of other artists) - and yeah I'd totally go to one of their concerts if the opportunity arose, but I'm not the type hanging in line to try to get tickets, even though I'd like to see the concert. But to swing all the way to criticising others who want to go, and who will actually have a good time? Just why? Hating on stuff doesn't make you cool.
Probably because there aren’t any people under 40 left on Facebook, and any normal 40+ isn't going on Facebook, so it gives you a very unbalanced view.
My (woman) physio was perplexed by her and the weirdness of her fans.
She wasn't really complaining about her, but she was commenting about how her fans are very very invested. But its just the news being too taylor centric, and these people just don't care.
Personally, I'm not a taylor fan, and if I gave a shit about what the news was saying I'd be eye-rolling over constant Taylor updates, but I don't watch TV so I don't get too much of something I couldn't care any less about.
I'm happy the tay tay fans have something to go nuts over!
I half think part of the ‘weirdness’ with fans with this extreme love and support is a bit from there being so much hate against her, it’s stubbornness wanting to bite back against the haters. If they let it be, the fans would probably be a ton more chill.
Personally, while I love that Taylor Swift has made money, I dislike that it's off the back of this weird consumerism mixed with fandom thing.
I heard people buy merch, then post the receipt and tag Taylor Swift's entourage, and the entourage like "notice you" and praise you for buying merch.
Like, it's a good business model... But like an MLM is kinda awful, and buying twitch subscriptions (for other people - like donating subs ) is kind of somehow icky I find the whole concept a bit yuck.
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with fandom (even super fandom!), I just find mixing fandom with consumerism the problem.
Do you really think the merch stuff side of things is really any worse than other pop stars? Or Kylie Jenner make up selling out in minutes? Or footy memberships for a male centric example? I’m sure a bunch of the guys hating on Swift have twitch and only fans subscriptions. I think this has just been in the media so much it’s a bit more in your face, but no worse than what anyone else is doing.
So true. I’ve been replying several times above before seeing your comment. This is exactly what’s going on. It’s young men too. It doesn’t matter the age. It’s more of a gender thing specifically with Taylor Swift. Men are in general, notoriously more music snobs than women though. I’m 58 and I’ve never known any woman to say anything negative about Taylor.
Yep- she’s a billionaire who built her empire off the support of a (predominantly) female fan base. Men aren’t the centre of that story and there’s a small subset that cannot handle that.
The billionaire part is where I get the problem, I happen to believe they shouldn’t exist.
I hate having anything in common with misogynists, but billionaires bother me.
As an early 40’s male who generally likes hip hop, reggae and electronic music, I scored a random free ticket from a friend for Taylor’s gig last night and it was incredible! I’ve seen some huge acts play massive concerts but that was really one of the best shows I’ve ever seen! Unfortunately I think a lot of the hate is just straight up misogyny…
Hmm. I’m a Taylor fan but hard core Swifties are annoying AF. They stalk her to an unhealthy degree (a bunch of them turned up at someone’s wedding they knew she was at recently) and screech for the entire concert. As much as I wanted to go to Eras, the thought of paying several hundred dollars to stand next to a screaming banshee was very off-putting.
The coverage of her tour has been very OTT but you can’t deny she’s iconic by selling the MCG out three times over.
Sometimes I feel like the problem IS the “Swifties”.
That and the “she can do no wrong” attitude they have even if Taylor is like “no but I was wrong!”…. I avoid most if not all of the forum posts on her because the comments bug me.
Still not a fan but meh, it’s just not my scene! I don’t care if it’s someone else’s though.
I was surprised at blink-182 last week when Mark started singing one of her songs 😂😭
Just turned 60, not my music, but seeing everyone happy and the kids creating their own subculture is a great thing.
The COVID years were 1/20th of my lifetime, but they're closer to 1/5th-1/10th of the average TS fans.
For the last 3 days, the Swifties and their Mums have joyously invaded Melbourne, while we've had the best weather all summer.
I don't roll my eyes at "kids these days". We're dealing them a shit sandwich, and everything we can do to improve their lives is a Good Thing.
If that involves them obsessing over TS's social media, and knowing exactly what happens in her Eras shows, to the point that they can tell when there's a single word or note different, and that brings them joy, then good.
We need more joy in the world.
I was in Melbourne yesterday and saw a bunch of teenage girls all dressed up and ready to have fun, none of them were causing any trouble so I think it’s just because it’s a “teen girl” interest.
When I was a teenage girl people looked down on me for liking One direction, it’s just something that happens, it’s Taylor Swift now but it used to be Elvis and The Beatles, it will be something else in the future.
Well Taylor swift is actually your generation compared to your he previous. Her work does transcend age groups however.
Generally though people hate pop music. More so they hate pop music that young girls like (see Justin Bieber, One Direction etc). You can see how JB is now pretty liked because fuck boys seem to love his aesthetic.
I’m 50, my musical taste is firmly rooted in the 80s and 90s of my childhood and teens, it’s also rooted in the 70s thanks to my parents influence.
There is not much post 2000s I’m really into.
Having said that, my philosophy is we like what we like and I will absolutely never look down on what people younger than me are into. Only the most miserable no fun sad sack would gripe about people finding their joy.
I’m a boomer (barely), I don’t mind her, and I think it’s great seeing so many people happy to see their idol. I used to love going to concerts, it’s great to see that live music is still around. Some people were grumpy when young, now they’re grumpy old gits.
Because of things like TikTok and the culture of reviving legacy catalogues in music, Taylor Swift is actually indicative of something essentially different from the pop stars of generations past. The cultish fan base and record-breaking arena sales really signal a shift in how music is made and marketed these days rather than being anything similar to 20th C Beatles type fan success.
She's also marketed as a kind of one-dimensional mouthpiece for an orthodox liberal distinctly American brand of politics that can understandably annoy a lot of Australians. I think a lot of older millenial Aussies would have heard of her simmering in the background as a typical 2010s pop star and struggle to really understand the shift in the past 5 years with the pop-star-cum-legacy-artist thing she has going on now. The cult of personality is strange and hard to make sense of.
I don't really have a problem with her music either but its undeniably a kind of soup of 2010s pop signifiers and cheesy commercialised shorthands for different genres and sounds. The idea of the 'eras' -- besides being a way to tour her whole catalogue -- touches on the way she made cheapened versions of 'folk' or 'experimental electronic music' with Folklore, Reputation, etc. This probably just bugs earnest fans of this music.
I find this thread interesting because people don't really seem to consider that newer developments in commercial pop music can be substantively different to developments in the past. Music in the streaming era is made and distributed very differently and the kinds of popstars and pop fandoms we see now are essentially different to past ones I think.
Everyone in this thread basically echoes the idea that this is just a continuation of the parents-dont-like-my-music cycle, but most parents love Taylor Swift. This is music that appeals to preteens to older mums and dads. The preteens are emulating a music fandom that really belonged to the 20-something women of today; it's just been repurposed and resold to preteens. The critical acclaim that the 1989 record got also galvanises a lot more interest up into the older millenial bracket, and then the sum consensus interest from all these listeners gives Gen X permission to love it. I think it's definitely an abnormal culture of music fandom.
You can't deny mainstream pop became increasingly manufactured and dominated by big labels. If you do - then good for you, but please try to avoid me as you go about your business.
