Semester in Review

Written Analysis- 5

Due March 26, 2016

            Over the past 6 weeks, I reviewed the life and talents of Taylor Swift. Looking back over the course of the semester, I have noticed that she most represents the theories of an icon, myth, stereotype, and formula. Taylor Swift is a true icon. She has proven this time and time again with her many awards throughout the years. Many females look up to her throughout the world and I feel this has a lot to do with how her fans relate to her song lyrics. Taylor Swift’s many song lyrics are myths of romance and hope. They are typically stories about her life that has already happened or what she wishes for her future. Her numerous break-up and perfect relationship lyrics are examples of myths of romance and hope. Though many find these lyrics to be relatable, others find them stereotypical. Singing of a break-up or a “perfect” guy that usually does not exist seems typical of a love song and typical of a female to be singing, and Taylor Swift has been put into that stereotype. She seems to break away from those stereotypes, however, by giving her break-up songs (and some love songs) an upbeat melody with a hint of sarcasm. Lastly, the formula that Taylor Swift uses is in the way she writes her songs. Her lyrics have a formula that is they tell a story about different points in her life. Also, the arrangements of her songs have a formula that is typical of what we see in pop songs today, A/A/B/A. This formula seems to be a winning combination for her as she just won a Grammy this year for album of the year.

            What I found most interesting in doing these assignments is the formula analysis. I had no idea that a formula actually existed in constructing a song. I thought that artists just sat down and wrote it, then put music to it. To learn that there is actually a formula and that over time it has been adjusted to mold with the culture was amazing. It makes sense that a formula like this would need adjusted to help keep music new and interesting, that is why music has changed so much over the years; it is just an adjustment and not a 100 percent overhaul because I feel that the original would still be needed as a reference.

            I picked Taylor Swift as my popular culture topic because just a few days before she had just won her Grammy and I had just heard her song on the radio. I was not a huge fan of hers but I would not change the station if her song came on. Now, on the other hand, when I hear her songs I will more than likely try to analyze them. When I hear stories about her on the news or Internet I will think twice before 100 percent believing it because it could be people stereotyping her. I will finally start to recognize her as a popular culture icon instead of just another celebrity because she deserves it.

Formulas in Songwritting

Written Analysis- 4
Due: March 20, 2016

            Just like with movies and television shows, songs have formulas to them as well. Taylor Swift has been quoted in an interview with NBC’s Today Show as saying “I think I’ve always had this basic formula that if I continue to write songs about my life any my life is always changing then my music will always be changing” (Digital Spy, 2010). Her music has definitely changed over the years, from country to pop, but the meanings behind her songs have stayed the same.

            Taylor’s equation seems to be the same each time she writes songs for her albums. She writes about her past experiences with friends, haters, and relationships. Adding lyrics about problems with love and problems keeping or finding love everyone can relate to seems to be hit makers. Forming a bond with your fans by relating to them and touching their lives with lyrics can be a formula for a hit song by itself. Attach a catchy phrase and beat sums up her song formula. Taylor inserts catchy lyrics such as, “Shake it off” and “We are never, ever, ever, getting back together” to make her songs fun to sing along to and easy to get embedded into our brains (Metrolytics, 2016). Combine that with a catchy beat or melody and you can “Name that Tune” to any one of her songs.

            Taylor Swift, like most pop singers follow the A/A/B/A structure of a song- the A’s are the verses and the B is the bridge (Song Secrets, 2008).  Her songs begin with an introduction that flow into the verse. Her verses tell a story broken up into small sections separated by a lift and chorus. The lift help make the song more exciting because it “lifts the song into the chorus section” (Song Secrets, 2008). In her song “We Are Never Getting Back Together” the lift is “Oh we called it off again last night, but oh, this time I’m telling you, I’m telling you” (Metrolyrics, 2016). That is not part of the chorus, because it has different chords than the chorus, so this is called the pre-chorus. Her chorus states the title of the song, which most songs typically do, and contains the catchiest part of the song as described above. This sung over and over again throughout the song helps people remember the song. Her songs then move into the bridge which also known as a break and typically the beat or melody is changed up a bit. The bridge can contain lyrics but they are lyrics that do not state the song title or this can be an instrumental solo. In the same song, the bridge is:

“I used to think that we were forever ever, ever and I used to say, never say never.
Huh, so he calls me up and he's like, I still love you, and I'm like I just I mean this is exhausting, you know. Like, we are never getting back together like, ever” (Metrolyrics, 2016).

