Why Taylor Swift is still a threat

[Versace 7,959]

Things to keep In mind before reading the main subject of the thread (skip if you are short on time)

So ever since ME! peaked at #2 instead of #1. I've seen a few threads here, questioning Taylor's relevance/success. Heck I just saw a thread comparing Taylor situation to Katy (LMFAO).

Let's go through the facts together and let them sink in please. I know many here for no apparent reason want to see Taylor Swift' downfall or "flop era" (pathetic lol). 

Technically these A-list established artists (i.e Gaga, Taylor, Katy, Beyonce, Rihanna, etc) will never flop. They'll probably just be hindered by old age to the industry being ageist (we've seen this in Madonna's case), that's probably the only time they will lose their appeal. It's because these artists have such established fan bases that they can always sell out shows (Madonna has done this up till her Rebel Heart tour and her tours sell crazy well).  There awards won't suddenly vanish, their discography speaks for itself and their massive success over a decade or more won't be overshadowed by one or two commercially underperforming albums. Flop should be reserved for those artists trying to be like A-listers but have failed to replicate their success/fanbase loyalty. You need to attempt something to flop at it.

Failing to replicate previous success does not = not successful/flop 

Failing to replicate previous success = less successful but still successful by definition 

Why Taylor Swift is still a threat

Lets keep this strictly female, since many of you often compare female artists to each other. 

Let's look at the songs that went #1 by females during 2019 so far

Without Me by Halsey 

7 Rings by Ariana Grande 

Shallow by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper 

Note how the Billboard Hot 100 works, each week the songs with the highest total of (streams, sales, views, airplay) goes number 1. Also not everything is weighted equally in the Billboard equation, I find Billboard's weighting to be unfair but that's an opinion for another topic. 

Number 1 does not = song did really well

Number 1 = song performed the best commercially during that week and for however long it stays at #1

The week Taylor's ME! peaked at #2 it had 680 points (this is from sales and streams)

The week Shallow peaked at #1 it had 380-400 something points

The week 7 Rings peaked/debuted at #1 it had 608 points 

I don't know how much Halsey had but I presume it was even less than Shallow or similar 

Now keep in mind, I'm not comparing the longevity of these songs but rather there commercial success during their highest peaks since that's what the majority of you are doing which I'm not saying is the right way to quantify success. Still, the fact that ME! had more success during its highest peaking week than any female song that went #1 says something, especially having more points than Ariana's 7Rings which people claim to be the it song of 2019 and Ariana the it girl of 2019. Fun fact ME! even had almost double the points during the week Thank U, Next went #1 in 2018. 

You'd be naive to say a song that went #1 is more successful than a song that didn't, since ur basing 1 week of success instead of the total earnings generated from that song, to me that is true commercial success we can measure. Some songs go #1 but don't end up selling. That's why certifications for me are more indicative of success (Gold, Platinum). If a song was certified Platinum , that is more than enough for us to label a song a "Hit", whether it peaked at #1, top 10, top 40, or out of top 40. 

ME! MUSIC VIDEO

By now you should all know that ME! holds the record for most viewed MV in first 24hours by any Female/Vevo Music Video/English song MV

Second only to BTS's korean hit Boy With Luv when we consider all music videos. However, Taylor previously had this record for most viewed music video in general during 24 hours with  Shake It Off, Blank Space, Bad Blood, Look What You Made Me Do. The fact that she keeps reclaiming this record and snatching it from Thank U Next like its no one's business lol. 

Why ME! did not go #1

Some of you have mistaken this as Taylor losing her appeal but that couldn’t be further from the truth when we consider ME! having the highest opening week from any female single this year and the fact the video broke the vevo record. 

The reason ME! did not go #1 is a phenomenon we witness every year where a song goes viral and even an A-list artist with a huge following cannot compete. 

Songs that have been notorious for blocking everything from number 1 (due to how viral they are, often ONE HIT WONDERS and that says a lot)

Closer by the Chain Smokers (16 weeks at number 1, most weeks at number 1 during 2016) where are the Chainsmokers now?

Despacito by Luis Fonsi (16 weeks at number 1, most weeks at number 1 during 2017) where is Luis Fonsi now? 

So far Old Town Road has the most weeks at #1 from any song during 2019 not even the two biggest male popstars Ed and JB could kick it off its high horse, hence why are we being harsh on Taylor and jumping to the conclusion that she's losing her appeal.

REMEMBER THAT TAYLOR SWIFT IS AN ALBUM SELLING MONSTER

Ever since the 2010's music has not been selling like the 2000's, the 90's the 80's

Let's look at the albums that sold 1M copies or more during their first tracking week (we call this platinum debut and is  a highly rewarding honor for any artist)

2010 Taylor's Speak Now achieves this

2011 Lady Gaga's Born This Way

2012 Taylor Swift RED 

2014 Taylor Swift 1989 

2015 Adele 25

2017 Taylor Swift Reputation

Only 3 artists and 6 albums have achieved this in an entire decade (which ends this year), 4 of which are Taylor's album!!!!! WHAT, I DROP THE MIC HERE FOR ANYONE WHO EVER QUESTIONS TS. 4!!! and hopefully her next becomes her 5th to achieve this. 

