Talent Show Turns Taylorswiftathon
I have two words for anyone who doubts the tight grip Taylor Swift has on the hearts of middle America: county fair.
I was at one this weekend, for the preliminary round of a talent show. This time I was playing the part of stage mom, not a judge. Of the 35 contestants in the under-14 division, I think I counted 23 singers. And guess how many of them performed Taylor Swift songs? 18. (The other five or so songs were a blend of Rascal Flatts, Miley Cyrus and rock bands I've never heard of.)
So there was the 6-year-old with whisper-soft vocals on "Tim McGraw." The sassy pre-teen belter who came out blazing on "Fearless." The unplugged guitarist/songbird on "Teardrops on My Guitar." The screamer on "Should've Said No." And pretty much every other style of singing in between. They seemed to cover most of Swift's hits, the most popular contender being "Love Story." But what I noticed more than the steady stream of Swift songs was the way the audience seemed to be mouthing along to every word.
That has to be some new kind of benchmark for success, right? I know there are more prestigious and more quantifiable ways to measure your popularity. But being the belle of the county fair talent show has got to be one of those intangible pop culture peaks that any artist would love to reach.
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Matt says:
You are a brave one, Alison. I love reading your blogs about all the artists that sing country or some form of it, as well as artists in other genres of music. But as much as I and many others love the person Taylor is and enjoy her music, sadly enough it seems like there are one or two that seem to predominantly comment on the articles about her, and their comments are quite juvenile and repetitive in content. I hope you never get completely sick of reporting for what seems to be a negative audience, because I know there is a great many more people that love to read your positive articles and enjoy hearing news of Taylor and other good artists and role models like her. Thanks for your blogs!!
Bobby says:
So, Taylor is very popular among the under-14 crowd…haven’t we all known this all along? These young people will grow older, and Taylor’s career will fade.
Jess says:
Well that’s not surprising…. anyone can sing her songs…. she’s not a great vocalist by any means.
bkb says:
swift had better keep the under 14 crowd happy because this age group has a habit of moving on to the next big thing and i don’t think that will be swift.
luckyone says:
Her songs are very easy to sing. One octave. No challenging lyrics. Perfect for the kiddies.
countryiscool says:
Is anyone sure this isn’t Alison Swift blogging???? Must be a case of dual personality (ies).
me says:
Taylor may not be the best vocal belter out there but she is very talented. She writes songs that cater to her style of singing. She reminds me alot of Sheryl Crow - can you say she has a great voice? No - but she’s had a long, successful career and is still respected as a great artist. I believe Taylor will be much the same. At least, I hope she will. I look forward to seeing her grow.
ya boi says:
Taylor swift is amazing i lover her, im more into the kanye west, kid cudi kinda stuff but ever since i herd her i couldnt stop listen to it. she is going to be great, all those people giving her crap are wrong she is up there with all the great artist today.
goldie says:
yes everyone loves her songs! taylor’s songs touch everyone and they are trying to sing them to that’s great! love taylor and she is very talented!
star says:
that’s awsome people want to sing taylor’s songs!! taylor is a awsome songwriter and singer!!!!!
luckyone says:
me, Sheryl can carry a tune. It’s not all about the range and power. Taylor can’t even follow the tune. Why do you think she writes songs that are so easy to sing?
trink says:
She’s going to be around a long time thanks for the great post Allison. I’m 54 love her it’s not just teens and pree teens you people are dreaming go away and find someone elses blog you might like.Oh and you people say she can’t sing then why is she the only one selling so many cds and her videos are breaking records left and right yea she can’t sing get a life you people are a joke!!!!
Sparks Fly says:
Some people that think Taylor Swift only targets the 14 and under crowd better check the Adult Contemporary charts on billboard.com because you’ll notice that “Love Story” has been number one on that chart for several weeks in a row. She appeals to a mass audience of all ages, not just pre-teens. She’ll be around for years!
trink says:
Your only as young as you feel and she brings back fond memories of mine sorry you don’t have a life you have to come on here and bash Taylor sounds high school to me.. you grow up !!!