Her songs then end with a big finish. She usually gets really into her singing at the ends of her songs or emotional. I believe this to be her formula for her songs and I feel that it is working. She has multiple albums that have gone platinum and gold, so she can prove that her formula works. If more singers and song writers would start taking notes on Taylor Swift’s songs, they may one day be able to hang with her.

References

Digital Spy. (2010, December 9). Taylor Swift has basic formula for songs. http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a292306/taylor-swift-has-basic-formula-for-songs/

Metrolyrics. (2016, March 16). Taylor Swift lyrics. http://www.metrolyrics.com/we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-lyrics-taylor-swift.html

Song Secrets. (2008, July 18). Hit song parts and selections. http://song-secrets.com/songparts.html

The Cult of the Celebrity

Written Analysis - 3
Due March 13, 2016

           I would not go as far as to call Taylor Swift a hero, but I would definitely classify her in the cult of the celebrity category. The cult of the celebrity is a kind of fanatic that obsesses over a celebrity and makes them more famous than they would be without these fanatics.

Taylor Swift has many followers and fans and some may say that is the reason that she has become so famous. According to Renu Rangela, the author of Taylor Swift: A Case of Celebrity Worship Syndrome, psychologists have defined Taylor Swift’s great success as “celebrity worship syndrome” (2016). This syndrome implies that Taylor Swift’s success is mostly because of her cult following and her fans giving her such a high status, a kind of idolization.

Looking at this a different way, Taylor Swift has a group of girlfriends that she refers to as her “squad.” This group of models, singers and actresses, are all famous female celebrities that have become “besties” with Taylor Swift. They decided to call themselves a “squad.” Some have started to believe that this “squad” has become like a celebrity cult with Taylor Swift as their leader.  According to an article in the New York Post, to be a part of this “squad” there are rules. Speak when spoken to, follow the dress code for parties and concerts, and stick up for Taylor Swift at all times (Putnam, 2015).

I realize that some of the things people say in the media are not always trustworthy, but I would have to say, the “squad” seems a little intense. I remember when this was big in the media and people were starting to create their own “squads” and post pictures of them on social media. I would think- here we go again, another celebrity gaining more popularity and fame for a silly reason. To me that is the idea of the cult of the celebrity- doing nothing and gaining in return.

References

Putnam, L. (2015, September 1). Taylor Swift’s ‘squad’ has become a cult. New York Post online. http://nypost.com/2015/09/01/taylor-swifts-squad-has-become-a-cult/

Rangela, R. (2016, February 18). Taylor Swift: a case of celebrity worship syndrome. Healthaim. http://www.healthaim.com/taylor-swift-case-celebrity-worship-syndrome/41082

Stereotyping

Popular Culture- Written Analysis 2
Due: March 6, 2016

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a stereotype is “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing” (Stereotype, 2016). A stereotype can be positive or negative, but typically they are negative and can be hurtful. We hear stereotyping occurring every day and may not even realize it.

            Taylor Swift is a current pop star with numerous songs playing on the radio today. An hour does not go by that we do not hear a Taylor Swift song. Some find that her lyrics are very stereotypical of a young woman. She sings about people breaking up, how they deal with those break ups, and how they move on. What some people may not realize is that she is singing about her own relationships and lack thereof.

            Another thing that most people do not realize about her music is that she sings about specific past boyfriends while being strategic to not mention their names. She sings about small details in their relationships that only the two of them would know. To her this is a sort of therapy.

            Swift used to be a country singer, which I feel has helped in her writing skills. However, this too could have given her a stereotype in and of itself. There are those that say country music is all about beer, trucks, dogs, and girls. Granted, Taylor has sung about none of those, I feel that the women of country music have influenced her to sing about relationships. She has since transitioned to country-pop music and finally to pure pop beginning in 2015. With this change, some critics have backed off since her sound lost that country twang.

            I feel that the change in genres helped Taylor Swift gain popularity and notoriety with other artists and critics. Artists are lining up to work with her. Even though she is still singing about relationships and break-ups, she still has massive followers, so she must be doing something right. Sure these stereotypes are negative, but in my opinion, these are just haters talking.

             

References

Stereotype. (2016, March 1). Oxford Dictionaries. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/stereotype