Category: Features

Weekly News Update: A September cover. Sugarland’s upcoming single.

On By The EditorIn Taylor Swift, Weekly News UpdateLeave a comment

You can sing any song you want, Taylor Nation.

The Sparkly Dressed put out two acoustic performances on Spotify. One was her own song “Delicate” and the other was a cover of Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September”. By sheer coincidence I’ve been in a little of a disco/funk/classic r&b lately. “September” is at the top of my playlist. I’ll be honest here, I prefer the original version. I still appreciate that Taylor made her own cover of it, and even got some words of appreciation from one of the song’s writers.

“Taylor Swift is the absolute cherry on top of a very soulful and happy sundae,” commented Allee Willis in an interview for Billboard. Willis will be inducted in the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June.

The Blonde With The Sparkly 1989 Microphone (this nickname gets longer with every era…) has recently being stretching out her songwriting skills. She co-wrote a song with Pat Monahan from the group Train. The song “Babe” was picked up by recently reunited duo Sugarland for their new album Bigger. Taylor’s collaboration is not only as a songwriter. She also performs on the track. “Babe” comes out next week. You can read more about it on Rolling Stone.

Coming up on the Calendar!

  • May 8: Taylor Swift’s reputation Stadium Tour begins in Glendale, AZ.

(Sources: Spotify, Billboard, Rolling Stone)

Review Corner: Liz Huett Don’t LV U Anymore

On By The EditorIn Elizabeth Huett, Review Corner

But she doesn’t lv u any less, Lizettes and Lizard.

The beautiful and talented Liz Huett has a new single out. “Don’t LV U Anymore” is Liz’s second single of 2018. There’s a very quiet and minimalistic feeling to it, with Liz’s soothing voice dominating all throughout. Even when she whispers in the background, she seems to be pulling at the heartstrings.

liz-huett-dont-lv-u-anymore

The lyrics are about heartache, a soured relationship gone awry, but there’s a few lines that feel a little too close to real. “I don’t run to your friends to get them on my side when we fight anymore,” she sings. It’s less corny and more human as depictions of heartbreak stories go. The second verse even talks about playing songs for her ex, a personal note that speaks a lot about how close this song is to Liz.

The lyrical choices of all the singles she’s released are interesting. They’re setting an identity for herself as more of a songwriter/songstress of note. Pop singers are often trying to get that jingle radio-friendly song that makes you want to dance and sticks in your head. Liz seems to be going for more of what the song’s content is made of, both musically and lyrically. She’s taking a risk, she’s not pandering to any particular crowd, and I think she’s going for a more musically seasoned audience.

Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who’s seen a few musical seasons, we couldn’t love her anymore for it.

“Don’t LV U Anymore” is available on Apple Music and iTunes now.

Coming up on the Calendar!

  • May 8: Taylor Swift’s reputation Stadium Tour begins in Glendale, AZ.

(Sources: Liz Huett)

News Update: Taylor Swift donates to RAINN

On By The EditorIn Taylor Swift, Weekly News Update

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, Taylor Nation.

Yesterday, April 5th, was also RAINN Day and Taylor Swift made a generous donation to the organization. RAINN stands for Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (rainn.org).

RAINNDay
(Source: RAINN via Twitter)

Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who has been meaning to address the almost secretive/minimalistic way that Taylor generally chooses to do charity, we’ve been happy about the way that she’s been taking a stand on her own views. However, let’s make it clear that this subject is not a political stance. Sexual assault is a crime regardless of political party.

So why does she choose to make donations without the photo op? I have a theory here that Taylor is self aware of how much certain naysayers (I cringe at using the word haters sorry) disapprove (foam at the mouth) at her mere involvement. She would rather keep the spotlight on the issue instead and not steal it (which let’s face it tends to happen anytime her name is mentioned). Funny enough, hat- (ugh, I can’t) naysayers are the first in line to notice Taylor’s name in the news (yes, we saw her already, quiet down). Sorry for the parenthesis spam by the way (it’s a nervous habit – oh crap, I did it again).

This is not the first time that Taylor Swift has made a donation to the cause. Going back to the days after the infamous civil trial suit-countersuit, Taylor did pledged a donation to Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation shortly after the trial ended in August 2017 as reported by Huffington Post.

Coming up on the Calendar!

  • May 8: Taylor Swift’s reputation Stadium Tour begins in Glendale, AZ.

(Sources: RAINN via Twitter, People.com, Huffington Post)

This Just In: Taylor Swift performs at the Bluebird Cafe. For real.

On By The EditorIn Taylor Swift, Video, Weekly News Update1 Comment

Happy Easter and this is not an April Fool’s joke, Taylor Nation.

Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who had to check this several times just to make sure it wasn’t a prank, we’re sure that all the attendees were not expecting the Blonde With The Sparkly Snake Microphone to show up at the landmark venue in Nashville, Tennessee.

bluebird-cafe-craig-wiseman
(Photo: John Shearer/Getty Images)

It all went down last night, March 31st, at the Bluebird Cafe according to the Tennessean. With about 40 people in attendance, songwriter Craig Wiseman, known for penning songs for Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney, was the main feature. Well, until Taylor Swift’s unannounced (but planned) surprise appearance.

