Taylor Swift: "I have no interest in singing someone else's words"

[Jesse Pinkman 4,660]

I just don't understand how her label doesn't say "no" to her more often. Ok, she can pull in sales and an audience, and that should be enough to let her do what she wants, but even some of the most successful acts get controlled - all mainstream acts do. But for some reason, she's allowed to do whatever she wants and her label just bows gracefully. Sure, as she says, they voice a lot of concerns and suggestions, but they ultimately back down. I just don't get why. It's another thing that annoys me about her - she gets such untouchable status in the industry and such free reign with her music while many other artists who are much more talented get forced to go in directions they don't want to, record songs they don't want to, do collabs with people they don't like, even getting their complete album canned because the label flat out didn't like it. I wish all labels treated their artists like Taylor. Whenever she does an interview like this, it always feels like she's rubbing it in for all the artists who don't get freedom at their labels. She's acting like it's a choice to get your songs written for you or be a puppet. But the truth is that it's not an option for every artist, it's simply a command or even an ultimatum. Taylor's only understood what it's like to have choices throughout her entire career - she's never experienced demands. She got a record deal so easy when she was a teenager and has had it easy ever since.

Because she basically built that label with her own two hands.

[Disregard 50]

She's one of the smartest popstars in the game because she knows how to get her way without burning bridges. She has proven herself as a reliable brand who can move records and that is why she is afforded the freedom to do what she wants. She's admitted that the higher ups were not enthused about her direction but she proved them wrong without firing them and playing victim in the aftermath.

Let's not act like Gaga couldn't have done the same thing. She was never at risk of Interscope not releasing the "risky" ARTPOP, she just got freaked out by their doubt and got rid of them before they could even make an impact on its success. Let's be real, money is the ONLY motivation for those who are behind the scenes in the music industry. If the people who contributed to her success in the past were allowed to continue, they probably would have pushed ARTPOP to greater heights simply based on their motivation to continue that trajectory despite their feelings about the "art."

So don't be mad that someone played the game better than Gaga did. Taylor may be limited in her vocals, but she does good business, and despite all the outcry, that is exactly what the Gaga fans are lamenting. It's funny when people talk about pretension when that's exactly what Gaga has created in her fanbase. She has created the most pretentious and tryhard fanbase who cannot be please by anything other than her own output because everything else is "basic." "Nobody is as genuine/real/as good of a singer as Gaga." It's such an eyeroll.

[Pure Adrenaline 1,518]

I really misjudged her. I'm beginning to warm up to her a bit.

thia one year ago i hated her but eight niw and this interview really make me see that she is not just silly cat singing dumb silly songs tbat sound the same :thetea:

[retroglamx 5,169]

Exactly what I said, dear.

 

 

She had enough interest in singing someone else's words when she let Kim Carnes' words pass through her lips as she covered Bette Davis Eyes on her tour.

"I have no interest in singing someone else's words."

 

... Oh look. Videos of her singing someone else's words, at your disposal.

 

LOL...

[Mills 446]

It was late 2008 when I first heard her, and it was Love Story, one of the strongest earworms I've heard for a very long time. It just didn't get out of my head for months. It was the song of 2008 for me. And then I learned she wrote it all by herself. From that moment on, I was convinced that she's going to be like the next Mariah Carey in terms of songwriting. 5 years later, that pretty and carefree country singer has surprisingly become the country's most successful pop act since Britney Spears.

 

And she's a singer-songwriter who didn't originate from the hype of the mainstream pop. And that's why millions love her. She's a story-teller, and her stories are hers. With that in mind, one would know, deep down, that her future will only be brighter and bigger than her present. Garth Brooks has found his heiress, and she's also pop's most reliable songwriter of the current millennium. Keep writing, Taylor! And you'd keep getting the hearts of millions!

[Redstreak 6,653]

It was late 2008 when I first heard her, and it was Love Story, one of the strongest earworms I've heard for a very long time. It just didn't get out of my head for months. It was the song of 2008 for me. And then I learned she wrote it all by herself. From that moment on, I was convinced that she's going to be like the next Mariah Carey in terms of songwriting. 5 years later, that pretty and carefree country singer has surprisingly become the country's most successful pop act since Britney Spears.

 

And she's a singer-songwriter who didn't originate from the hype of the mainstream pop. And that's why millions love her. She's a story-teller, and her stories are hers. With that in mind, one would know, deep down, that her future will only be brighter and bigger than her present. Garth Brooks has found his heiress, and she's also pop's most reliable songwriter of the current millennium. Keep writing, Taylor! And you'd keep getting the hearts of millions!

Ok I kinda teared up at this

[Wet Fire 7,001]

Wow

She is one of the few singers who have their own vision and want to protect it at any cost.