 

[AMENiCURE 9,381]

taylor is still a threat its so obvious

the moment she releases a song that is good, she'll blow up

me! is a flop no matter what, it's falling down and has been apparently pulled out of radios already

[funkyhaus 7,697]

Shallow may not have cheated as high that particular week but I would argue it’s a biggest success than 7 rings or ME!

[JazzGa 14,620]

Remember when Oppa Gangnam Style by Psy c0ckblocked all our faves from the #1 spot when it went viral? What a time to be alive

[bloody g 31,746]

That title is so extra

 

[Versace 7,959]

3 minutes ago, AMENiCURE said:

taylor is still a threat its so obvious

the moment she releases a song that is good, she'll blow up

me! is a flop no matter what, it's falling down and has been apparently pulled out of radios already

Did you read the points I raised in my argument on why ME! did not flop by definition. The song is nowhere near what we'd call a failing song. I raised some really good factual points on why actually it could be classified as a hit, if you look at the points it generated during opening week and it breaking the vevo record. Success is subject but the standards some of you have on what success is, is really tough. As a Gaga fan I wish Perfect Illusion did what ME! did, we'd be calling it one of Gaga's biggest hits. 

[Spock 20,290]

Each era we have the pleasure of reading “Taylor Swift is REALLY over this time” essays and yet she stomps every single time. Not to mention when she goes on tour

 

im not worried

[holy scheisse 22,254]

"threat" lol to what/who?

Anyway I agree that she shouldn't be written off bc her single didn't go #1, she is Taylor swift afterall. And I bet ME! Isn't even close to being the best song on her new album. Interesting to see she generated more points than those 3 massive songs. But OTR is just that huge somehow... Tik Tok teas indeed.

[bloody g 31,746]

3 minutes ago, Satans Ex Wife said:

Remember when Oppa Gangnam Style by Psy c0ckblocked all our faves from the #1 spot when it went viral? What a time to be alive

No because it peaked at #2

[Spock 20,290]

1 minute ago, Versace said:

Did you read the points I raised in my argument on why ME! did not flop by definition. The song is nowhere near what we'd call a failing song. I raised some really good factual points on why actually it could be classified as a hit, if you look at the points it generated during opening week and it breaking the vevo record. Success is subject but the standards some of you have on what success is, is really tough. As a Gaga fan I wish Perfect Illusion did what ME! did, we'd be calling it one of Gaga's biggest hits. 

ME! was a victim of circumstance in that if it had been released any other week, it would have been #1.

But as much as it pains me to say it, the song was extremely front loaded and once the promo stopped the song started free falling. So yeah it could have been #1 but it’s not a huge hit either 

[AMENiCURE 9,381]

3 minutes ago, Versace said:

Did you read the points I raised in my argument on why ME! did not flop by definition. The song is nowhere near what we'd call a failing song. I raised some really good factual points on why actually it could be classified as a hit, if you look at the points it generated during opening week and it breaking the vevo record. Success is subject but the standards some of you have on what success is, is really tough. As a Gaga fan I wish Perfect Illusion did what ME! did, we'd be calling it one of Gaga's biggest hits. 

it didn't "flop", but it only achieved so many points because of the hype she has had around her due to her previous success. it's similar to cttr. first few weeks were good and then

[darkchylde 14,857]

she has a major fanbase and a huge speaker, that's for sure, but the direction she's taking this time is... awful. i know the lead single is usually not an indication of the rest of the record but god, she's never put out something this cringey. and she put out we are never ever getting back together. so

[Economy 49,536]

I've said it countless times that how high a song peaks is not the best way to know how successful it was. There's a lot of variables at play

 

And even if we were going by peaks to measure success, most of the time over 400 points is enough for a #1. Old Town road is just huge right now and blocked it or else it would of been #1

 

This is another Bad Romance situation. Bad Romance was big and it should of been #1 but Tik Tok was just huge and also blocked it (biggest hit of 2010)

[JazzGa 14,620]

3 minutes ago, Bloody Grammys said:

No because it peaked at #2

What a strange talent, remembering the exact chart positions of viral pop hits from several years ago

[FlopSlurper 34,336]

2 minutes ago, Spock said:

ME! was a victim of circumstance in that if it had been released any other week, it would have been #1.

But as much as it pains me to say it, the song was extremely front loaded and once the promo stopped the song started free falling. So yeah it could have been #1 but it’s not a huge hit either 

"fRoNt LoADed"

literally the same argument every time a new Tay era starts. It can't be because people enjoy the song or because people genuinely support her or because she's just successful