Kate Hudson’s ex-husband and Black Crows lead singer Chris Robinson has some thoughts about Taylor Swift in a new interview with Nylon Guys. He thinks she sucks, basically. Chris is kind of coming across like a grumpy old dude who doesn’t care for these young whippersnappers on the MTV box, but I will allow that he has some semblance of a point. Chris is basically saying that Taylor Swift is an artist for kids – and after all, he’s kind of right. She sings about middle school and ponies, right? But even though I’ll give Chris his point, I still wish people would stop climbing all over Taylor. For no reason, really – she’s not hurting anybody.
Grumpy rocker Chris Robinson has become the latest star to attack country sweetheart Taylor Swift – almost a year after Kanye West ruined her big night at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards by protesting her first-ever win at the event.
Unprovoked, the Black Crowes frontman has taken issue with Swift over claims she’s one of the most talented singers in the industry today. He’s not a fan.
Robinson tells Nylon Guys magazine, “I find it embarrassing that adults are like, ‘Taylor Swift is very talented.’ She’s not. She might be cute, but she’s horrible.”
The rocker insists there are very few modern artists he enjoys listening to because most acts are little more than products of a computer.
He explains, “They have stylists who dress them, they make records with producers who play a chord into the computer and it all comes out the same… When you have computers doing it all for you… there’s no individuality. Singing isn’t always about being on key; it’s about emotionality (sic).”
[From Starpulse]
I wouldn’t call her “horrible.” She’s just a kid. Ish. She’s like 20 years old, right? And she writes her own songs and she plays instruments and kids really like her and her overwhelming message to young girls is “It’s okay to be weird or strange or different, you’re still cool.” I find her sweet and harmless, especially compared to the other pop stars out there. Chris should find someone else to pick on. Hint: Miley.
Chris Robinson in 2009, Taylor Swift at the CMTs on June 2010. Credit: WENN.
I think Taylor is adorable and very likeable but her voice is awful. On her records she’s fine but when she sings live it’s, well, not.
i agree with his sentiments, especially his complaint about autotune and stylists. i think her “music” is terrible, unoriginial, and blande.
well he’s right!
The smelly hippie has a point. Although I think she would be ok as a songwriter but I cant stand her voice. Its really quite bad.
Hehehe I agree wholeheartedly with that sexy beast. I think the girl sucks donkey bawls and I too am confused as to why so many people think she is talented. I hate country music anyway but the girl really isn’t talented to me. Girl is a sweet heart but she is in no way deserving of all the awards she won and all the other talented people she beat because they felt sorry for her. Love ya forever Chris.
Whoa!! He’s always been fug but damn!! We need an antidote of Hot Guy Friday STAT!!
I totally agree with your last point: there are plenty of other kid stars out there that are far more deserving of criticism. Taylor personally annoys the hell out of me. But come on.
@coodoobetty: Lol at ‘smelly hippie’
I thought she was very entertaining on SNL. She seems sweet and age appropriate, and, really, I’m grateful just for that.
I remember seeing the Black Crowes live a few years back, it was a reunion tour (again!) and I have to say, Chris Robinson is seriously one of the best frontman out there. That concert is in my top three, they were that good. Considering this band has been around for 20 years, he is entitled to his opinion, let’s see if Taylor will be around that long.
I also agree with what he said.
She’s a beautiful girl, don’t get me wrong. But that doesn’t warrant a career in music, especially when your voice is rather weak.
I saw her perform live at the CMA awards, and she sounded almost exactly like she does on her album. That’s pretty rare, considering the many artists who use copious amounts of auto tune. Take away auto tune from artists like Lil Wayne, Katy Perry and Kesha and you have singing that makes your ears bleed.
I forgot what I was going to say, Jen just reminded me: IT’S HOT GUY FRIDAAAAAAY.
Oh yes: Catface.
I think the reason so many adults praise her is because she seems like the only kid her age who picks up a guitar and plays songs. That’s it. She isn’t very good on the guitar and her voice isn’t very good. However as you said, in comparison to Miley I don’t see the problem. Maybe he didn’t just go off on a rant, maybe he was asked about muscially artist and she was the only young “artist” he could think of.
