I’m tired of Taylor Swift
April 18, 2016
Taylor Swift’s music may be absent from radio airwaves, but the mega star’s presence is still inescapable.
Taylor released her latest album, 1989, in 2014. Two years and six singles later, it was awarded “Album of the Year” at the 2016 Grammys ceremony. For many, this would have signaled the end of the album’s era. But for Taylor, that has not been the case.
Since her Feb. 15 Grammy win, Taylor has continued to push a seventh single from the album on the radio and released an accompanying music video on April 6. The singer also starred in a commercial advertising Apple’s streaming service that debuted on April 1.
Taylor was also recently announced as Vogue Magazine’s May 2016 cover star and she will co-chair the 2016 Met Gala with Vogue’s Anna Wintour.
In her Vogue cover story, published online April 14, she admits that she has no clue what to do following the worldwide success of her last album.
“I have no idea [what to do],” Taylor said. “This is the first time in 10 years that I haven’t known.”
When most artists would have taken a break from the spotlight, Taylor has refused to step back, much to the star’s own dismay.
Taylor’s 1989 era was exciting and well-received by the public, but people seem to be less interested in the artist than they once were.
Taylor Swift’s last two singles failed to perform as successfully as the first five chart-topping singles from the album. “Out of the Woods,” officially released as a single in late 2015, peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100, while its follow-up single, “New Romantics,” just peaked at No. 61.
1989 was an entertaining moment in pop culture, but it brought Taylor a level of media attention that could almost feel suffocating at times. I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say we could all benefit from a break from Taylor Swift’s overexposure.
Obviously, Taylor Swift is not the first artist to reach this level of fame. But for the sake of maintaining her status as one of music’s most popular artists, she could benefit from looking back at the careers of pop superstars who preceded her.
Lady Gaga, for example, achieved super stardom in 2009 with the release of her second album, The Fame Monster. From sold-out shows to TV appearances and high-profile fashion campaigns, Gaga was the center of all media attention.
However, when the album’s supporting “Monster Ball” tour wrapped up in early 2011, Gaga was quick to release her follow-up LP, Born This Way, that same year. Rather than following in The Fame Monster’s long-term success, Born This Way nosedived within months of its release.
Adele, on the other hand, followed up the massive success of her 2011 album, 21, by taking a long break from publicity. After winning “Album of the Year” at the 2012 Grammys, Adele retreated back into her personal life, making little-to-no public appearances as a celebrity until releasing her follow-up, 25, four years later in 2015. Rather than tanking, the album set numerous worldwide records for its success.
While Taylor Swift may not know what to do now that 1989‘s era is over, I recommend she take a long break in hiding before coming back for more world domination.