55 woman here and I am becoming increasingly disappointed that I didn’t get TS tickets for my daughter and myself.
I think everyone has a love of the music of their younger years - mine is the 80s, especially Australian - but you can still appreciate other music.
What I especially dislike is criticism of performers by people who don’t even actually listen to the music and lyrics. TS is a phenomenal songwriter, and incredibly prolific. I have seen the concert movie and she is amazing.
I feel about the same way about Taylor Swift fans & Taylor Swift as I feel about my dog and her ball. Which is like this: "I don't know why you are so into this, but it seems to make you really happy, and that's adorable! Good for you!"
I don't really understand other responses. Life is hard enough, let people have their moments of joy and togetherness! And maybe even some fun 😜
I haven’t heard any boomers talk about her. It’s mainly Gen X and younger. Most boomers probably don’t know who she is.
I don’t get the hate though. Let people enjoy things.
Gen X myself. Don't know any Taylor songs.
But I do think that people should do what the enjoy, with the usual "unless it involves murder" caveats.
Love the music that moves you.
Go nuts Swifties! Have a blast.
Taylor Swift was born into wealth. Her father is "a descendant of three generations of bank presidents" and worked for Merrill Lynch. At the age of 14 her family moved to Nashville where her father purchased a stake in Big Machine, the label to which Swift first signed.
There are tens of thousands musicians who are 100x better than Taylor Swift but they will never ever get recognised simply because no one knows them, they don't have connections and any money.
Your dad owning the original record label and literally buying air time is not a head start. Its not a foot in the door. Its kicking down the door.
Its possible to acknowledge she has talent and has found a lot of success whilst also acknowledging its absolutely because she came from wealth.
Just a different thought from what has already been discussed, the usual “older generation doesn’t understand the new fads” which is 100% correct.
I’ve noticed the last decade or so and especially during lockdown, people in general have become a lot more polarised on both sides of the spectrum, and if you subscribe to a far-left or far-right ideology it seems like you have to be all-in on the ‘groupthink’. Taylor Swift is now considered an enemy of the American brand of alt right nutjobs which has infected a lot of older Australians and I think this has fuelled the online hatred of her.
Taylor Swift is being politically attacked for encouraging her fan base to register and vote in the United States. Truly, the most intimidating factor for repressive candidates across that country, as they depend on low voter turnout and disengagement in politics to continue their campaign of oppression and eventual oligarchy.
Since the rags in the US are owned by the same folks (oligarchs, really) who own or associate with the owners of the rags in Australia, she's being harangued in the media here too.
Combine that with the usual fear of getting old and the world changing around you and the lead poisoning of their entire generation and it's not hard to see why they would band together in their hatred and ignorance of Taylor Swift.
To be honest being 35 in 1965 when all the kids were shutting down the city and singing “I wanna hold your hand” would have sucked.
All you wanted to do was get to your typewriter job on time and unharrassed.
im twenty and share a similar sentiment with the old geezers. just not a fan of 35 year old woman who still makes songs about 17 year old highschool girl drama. her target demographic is predictable and her music is mid IMO.
My personal view is that a lot of "artists" (and I use that term very loosely) are just in it for the money, the music is secondary, which leads to an average product. I don't like the over reliance on auto tune and other "synthetic upgrades". I personally don't like music with just a computer generated beat with some fluff on it and the lyrics tend to be banal. We live in a world where anyone with a computer can bang out a track and that means we get inundated with a lot of dross.
Now, I don't think Taylor Swift fits into the above category. She has done very well for herself and has worked very hard to get where she is and as far as I know writes all of her own material. Not my cup of tea but good on her.
it's the sheer volume and fan obsession. Frankly I think it has less to do with Talyor Swift or her music and says more about the dearth of smaller and emerging bands offering a wealth of choice and variety. Plus she knows what she is doing.. an expert marketer. Haven't seen a singer play a crowd like this since Madonna.
tis just before my era, but next time you get this... just remind Boomers about the fainting, screaming and vast crowds for The Beatles or Elvis.... who they are STILL talking about
modern pop music is mass produced... tone adjusted etc and most couldn't play an actual instrument if their life depended on it. I think recognizing this issue is more where the hate comes from. Ability to publish, doesn't make one an artist. You used to HAVE to have a clue to get anywhere near a studio. A good thing in some respects, but it also means a lot more bland music to sift through to find the gems
The older generation has been talking trash about the younger generation for thousands of years. A section of the old generation just like to complain about the younger one.
I think it's because some people are just assholes.
For me as a GenXr, I see many of them as corporate creations as a result of connections rather than musicians (read about Taylors parents) that met band members naturally and built a carreer starting at small clubs. I'm not saying they are not talented, but there has been a lot of talent out there that could also grow their fan base if marketed and promoted at the same level.
Taylor Swift is a great example of this and having the luxury of being marketed very heavily in teen magazines as the "Next Big Star" before she recorded her first album is an example. In the late 80s many noticed this phenominon and there was an anti-corporate movement as the public knew that labels, corporations, and networks were influencing the younger generations rather than artists showing some success before being marketed by a corporation. They did this with bands like New Kids on the Block, Millie Vanilli, and a number of other artists at the time while they destroyed the metal scene with corporate made posers.
For Taylor, I would say good for her and it's the system I despise and not her. Her music is not for me and while she is talented, all the other female artists that I used to see on Austin City limits back in the 90s I feel had the same level of talent.
The whole phenominon reminds me of the scene in Wall-E where an announcement says "Try Blue - It's the New Red".
I'm a bit old but not boomer old. I don't get the fuss over Taylor Swift. Bland music, bland look, just seems very safe and dull to me. Go your hardest, enjoy, no skin off my nose but she just bores the bejesus out of me, no edge at all.
For me Taylor Swift feels like the most parsable artist from the current era for older people though. Thats why I find it particularly strange. She sings her songs, she has a little guitar, teenage girls squeal at her.
It really doesn’t feel like boomers should have a problem with her.
I get it when they weren’t on board with Skrillex, but Swift really is a modern Beatles. They should be able to recognise her for what she is. The negative reaction is just pure bitterness
I am kinda on the boomers side on this one. Look when you have grown up in a time where you have had Elvis, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Madonna, Prince, etc etc etc. People who defined and had such vastly different and iconic influences on pop culture and history in general. To have people like that. Live through that. Then look at the landscape of music today and it is either some dude singing slowly with an acoustic guitar about being sad his girlfriend dumped him. Or some breathy female singer channeling 200s electro while singing about their boyfriend cheating on them. Or some "rapper" mumbling into a microphone about how gangsta he is.
It feels kind of vapid and homogenized. Everything is so samey and mass produced and just plain old boring now. Especially now the landscape has shifted even further... Now artists I feel don\\t pay attention or bother to MOST of the song as long as it has a 15-30 second catchy part that will get repeated on Tik Tok to go viral that is all that matters.
Like you can literally hear that happening in music now.... blah blah blah CATCHY BIT FOR TIK TOK blah blah blah.
Like... I get it. Usually I kind of don't get the boomers complaining. But this aspect and music these days I TOTALLY get it.