His liver looks distended but maybe it is his shirt. I loved Shake Your Moneymaker back in the day but then the Black Crows starting sucking pretty bad. There is nothing original about their music. He and the band were kind of ripoffs of the Rolling Stones but without the guts and talent to bring anything new to the sound. There are plenty of young bands far better than the Black Crows: The Avett Brothers,The Killers, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals to name a few. So, in short, Pot meet Kettle.
Em, just so you know, auto-tune can be used in live performances, too.
He sounds like a jealous, bitter, washed up ‘artist’ to me. When was the last time he had a hit? I guess if she stopped bathing and grew a scraggly beard she could be a ‘real’ artist like him.
He’s right on the money, honey! I was visibly cringing when Taylor was singing acapella on SNL last year – my husband had to put her on mute! And don’t get me started on Valentine’s Day! Personally, I think she may be a strong role model for young girls, but that’s because of her attitudes, not neccessarily her “talent”.
Too funny… I heard a Black Crows song on the radio this morning and started thinking about the BC’s concert that I went to about 5 years ago. They are a great band, but there were probably about 10 people at the concert that were not stoned and I happened to be one of them. Therefore I had no patience for their 6-7 minute long intros to every fk’n song.
Nasty jealous old man.
She supposedly writes her own songs, which should afford her some cred. Most poplets do not write their own material. She is gorgeous, which also of course is going to get her some cred. And she seems harmless.
That being said, the Black Crowes fucking rock!!!
There are hundreds of thousands of young girls out there that identify with and adore Taylor; they could do a lot worse as far as a role model goes. She’s making a fortune being who she is and that’s more than any of us will ever do. I find no need to critize her just because she is not my cup of tea. That goes for that ugly butt-wipe Chris Robinson who is just doing what he does.
As a Mother of a soon to be 11 year old, and taking a look at some of the other ‘pop princesses and celebtards’ I appreciate the Taylors of the world greatly.
Don’t like her. She named a couple of dudes names in her songs that dumped her. Said if they don’t want her to name them out in her song don’t do what those dudes did … as in dump her. Played the victim card with the Kanye stuff. Got awards she didn’t deserve. Has a sense of entitlement. Basically she’s a brat and needs to kid taken off her high horse. Little kids grow and get bored. Theyll move on from her and shell disappear… if she doesn’t get to work. When we have Jasmine Sullivan Adele Chrisette Michelle who are young talents, why are we talking about this fool. She is no better than new kids on the block. The Grammys sold out for ratings. Dave Mathews Band shouldve won album of the year.
I don’t care for Taylor Swift’s music. The songs about Romeo and Juliet and high school cheerleaders don’t do it for me. I’ll admit I find it odd when she has adult fans. But what is he complaining about, that she gets awards and he doesn’t?
@ Jules–
Uh I’d say that Chris Robinson and the Black Crowes don’t need a top 40 “hit” to be successful. In fact something so purchased and poppy would probably LOWER their credibility. They have been writing and recording and touring respected, test-of-time, balls-out honest-to-god, real-thing ROCK to a solid fanbase all over the world for 20+ years.
Ask any rock critic — like ’em or not (I myself am not even a huge fan) — the Black Crowes are basically classic at this point.
He’s hardly threatened by someone with more MTV awards (snicker) than he has.
Some musicians love music, not fame.
And god help you if you pick the best musicians on their clothes and looks. You are missing out on music.
ITA with what he says about today’s artists. A lot of it is too commerical and overproduced.
she has been writing other artists songs for YEARS…this dirty old man is just bitter becuase he has not had a hit in how long???
She can’t sign live, I’ll give him that. But damn, how did Kate ever sleep with that?
Okay, so I’m a bit confused. For everyone agreeing with the guy and then bashing Taylor’s voice – did you miss this bit?
“Singing isn’t always about being on key; it’s about emotionality (sic).”
She writes her own songs about things she cares deeply about. Isn’t that an exact demonstration of “emotionality”?
I don’t think anyone would call her a great singer but I don’t think that’s what connects her to her fans.
