Taylor Swift - Would we have even heard of her if she existed in the 70's?

[DrH. Lecter]

Taylor Swift - Would we have ever heard of her in the 70's? I use "The 70's" as a catch-all because it is universally considered the Golden Era of music.

I suggest that if she had been around in that period she would be irrelevant. A singer who would perform in Nashville, in honkey-tonks and clubs. I assert that she has landed in her Unicorn zone where there are no real music industry, bands, hip-hop or entertainers to compete with her for space.

I'm not a 15yo girl so I really do not understand her appeal. She is not that cute either. I do respect that she can play the guitar and writes her own song. At least that is what I am told.

So again, in an Era with the greatest bands of all time dominating the landscape....would we even know she existed?

Go!

 

[Creed Bratton]

Taylor Swift - Would we have ever heard of her in the 70's? I use "The 70's" as a catch-all because it is universally considered the Golden Era of music.

I suggest that if she had been around in that period she would be irrelevant. A singer who would perform in Nashville, in honkey-tonks and clubs. I assert that she has landed in her Unicorn zone where there are no real music industry, bands, hip-hop or entertainers to compete with her for space.

I'm not a 15yo girl so I really do not understand her appeal. She is not that cute either. I do respect that she can play the guitar and writes her own song. At least that is what I am told.

So again, in an Era with the greatest bands of all time dominating the landscape....would we even know she existed?

Go!

Honestly you could say that about a lot of entertainers like Luke Bryan, Morgan Wallen or Florida Georgia Line.

 

[ryanbruner]

lol yes obviously you would have heard of her.

 

[WayneDougan]

Stupid question. Swift is a talented song writer. We knew who Joni Mitchell, Carley Simon and Carol King were back in the 60's and 70's. Why wouldn't we know of Swift?

 

[ryanbruner]

Good lord it’s okay to say that she makes good music. I promise you it isn’t going to prevent you from being masculine. It doesn’t make you automatically gay to say she’s good at what she does. I will never understand why that chicks fame makes these old ass dudes so insecure.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Good lord it’s okay to say that she makes good music. I promise you it isn’t going to prevent you from being masculine. It doesn’t make you automatically gay to say she’s good at what she does. I will never understand why that chicks fame makes these old ass dudes so insecure.

Bless your heart. A Swifty. Her music is not good so why would I say it is?

 

[ryanbruner]

Bless your heart. A Swifty. Her music is not good so why would I say it is?

Her music is fine. I’m a grown man. I’d presume you’re a grown man? It’s not meant for you lmfao. Just like Carol Kings music isn’t meant for a 6 year old boy. Brother I promise you…you won’t catch the gay gene by just admitting these things. You’ll be fine.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Stupid question. Swift is a talented song writer. We knew who Joni Mitchell, Carley Simon and Carol King were back in the 60's and 70's. Why wouldn't we know of Swift?

Great point. I always think of those 3 in conversations about Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, The Stones, Queen.....

 

[WayneDougan]

Great point. I always think of those 3 in conversations about Led Zepplin, Black Sabbath, The Beatles, The Stones, Queen.....

Black Sabbath sold 75M albums
The Carpenters sold 100M albums

Your ask was would anyone have heard of T Swift in the 70's. The stats above would show that yes, they would.

But now I can see you're just being obnoxious.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Her music is fine. I’m a grown man. I’d presume you’re a grown man? It’s not meant for you lmfao. Just like Carol Kings music isn’t meant for a 6 year old boy. Brother I promise you…you won’t catch the gay gene by just admitting these things. You’ll be fine.

Yawn. I am not sure about your fascination with a gay gene. I'd be more worried about catching a 14yo girl gene because that seems to be her audience.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Ozzie Osborn/Black Sabbath sold 125M albums
The Carpenters sold 100M albums

Your ask was would anyone have heard of T Swift in the 70's. The stats above would show that yes, they would.

But now I can see you're just being obnoxious.

FIFY

Just because she has sold 114mil albums in this music environment doest translate into numbers sold by that earlier era with amazing competition. Who is her competition today? She exists in her best possible era. A dead zone.

 

[cole854]

Swift is a talented song writer. We knew who Joni Mitchell, Carley Simon and Carol King were back in the 60's and 70's. Why wouldn't we know of Swift?

No, she isn't, unless you just base it on simplicity. She is not in the same conversation as the 3 others you mentioned.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

No, she isn't, unless you just base it on simplicity. She is not in the same conversation as the 3 others you mentioned.

Simplicity? She uses at least 3 chords, sometimes 4. Come on man. I wish I liked her because I play the guitar and with her you only have to know C-G-Am-F. Damn F barre chord.

 

[DoubleSecretProbation]

But what if she supported Trump? Then she’d be amazing right?

 

[Col. Angus]

I just wanna see her naked to finally determine if I like her or not. Hard to tell with all those clothes.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I'll give her credit for business acumen , hard work doing concerts and philanthropy. Other than that, I don't know any songs she does. Im obviously not in her target market.