Taylor performed acoustic versions of “Shake It Off” and the song she penned for Little Big Town, “Better Man”. Yes, I know you want video clips. The only ones are these clips filmed from outside with a phone, so the video and sound are of the potato quality.

Watch on YouTube.

“When I would play writers nights … I didn’t have the experience of a writer writing something and then it going out into the world and you earing it from someone else’s perspective until recently,” Taylor said according to the Tennessean, referring to “Better Man.”  “Little Big Town gave me the opportunity to feel that way … to be at the Bluebird and play a song you’ve maybe heard on the radio.  I will always be forever grateful to them for that.”

Watch on YouTube

Wiseman recalled a particular CMT party in which he got her several shots of Fireball Whiskey. The Forever and Always Fearless One confessed she and Ed Sheeran stole Wiseman’s large inflatable Fireball bottle prop during said party. Wiseman then produced shot glasses and both songwriters downed Whisky shots.

Back when Taylor was just seventeen, she met Wiseman for a writing session in which she brought this song she was working on. Wiseman didn’t get it and passed on helping Taylor write the song, something he regrets to this day. The name of the song was “Love Story”. No, she didn’t perform it. That would’ve been too much salt in the wound.

The performance was being filmed for a documentary for Bluebird Cafe’s 35th anniversary. Don’t worry, I’m sure they used a better camera. You can read more on Taylor Swift’s appearance at the Tennessean.

On other news, there’s a new version of Delicate known as the vertical version on Spotify. Some fans, including myself, have not managed to see it except through video captures from other fans but it looks nice.

Coming up on the Calendar!

  • May 8: Taylor Swift’s reputation Stadium Tour begins in Glendale, AZ.

(Sources: Tennessean)

The Silence Breaks: Taylor Swift supports Hayley Kiyoko’s romantic narrative

On By The EditorIn Commentary, Rumor Control, Taylor Swift, Video

Okey, I might have seen silence quite this loud before, Taylor Nation.

Yes, it was very silent in my Spotify here in Canada as the vertical version of Delicate failed to play! Okey, no… That’s not what I’m on about. I better have a drink of water to wash away this salt. Give me a moment. Ok, I’m good.

Back on March 24th, Taylor broke her silence and made a statement and a donation in support of the March For Our Lives campaign. Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who was thinking what to rant about next, we were not expecting her to go on record and make a second political statement.

Well, sorta on record. It was Tumblr, but there’s little chance that fans were going to miss this one. Singer Hayley Kiyoko had made a statement in which she mentioned how execs gave her grief on casting women in romantic roles in her videos, when she made a comparison to Taylor Swift’s writing about men romantically.

For clarity, here’s Hayley Kiyoko’s full quote via Refinery29:

“I’ve had several music industry execs say ‘You’re doing another music video about girls?’ I literally looked at them and was like, um, yea…Taylor Swift sings about men in every single song and video, and no one complains that she’s unoriginal,” Kiyoko says. “I’m not over-sexualizing my music. I make out with women because I love women, not because I’m trying to be sexy. That’s not to turn heads — that’s my life.”

It doesn’t help that the quote that was picked by a lot of media hubs starts at the name drop and ends right at the “no one complains” while cutting the trailing “…that she’s unoriginal” and the follow up. It was just quoted out of context (I don’t think it was a coincidence and the whole deal seems meant to create clickbait news, but whatever).

Anyhow, some fans saw it as a start of feud and/or criticism. Some fans were quick to see the confusion and so did the Sparkly Dressed. T-Swizzle had the good mind to reply with a rebuttal herself. Taylor did her own rumor control this time.

http://taylorswift.tumblr.com/post/172426031730/did-you-see-what-hayley-kiyoko-said-about-taylor

This might seem redundant, but I’ll transcribe T’s quote here just in case that Tumblr link stops working:

“Exactly. We should applaud artists who are brave enough to tell their honest romantic narrative through their art, and the fact is that I’ve never encountered homophobia and she has. It’s her right to call out anyone who has double standards about gay vs straight love interest.”

Taylor Swift, via Tumblr

She’s supporting the right to make art out of the artist’s own experience, something she’s done herself and that was Hayley’s point. Hayley’s difference is her preference, so why should it be ok for Taylor and not Hayley? I think that is as clear as we can make it.

Now everyone knows Taylor has been silent about most issues (if you expect me to write “political” you’re forgetting almost everything has gone political now) which means that even a little mention on Tumblr is going to blow up. Hopefully for the better, but people will criticize the timing and try to overanalyze an angle where there is none to be found.

Update! Hayley Kiyoko’s reaction on Twitter.

On other news, there’s a new version of Delicate known as the vertical version on Spotify. Some fans, including myself, have not managed to see it except through video captures from other fans but it looks nice. Far more simple, although I suspect a camera crane is involved. Apparently you don’t need to have a premium account, but it doesn’t work on certain locations.

 

Coming up on the Calendar!

  • May 8: Taylor Swift’s reputation Stadium Tour begins in Glendale, AZ.

(Sources: Tumblr, Refinery29, Spotify)