Yeah, I don’t really care if you write your own music, unless the writing is good. I think it’s annoying when people say “Well, her writing is great for a 16/17/18 year old!” I don’t care if it’s good FOR a certain age group, I only want to listen to it if it is GOOD period.
“her overwhelming message to young girls is ‘It’s okay to be weird or strange or different, you’re still cool.’ ”
Is this really her message? Is this something that she communicates through her music or image; because, contrarily, she’s insipdly conventional. In fact her image is constructed around preserving the values of white middle America, which is always attempting to maintain the status quo. She’s Fourth of July picnics, small town pageants, and golden retrievers behind a white pickett fence. I suppose it a nice alternative to the barage of ne’er do well dandies that have overtaken Hollywood in the last few years, but they are equally as conventional.
Anyway, Robinson is right; and I’m tired of people making concession for her (and for much of mainstream commercial music, in general). It has its capitalistic value, but musically it’s pedestrian and non-substantive. God, I really doubt that many producers working today could construct a major scale. Or if they even know what that is.
Maybe she just reminds him of his ex-wife.
@Molly
Yep.
Rhyming “guitar” with “shooting star”…
oy.
If you’re not 16, you should not be thinking this is good.
Is he still waiting for the “Jesus Christ Superstar” revival to happen???
I thought that was Chong from Cheech and Chong.
🙁
You know there is other music besides pop music. There is Internet where you can discover music from around the world. What amazes me us when I was 10 I was listening to Mariah Carey En Vogue Toni Braxton Babyface. So I don’t understand the need to prop up a kid that needs to stay in the section of cheesy music. Just cause she keeps her clothes on doesn’t make her a good person nor an angel. Kanye was rude, but he didn’t deserve to be called an n-word all on twitter. Maybe if she was talented she wouldn’t have to play the victim card and wouldve told people to cool out on the Kanye hate. Not a righteous person at all. She won’t be talked about in 2 years. Also I listened to Ms. Dion. Woman sings and you cry. Oh yes and maybe she should more about something other than boys. Girls think about dudes too much as it is. Maybe if she sung about loving yourself as is versus being accepted into the popular crowd I’d have some respect for her.
There is other music out there besides pop. I thank God I group with the music from the 90’s…. ever since mid 2000’s it’s been crap, but were coming back. That’s the reason she got that backlash earlier this year.
Yikes, is this Not Hot Guy Friday?
He’s certainly entitled to his opinion, and as been in the business long enough to probably know what he’s talking about.
I don’t get picking on Taylor though – no she is not a great vocalist, but she does write and does play guitar – even if people don’t care for how she does it, at least she’s doing it, not just a manufactured pop tart. And I agree with those who say she’s a good role model and if kids are connecting with her, that’s great.
Well…she fills a shallow hole
Pick on Taylor Swift?!!!!
Hah, I wish more people were more honest about her.
Far from being picked on, she is probably the most coddled manufactured pop barbie in the world. All thanks to Kanye.
No thanks to Kanye, anytime someone mentions her lack of talent or weak voice, it’s always, “why are u being soooo mean?!!”
Seriously, Twihards are nothing compared to Swiftards. C’mon Swiftards, talent has zero correlation to how many hit singles you make. Or else Miley Cyrus is thousand times more talented than Taylor Swift…
Sounds like someone is jealous that his career peaked ten years ago and can’t stand to see someone else succeed. What a pity.
His comments say way more about him and his insecurities than it does about the relative talents of Ms. Swift.
she’s cute and sweet, but really, her voice live isn’t all that.
I completely feel the same way, not to mention I truly believe what went down at the Video Music Awards was completely staged between Kanye and Taylor. After all, Kanye only cares when Kanye doesn’t win; he doesn’t give a shit about any other artist.
Taylor is a very manufactured artist, she is appealing, but just like Britney and Katy Perry, she is very produced and has a whole team behind her creating her image.
Taylor may be a sweet girl and a slightly gifted artist when it comes to songwriting, but beyond that, she has nothing more to offer. The girl CANNOT sing and it’s obvious. I feel like whenever people criticize her, they are written off as being jealous of a very successful young artist, but I think it is more resentment that such a artist is being praised when there is barely any talent there. When I see Taylor on stage, it always reminds me of some little girl trying to live out her dream on a talent show stage, but at the end of the day, where is that talent? I don’t understand why all these people feel the need to protect young Taylor from criticism, just because of the incident with Kanye? Just like Taylor’s image and talent being completely fabricated, so was that infamous incident.