[Rat Boy 42,766]

thia one year ago i hated her but eight niw and this interview really make me see that she is not just silly cat singing dumb silly songs tbat sound the same

[HarryTheNight 35]

Can she be more perfect? what was the welcome to ny contoversy? i dont really like it as a song but idg what people could possibly be offended by

[Redstreak 6,653]

Can she be more perfect? what was the welcome to ny contoversy? i dont really like it as a song but idg what people could possibly be offended by

A bunch of music critics from NY hated it because it was too un-New York.

[Whispering 18,865]

 

Let's not act like Gaga couldn't have done the same thing. She was never at risk of Interscope not releasing the "risky" ARTPOP, she just got freaked out by their doubt and got rid of them before they could even make an impact on its success. Let's be real, money is the ONLY motivation for those who are behind the scenes in the music industry. If the people who contributed to her success in the past were allowed to continue, they probably would have pushed ARTPOP to greater heights simply based on their motivation to continue that trajectory despite their feelings about the "art."

 

 

We don't have to "act", it's a fact that Gaga couldn't have done the same thing. Record labels will postpone your music for months and months and years, if you don't cooperate. Yes, the bigger you are, the more "negotiation room" you have, but everyone who is signed with a major label has to accommodate and cooperate with those at the top.

 

 

Gaga is signed to a major label, one with hundreds of artists, some like Eminem and Madonna.

 

Big Machine is an Independent label and Taylor Swift was their first real artist of any significance. In fact, Scott Borchetta, was dependent on getting her first single played to even keep his label going. She basically made the label what it is today. Taylor and her family have a slice of Big Machine equity.

 

Gaga with Interscope is in no way in the same position as Taylor is in with Big Machine. There's your difference right there.

[Whispering 18,865]

I just don't understand how her label doesn't say "no" to her more often. Ok, she can pull in sales and an audience, and that should be enough to let her do what she wants, but even some of the most successful acts get controlled - all mainstream acts do. But for some reason, she's allowed to do whatever she wants and her label just bows gracefully. Sure, as she says, they voice a lot of concerns and suggestions, but they ultimately back down. I just don't get why. It's another thing that annoys me about her - she gets such untouchable status in the industry and such free reign with her music while many other artists who are much more talented get forced to go in directions they don't want to, record songs they don't want to, do collabs with people they don't like, even getting their complete album canned because the label flat out didn't like it. I wish all labels treated their artists like Taylor. Whenever she does an interview like this, it always feels like she's rubbing it in for all the artists who don't get freedom at their labels. She's acting like it's a choice to get your songs written for you or be a puppet. But the truth is that it's not an option for every artist, it's simply a command or even an ultimatum. Taylor's only understood what it's like to have choices throughout her entire career - she's never experienced demands. She got a record deal so easy when she was a teenager and has had it easy ever since.

 

Because Big Machine isn't a mainstream label. It is an Independent label that was basically nothing until Taylor Swift signed on with them. The owner owes Taylor Swift everything!

 

She's been a songwriting prodigy in the country music world for close to a decade, and she is just 24 years old. Taylor has had very few missteps during those years and is one of the biggest country artists of the 2000s. Why would her label and the CEO NOT trust her? She keeps selling more and more and keeps getting hits.  They know that she is primarily responsible everyone of  her songs and the vision behind her albums, tours and videos,,,because they have watched her do these things for nine years now.

 

Easy? They've let her make major decisions, because she keeps getting it right. She's their number one artist on this Independent label and has been for years! If I was Scott or anyone else at the label, I would do the EXACT same thing!

 

If other artists want to be treated like Taylor has been treated, they need to find an Independent label that's just starting out. They need to sign with them and stick with them for a decade and be not only the biggest artist on that label, but also the type of artist who has the top selling album in the US (or the second highest) every year that they put out an album. Simple, huh? ;)

[Addy Ezzie 2]

That's why I love her so much. She's a true artist who has great values. Slay TayTay

[Cupid 760]

The drought was the very worst

When the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst

It was months, and months of back and forth

You're still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore

Hung my head, as I lost the war, and the sky turn black like a perfect storm

Rain came pouring down when I was drowning

That's when I could finally breathe

And that morning, gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean

There was nothing left to do

And the butterflies turned to dust they covered my whole room

So I punched a hole in the roof

Let the flood carry away all my pictures of you

The water filled my lungs, I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing

Rain came pouring down when I was drowning

That's when I could finally breathe

And that morning, gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean

I think I am finally clean

Said, I think I am finally clean

10 months sober, I must admit

Just because you're clean don't mean you miss it

10 months older I won't give in

Now that I'm clean I'm never gonna risk it

The drought was the very worst

When the flowers that we'd grown together died of thirst

Rain came pouring down when I was drowning

That's when I could finally breathe

And that morning, gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean

This song always slays me. So well written.

That song is written more by Imogen than Taylor tbh. It has her trademark all over the track both lyrically and production

[Paper Gangsta 6,693]

of course when your songwriting is far better than your singing