Amac says:
I think Taylor Swift is awesome. She may not be the best performer live but I’m sure she will get better she is only 19 for goodness sakes. Her songs are so easy to relate to and she is a very talented girl. There is no room to criticize her look at how successful she has become in such a short period of time. I highly doubt that her only fans are younger kids. I think Taylor will be around for a long long time.
Mechelle says:
Taylorswift is great.Also kelliepickelr is great.Taylorswift and kelliepicklers friendship is great!Also taylorswift and kelliepickler love all the fans.Everyone please vote for both taylorswift and kelliepickler for cmtpowerpicks and for the top20 and for everything.Country fans are the best.Take care everyone!Have a great day everyone!Thank you cmt for showing taylorswift and kelliepickelr videos!
BigmikeB says:
Wow, I can’t believe all the Taylor bashing I just read here. Are you people serious? She is a very talented girl that writes songs that every young girl has lived the lyrics too I’m sure. If her vocal range doesn’t impress you maybe you should just take her at face value as a great song writer and performer. I think she is outstanding as a singer, song writer, and an inspiration to American youth. Opinions are so much better expressed when you don’t have an axe to grind or jealousy to hinder your words.
lizisawesome says:
Oh come on. Taylor Swift is terrible at singing. That doesn’t mean she isn’t a nice person with a good personality who can reach out to all the little girls. And Mechelle, you’re crazy. Kellie Pickler is even worse than TS. Grow up.
S says:
The under 14 crowd. Well that explains a lot.
merlefan49 says:
I have no axe to grind nor am I jealous. I don’t think she is a good vocalist.
Amac says:
Yea I wish I could sing as terrible as Taylor Swift then maybe I could sell millions of records. Seriously you don’t get to where she is without talent! And newsflash i’m a lot older than 14
lovetimesthree says:
Wow. Took me about 25 seconds of reading comments to remember why I stopped coming here. Love reading articles about my favorite country stars–and yes, Alison, is undeniably a cool & blog-worthy benchmark that you have written about–but the negativity that always follows in it’s wake is simply/sadly overwhelming. :(
Just being honest. And perhaps, that’s what some of the ‘critics’ here desire (driving real fans away), as it is the only way they can even attempt to put something resembling tarnish on Taylor’s sparkling career.
(And they know it.)
…The only silver lining I see is my sincere hope that when these people take their pent-up frustration & dissatisfaction with their own lives out on the message boards here, that it provides enough of an outlet that they will not need to transfer all that anger to their own family & friends.
Again just being honest.
One can (continue to) hope that is the case anyway, and in the meantime, avoid a website/tv network that allows one of it’s brightest stars and kindest & most genuine people to be bashed so relentlessly & repetitively.
*CMT should know better. This isn’t ‘controversial,’ it is coercive, costly & counterproductive.
(Thankfully, it correctable.)
lovetimesthree says:
I think I’ll stick around and wait to see what YOU think…
Always Right says:
Amac,
You’re so naive. Anybody with an open mind knows that her daddy paid for her record contract. She comes from a rich family.
lovetimesthree says:
AR… (actual name = laughable)
Did her daddy “pay for” that record attendace of almost 73,000 fans @ the Houston Rodeo this year? Did he somehow arrange the THREE-MINUTE standing ovation she received in Calgary recently? Did he buy everyone’s tickets at all those sold-out concerts all over the WORLD?
That theory of yours is dead. Has officially lost all credibility.
And so have you.
luckyone says:
with good marketing and a young gullible audience, you can sell snowballs to eskimoes. It’s easy if the target audience is still in the impressionable years, and have more time and money than discerning adults. Daddy paid for the mega marketing, and bought stock in BMR, so he pulls all the strings. He probably has Alison on his payroll too.
Alison is the Greatest! says:
yes, Alison’s many stories about Taylor Swift are appreciated.