I 100% agree with Chris, even if he comes off as being a grump.
Taylor Swift is not weird or different. She is very attractive. If she really wrote those songs then I would she does have some talent. But she can’t sing live. It’s been proven.
2 utterly random comments:
1. i LOVE her earrings in the pic. i must have.
2. why is there a “sic” in the quote about emotionality? far as i can tell, the quote is grammatically correct, no need for a “sic”
I’m 27 and it’s so crazy an older person gets called grumpy dissing the kids. When the kids need to be knocked in the head to see what’s true quality.
And his comments are relevant because…..???
i’ve never heard taylor swift, so i can’t comment on her talent, but why does a 40 year old feel the need to attack a 20 year old girl in public? he should pick on someone like gaga, or katy perry, or kanye, or one of the million other prefab, gimmicky stars climbing up the charts. i dont think he has the balls to attack someone other than a young girl. at least taylor swift isn’t running around with her babymaker hanging out, posting half naked photos of herself on twitter or getting DUIs. she seems harmless enough, if a bit vapid.
Has he heard his music? I don’t like Taylor Swift but understand her appeal. I never understood his appeal, and he has been around a lot longer.
Taylor Swift’s duet with Stevie Nicks at the Grammy’s was terrible. She was jumping around the stage, and horribly out of tune. Stevie Nicks deserved a lot better partner.
wow.
someone is really trying for a ‘kanye west caliber’ reaming, isn’t he?! lol 🙂
He’s a has-been trying to get attention.
Chris seems to be confusing two types of female singing phenomena. There are the telegenic American Idol products who blast away pitch perfect but do not have one iota of soul, charisma or personality. Taylor Swift is as manufactured as they are, in that her whole career was bankrolled by her rich daddy and would not have happened without him and his fortune. To give him credit, he seems to have raised her nicely, so I suppose if your musical package must also be role models, then taylor is the ideal product. But she is just as dangerous for the music industry as the AI product. Already confounded by downloads, it is busy looking backwards for new Taylor Swifts and new glass shatterers.
Chris looks like a haggard Jesus Christ in the top pic. I’m just saying…
Reaming From who? Her country people aren’t even giving her awards anymore. Everybody knows they messed up cause some pop tart stole folks grammys. Lady Gaga is 23 a kid compared to this guy so why you want him to pick on another kid as you say. The Grammys know they messed up. Country artists are pissed cause she didn’t deserve album of the year.
Ok, first, why *would* he like Taylor Swift? It would be weird if he did, and nobody expects your average rock or non pop-country star to actually like her. So there’s really no point in telling an interviewer something most people assume, just makes you seem lame.
hmph, he is right–I took my god children to her concert and it was horrible!!! she needs more training BUT they’ll push her through as is and she’ll be a pop sensation for the adult crowd and we’ll be forced to “get with it”…
her concert was HORRIBLE, the kids asked me, “why does she sound so bad?”
I said “shhhh, I’m checking her out, are you guys?, shh”..I’ve never admitted it but I sooo agree w/Chris.
She needs to better her craft and not beleive the hype.
I like Taylor Swift and her music. She really can’t sing that well, but her songs are fun to sing along with on the radio and she is one artist that my daughter likes who acts her age and sings about real life stuff that she can relate to. Her music isn’t for everyone, but neither is Chris Robinson’s. There are different types of music and musicians for a reason.
I don’t think that Taylor Swift is particularly good for young girls. All of her songs are about wanting a boy or wanting a boy to want her, or competing with another girl for male attention. I don’t see how this is a positive message to grow up with. Taylor is only a few months younger than me and I just don’t understand how anyone past middle school age can take her seriously when there is absolutely nothing extraordinary about her.
Just because someone writes their own music doesn’t mean that its good, and doesn’t mean that we should listen to it. There’s a reason most pop singers work with writers.