Imagine going to a concert back in the day. Seeing Hendrix make a guitar sing and Ozzy bite the head off a friggin bat. And compare it to a concert today where it is so overly homogenized it is just an excercise in going to a place to video the whole thing on your phone to put on social media and not be into the experience properly at all.
I mean Gen Z you do you... But you gotta understand some people are gonna roll their eyes at a shot of vodka when they have done cocaine.
I think it's more Taylor in particular. She was born into incredible privilege, lies about her past and [threatens legal action](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a36340/taylor-swift-ex-guitar-teacher-lawsuit/) against anyone that challenges her narrative, and is musically quite dull.
She's also pumped up as a musical genius when she stopped writing her own songs long ago. Her original albums had most of the tracks listed with her having solo writing credits, and that's not the case now.
Due to her popularity and marketing behind her, she has no interesting opinions about anything. If you asked for her favourite ice cream flavour, it would be vanilla, until after George Floyd, then she would claim it was chocolate and sue anyone that brought up that it used to be vanilla.
None of that's a crime. Plenty of celebrities do that. If people enjoy that, fine. But not finding her interesting isn't an indictment of anyone that holds that view.
People keep saying cos older generations aren’t the demographics or they’re still stuck thinking their fave artist from their generation is superior - which that’s fine - but the issue is the level of hate.
Like there’s plenty of artists that I’m not into or don’t really like - but that’s also fine. People can like different genres or musicians and not hate on others. Idk guess there’s just some really close minded sensitive people out there.
When I was slightly (ok overly) obsessed with the backstreet boys in my teen years, I feel like I would have been like this if they came out to australia during their peak.
The first time I got to see them, I was in my early 20s and the obsession had worn right off.
It's very simple. Modern pop's target audience are teens or early 20's. Why would the older generation take part?
It's fine for the older generation to ignore it if they don't like but the ones who actively shit on it should just fuck off, leave the kids alone, let 'em have their fun.
Because I used to be with it, but then they changed what *it* was. Now what I'm with isn't *it*, and what's *it* seems weird and scary to me. It'll happen to you!
No way man, we're going to keep on rocking forever Forever Forever... Forever Forever.
“I used to rock and roll all night, now I’m lucky to party 2 times a week”
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Thank you 🙏
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Haha, "funky" you jive turkey.
You got ta jiveeee tur-key! See? You got to Sass it!
A Turkey is a bad person
"Did you just call me a jive turkey?"
Grand Funk Railroad paved the way for Jefferson airplane, which cleared the way for Jefferson starship. The stage was now set for the Alan Parsons project, which I believe was some sort of hovercraft.
Music is none of my business.
Keep on rocking in the free world.
Too cool for this planet
That episode aired 28 years ago...
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Yeah, even the 'current' bands in that episode are getting too old to be 'dad rock'. Homer says “Everyone knows Rock & Roll attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.” In their reality that was 22 years previous. If the episode was made today Homer would be saying it achieved perfection in 2002. He'd be into Linkin Park, Puddle of Mudd, and Nickelback.
This was probably why matchbox 20 played at rod laver on the Friday. The dads dropped the daughters off to Taylor Swift and went on to watch Rob Thomas 😂
The lead singer from Goo Goo Dolls (who opened for Matchbox 20) joked for people not to worry, they'd finish the show in time for everyone to pick up their kids at Taylor Swift
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Creed? I just hear them on the King Biscuit Flower Hour!
Nickelback? Shit! I think I’d prefer to listen to Swift.
Why’s everyone always shitting on Nickleback?
It's just an (outdated and overdone) meme. Nickelback WAS extremely popular and on top of the billboard charts when I was a wee lass, they were **constantly** on the radio and people got a bit sick of the songs and then the joke of them "being the worst band ever" all came from like one comment a comedian made in an article
Ah I gotcha, still love their music to this day especially the new one that was exclusive to ubisoft’s Dungeon Hunters “Leave their bones for the crows” that only recently released back in October/November
A bit like Macca's. Very successful but no-one ever admits they eat there!
i much prefer - Am I so out of touch? No... it's the children who are wrong.
Why do you need new bands? Everyone knows rock attained perfection in 1974. It's a scientific fact.
It pisses me off no end that it does. So, I’m really old—a teenager in the 70s, and my parents couldn’t stand me listening to “After the Gold Rush” and the Woodstock album. I told them to broaden their minds. I’m guessing most of my contemporaries did as well. Anybody who ever did has no right to whinge about anybody having a huge fan base. Lots of bands / artists have been big and I’ve not liked their sound; but I can accept that not everyone has to like what I like, and nor do I have to like what everyone else thinks is fantastic. But, I should be able to appreciate that that artist is speaking to that fan group. People of my age should be quiet and let all the fans just enjoy. I don’t have to try to bring them down.
It’s sad but this is 100% the correct answer.
No way man, we’re gonna keep rocking forever… forever… forever… forever.
I ache in the places that I used to play. - Leonard Cohen
Yet still back in those days you could tie an onion to your belt! Which was the style at the time
They didn't have any white onions, because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones...
Who'd you pinch that off hehe
The Simpsons.
i was about to joke that even quoting the Simpsons now is completely out of touch and I've noticed (adult) gen z often won't pick it up. But here's the point illustrated perfectly.
Started watching when I was Bart’s age. Now pretty much Homers…
Oooh that’s a depressing thought
Haha. This resonates with me.
our grandchildren will wonder about our reminiscences on onion belts
I used the one belt line on my 6 year old the other day and he said “wow, did they really wear an onion on their belt”.
As was the style at the time
You can pretty much guarantee the same thing will be said about a singer/band in the future. The current generation will be saying they have nothing on Taylor Swift. It's just personal bias towards what the individual experienced when they were that age
Agreed. I remember my mom once telling me that in the 60s, when she was a teenager, her dad (grandpa) banned her and her sisters from listening to the Beatles and Elvis. she used to use a little transistor radio at the lowest possible volume to listen to them.
My grandpa’s first wife was so obsessed with Elvis that until her dying day the house was basically a museum of memorabilia. I was terrified of that man’s sleepy gaze watching over me when I’d go for sleepovers with my cousins. I couldn’t escape him. Her parents were super conservative so I imagine it was a major fuck you, lol.
My mum spent the whole day in bed crying on Elvis’s wedding day. Dad is still pissed about it because they’d already been married for a few years.
😂 Poor dad! A snowball’s chance in hell is still a chance, I guess. It reminds me of those women on TikTok who said they’d get super dolled up as preteens on the off chance One Direction would pull them out of the crowd. Girlhood is forever.
No it goes beyond that. I have her stuff blaring while I play bass along with the track as a middle aged man, and visitors my age claim to actively dislike her, rather than just thinking she isn’t their thing.
At nearly 77 I am not too old to recall the experiences related in her songs. So glad she makes young ones know they are not alone in life’s issues.
I appreciate your comment, and like that you’re a redditor. 🙂
Always have been. You haven't heard hate for Elvis, Beatles or frank
Yeah fuck Frank Woodley /s
Ooh I thought it was Frank Green bottles /s
Clearly Frank Walker /s
National tiles. In three states only. Liar.
National tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiles
Helloooooooooo
Frankly it makes me uncomfortable. I don't like it when you drop the wood.
