Category: Features

The Silence Breaks Again: Taylor gets political

On By The EditorIn Commentary, Editorial, Exclusive, Taylor Swift

Today is never too late to be brand new, Taylor Nation.

Where do we begin here… It’s 2018 and Taylor Swift just got political on instagram. The Blonde With The Sparkly Guitar decided to finally talk about the issues that matter most to her, because although she states that she might not agree with everything any of the candidates stand for, she can’t vote for the candidate that is opposed to her own personal values. Although I stated that we’d only get political once, Taylor has put the subject on the table again. This is happening.

This is going to be a good thing and a bad thing. She’s going to be criticized for being silent for so many years, although she has already been vocal about a few of these issues. I expect there will be a lot of vitriol sent her way so I am glad that the US Leg of the reputation Tour is over. That timing can’t be accidental. I know she’ll get criticized for that too, but I’m actually thankful for it. So, what did she say that was so terrible again?

View this post on Instagram

I’m writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I’ll be voting in the state of Tennessee. In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now. I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting! 🗳😃🌈

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on

In a single post, Taylor stated her support for women in office (just not this woman in particular), her belief that systemic racism exist, her support for LGBTQ rights and the fact that discrimination against sexual orientation is wrong. Please note that although she opposes the Republican candidate, her endorsement for the Democratic one was not fully sparkling. “For a lot of us,” she writes. “We may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway.”

That is the sentiment that I think I share most of all. Even here in Canada, I don’t always find the best candidate to vote for and often have to align with the one that at least doesn’t outright wants to deny rights to people because they come from another country, belong to a different race, have a different belief system or love who they want to love. The day will come where these subjects will be universally accepted and not issues for political divisiveness, but before than can happen we will have to have days like these.

Taylor spoke her mind about something she believed in, and it is a political topic because of her own values. Values that I admire as well and I don’t really consider part of politics until someone decides that they’re going to oppose them for some reason. It’s not much of a choice for me then. I can’t vote against myself. Fortunately we do get more than one party, but even then sometimes all their candidates are weak and you still have to vote for the one that will not make you live like a second class citizen.

She’ll get a lot of flak for this. I can imagine people unfollowing her and burning CDs or whatever. At least we can bury all the crazy theories about nazis now. Don’t get me started on why we have to worry about nazis in this day and age.

The Sparkly Dressed is up for Artist of the Year, Tour of the Year, Favorite Female Artist Pop/Rock and Favorite Album Pop/Rock for the American Music Awards. The show is live on ABC on Tuesday, October 9th. The most important thing you need to know is that she is attending and performing as the opening act. She’s actually supposed to unveil a live performance of “I Did Something Bad” which is a song I’d really like mainstream to get stuck in their heads just so they know Taylor can still make bops.

The Enchantress is also up for three People’s Choice Awards with Female Artist of the Year, Concert Tour of the Year and Social Celebrity of the Year. The show airs Sunday, November 11th.

Coming up next in the Calendar:

  • October 9: The American Music Awards live on ABC. Taylor Swift is nominated for Artist of the Year, Tour of the Year, Favorite Female Artist Pop/Rock and Favorite Album Pop/Rock.
  • October 19: Optus Stadium. Perth, Australia.
  • October 26: Etihad Stadium. Melbourne, Australia.

(Sources: Instagram. Featured photo credit: Taylor Swift via Instagram)

Taylor Swift and Big Machine: The contract ends this November

On By The EditorIn Commentary, Taylor Swift

It’s been thirteen years, Taylor Nation.

three-days-at-the-piano

Thirteen years ago, Big Machine Records was just starting when it signed on a very young fifteen year old country singer named Taylor Swift. The Sparkly Dressed is now 28 years old and the contract between her and the little label that could is up this November. Taylor Swift will become what is known as a free agent.

This means she will be able to choose between signing up again with Big Machine, signing up with a new label or go at it alone. She could make history and not sign with anybody or create her own label. I’ve learn that second-guessing the Blonde With The Sparkly Guitar Which Must Be Back There Somewhere is an exercise in futility: she will often do what nobody expects.

Variety puts it in more business-oriented terms. The Enchantress could choose to do her own label work, or just pick a new label but choose whether to stay within the Universal Music Group umbrella. Although we can expect Scott Borchetta to make a huge offer to the Forever and Always Fearless One, so will everyone else. However, Scott has some huge aces up his sleeve: Big Machine holds the masters – the original recordings of all of Taylor’s back catalogs. Offering her ownership of those could get Taylor to sign with Big Machine again.