I went to school with Chris Robinson, in middle and high school, and let me tell ya…he’s about as original as McDonald’s! (I do love me some Mickey D’s, though!) he used to wear I-zod shirts and his father was a JV football coach. I ehard that he was wimpy and embarrassed hsi dat on the football field, because he couldn’t keep up. Anyway, this image he has is totally contrived! My sister got into a wreck with him in his little VW Rabbit (or some such small car) in high school. They ran off the road and into a creek. She said that the cops came and he sat along the side of the road, crying like a baby! She said, “I’m not surprised that he became a rocker…he always seemed to need a stage for all of his drama to play out on. I never thought he and Kate would end up working out either, as he would always speak condescendingly to her when they were interviewed.
“Singing isn’t always about being on key” he says. This is true, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t a dealbreaker. I can’t listen to shit that isn’t on key, that’s just irritating and lazy on their part. If you’re not going to sing your own song right, then I’m not going to spend the time listening to it.
Team Zelda #25 and ViktoryGin #31. My faith in humanity is restored for the weekend…
I am THANKFUL for Taylor Swift because I have a seven year old daughter and Taylor Swift doesn’t look filthy, sing about dirty shit, and she dresses in real clothes that fit her- she doesn’t look like a whore and doesn’t wave her vag around like it needs to be aired out.
I don’t like her music, I think it’s for little girls, but I am a grown girl who appreciates music and therefore Taylor doesn’t do much for -me-.
Real musicians have a right to comment on the state of the music industry and the crap that is pushed onto the public these days. What he says about the “innocent liitle 20 yr old girl”‘s shitty music is spot-on (how is that even an argument? who cares how old she is? if she is an “artist”, another artist has the right to comment on her “art”, as does anyone in the public, regardless of their age, nationality, creed, sexual identity, politics, etc.). i miss real music and original artists. sick to death of all of this “Radio Friendly Song” crap (look up the song on YouTube…Try “Pop Song” by the same comedian. That’s the type of “music” Taylor, Miley, N’Sync, etc., are putting out). I don’t even like the Black Crowes, but at least they dress themselves.
Listened to her sing with John Mayer live a year ago. He was trying to pull the tween demographic since he’s an old man now anyway the chick was so flat. She’s too egotistical to take voice lessons cause her handlers blow hot air up her ass. Tell her she’s great. Shell faze out like mikey cyrus is fazing out.
Thank you Chris Robinson: so Taylor swift is a good role model to some, then she should leave music and go into social work. Janis Joplin was no role model but her music will be listened to 20 years from now when Taylor is a beauty pageant mc for some county may apple queen fair. People also defend her for supposedly writing her own songs but google her discography many of them are “co-written.”
Thank you Angela for the Grammy reminder. She was terrible and Stevie Nicks should’ve walked. Swiftie has no stage presence or persona and can’t even move on the stage let alone sing live, and I’ve also heard she lip syncs (no suprise if true) her concerts. 60s bands knew how to play live; many of today’s so-called artists could learn a thing or two from watching Woodstock and Isle of Wight performances. IF swiftie is around as long as the Black Crowes, then she’s owed an apology.
gawd ! how old is this guy ? 87? he looks it. i guess that’s what CLEAN LIVIN’ will do for ya, right? STFU Chris R. .. you are just ticked off because you AREN’T relevant to the age group spending the most on music these days !
I hate music elitists. So what if Taylor Swift’s music is for adolescent females? Are they not a valuable group of listeners?
People are biased toward music created and performed by men anyway. Oftentimes, a woman’s voice is enough to compell a station change. It all comes down to the assumption that what women have to say is unimportant and that what men have to say is more meaningful or significant.
End sexism in the music industry.
Spoken like a true musician. When you put the blood, sweat, and tears into your music and work hard doing it, you kind of feel a little slighted. Even if grooming isn’t part of the equation.
Well said, Chris. I’ve been saying that for quite some time now, but nobody was listening. This girl can’t sing. And when I say she can’t sing, I mean that she sounds way too generic and equally boring–and that is a fact. She totally lacks that individuality needed to sell records on real singing ability. If you saw her when she sang LIVE next to Stevie Nicks, then you’d know what I mean. She sells records because other female teens relate to her lyrics–and because she is so cute, or so they say. But make no mistake; there is no emotion to her songs. Writing her own songs doesn’t make her talented, folks. Her writing is pedestrian at best, by the way.