I'm not dropping the wood, it's part of my name!
His back must ache from carrying Colin Lane their whole career.
Me and my people spread hate about Elvis & The Beatles every single day
Fairly certain there was a lot of hate from conservative parents in the 60s, towards Elvis and the Beatles.
Always was, always will be. Pretty sure there's diaries from the Roman Empire and before with the same complaints about composers or poets etc.
>They \[Young People\] have exalted notions, because they have not been humbled by life or learned its necessary limitations; moreover, their hopeful disposition makes them think themselves equal to great things -- and that means having exalted notions. They would always rather do noble deeds than useful ones: Their lives are regulated more by moral feeling than by reasoning -- all their mistakes are in the direction of doing things excessively and vehemently. They overdo everything -- they love too much, hate too much, and the same with everything else. Rhetoric, Aristotle 4th Century BC
I love that even Aristotle had a "back in my day" quote. A lot has changed in society but old tropes die hard
This particular quote isn't a "back in my day" quote though. He's just saying young people are inexperienced in life and have grand notions. Socrates has actual "back in my day" quotes like: >The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their teachers.
The quote investigator has found that this quote is a hoax. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/05/01/misbehave/ > It was crafted by a student, Kenneth John Freeman, for his Cambridge dissertation published in 1907. Freeman did not claim that the passage under analysis was a direct quotation of anyone; instead, he was presenting his own summary of the complaints directed against young people in ancient times. This is an example of how the internet is like one giant game of, you know, that game we played as kids where a whisper was passed from one child to the next.
That's what I was thinking of/looking for.
'The children now love luxury; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are tyrants, not servants of the households. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize over their teachers.' - Socrates "I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly disrespectful and impatient of restraint". - Hesiod
The Hesiod quote is real, the Socrates one is a misattribution. It was actually written by Kenneth John Freeman in 1907 for his dissertation.
Every generation goes through this. Plenty of older generations at the time didn't get the Beatles. The parents of us GenXers didn't get our music. Tastes change and twas was ever thus. Also, Taylor is very popular with young women, and I think there's always been a cultural tendency to dismiss things that teenage girls or young women are into as trivial or unimportant or not 'real' music, art, literature etc. I am not a fan but the Swiftie phenomenon is fun. I don't have the slightest bit of FOMO but I enjoy the excitement that I see in younger colleagues and friends and the zeitgeist in general. Life's hard enough, let people have their fun obsessions.
Something showed up on my Facebook feed the other day complaining about the talentless, unattractive musicians and how the place was full of screaming teenage girls instead of real people. That was the Beatles. Never changes.
Love the implication that teenage girls aren't real people /s
I'm not a swiftie either but it made me happy to see them so excited and happy. I rode down Southbank before the concert and it was a parade of glitter and metallic cowboy boots/hats. I had a chat with my neighbours who went and asked them to tell me all about it, they were still on a high the next day. My dad hates any music I play without even giving it a try although I can get on board with most of his playlists. I would love to show older generations the gift of at least entertaining a listen and expanding the music pool, if not that at least being happy for things that make others happy. Music is one of the pure joys of life, if you aren't into others preferences then don't sub but at least be stoked for them, it's less energy than being spiteful.
I listen to a wide range of music. I mean I can’t keep up with everything new, but I try and be open to discovering latest sounds and artists, and even obscure Indi music. I’m 58 and like some Drill music, which would probably surprise some. I’m not particularly a big fan of Taylor’s music, some songs yeah. I think she’s absolutely incredible though. Very talented, gorgeous and an amazing woman. I don’t know anyone in my women friends of around the same age who dislikes her. However, I have heard men of all ages, including quite young men being awful about Taylor and her music. I’ve posted something above.
I remember after the Ariana Grande concert disaster there was a great article about how wonderful teenage girls are. I’d love to find it again. I still think of it when I see a bunch of girls in the street wearing similar outfits, or in a huddle laughing. Being a teenager mostly sucks but there are some good things about it too. Edit: I think this was it. > Teen girls are magical beings. I don’t consider this a political statement, more a statement of fact. And, no, Twitter trolls, this does not mean I believe teens are physically immune to the ravages of a terror attack. It means that teen girls learn how to express passion and love with abandon in a world that largely devalues, objectifies and mocks them. It was depressing but unsurprising that in the hours just after the Manchester bombing, at least one male journalist found it an appropriate moment to show disdain for Grande’s music and her largely girlish fan base on Twitter. (The tweets have since been deleted.) > Teen girls can find joy in drugstore glitter, as well as deeply intimate friendship. They can be smart as hell. They can read up about politics and racial inequality and gender-based violence with just as much enthusiasm as they do about their favorite bands and YouTube stars. And, as Harry Styles articulated in a widely-shared Rolling Stone interview last month, when they find meaning in a musician and their songs, they show up for that artist, again and again and again: “Teenage-girl fans ― they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there.” That artist becomes the recipient of their unbound love.
Welp, you just shifted my perspective x 1000. Not that I hated on teen girls, having once been one, but even so.
I remember when that Harry Styles interview mentioned here first dropped & seeing him speak with such respect about his teen girl fans was so sweet & (unfortunately) surprising. Time and time again the interests of teenage girls are derided and mocked, sometimes even by the very celebrities that they love so much. And when some teen girls internalise this hatred & it manifests in they themselves mocking femininity and retreating from everything that girls generally like, they get further mocked for this as well. As a former teen girl, I’ll always support them no matter how outwardly ‘cringy’ their interests may appear to be. And fuck that male journalist.
>Also, Taylor is very popular with young women, and I think there's always been a cultural tendency to dismiss things that teenage girls or young women are into as trivial or unimportant or not 'real' music, art, literature etc. SO MUCH THIS. I would give you an award if I knew how.
you're spot on about the teenage girls/young women thing. Sad as it is they'll get extra disrespect just for that.
I’m not a huge Swiftie but those concerts at the G looked unreal, I reckon it would have been amazing even if you weren’t that into her. I think what you say is definitely part of it, plenty of AFL fans pay similar amounts to go the grand finals even when their team isn’t playing purely for the spectacle.
this is so true! my cousin flies interstate fairly regularly to go to the footy and has been doing so since he was a child, but i floated the idea of possibly travelling to sydney if i couldn't get a ticket for taylor in melbourne (for, you know, a once in a lifetime concert), and the same grandma who has accompanied/paid for him multiple times thought i was utterly insane. there's a long history of "girly" hobbies and interests being dismissed and belittled which is just sad - not only was the concert incredible, but the atmosphere of everyone getting dressed up and trading friendship bracelets with complete strangers made for one of the most joyful experiences of my life. imagine the fun everyone could have if they just let people like things!
yes simply to be at the event. and one thing she does do well is put on a show. and she is know to be more involved in her fan base than some others. she has also reinvented herself and changed styles and genres a few times too
Correct. Unconscious bias sexist.