 

[WayneDougan]

No, she isn't, unless you just base it on simplicity. She is not in the same conversation as the 3 others you mentioned.

Why are you the way that you are?

 

[Creed Bratton]

But what if she supported Trump? Then she’d be amazing right?

Trump is even making singers great again. 🤣

 

[It'saDoneDeal]

Why are you the way that you are?

He walks a lonely road. It's the only road he has ever known. He doesn't know where it goes, but it's home, and he walks alone.

 

[ryanbruner]

75 year old man who can’t get his dick up wonders why he doesn’t understand the swifty hype 😂

Dawg you’ve got more pressing issues to worry about.

“Guys I don’t understand this Luka Doncic hype. Clearly he’s not as good as Philadelphia Warriors legend Joe Fulks”

 

[cole854]

Why are you the way that you are?

Being right all the time has its benefits, but sucks at times. It's a gift and a curse.

 

[WayneDougan]

No, she isn't, unless you just base it on simplicity. She is not in the same conversation as the 3 others you mentioned.

Joni Mitchell is straight ass compared to Taylor Swift.

 

[Dncmaxwell]

So let me guess Dr Lector. You do not think she would have been heard of…

 

[HymanKaplan]

She wasn't going to beat Stevie Wonder out for any Grammy's, that's for sure. Just ask Paul Simon...

 

[Nightwish84]

You ask any musician from the 60s and 70s and they'll likely tell you Taylor Swift is talented. She's clearly doing something right and has a connection with her fans. So does Kiss, Iron Maiden, and Metallica. The 70s also catered to every genre. The Grease soundtrack is considered one of the best and most iconic soundtracks of all time and it's loaded with cornball pop songs. You're telling me that can make it but Taylor couldn't? C'mon. Pop ruled the 80s so she's definitely making it there too. And the 90s? Yep, that decade too. Female artists and front women like Alanis, Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill, Mazzy Star, Fiona Apple, The Cranberries, Garbage, Sheryl Crow and lots of others were all revered. As far as stadium tours go, that's not as rare as you think. Rammstein did a US stadium tour a couple years ago and they're a German industrial metal band who sings mostly in German.

Old guys...it's okay for young people to have success in music too.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American people.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

She wasn't going to beat Stevie Wonder out for any Grammy's, that's for sure. Just ask Paul Simon...

I saw Beyonce won a grammy for best country album.

That is half way to Waylon and Merle Haggard.

Whoever watches that needs a lobotomy.

 

[Nightwish84]

Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American people.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure TS has broken records and has had sell-outs around the world, including in Wembley. I can't name three of her songs but she's not a fad or only successful thanks to Americans. She's an icon at this point and will likely remain successful until she retires.

 

[CaptainBoogerBuns]

I saw Beyonce won a grammy for best country album.

 

[WayneDougan]

Folklore is a great album and isn’t bubblegum pop.

 

[HeismaNole]

I just wanna see her naked to finally determine if I like her or not. Hard to tell with all those clothes.

There are hostesses working at The Cheesecake Factory right now that are more attractive than Taylor Swift. 😆Chances are, if you guys were decent looking in college, you saw someone naked that is better looking than Taylor Swift.

 

[Col. Angus]

There are hostesses working at The Cheesecake Factory right now that are more attractive than Taylor Swift. 😆Chances are, if you guys were decent looking in college, you saw someone naked that is better looking than Taylor Swift.

I don’t think you understand. I don’t give a shit how she compares. I wanna see her singularly. I wanna see em all within fair reason. Probably like 60% or so.

 

[MegaBlue05]

Personally, I think her music sucks, but I am a metal head who dabbles heavily into punk and rap, so I am not one to judge others' tastes in a subjective art form. I am also not a teenage girl, so I know I am not the target demo.

I think Swift might've been known back then just for the writing. And let's not pretend 70s pop and disco weren't the drizzling shits. She could've fit in that realm just fine but might not've made it in country because her sound has always trended toward pop and country still sounded like country in the 70s.

She's universally praised for her writing. And I can at least respect that. Because has anyone ever looked at the writing credits on mainstream radio country albums? It's a bunch of pretty boys in silly hats singing other people's songs. I will always respect an artist who writes their own songs over glorified karaoke singers even if I don't like their music.

 

[gamecockcat]

Well, since the 1970s was pre-AutoTune, I'd say she may have made a name for herself by writing songs for someone else to perform. But, I don't think her voice is good enough to make it on its own. She possibly could have been fairly successful if she'd stayed in the country swimming lane back then but, in pop music? Nah, I don't think so.

TBF, there aren't many 'pop' (popular) artists today who would have been as big in the 70s, either. Not just TS. I mean Rihanna? Doesn't play an instrument and does not write any songs and does not have a distinctive or great voice. You're telling me she would have been noticed in the 70s just because some think she's pretty (I do not, by the way)? Many of the bro-country artists would have never gotten out of playing bars in Nashville, much less made any hit records.