At least Britney Spears had a better execution in her songs. They were not only catchy but sexy. They totally conveyed emotion, despite her singing abilities (or lack thereof). I totally grooved to her music, though I never did so in public.
Carry Underwood is much more sophisticated than Taylor Swift in every sense of the word. I also love Kellie Pickler and Lila McCann. Have you ever listened to Lila’s “Go Easy on Me” song? Beautiful!
Carry Underwood’s music, for instance, is not only beautiful, but it is also vastly seducing–very well structured lyrically, vocally and musically. She invokes emotion in every song that she interprets. Now, that’s what I call talent!
Any person can write their own material. Quality, however, can only be achieved by a few. Taylor Swift conveys the opposite of quality–inferiority. She isn’t very good quite frankly. She is given way too much credit. Why is she famous then, you ask? Deep down you know answer.
At any rate, when Kanye West disrespected her at the VMA’s, I knew that this would help her sell more records, and top the charts longer, out of sympathy. Everyone just seemed to show their support with their wallets and positive feedback, after that unfortunate incident took place. But the way Kanye did it is not the way to go about it either.
I only wish that someone more respected in the music industry would have come out and said what Chris Robinson so eloquently stated in that magazine interview. This guy is viewed as a stoner and a has-been nowadays, so there may be little stock in what he says to some people, though he clearly speaks words of truth. But celebrities are afraid of criticizing a cute girl for fear of being called “insensitive,” or career reprisal.
@Jeannifield thank you for the first hand account. I love those. They make my day.
Well, I think they both suck. Hate the Black Crowes, and have no use for country music. Neener neener. 🙂
Sorry for the disagreement, but she is not ‘just a kid’. She’s a grown woman. Like Lindsay is grown woman. Im still not a fan of hers, but just because she’s young and sings middle school inspired songs dont make her a kid. Like when Lindsay did Disney movies, it didnt make her a kid. Here in Texas if you commit a crime over the age of 17, you’re charged as a adult. The was it should be.
I know my grandad felt the same way about Elvis & the Beatles. I would rather have young kids follow the likes of Taylor Swift than Britney, Miley, Lady Gaga or many others.
I don’t even consider the two musicians to be in the same field, so why are his panties in such a twist? She’s an pop entertainer, he’s a music artist.
I certainly wish I could get my 6 year old to crush on Taylor instead of Miley. My ex and I agree – NO MILEY!
his father was a JV football coach. I ehard that he was wimpy and embarrassed hsi dat on the football field, because he couldn’t keep up.
*************
Really? Because the Chris Robinson my husband knows had a father who was a musician.
To those claiming Chris is a jealous has-been, give it a rest. Love them or hate them, The Black Crowes were here long before Taylor, and they’ll still be making music when her replacement’s replacement has been replaced.
The first time I heard Taylor “sing” was when I clicked on a clip that was posted here of her performance with Stevie Nicks at some award show. She was worse than I expected, and I didn’t expect much. Oh well, at least she doesn’t flash her cooch to anyone with a camera, so that’s something I guess.
Whoops, double post.
if it were a ROLLING STONE or a BEATLE or BOB DYLAN or BONO it would be a relevant comment, but coming from this has been no talent fugly stoner ….
Thank you, Chris. I agree 110%.
And I’m really happy that someone else on here love the Avett Brothers! They are AWESOME!!! And they owe a lot to the Black Crows & I bet they’d admit it in a heartbeat
He may sing better than Swifty but he sure is fug.
I want to scream everytime somebody says that Taylor is talented just because she writes and plays guitar. I love a couple of her songs (Love Story and White Horse) but her writing is very juvenile and simplistic. Although fun and very catchy, I don’t think they will stand the test of time. I thought her writing would mature but based on her new single that isn’t happening. Taylor seems very nice and harmless but highly overrated.
Since when has Taylor’s message been being weird, different, etc is cool? All of her songs are about boyfriends.