I buy Taylor’s records for her songwriting ability and her voice. I cannot believe that people can’t hear how great her voice is!
Album #3 - maybe November 11th!
countryiscool says:
Can I have some of whatever Alison is on, cuz I just don’t hear it, sorry. Taylor is pretty, she writes well enough for her limited scope of experience, but she sure can’t sing LIVE, needs the engineering enhancements that CD and video can give her. Her promoters would have to pay ME to go to a concert, but I don’t think I want to be bought in this case.
I’m sure Alison would love to go in my place though.
Redmaz says:
All this time complaining about Swift, and you could’ve checked out Amy Hughes. Have you heard of Amy Hughes? How about Maren Morris? Give these two a half hour of your time each, and that’s one hour less of complaining about Swift. Can you handle it? No…you can’t. You’re hatred for Swift is stronger than your love of music.
lovetimesthree says:
Is actually black & white, luckyone, and the reality here is that you are 100% incorrect in what you have written.
So here, let me help you.
Because while yes, it is a universal truth of business that marketing allows someone to target and attract the initial attention of their audience… that is the full extent of it.
From there, IT IS THE MUSIC (and the MUSICIAN) that ultimately connects with, captivates, and inspires so many loyal/loving fans. :) (…Or doesn’t!) :(
…And IS THE MUSIC that moves people to memorize the songs, hold them up as anthems in their own lives, and to regard the person who created & performed them as a Hero & Role Model, too.
Even the most brilliant marketing minds could never ’synthesize’ that kind of unparalleled emotional resonance & results.
So I hope that helps. I would tell you to perhaps listen a little more closely to her music so that you might realize some of these things for yourself, but I don’t believe that is really necessary.
You already know I am right.
barb b says:
not every one loves her
songs she will fade bobby i
agree
luckyone says:
sorry lovestime, but I am the musician..have been for over 30 years, and have marketed music for many years as well, so I’ll spell it out for you. Without the marketing behind her, she would NEVER have made it with her poor voice and limited writing experience. All her songs sound the same, since she has no range, and are protooled to the wazoo. I’ve heard her live (no not just on the award shows), once with just her guitar. She cannot carry a tune, nor can she challenge her voice. She’s quite a sad story when it comes to singing. Without the uber-promo, she would be just another awkward teenager.
lovetimesthree says:
Of course barb b! :)
Not everyone loves her songs, you are right, and that is well understood. Not everyone loves anything. Naturally, your musical taste is completely your own, and it is all good as far as I am concerned.
…Is a beautiful thing, actually, to have so much variety and so many great artists to choose from today. Is why I started listening to country in the first place. (Is why I am here.)
Thing is, I RESPECT YOU and the music you listen to (you too RedMaz–sounds like you have a great feel for new artists), and therefore I would never even think about putting those artists down. Not in a conversation we were having over the back fence, and certainly not on a public message board. We all have better uses of our time and energy.
People come here to read about & discover the JOY in music that all their favorite artists provide. It is a rare & valuable thing–this positive feeling that music alone can generate–and we should do our best to see that there is lots more of it!
…And as a matter of fact, I would LOVE to hear y’all talk more about the musicians that you love & appreciate & recommend!
It’s just all the negativity that has to go. Is time.
Country music is (much much much!) better than that, I know it. And so are its fans.
:)
(I’ll keep my fingers crossed.)
good guy says:
I have been reading the comments that are put on by the same bashers. Why so much “hate”??? But of more interest is why are they allowed by cmt to repeat over and over the same hateful remarks about a young talented woman who does not deserve this treatment. I agree with “lovetimesthree” remarks. I also think that the haters would like nothing better then to have us leave this comment board. I guess bored,unhappy people need this outlet.
lovetimesthree says:
luckyone, we will agree to disagree then. Is fine by me. :)
If you’ve been in then business 30 years and still don’t think/recognize that she has something very innate and special that allows her to do all the things she does, then that is the conclusion you have drawn. I’m not going to change your mind, and I know better than to even try.