According to Billboard, Scott Borchetta was considering the idea of selling the label as recently as 2015. The label price offers could drop significantly if he relinquishes the masters of Taylor’s old music. Big Machine can stream Taylor’s music online but other possibilities require she signs on their usage because she’s the actual songwriter. She does retain some control but as all singer/songwriters, it’s a sure bet that Taylor would prefer to own the masters herself.

Both Variety and Billboard cite sources that say heavy negotiation has taken place but no deal has been struck yet. In the end, nobody knows until things become public. I’m dying to know, is it killing you like it’s killing me?

Taylor Swift is playing Ford Field in Detroit, MI tonight, August 28.

Coming up next in the Calendar:

  • August 28: Ford Field. Detroit, MI.
  • August 31: U.S. Bank Stadium. Minneapolis, MN.
  • September 1: U.S. Bank Stadium. Minneapolis, MN.
  • September 8: Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City, MO.
  • September 15: Lucas Oil Stadium. Indianapolis, IN.

(Sources: Twitter, Instagram, Variety and Billboard)

Review Corner: Liz Huett’s Responsible

On By The EditorIn Elizabeth Huett, Review Corner

Sometimes it hurts living so rock n’roll, Lizettes and Lizards.

liz-huett-responsible
(Source: iTunes)

The beautiful and talented Liz Huett has brought us another tale of woe and an amazing song with her new song “Responsible“. It’s very close to the lyrical female equivalent to Tom Petty’s “Rebel Without A Clue” with a dash of “Free Fallin'”. Liz song choices may not be specifically country, but they are all tales – funny, sarcastic and full of satire and wit. It’s no wonder that I end up comparing her style to Petty, because that’s how most of his songs went.

“This is looking like a shit show,” sings Liz. She’s not apologizing or making excuses but she does give out one disclaimer: “In my defense it all looked so glamorous last night.” Guess that might sound like an excuse, but it’s so poor and ill-conceived that it just seems to doom the poor girl in the song even further.

I lost it at the “Where is my purse?” line and fell down laughing. That’s a whole night of bad decisions revealed in one question. Even when our would-be-responsible heroine seems to have a saviour by the name of Amy, she sinks herself further: “She’d probably come and get me, but I don’t know the address.”

With the song starting all about Bourbon and eyelashes, one could make the easy reference to early Kesha’s “Tik Tok” and a trainwreck-like persona. I may be biased but I don’t think that’s what Liz is going for. Instead, I’m noticing a whole brand of personas she’s been adopting. They’re all part of the modern day fairytale american girl: dangerous, carefree, jealous, passionate, spiteful, hopeful, careless… and certainly not responsible.

I think what we’re getting on each new track is a new aspect or personality of real young women. Imperfect, flawed, biased and with an agenda. Rather than a stereotype you could easily fit inside a box, each new character embodied by Liz has its charm and a personality full of quirks that gives them depth. It’s almost like Liz is taking on every girl role that has never been given its time in the spotlight.

The result is an anthem to young wild heart of a girl making huge mistakes all over the place. I don’t know who the person in her phone is, but I really hope she finds her purse.

Sooo Liz… Can we get an album yet?

Coming up next in the Calendar:

  • July 7: Ohio Stadium. Columbus, OH.
  • July 10 & 11: FedExField. Washington, DC.
  • July 13 & 14: Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia, PA.
  • July 17: FirstEnergy Stadium. Cleveland, OH.
  • July 20, 21 & 22: MetLife Stadium. East Rutherford, NJ.
  • July 26, 27 & 28: Gillette Stadium. Foxborough, MA.

(Sources: iTunes, lizhuett.com)

The rep tour Chicago: A moment of Pride

On By The EditorIn Commentary, Concert, Taylor Swift, The Reputation Stadium Tour, Video

Love who you love, Taylor Nation.

The Sparkly Dressed had so many amazing moments performing at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on Friday June 1st and Saturday June 2nd. Her surprise songs for each night were the classic “Our Song” and the party anthem “22”. She took a moment before her performance of “Delicate” for an intro and a dedication for Pride month.

It’s very brave to be vulnerable about your feelings in any sense, in any situation, but it’s even more brave to be honest about your feelings and who you love when you know that that might be met with adversity from society.

So this month and every month I want to send out my love and respect to everybody who has been brave enough to honest about the way they feel, to live their lives as they are, as they feel they should be, as they identify.

This is a month where I think we need to celebrate how far we’ve come. We also need to acknowledge how far we still have left to go. I want to send my love and respect out to everybody who in their journey, in their life, hasn’t yet felt comfortable enough to come out and may you do that in your own time. May we end up in a world where everyone can live and love equally and no one has to be afraid to be vulnerable and say how they feel.

When it comes to feelings and when it comes to love and searching for someone to spend your whole life with it’s all just really… really delicate, you know?