Wow, you just can’t win out there in the tween/teen pop world, can ya? God forbid a marginally talented, positive influence become successful, and God forbid an equally marginally talented, NOT so positive, Disney cultivated swarm of Brits & Mileys become successful. Either way, people who find themselves to be “superior” in musical TASTE are gonna bitch.
I wish to heaven my 5-year old niece had a Taylor Swift backpack she was super excited about as opposed to the Hannah Montana one she so proudly strapped on for her first day of Kindergarten this week.
Yes, she is annoying, but I don’t see his career evolving beyond him being known for siring Kate Hudson’s kid either so he ought to focus on his own career than take bitter swipes at someone elses.
“To those claiming Chris is a jealous has-been, give it a rest. Love them or hate them, The Black Crowes were here long before Taylor, and they’ll still be making music when her replacement’s replacement has been replaced.”
Cosign Majosha!
Look, yes she plays an instrument and she writes her own songs, but she CANNOT sing, the songs are insipid and the industry needs to stop acting like she’s the second coming of Janis Joplin or something.
The thing is she effectively targets a specific niche/demographic (Tweens) and I just don’t understand why anyone older than that demographic would consider her worthy to be a Grammy award winning artist, IMHO.
I still cannot believe that she won a Grammy for Album of The year. So you have The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Simon & Garfunkel, U2, Eric Clapton, Tony Bennett,Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, Carole King, Alison Krauss, OutKast, Celine Dion and…Taylor Swift? Mind. Boggled.
oh please, it’s his opinion and he’s more than allowed to express his opinion wherever he wants. I happen to agree with his assessment, but that’s MY opinion, just like I find Madonna to be a nasal pitched one note and Oasis to be a pumped up Beatles wannabe.
I certainly don’t think that if I don’t happen to find someone attractive that means that he/she shouldn’t be allowed to have his/her opinion or that the opinion is worthless. That’s just utterly ridiculous.
Her message might be that its okay to be weird or strange or different– but LOOK at Taylor Swift and the life she has lead so far. There is nothing weird, strange, or different about a fabulously talented, wealthy, very pretty, tall, thin blond who dates very cute, popular, and sucessful guys.
So, for me its a little strange that “Taylor Swift” is the voice for all the girls out there who are feeling weird, strange, or different.
Coming to a multiplex near you:
Grumpy Old Men: The Black Crowes Years.
Pick on someone a little more deserving, Chris. I’d suggest Miley.
she is horrible….she can’t sing she is just produced and is not an artist. i agree, horrible
..Says the guy whose claim to fame is one of the most annoying songs they play on the shittiest radio station in my country!
@ The Juror: Cheers!
@ Pirouette.
This is not a feminist debate. The reason that people emphasize her demographic is not because of their inconsequence or lack of worth in the industry, but because of the compromised quality of music that is patently marketed to them. The issue here is age, not gender.
And why is it “elitist” to require a certain standard artistic standard of one’s music? I’m always amused at this kind of reactionary condescension. I suspect its meant to obscure some sense of inadequacy. If you “hate” it, those are your feelings; but this type of sweeping judgment is really expedient. Easier to to complain than try to apply any intellectual rigor, unless you can argue as to why we should leave our brains at the door.
@ Mistral
Thank you. I think that is it shortsighted that some people try to handle this WOMAN with kid gloves. Like, she’s somehow exempt from criticism because she keeps her clothes on. In fact, ironically, it’s because of this that her piss-poor music becomes more conspicous. There is nothing present to distract the ear from the onslaught. I think perhaps it’s an unconscious impulse on the part of her buying public to fiercely protect someone who represents their values, values that constantly seem under attack. I’m fine with that, but let’s not let that bestow undue accolades upon her MUSIC. Compare this to what Adele (British singer/songwriter) was writing at 19. Adele also sings in tune live.
Plastic pabulum isn’t what it used to be
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nu2QX3GU-U
Miley is ‘just a kid’ too. Why are you so harsh on Miley? She may sometimes come across slightly bratty but she’s even younger than Taylor Swift and yet you and other people are incredibly rude about her. People often say the sort of things that would bring a 17 year-old girl to tears, or worse. Bit hypocritical.
@Nikki – That’s because Miley dresses like a skank, pole dances, and grinds on adult men. Taylor Swift is pretty much as vanilla as it comes.