…Lotta folks (and album & ticket sales) would sure seem to indicate that there might be a few flaws in your expert assessment, but whatever… those people don’t care much about protools, promo & other technical trivialities of the sort.
See, they love Taylor Swift the performer AND they love Taylor Swift the person.
(And maybe that’s exactly the point you’re missing.)
lovetimesthree says:
..the point you WERE missing! Sorry! :D
lovetimesthree says:
All good now. (I hope.)
luckyone says:
I KNOW people love her ltt, the point that YOU are missing is that this attraction is a result of the uber promo…she is in everyones face ALL THE TIME. Have you ever heard her sing live? I have, and it’s sad. Yes, she has quite the following, but I refuse to be drawn in my the over marketing of someone who can’t sing. While many people are, the fact is that I’m not brainwashed by marketing.
lovetimesthree says:
Hey, I only WISH I could get to hear her sing live sometime! :) Would be my pleasure and is something I’m genuinely looking forward to, actually…
For now, thanks for talkin/listenin a bit & I hope y’all have a good night.
lovetimesthree says:
Actually, can’t wait to see her perform live! :) (Am genuinely looking forward to it…)
Meantime, hope y’all have a good night.
star says:
sounds like alot of jealousy here!!! taylor is great as a performer writer,and young lady! taylor will be around for a long time!!!!
luckyone says:
sorry, no jealousy here. It’s more like shock that so many have been taken in, but I assure you, there’s not an ounce of jealousy.
Noah says:
I’m no teen, but I have teen grand-children, and I’m not afraid to admit I love Taylor Swifts angelic vocals, music and personality.
I pray everyone of my children and grand-children pay close attention to Miss Swift in every aspect.
Thank you CMT for featuring such a talent on your site.
Noah says:
I forgot to mention my wife and I have taken our children, grand-children both alike to her concerts and she is the best darn singer out today.
The wife and I have even snuck back to a concert to watch her on our own without the interuptions of babysitting- smiles, we both think she is one fine singer and person.
Amac says:
Not gonna lie I didn’t come here to argue. I just like her music and decided to read the article. Then I got bored so I decided to get in on the action.
Sarah says:
luckyone = trufanofcountry — how sad a 57 year old has to hide under a name to bash a 19 year old. Trufanofcountry said the same exact things on Taylors message board. The only one on CMT that has claimed to be in the music bizz for 30 years to and obviously isn’t speaking the truth or wouldn’t have to pull such shananagans.
CMT mods has to remove his post all the time. Don’t pay any attention to him/her lovetimesthree, I totally agree with your post.
Sarah says:
Also Trufanofcountry uses the alias- (Always Right) here also. He steals other peoples names or variations of them, again how sad.
threadsense & trufanofcountry says:
We think Taylor Swift is THE best vocalist in country music today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
drdjwu says:
Love your blogs on Taylor, Alison, but what’s really hilarious is the vicious circle that goes on every time you post one about Taylor Swift.
Could be the most harmless snippet imaginable — like one, say, about a talent show where most of the youngsters did TS songs. Doesn’t matter. If it mentions Taylor, out come the Wingnuts, as Chet Flippo calls ‘em, in full force.
Apparently they stalk your blogs, like wolves outside a castle, just waiting for a chance to spew their hatred for a 19-year-old girl who is one of the most positive, cheerful and loving persons ever to become a superstar. The minute one of your blogs is released, the same handful of Wingnuts are always there, the very first ones to pounce on it, saying the same negative things over and over. Then Taylor’s fans rush to her defense.
All of which encourages CMT to publish MORE TS blogs by Alison! Because what else does an opinion column thrive upon if not a little controversy (and a lot of respondents). So in their own little way, the Wingnuts are the driving force for great blogs about Taylor. Thanks, guys!
luckyone says:
I don’t ever post on the message boards, sara. Once in a while I read them, but they’re too full of BS. I have one name on here and have used it every time I post. Sorry, but you have me confused with someone else. I’m not a 57 year old man. I am a woman in Pennsylvania, and I know more about Taylor than most of you. I’ll be happy to tell you if you want.