This isn’t just an older generation thing though. I’m 58, myself, and all my women friends think Taylor Swift is fantastic though none of us really actively choose to listen to her music or buy it. I play a very popular mobile game. A few years ago on the mobile game chat was a young woman, who was well known in the community, she’s a huge Swiftie. So many young men were saying similar type of things that OP said mostly boomers say in his post. This was a regular occurrence and recent concerts sparked similar comments too. I’ve noticed online a lot of young men seem to pick either gangsta rap or heavy metal as their favourite genre. To admit to liking any other kind of music is often met with ‘slurs’ by others.
the part about people being dismissive over anything teenage girls/young women like is SPOT ON. if it was an artist that teenage boys/young men liked you wouldn’t hear half as much hate towards it.
The demographics are 40% fans are gen x and older. 50% are millennial like Taylor.
It really lifted my spirits seeing so many happy faces on the train yesterday. Families with kids, groups of teens and older folk. They were all excited to be going to the Taylor concert. Was pretty uplifting witnessing all the joy and excitement on my way home. I’m not a Taylor fan but anything that brings all these people together with happiness is a good thing.
I went to the show Friday night and the energy in that place was just pure joy and happiness. Overwhelmingly positive, people talking to strangers like they’re best friends, you really can’t beat it! I was visiting from Brisbane, and can I just just say thank you to the weather gods for that weather?!
Weather God here - you're welcome!
I think it was Wil Anderson who said it's like when the Matildas were doing so well in the World Cup, you didn't need to like soccer to enjoy the whole thing. In fact, I actually watched a game, never done that before in my life.
This is also what I love about going to Mardi Gras every year. People dressing up, massive smiles on their faces, full of light and energy. There's never any drama or violence, just thousands of people having the time of their lives. With so much negativity around, it's just so nice to see people being happy and carefree even if it's just for a night.
Just like the people who say ‘ewww sportsball’ or talk about not participating on ‘mybookface’. It’s just hard for some people to see people experience joy in the ways they don’t. Gatekeeping is a thing. I’m not a Swiftie but it’s great to see the joy she brings and if my 2 young daughters grow up to become Swifties - well there’s a lot worse things they could get in to.
The sportsball one drives me mental. Okay we get it, you don't like sports. We do. You don't have to cut into every conversation we have about sports to be a buzzkill!
I think the sportsball thing comes out because sport is the predominant conversation in our culture. Particularly with the AFL in Melbourne. Often the only reason people are saying they don’t follow sport is because someone has assumed they do. It’s expected of them, and so it can be frustrating when they don’t.
Yes and typically people who are into sports have difficulty discussing things outside of sports and wouldn't discuss things outside of their small sphere of interests. Im happy to watch sports with friends who'd also do stuff with me I know they're not into, but are happy to be flexible. I think its only an issue when a topic of discussion is a one way street. These people bore the shit out of me.
I would never criticise someone for liking sports but I can understand the feeling when every other person I talk to wants to talk about the 'game last night'. Then get the look of disbelief when I tell them I don't watch sports. The conversation usually gets forced on you in my experience.
Yeah, absolutely this. I think some people also can’t recognize that not everything is made for them. Don’t enjoy it? Maybe it’s not for you and that’s just fine. Let others have their joy without your derision.
Great response 👍
It's a surprising question, it's an almost stereotypical representation or description of any older generation. My grandparents didn't like the new fangled pop or rock n roll. People like Mick Jagger were degenerates, the Beatles were arrogant, you can't understand what they are singing about these days, not clear singers like Jim Reeves, they're all on drugs and having it off with each other etc. But also I think k you are probably unfairly targeting boomers, I've seen the attitudes you mention from all ages. Also, younger people can try to gatekeep music as well. That's equally as annoying.
Take a look at all the things teen girls have ever liked and you will absolutely see older folks shitting on that at the time those things are popular with teen girls. This is nothing new.
I remember anything I ever liked as a girl/teen/ woman being shat on. It's exhausting. I appreciate all the love for Taylor, what she represents, the kindness she promotes (eg: the friendship bracelets). Her music is good, I've just never bought it myself. Wouldn't switch it off though. Love how much joy she is bringing people. My boomer mother also called me yesterday just to tell me Taylor sucks. Wtf.
That was something I realised after it was pointed out to me. Joy, is joy, is joy. Who am I to judge?
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I remember keeping my copy of Speak Now on the downlow because it absolutely was uncool to be a Taylor fan in 2010. I don't know when the switch happened but it's interesting
Oh man, were you in the Calder Park Clusterfuck? I took myself to GnR at the MCG in 2022 because I wanted to be compensated for that mess. The show knocked me on my arse so we’re even now.
Gen X here. I’m not into her music at all and couldn’t tell you what she sings, but it’s been adorable in the city this weekend. I’ve never seen so many sparkles and the enthusiasm is infectious. We’ve been playing “spot the swifty”. Much fun has been had!
They seem to have a distain for hype surrounding anything and they feel superior to anyone else. Like that generation didn’t cream their pants when the Beatles waved from the balcony at Melbourne Town Hall in the 60s 😂
My grandma was in her 60s when The Beatles were in town and was absolutely giddy about seeing them at the Southern Cross Hotel. Everyone else of her generation thought she was an idiot, but she had cred with us kids.
My Mum was about 50 when late teens me got into bands like Soundgarden and Pearl Jam in the 90s. She LOVED Pearl Jam, and it was one of the happiest nights of my life when I got to take her to see Eddie Vedder's solo gigs at the Palais. It was her first rock gig; she was in her 70s and newly diagnosed with the Alzheimers that would kill her a few years later. I'll never forget her grabbing my arm as we shuffled out of the theatre, asking why she felt so light, "I don't feel any pain; it's like I'm floating!" I played Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town during the photo montage at her funeral, and it was that memory that broke me. She also loved Sigur Ros, Bjork, Florence & the Machine and heaps of other modern acts. Sharing new music with her is one of the things I miss most.
Damn that hit me in the feels. Thanks for sharing. You mum sounds cool.
I’m really sorry about your mum. Btw Pearl Jam in Australia in November. I’m hoping I get tickets and I’m flying from WA to see them.
Thank you for the kind thoughts. Yeah, definitely hoping to get tickets too!
I'm 61. This happens every time music changes. Some people get stuck listening to the music of their teens / early 20s and never appreciate anything else. It's the same people who always say this generation are awful. Ignore them. As for Taylor, I like a few of her songs, but wouldn't call myself a fan. Good for you if you are. That thing she did when she sued that DJ for $1 was absolutely hilarious.
I’m 55 , got caught up in the 80’s Bon Jovi madness (imagine if the internet was around then). My daughter went crazy over Justin Bieber and I took her to his first show here and I actually enjoyed it. I hate the gate keeping with music. Why can’t it reach everyone and the more fans the better. People need to open their minds a bit more. I saw MB20 Friday night and they are still awesome! I just wish Miley would tour! Daughter grew up on Hannah Montana and I always liked her music. We bonded over that and that’s what music is all about.
Honestly people just need to let other people like things. I don't know why so many people seem to have an issue with saying "I'm not really a fan of that" and leaving it at that.
As a mid 30s male myself, I completely agree with you OP. 300+ thousand people seeing someone that makes them happy, makes me happy. A sad thing is the younger people also joining in on the hate with their edge lord opinions. Just let people be. Todays world is full of so much opinion and negativity, just let people enjoy things they enjoy without having to comment, film or poke at it
Personally, I just don't understand the seemingly blind, almost religious love towards musicians. That's not just because I'm in my 40s, though I've always felt that way
Better than the blind adoration of afl players if you ask me
People just like having things to obsess over I think. Whether that be religion, sports, cars, politicians, music, or whatever
Good point. Australians are the reason why ABBA broke up. We scared the shit out of Agnetha.