His comments are correct but redundant. I’ve never heard anyone say they think she’s some sort of musical genius. Not once. If anything she already gets more criticism for being talentless than others do. I just don’t get why he’s singling out Taylor. Her songs are just catchy, harmless fluff like so many others out there – so what?
It would have been more intelligent of him to observe that Gaga is no different from Taylor Swift et al but has people fooled into thinking she’s something more.
I wish he would have picked on someone like Britney or Lady Gaga because those are real head scratchers IMO. Yes, I agree that Taylor is not the epitome of country music but I think a lot of people have tuned more into it because of her. She looks and acts like a young lady should which parents like hence the popularity with adults, but face it-there are no REAL artists these days because it is mostly over-produced and it’s still crappy. Young people these days think the greatest bands were the ones manufactured 10 yrs ago
I had to do a double take, I thought the headline read Taylor Momsen and I was going to jump all over it, LOL
Legally you can’t use the words “Taylor Swift” and “artist” in the same sentence.
She’s and artist like McDonalds is a restaurant.
I won’t knock people for liking the music they like, but to call Ms. Swift’s music “art” is a heinous overstatement and an insult to actual artists struggling to make music without the financial backing Taylor enjoys.
oh, he’s always been a well-known McCrankypants his whole life, even when he was her age. This would fall into the heading of “Things you should not say if you can’t say something nice”. No need for him to bitch about random young artists. Even if he’s right, he should shut his trap and try to be a little gracious.
And while I’m judging him, I would throw in he needs a good shave, worm and dip.
I think the fact that the headline for this post includes “(Kate Hudson’s ex)” says a lot. Clearly he needs to have that identifier as there are many people who don’t know who he is without the reference to his successful movie star ex-wife.
I have never, ever heard Swift sing, so I can’t judge her talent. But I do know that for that fart to be criticizing a perfectly harmless young lady just screams “LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! I’M STILL RELEVANT!”
Truly sad.
She is a good songwriter, not a good singer.
A few thoughts:
1) Wow. Taylor looks really pretty in that bottom pic!
2) Why did Kate hudson marry this dude? He’s always seemed like such a sourpuss, and he looks about 40 years older than her! I guess she was attracted to his talent? That must be it, because I don’t see many other positives going on with this man.
3) Now that I think of it, I feel like Kate Hudson has dated a lot of douches. So, maybe that’s just her type.
4) Taylor Swift SUCKS live. Honestly, she’s painful to listen to. However, I think she’s decent if you’re under the age of 17 and only ever listen to the studio versions of her songs. Personality wise, she’s likable enough. She’s no musical genius, but she’s also not the worst song writer I’ve ever heard. I agree with the description “harmless” for her.
5) I can’t remember the last time the Black Crowes were relevant. To me, they sound a lot like every other band in their genre.
6) Kanye West is, and always will be, an epic douche. However, he’s the funniest epic douche out right now. Does anyone remember his blog rant about how he and Amber Rose have every right to wear fur? I just remember a blur of CAPS and exclaimation points, and a hilarious quote that went something like “BE YOUR OWN COLORING BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!1!1!!1!!!” haha, I know Dlisted has it in their archives. Amazingly funny stuff. His Taylor diss was so wrong, but it gave us the gift of a million Internet jokes. Haha
7) I think we should all stop picking on Miley until she turns 18. I feel wrong trashing someone so young. She only has a few months of “childhood” left to go anyway, and after that everyone will have my full support in making and contributing to all the hillbilly hooker jokes possible!
I think he doesn’t rag on Miley because no one thinks Miley is talented. So there’s no need for him to comment.
Who cares! Swift is not hurting anyone and if tweens want to listen to her, so what. It’s better that most of the crap out there. The one that has no talent is that skanky ex-ho wife of his. Has this guy even bathed since the early 90’s? Gross!
Folks, the most important word in “music industry” is “industry.” The music is just a product. Labels and the Grammys aren’t about art, they’re about profits and recognition. This isn’t new, so why is it news?
I agree with you Kaiser, but I also agree with old Robinson Crusoe.
Don’t like either of them, but he’s right – she is horrible.
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