Firefly says:
You know I don’t understand why you ppl on here have nothing good to say,why cant you just be happy their is eventually a good rolemodel for lil girls she never wears any sluty clothes or goes out boozing every night.Her music is good and enjoyed by many ppl!so keep you nasty remarks to yourselve’s. I was brought up with the saying “if you have nothing nice to say dont say anything!” some of you need to realize that you look like idiots for bashing a young girl who is only like 18yrs old. LUCKYONE: ps if you have been a musician for thirty years and never got anywhere you probably suck and are JEALOUS!maybe it’s time to find a new career maybe you can carry Taylors bags and learn something!
Loving Miss Taylor swift says:
if you hate her then i understand we don’t all like the same things but for god’s sake keep it to your self if you really feel the need to post your hate on the web then please get a life!
Love CMT says:
S your one of the people that i mean shoul’d get of the internet and go get a life. your just a waste of space on this earth.
just because you don’t like her music doesn’t mean others don’t too clearly she has a lot of fans unlike you
OK?
drdjwu says:
luckyone, in your last posting you claim to “know more about Taylor than most” of us and that you would be happy to tell us”. I’d be fascinated to hear your wealth of knowledge, and how you came to be such an expert. But give us specifics. Tell us HOW this massive marketing scheme to make TS a superstar worked.Why haven’t others used it? You claim to be a musician and marketeer for 30+ years –did you use it? Did you sell 7 million albums like Taylor does? You said your animosity toward Taylor has nothing to do with jealousy, but it would seem you’re a competitor.
drdjwu says:
oh, and for the record, luckyone, your claim to be a 30-year musician is weakened by your first posting above in which you state Taylor writes songs in “one octave”. On her FEARLESS album, one needs to go no further than the first couplet of the first song to find her jumping a full octave on the 12th note ( the word “just”). Or did you not get past the 11th note before coming up with your findings?
theonewhoknows says:
drdjwu, okay so she has a 9 note range. Not too impressive, andyet you seem proud of it. LOL.
drdjwu says:
theonewhoknows, hmmm… you sure you’re not just another name for “luckyone” (who also pretends to know everything, particularly likes bullying 10-year-old girls, and finally winds up not saying nothing particularly useful or clever)? If not, you two should get together. That way there would be 2 of you to know everything better than the 4 million Taylor Swift fans.
S says:
Love CMT just told me I shoul’d get of the internet and go get a life.
I would consider taking your advice if I understood what the heck you were talking about. I’m not sure if you’re still in school but I definitely wouldn’t skip English class.
Love CMT says:
I am still in school and what i mean is keep your hate to yourself and don’t write mean things about people you don’t know personally
Or a you just trying to hurt her becuase your jealous?
theonewhoknows says:
Jealous of what? And what mean things are being said?
BigMikeB says:
First off, the idea of “if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all” is very true in this instance. Negative posts are going to fall on deaf ears, no Taylor fan is going to take them seriously. As another has said 4 million fans can’t be so wrong. I agree that there does seem to be on eperson posting under three screen names, maybe an unemployed musician with too much free time on her hands. Finally, there is never a good reason to talk in a demeaning manner to a youngster on here about their superstars.
theonewhoknows says:
How can verified truth be considered negative? Those who refuse the truth can be said to be in denial, which is a dangerous thing.
BTW, there is more than one or two people who know that Taylor can’t sing. To think otherwise is more proof of denial.
Love CMT says:
theonewhoknows there are more than one or two people who THINK Taylor can’t sing but thats there opinion and is completely diffrent to everyone else’s. I respect there opinions but that doesn’t mean they have to go around saying how much they hate someone. Have they ever thought that Taylor might read these blogs.