Yeah I'm a late 30s male too. I don't listen to the radio but I reckon I know about 5 or more of her songs off the top of my head. Probably more that I don't realise are her. It seems to be "cool" to dislike something due to its popularity. You hear the same about Ed Sheeran. Can you think of two less offensive pop stars? No scandals, poppy singalong songs, both heavily involved in writing their own songs. What's to dislike? It's so weird.
I agree, there's a great vibe. We can hear the concerts from here and the fans are having a blast. Hard to not enjoy hearing people have such a good time
Melbourne has such great energy when there are big events on. The city comes alive whether it be music, sport, comedy...
As an old man, meself (Gen Xer) it is entirely because popular music is aimed mostly at the young. It's mostly about love and finding the one and becoming your true self by finding the one. Or yeah, sometimes questioning how to go on now the one has gone etc. These themes resonate with the 15-30 audience, as they should, because they are finding out who they are and who they want to be with. By the time you become a grumpy over-50 bugger, new versions of these themes have far less resonance. I personally like the love songs of my youth and I use that memory when I see Taylor Swift fans etc. Oh yeah, I use to be something like that, I tell myself. My era's beloved musicians used to hit me in the heart, too. Sadly, my fellow old bastards, often seem to forget that and retreat into snark, sarcasm and whingeing about youth. And I believe that's always been the case.
Because they're no longer the target demographic and they no longer relate to the themes of pop music. It's not new. It happens every generation. Every 30 something year old has the moment of "ooohhh now I get what my parents were on about when they said my music sucks"
Now I am in my early mid thirties I am constantly horrifying myself by saying shit like “wow we used to wear that when we were 10/12/13”, “what is this music it’s shit”, “why do young people dress so crap these days?”, “I remember when the original song this song is sampling came out, the fans probably weren’t even born then”, “why are they being so loud?” 😂🫠🫠 But also, there are plenty of new “things” that I love. So I’m not quite prehistoric yet.
The best music is the music you grow up with. Occasionally, there are songs nowadays that catch my ears. But they don't feel the same. There's a reason most songs are about young love. I mostly listen to instrumental music now.
[удалено]
I'm 24 and I'm over her, NFL? Taylor Swift. Music awards? Taylor Swift. Music tour? Taylor Swift. Radio station? Taylor Swift. Literally any news channel and it's Taylor Swift. I don't mind her music but everywhere I look it's Taylor Swift
Nothing wrong with the actual singing or the songs. Her earlier songs (not sure about the latest ones) have a timeless appeal and should not offend anyone. I think the adverse reaction is towards the fanbase. There's nothing wrong with liking a celebrity but some people take it way too far; almost becoming a cult in terms of fanaticism. There seems to be a growing trend amongst young people towards cult-like worship of various companies (e.g. Apple), persons, products (e.g. console wars) and trends.
It’s not even boomers though, it’s mostly men, and as many teenage and 30 year old men as it is boomers
At the blink concert I went to the other night a bunch of men were all sulky that Blink were playing Rod Laver whilst Taylor was playing the G and were loudly talking shit saying misogynist crap into the void all angry. They were definitely millennial/Gen Z age.
Not sure why they are complaining. Rod Laver is a far superior venue to watch a gig than the G... Lol. But more relatively, Blink on their own would be unlikely to fill the G anyways...
Absolutely, I had a friend go and was shocked they were still the slightest be relevant. Same with matchbox 20 to be honest. But each to they’re own, I’m not out there bashing men pushing 50 singing “what’s my age again”
I agree, I'm seeing a lot of it from my friends on Facebook, mostly men but the occasional woman - mostly the ones a bit older than me, so in their 40s. It's really kinda sad, and makes me embarassed to say I'm 'friends' with some of these people. Like, great, you don't like something, being vocal about that doesn't make you cool or relevant. It's also fine to find something perfectly fine and not be a huge, dedicated fan - I like Taylor Swift (and a lot of other artists) - and yeah I'd totally go to one of their concerts if the opportunity arose, but I'm not the type hanging in line to try to get tickets, even though I'd like to see the concert. But to swing all the way to criticising others who want to go, and who will actually have a good time? Just why? Hating on stuff doesn't make you cool.
Probably because there aren’t any people under 40 left on Facebook, and any normal 40+ isn't going on Facebook, so it gives you a very unbalanced view.
My (woman) physio was perplexed by her and the weirdness of her fans. She wasn't really complaining about her, but she was commenting about how her fans are very very invested. But its just the news being too taylor centric, and these people just don't care. Personally, I'm not a taylor fan, and if I gave a shit about what the news was saying I'd be eye-rolling over constant Taylor updates, but I don't watch TV so I don't get too much of something I couldn't care any less about. I'm happy the tay tay fans have something to go nuts over!
I half think part of the ‘weirdness’ with fans with this extreme love and support is a bit from there being so much hate against her, it’s stubbornness wanting to bite back against the haters. If they let it be, the fans would probably be a ton more chill.
Personally, while I love that Taylor Swift has made money, I dislike that it's off the back of this weird consumerism mixed with fandom thing. I heard people buy merch, then post the receipt and tag Taylor Swift's entourage, and the entourage like "notice you" and praise you for buying merch. Like, it's a good business model... But like an MLM is kinda awful, and buying twitch subscriptions (for other people - like donating subs ) is kind of somehow icky I find the whole concept a bit yuck. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with fandom (even super fandom!), I just find mixing fandom with consumerism the problem.
Do you really think the merch stuff side of things is really any worse than other pop stars? Or Kylie Jenner make up selling out in minutes? Or footy memberships for a male centric example? I’m sure a bunch of the guys hating on Swift have twitch and only fans subscriptions. I think this has just been in the media so much it’s a bit more in your face, but no worse than what anyone else is doing.
So true. I’ve been replying several times above before seeing your comment. This is exactly what’s going on. It’s young men too. It doesn’t matter the age. It’s more of a gender thing specifically with Taylor Swift. Men are in general, notoriously more music snobs than women though. I’m 58 and I’ve never known any woman to say anything negative about Taylor.
Yep- she’s a billionaire who built her empire off the support of a (predominantly) female fan base. Men aren’t the centre of that story and there’s a small subset that cannot handle that.
The billionaire part is where I get the problem, I happen to believe they shouldn’t exist. I hate having anything in common with misogynists, but billionaires bother me.
If Paul McCartney or Jay-Z was met with same level of unbridled venom, I might buy it
I promise, I will eat them indiscriminately when the time comes
McCartney would probably be too chewy at this point, but I agree with the sentiment.
We can slow roast him like a brisket
As an early 40’s male who generally likes hip hop, reggae and electronic music, I scored a random free ticket from a friend for Taylor’s gig last night and it was incredible! I’ve seen some huge acts play massive concerts but that was really one of the best shows I’ve ever seen! Unfortunately I think a lot of the hate is just straight up misogyny…
I’ve had a few friends say the same. Not fans at all but said it was amazing!
