Taylor Swift Delivers a Thank You Message
Taylor Swift came by the office this week and thanked us -- my co-workers and me -- for our support of her here at CMT.com. I know you think that because I work at CMT.com, I get to rub elbows with a lot of stars. Not really. As my co-worker remarked, "I think that's the second time in 11 years we had an artist come thank us in person."
Later, I kept thinking of the scene in Coal Miner's Daughter where Loretta Lynn drove up to the radio station, went in with her record and asked them to play it. I think it might be easy to dismiss Taylor's meteoric rise to the megawatt power of the Internet. But thinking back on the movie, I see similarities between these two women.
On receiving an award at the CMT Music Awards for "Picture to Burn," Taylor noted that she had written the song at 13. Loretta was writing songs as a teenager as well. I think they both genuinely loved country music even as kids and wrote about what they were experiencing and feeling -- especially as women. Their lyrics may, at one glance, seem "simple." But I think listeners hear the emotion in the words. Some of the most beautiful folk music is simple. When it comes from the heart, I think people respond.
And they both strike me as pretty genuine in what they say and do. "Unaffected," my mother would say.
Whether it's by driving up to radio stations without an invitation or putting your profile up on MySpace, sometimes someone just connects with the audience, and the audience deems them as real and valuable.
My mother used to always tell me to send thank you notes, because it really does make a difference to the person who receives it. She was right.
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Lisia says:
ur nice
Kimmie says:
that was so sweet!!
xoxo
kimmie
Brianna says:
that was so nice of Taylor!
Andrea says:
dude why do u think she does this? she isnt stupid and neither is her people. She wants to make sure she is played non stop on cmt. That is why she does this.
I’ll take carrie, martina, and the great ones over her anyday. She should stay over at mtv where she belongs.
bkb says:
I agree Andrea. She can’t sing but her people have always known what to do with her concerning her teeny career. It’s all about pushing her in the public eye so people will over look her abilty to even carry a tune.
Buford says:
Don’t even mention Taylor Swift in the same breath as Loretta Lynn.
Lucas says:
I’m a Taylor Swift fan, but I don’t see a connection to Loretta Lynn.
Loretta grew up poor and Taylor grew up in a suburb of Philly. From what I’ve been told, her dad has a boat that could buy my house more than ten times over. Their songs come from completely different backgrounds.
I think she’s great and more than hope she continues to be successful. They both are genuine in what they do, but what they do is different. Comparing Loretta and Taylor is like comparing Dolly Parton and Steven Tyler, I just can’t draw the similarities.
patricia says:
Can you say…PHOTO OP…?
Come on guys, how completely stupid/naive do you think we are?
It is bad enough that you have chosen to turn this blog into a Taylor teeny bopper blog, but now you insult my intelligence. Please quit telling me how sweet she is !!!! THAT IS NOT THE SAME AS TALENT !! That is simply a great marketing department. I think what is so irritating about the whole thing is that there are some really talented people that do not get the time of day because you guys are all blinded by marketing genius.
Where is Chet Flippo when we need him ?
bkb says:
yes chet where are you on this taylor thing? It seems to me that you are quick to criticize talented artists and let this teeny bopper slid by.
hotelmotel says:
I have nothing against Taylor Swift. She isn’t my cup of tea but she is a good songwriter (especially considering her young age,) and she knows how to make music her intended audience will like. (Of course, thats not to say that they should like such music, but that’s another issue).
I don’t mean to disparage Swift in any way, but I do agree with the posts that suggest this is mere marketing. Virtually every country singer has a public relations staff that is willing to tell anyone who will listen just how sincere that singer is and how his/her songs come from his or her life experience.
We’ve heard this so many times that its hard not to be a bit jaded. And while I expect that kind of nonsense from PR people, I hope that the CMT blog would try to avoid repeating such stuff and perhaps provide more independent and more thought provoking analysis.
Finally, yes, Taylor Swift is a “teeny bopper.” But she is a cut or two above the typical teeny bopper, at least in terms of songwriting.
Best Friends Here Talkin To You (Whatcha Up To) says:
HEllo bff here wuz up
Lucas says:
You wouldn’t hear any singer without marketing, it’s just the nature of the game.
Is it hard to believe her songs come from life experience? I don’t believe so.
shelby says:
hey what have you been up to you have in spire me to start writeing my music on paper i like your song picture to burn it help me i was going throw a brake up when i hear it the frist time
Stephanie says:
You guys ar eso imature! If you dont like Taylor then don’t like her but keep your mouths shut!
She is amazing! She’s talented and she is not some stupid MTV QUEEN! All right! She deserves all the attention that is giving to her here!
And even if it was just for maketing, at least she took time to do it! And By the way, it’s not one thing that will get her longer on ctm! It’s her talent. Because if what she did would have really changed something, than others would have think of it before!
Grow up! And if you don’t like her, don’t bother us with your bad comments. She deserve everthing! She’s talented, she worked and more: She is passionnate! And I really think this girl will go real far!
Go Taylor!
Ignore them!
Stephanie! :)
Have a nice day everyone!
canehiller says:
Well if you can’t compare her with Loretta then who can you compare her with? No one really~That is the reason she is an original. I could see moments of Kitty Wells and monents of Ted Nugent but mostly moments of Taylor. She is funny and cool and will be known by first name only soon. All stratastars have their critics and by all means we all have our opinion. The way I judge an artist is by their songwriting abilities…we all know Taylors…I heard Underwood actually picked up a pen and wrote a title for a song. Country music needs the real thing and Taylor Swift has it~Plain and simple! Michael
jonathan todd says:
Hey, taylor jonathan todd i hope you see some message of mine because i would love to contact you i think that you are very pretty. Hopefully one day i will meet you backstage. I want to be on your friends list on myspace but i do not know how. I think that you are the best singer in the world. And the most prettiest girl in the world. I listen to your cd every day. If you can, can you email me back. You and your singing makes your music perfect. I love you taylor swift! I hope you win the cmt awards i will be voteing for you. Well i love you taylor!
P.S. Jonathan Todd good luck!