Taylor Swift at Soldier Field, Chicago IL
June 2nd, 2018

A little shoutout to music maestro David Cook. Yes, she near made me cry too. The Enchantress is often criticized for not speaking her mind (but curiously she’s also criticized for standing up for herself which I could write a book about). I am glad she put her thoughts into words for the world to quote.

I heard it rained during Long Live and New Year’s Day. Somehow that makes me very happy. Chicago was a wish that I had to skip over because sometimes I have to be an adult and prioritize other things in life, but I’d like to think I was there in spirit. Perhaps I’ll get to make another wish down the line, but if not I’d like to think it came true for someone else.

Coming up next in the Calendar!

  • June 1& 2: Soldier Field. Chicago, IL.
  • June 8: Etihad Stadium. Manchester, United Kingdom
  • June 15: Croke Park. Dublin, Ireland.
  • June 22: Wembley Stadium. London, United Kingdom.
  • June 30: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville, KY.

(Sources: @TaylorNation13, @TSwiftNZ, @TSwiftLA and @LaineyC94 via Twitter. Feature Photo: John Shearer for Getty Images)

The rep tour in Denver, CO! A Commentary on the Rule.

On By The EditorIn Commentary, Concert, Taylor Swift, The Reputation Stadium Tour1 Comment

She’s really bringing it on, Taylor Nation.

Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who really thinks this adulting thing is overhyped, we’re glad to hear stories about all the fans who have met the Blonde With The Green Gui- Wait, the guitar is green now? Guess some things will change. Don’t worry, I’m sure the Sparkly Guitar is around somewhere.

The Sparkly Dressed took the stage at Sports Authority Field at Mile High to a roaring 58,000 voices for her first stadium show in Denver, Colorado on May 25th. The secret/surprise song was “Teardrops On My Guitar” which probably had the old school fans (that sorta includes me) shedding some tears of their own. Also, Camila is back on the rep tour and joining Taylor and Charli XCX for the “Shake It Off” performance.

Anyhow, I’d like to talk about the meeting Taylor thing. I know this will be the ultimate goal of every Taylor fan. I know that’s what most of you want. And I know that I can’t really tell you to chill about it since I myself are now in that short list of people who have met the Songstress. That being said, meeting T-Swizzle is a one in a million chance, even with concert tickets and the most imaginative costume you can imagine.

Even in the early days, everyone wanted a chance to meet the Enchantress. Back when she would do local county fairs, she would stay behind and meet everyone she could. This was probably annoying to the roadies that were trying to pack up. Once she hit headliner status, The Fearless Tour had the regular Meets & Greets before the show and a new backstage area called the T-Room. Taylor has tried to devise new ways to meeting you and being close to you (case and point, she has ridden all sorts of contraptions to be close to the crowd) but it’s literally an impossible battle. She has way too many fans.

And so, came The Rule To Rule Them All. It’s not a registry, it’s not a law, it’s just a question that you will get asked if you are a nominee for meeting Taylor: Have you met Taylor before? If you ever get asked this question, there’s a good chance you’re going to scream your head off. The idea of The Rule is simple: if you have met Taylor before, please be truthful so we can give the chance to other people.

It’s obviously not an airtight rule nor is it perfect even when it works. There’s cases of very young fans that met Taylor when they were battling a crippling disease. Some of them have come out the other side and survived. They should really have a chance to meet her again. But it’s really hard to make a system when the proportion of fans to one Taylor Swift is of 85 millions (last follower count on Twitter) to one (lemme check again… Yep only one Taylor). It’s an uphill battle as more and more join the ranks every day. Personally, I cut them some slack. Just the fact that they put up with us is a lot already.

Still, I admire the fans that go the distance to have a particular fan meet T. Let me be clear, meeting Taylor is not a commodity for sale – it’s a coincidence. I don’t believe meeting an artist is something you earn, but I get the fandom’s perception of merit. It does warm my heart to see a fan truly emotionally stirred knowing they are going to meet their favorite stars. By the same token, I do understand the heartbreak when they miss the opportunity. Fairness, however, is not in the picture. Opportunity, hopefully, is. May the odds be forever in your favor.

  • May 27: Taylor headlines BBC Music’s Biggest Weekend in Swansea, Wales.
  • June 1& 2: Soldier Field. Chicago, IL.
  • June 8: Etihad Stadium. Manchester, United Kingdom
  • June 15: Croke Park. Dublin, Ireland.
  • June 22: Wembley Stadium. London, United Kingdom.
  • June 30: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Louisville, KY.

(Sources: Taylor Swift via Instagram. Featured Image: Taylor Nation via Twitter)