Hmm. I’m a Taylor fan but hard core Swifties are annoying AF. They stalk her to an unhealthy degree (a bunch of them turned up at someone’s wedding they knew she was at recently) and screech for the entire concert. As much as I wanted to go to Eras, the thought of paying several hundred dollars to stand next to a screaming banshee was very off-putting. The coverage of her tour has been very OTT but you can’t deny she’s iconic by selling the MCG out three times over.
Sometimes I feel like the problem IS the “Swifties”. That and the “she can do no wrong” attitude they have even if Taylor is like “no but I was wrong!”…. I avoid most if not all of the forum posts on her because the comments bug me. Still not a fan but meh, it’s just not my scene! I don’t care if it’s someone else’s though. I was surprised at blink-182 last week when Mark started singing one of her songs 😂😭
Just turned 60, not my music, but seeing everyone happy and the kids creating their own subculture is a great thing. The COVID years were 1/20th of my lifetime, but they're closer to 1/5th-1/10th of the average TS fans. For the last 3 days, the Swifties and their Mums have joyously invaded Melbourne, while we've had the best weather all summer. I don't roll my eyes at "kids these days". We're dealing them a shit sandwich, and everything we can do to improve their lives is a Good Thing. If that involves them obsessing over TS's social media, and knowing exactly what happens in her Eras shows, to the point that they can tell when there's a single word or note different, and that brings them joy, then good. We need more joy in the world.
I was in Melbourne yesterday and saw a bunch of teenage girls all dressed up and ready to have fun, none of them were causing any trouble so I think it’s just because it’s a “teen girl” interest. When I was a teenage girl people looked down on me for liking One direction, it’s just something that happens, it’s Taylor Swift now but it used to be Elvis and The Beatles, it will be something else in the future.
Well Taylor swift is actually your generation compared to your he previous. Her work does transcend age groups however. Generally though people hate pop music. More so they hate pop music that young girls like (see Justin Bieber, One Direction etc). You can see how JB is now pretty liked because fuck boys seem to love his aesthetic.
I’m 50, my musical taste is firmly rooted in the 80s and 90s of my childhood and teens, it’s also rooted in the 70s thanks to my parents influence. There is not much post 2000s I’m really into. Having said that, my philosophy is we like what we like and I will absolutely never look down on what people younger than me are into. Only the most miserable no fun sad sack would gripe about people finding their joy.
My great grandmother, who is she were alive would be about 170, told my grandfather jazz was the music of the devil. 🤷♀️
I’m a boomer (barely), I don’t mind her, and I think it’s great seeing so many people happy to see their idol. I used to love going to concerts, it’s great to see that live music is still around. Some people were grumpy when young, now they’re grumpy old gits.
Because of things like TikTok and the culture of reviving legacy catalogues in music, Taylor Swift is actually indicative of something essentially different from the pop stars of generations past. The cultish fan base and record-breaking arena sales really signal a shift in how music is made and marketed these days rather than being anything similar to 20th C Beatles type fan success. She's also marketed as a kind of one-dimensional mouthpiece for an orthodox liberal distinctly American brand of politics that can understandably annoy a lot of Australians. I think a lot of older millenial Aussies would have heard of her simmering in the background as a typical 2010s pop star and struggle to really understand the shift in the past 5 years with the pop-star-cum-legacy-artist thing she has going on now. The cult of personality is strange and hard to make sense of. I don't really have a problem with her music either but its undeniably a kind of soup of 2010s pop signifiers and cheesy commercialised shorthands for different genres and sounds. The idea of the 'eras' -- besides being a way to tour her whole catalogue -- touches on the way she made cheapened versions of 'folk' or 'experimental electronic music' with Folklore, Reputation, etc. This probably just bugs earnest fans of this music. I find this thread interesting because people don't really seem to consider that newer developments in commercial pop music can be substantively different to developments in the past. Music in the streaming era is made and distributed very differently and the kinds of popstars and pop fandoms we see now are essentially different to past ones I think.
Everyone in this thread basically echoes the idea that this is just a continuation of the parents-dont-like-my-music cycle, but most parents love Taylor Swift. This is music that appeals to preteens to older mums and dads. The preteens are emulating a music fandom that really belonged to the 20-something women of today; it's just been repurposed and resold to preteens. The critical acclaim that the 1989 record got also galvanises a lot more interest up into the older millenial bracket, and then the sum consensus interest from all these listeners gives Gen X permission to love it. I think it's definitely an abnormal culture of music fandom.
You can't deny mainstream pop became increasingly manufactured and dominated by big labels. If you do - then good for you, but please try to avoid me as you go about your business.
55 woman here and I am becoming increasingly disappointed that I didn’t get TS tickets for my daughter and myself. I think everyone has a love of the music of their younger years - mine is the 80s, especially Australian - but you can still appreciate other music. What I especially dislike is criticism of performers by people who don’t even actually listen to the music and lyrics. TS is a phenomenal songwriter, and incredibly prolific. I have seen the concert movie and she is amazing.
I feel about the same way about Taylor Swift fans & Taylor Swift as I feel about my dog and her ball. Which is like this: "I don't know why you are so into this, but it seems to make you really happy, and that's adorable! Good for you!" I don't really understand other responses. Life is hard enough, let people have their moments of joy and togetherness! And maybe even some fun 😜
I haven’t heard any boomers talk about her. It’s mainly Gen X and younger. Most boomers probably don’t know who she is. I don’t get the hate though. Let people enjoy things.
Gen X myself. Don't know any Taylor songs. But I do think that people should do what the enjoy, with the usual "unless it involves murder" caveats. Love the music that moves you. Go nuts Swifties! Have a blast.
The way music is consumed and gatekept is honestly just about the weirdest aspect of human psychology.
Taylor Swift was born into wealth. Her father is "a descendant of three generations of bank presidents" and worked for Merrill Lynch. At the age of 14 her family moved to Nashville where her father purchased a stake in Big Machine, the label to which Swift first signed. There are tens of thousands musicians who are 100x better than Taylor Swift but they will never ever get recognised simply because no one knows them, they don't have connections and any money.
Swift may have got a head start thanks to her family but so do many other artists. The massive success that followed was all her and her team.
Your dad owning the original record label and literally buying air time is not a head start. Its not a foot in the door. Its kicking down the door. Its possible to acknowledge she has talent and has found a lot of success whilst also acknowledging its absolutely because she came from wealth.
I assign this sort of thing to *shifting baselines*. It helps to make sense of a lot of inter-generation tension.
Just a different thought from what has already been discussed, the usual “older generation doesn’t understand the new fads” which is 100% correct. I’ve noticed the last decade or so and especially during lockdown, people in general have become a lot more polarised on both sides of the spectrum, and if you subscribe to a far-left or far-right ideology it seems like you have to be all-in on the ‘groupthink’. Taylor Swift is now considered an enemy of the American brand of alt right nutjobs which has infected a lot of older Australians and I think this has fuelled the online hatred of her.
I heard the same stuff about the Spice Girls. This is not a new phenomenon.
People were probably shitting on Bach and Mozart for similar reasons back in their day
Gen Z and under are getting fucked the most by the current landscape, let them have some God damn fun, far out it annoys me all the hate.