The music industry is about marketing, not actually making music. An artist like Dylan or Tom Petty wouldn't get a contract nowadays as they couldn't market them to a small slice of the public and compel them to only write the same song over and over again for that audience. They're not pretty/handsome, have very quirky voices and would NEVER have continued to write the same type of derivative songs album after album. They wanted/needed to evolve, which the music business wants nothing to do with anymore.

TS is GREAT at marketing and I applaud her success. It's not strictly because of her musical talent that she's had this much success, though, imo. Let's not forget her parents/dad was in the music business and opened a lot of doors for her and made sure the record company pushed her forward. American Idol has proven that the industry can make someone famous and a lot of money in a short period of time if they choose to do so. TS was the exception in that she capitalized on the initial push and marketed herself to perfection to increase 1,000,000 fold the success and money that was engineered for her initially. Good for her!

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Personally, I think her music sucks, but I am a metal head who dabbles heavily into punk and rap, so I am not one to judge others' tastes in a subjective art form. I am also not a teenage girl, so I know I am not the target demo.

I think Swift might've been known back then just for the writing. And let's not pretend 70s pop and disco weren't the drizzling shits. She could've fit in that realm just fine but might not've made it in country because her sound has always trended toward pop and country still sounded like country in the 70s.

She's universally praised for her writing. And I can at least respect that. Because has anyone ever looked at the writing credits on mainstream radio country albums? It's a bunch of pretty boys in silly hats singing other people's songs. I will always respect an artist who writes their own songs over glorified karaoke singers even if I don't like their music.

Well put. She is said to be good at writing lyrics. But as I said earlier, her actual musical comp is very simple. 4 chord progressions and simple ones at that. I referenced above C-G-Am-F which is one she has used on at least 6 songs. Easy to play while singing. If you compare her writing to say Dark Side of the Moon. It's laughable. But to her credit she is quite a business person.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

Well, since the 1970s was pre-AutoTune, I'd say she may have made a name for herself by writing songs for someone else to perform. But, I don't think her voice is good enough to make it on its own. She possibly could have been fairly successful if she'd stayed in the country swimming lane back then but, in pop music? Nah, I don't think so.

TBF, there aren't many 'pop' (popular) artists today who would have been as big in the 70s, either. Not just TS. I mean Rihanna? Doesn't play an instrument and does not write any songs and does not have a distinctive or great voice. You're telling me she would have been noticed in the 70s just because some think she's pretty (I do not, by the way)? Many of the bro-country artists would have never gotten out of playing bars in Nashville, much less made any hit records.

The music industry is about marketing, not actually making music. An artist like Dylan or Tom Petty wouldn't get a contract nowadays as they couldn't market them to a small slice of the public and compel them to only write the same song over and over again for that audience. They're not pretty/handsome, have very quirky voices and would NEVER have continued to write the same type of derivative songs album after album. They wanted/needed to evolve, which the music business wants nothing to do with anymore.

TS is GREAT at marketing and I applaud her success. It's not strictly because of her musical talent that she's had this much success, though, imo. Let's not forget her parents/dad was in the music business and opened a lot of doors for her and made sure the record company pushed her forward. American Idol has proven that the industry can make someone famous and a lot of money in a short period of time if they choose to do so. TS was the exception in that she capitalized on the initial push and marketed herself to perfection to increase 1,000,000 fold the success and money that was engineered for her initially. Good for her!

As MTVs first ever video aired (The Buggles) Video Killed the Radio Star, it certainly did.

As did a thing called the internet and the ability to purchase one song rather than 12 on an album. The only way for the artist to monetize their craft is TOURING. Would Sting played with the Police? Why share the money 3 ways? Would Paul or John hooked up with the others? It is sad really. Females dominate the charts now and then they were hard to find outside a structure of a band, Debbie Harry, or the Wilson sisters.

Then came Madonna who I hold responsible for killing everything.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

Joni Mitchell is straight ass compared to Taylor Swift.

Dude…

 

[DrH. Lecter]

There are hostesses working at The Cheesecake Factory right now that are more attractive than Taylor Swift. 😆Chances are, if you guys were decent looking in college, you saw someone naked that is better looking than Taylor Swift.

TS is a 5. Without plastic parts maybe a 4.

 

[Jeff Drummond]

I don’t get Taylor Swift. I can only name one song she’s ever done, Shake It Off. I know that’s my own fault for not knowing others, but it seems like someone with such an immense financial empire right now should have at least a handful or two of songs I recognized without going out of my way to find them. Most other modern artists do. So I respect what she’s done — unprecedented in a lot of ways — but I have no idea how she’s done it.

 

[DrH. Lecter]

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure TS has broken records and has had sell-outs around the world, including in Wembley. I can't name three of her songs but she's not a fad or only successful thanks to Americans. She's an icon at this point and will likely remain successful until she retires.

There are a lot of teenage girls in the world. What/who is her competition?