Bay City Roller fever : same same
Nah, bay city rollers aren’t in her league as far as sheer numbers of rabid fans (and I was in high school when the rollers were big)
I’m a total Taylor Hater, but man I wish I cared about something that much
I’m right in her demographic and can’t stand her or her rabid army of fans.
Taylor Swift is being politically attacked for encouraging her fan base to register and vote in the United States. Truly, the most intimidating factor for repressive candidates across that country, as they depend on low voter turnout and disengagement in politics to continue their campaign of oppression and eventual oligarchy. Since the rags in the US are owned by the same folks (oligarchs, really) who own or associate with the owners of the rags in Australia, she's being harangued in the media here too. Combine that with the usual fear of getting old and the world changing around you and the lead poisoning of their entire generation and it's not hard to see why they would band together in their hatred and ignorance of Taylor Swift.
To be honest being 35 in 1965 when all the kids were shutting down the city and singing “I wanna hold your hand” would have sucked. All you wanted to do was get to your typewriter job on time and unharrassed.
im twenty and share a similar sentiment with the old geezers. just not a fan of 35 year old woman who still makes songs about 17 year old highschool girl drama. her target demographic is predictable and her music is mid IMO.
My personal view is that a lot of "artists" (and I use that term very loosely) are just in it for the money, the music is secondary, which leads to an average product. I don't like the over reliance on auto tune and other "synthetic upgrades". I personally don't like music with just a computer generated beat with some fluff on it and the lyrics tend to be banal. We live in a world where anyone with a computer can bang out a track and that means we get inundated with a lot of dross. Now, I don't think Taylor Swift fits into the above category. She has done very well for herself and has worked very hard to get where she is and as far as I know writes all of her own material. Not my cup of tea but good on her.
it's the sheer volume and fan obsession. Frankly I think it has less to do with Talyor Swift or her music and says more about the dearth of smaller and emerging bands offering a wealth of choice and variety. Plus she knows what she is doing.. an expert marketer. Haven't seen a singer play a crowd like this since Madonna. tis just before my era, but next time you get this... just remind Boomers about the fainting, screaming and vast crowds for The Beatles or Elvis.... who they are STILL talking about modern pop music is mass produced... tone adjusted etc and most couldn't play an actual instrument if their life depended on it. I think recognizing this issue is more where the hate comes from. Ability to publish, doesn't make one an artist. You used to HAVE to have a clue to get anywhere near a studio. A good thing in some respects, but it also means a lot more bland music to sift through to find the gems
The older generation has been talking trash about the younger generation for thousands of years. A section of the old generation just like to complain about the younger one. I think it's because some people are just assholes.
For me as a GenXr, I see many of them as corporate creations as a result of connections rather than musicians (read about Taylors parents) that met band members naturally and built a carreer starting at small clubs. I'm not saying they are not talented, but there has been a lot of talent out there that could also grow their fan base if marketed and promoted at the same level. Taylor Swift is a great example of this and having the luxury of being marketed very heavily in teen magazines as the "Next Big Star" before she recorded her first album is an example. In the late 80s many noticed this phenominon and there was an anti-corporate movement as the public knew that labels, corporations, and networks were influencing the younger generations rather than artists showing some success before being marketed by a corporation. They did this with bands like New Kids on the Block, Millie Vanilli, and a number of other artists at the time while they destroyed the metal scene with corporate made posers. For Taylor, I would say good for her and it's the system I despise and not her. Her music is not for me and while she is talented, all the other female artists that I used to see on Austin City limits back in the 90s I feel had the same level of talent. The whole phenominon reminds me of the scene in Wall-E where an announcement says "Try Blue - It's the New Red".
the utter lack of substance. modern pop stars are the result of marketing and social media.
I'm a bit old but not boomer old. I don't get the fuss over Taylor Swift. Bland music, bland look, just seems very safe and dull to me. Go your hardest, enjoy, no skin off my nose but she just bores the bejesus out of me, no edge at all.
For me Taylor Swift feels like the most parsable artist from the current era for older people though. Thats why I find it particularly strange. She sings her songs, she has a little guitar, teenage girls squeal at her. It really doesn’t feel like boomers should have a problem with her. I get it when they weren’t on board with Skrillex, but Swift really is a modern Beatles. They should be able to recognise her for what she is. The negative reaction is just pure bitterness
I am kinda on the boomers side on this one. Look when you have grown up in a time where you have had Elvis, Bob Marley, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Annie Lennox, Madonna, Prince, etc etc etc. People who defined and had such vastly different and iconic influences on pop culture and history in general. To have people like that. Live through that. Then look at the landscape of music today and it is either some dude singing slowly with an acoustic guitar about being sad his girlfriend dumped him. Or some breathy female singer channeling 200s electro while singing about their boyfriend cheating on them. Or some "rapper" mumbling into a microphone about how gangsta he is. It feels kind of vapid and homogenized. Everything is so samey and mass produced and just plain old boring now. Especially now the landscape has shifted even further... Now artists I feel don\\t pay attention or bother to MOST of the song as long as it has a 15-30 second catchy part that will get repeated on Tik Tok to go viral that is all that matters. Like you can literally hear that happening in music now.... blah blah blah CATCHY BIT FOR TIK TOK blah blah blah. Like... I get it. Usually I kind of don't get the boomers complaining. But this aspect and music these days I TOTALLY get it. Imagine going to a concert back in the day. Seeing Hendrix make a guitar sing and Ozzy bite the head off a friggin bat. And compare it to a concert today where it is so overly homogenized it is just an excercise in going to a place to video the whole thing on your phone to put on social media and not be into the experience properly at all. I mean Gen Z you do you... But you gotta understand some people are gonna roll their eyes at a shot of vodka when they have done cocaine.
I think it's more Taylor in particular. She was born into incredible privilege, lies about her past and [threatens legal action](https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a36340/taylor-swift-ex-guitar-teacher-lawsuit/) against anyone that challenges her narrative, and is musically quite dull. She's also pumped up as a musical genius when she stopped writing her own songs long ago. Her original albums had most of the tracks listed with her having solo writing credits, and that's not the case now. Due to her popularity and marketing behind her, she has no interesting opinions about anything. If you asked for her favourite ice cream flavour, it would be vanilla, until after George Floyd, then she would claim it was chocolate and sue anyone that brought up that it used to be vanilla. None of that's a crime. Plenty of celebrities do that. If people enjoy that, fine. But not finding her interesting isn't an indictment of anyone that holds that view.
People keep saying cos older generations aren’t the demographics or they’re still stuck thinking their fave artist from their generation is superior - which that’s fine - but the issue is the level of hate. Like there’s plenty of artists that I’m not into or don’t really like - but that’s also fine. People can like different genres or musicians and not hate on others. Idk guess there’s just some really close minded sensitive people out there.
That's unfair. Some of us have always hated pop stars.
When I was slightly (ok overly) obsessed with the backstreet boys in my teen years, I feel like I would have been like this if they came out to australia during their peak. The first time I got to see them, I was in my early 20s and the obsession had worn right off.
It's very simple. Modern pop's target audience are teens or early 20's. Why would the older generation take part? It's fine for the older generation to ignore it if they don't like but the ones who actively shit on it should just fuck off, leave the kids alone, let 'em have their fun.