Oh and BigMikeB thanks for making a point. =D
Alison is the Greatest says:
1) Taylor is a marketing genius
2) Taylor is a world class songwriter
3) Taylor has been known to sing off key with 15,000 fans screaming in her ears, but I still love her voice better than anyone else [George Strait is pretty good too]
theonewhoknows says:
3) Taylor has been known to sing off key when her voice is NOT fixed in the studio with protools.
theonewhoknows says:
LOVE CMT, people who know anything about the vocal instrument KNOW she can’t sing. No range, breath, tone, control, support or vibrato. Actually it’s pretty darn poor.
Love CMT says:
look who has more fans you or her?
Love CMT says:
theonewhoknows please answer becuase to me, YOU sound like an idiot
Firefly says:
Hey theonewhoknows, just hang it up, you are making yourself look like the idiot we all know you are. Anyone can try and talk the talk of a pro but with you it just falls short, into the BS pile.
Taylor if you do read this, you are an excellent performer and person, don’t let idiots get you down.
theonewhoknows says:
I am a professional musician, you guys are kids on a message board. I honestly don’t give a rip if you want to accept what I have to say or not. I know of what I speak, because I have studied it for almost 40 years. I certainly do hope Taylor reads these boards. SHe needs to be humbled and realize that not everyone is brainwashed by her mega marketing. The girl can’t sing. Sorry, it’s a fact. If you like her voice that’s fine, so you like it. But that does not mean it is good, just that you have no taste.
star says:
taylor is awsome, if you are reading these posts taylor do not listen to the negative comments they are just jealous of your fame! stay humble as you are taylor!!!!!
theonewhoknows says:
um, star, I can sing far better than Taylor, and I don’t jump when daddy says boo. Taylor has nothing I want
star says:
then why are you always here on a blog about taylor if she has nothing you want! go away, and by the I was a singer in my youger years and pretty good if I don’t say so myself taylor does have a very very good voice and yes the songs taylor writes do suit her voice that is a fact it works for her there is nothing wrong with that! taylor you just keep it up!!!
theonewhoknows says:
star, I enjoy these blogs because of people like you. I enjoy the humor. If you have ever been a singer then you know about range, depth, projection, breath control and vibrato. That is what makes a good singer. Show me ONE song where Taylor displays ANY of these traits. (I’m talking live, not the studio enhanced protooled versions)
Love CMT says:
if you have studied music for 40 years then you should know that people like diffrent types of music and can accept things as they are
Love CMT says:
well nice people anyway
theonewhoknows says:
Love, I do like all types of music. I’m just not a fan of someone pretending to be something they are not, and fooling millions of people into believing it. She is not a singer!!
Love CMT says:
then why does she SING at concerts why are all her songs on youtube and why is she SINGING in those videos.
She is popular you are not now please just SHUT UP!
Love CMT says:
and she didn’t fool people into listening to her people have an option i what they want to listen to. Like the black eyed peas they are very popular yet i don’t listen to them
miley cyrus/hannah montanna i don’t listen to her even though most of my friends do and she is posted everywhere
so people have a choice and people choosed to listen to Taylor Swift’s music, so stuff you!
theonewhoknows says:
LOve CMT, you really have a nasty attitude. Your parents should have taught you that its not nice to tell people to shut up and stuff you. My kids know better than that, AND they are intelligent enough to know the mechanics of a great voice.
T J says:
Good for your kids - they are probably closet Swift fans at the very least too!
Love CMT says:
bla bla bla thats all theonewhoknows can say
PEOPLE LIKE DIFFRENT MUSIC, DIFFRENT SOUNDS, DIFFRENT VOICES AND HAVE DIFFRENT OPINIONS ON WHAT IS GOOD AND WHATS ISN’T.
DO
YOU
UNDERSTAND?
diamond says:
I agree people like different music, how voices sound with the songs they write!! taylor is an awsome artist!!
Love CMT says:
thank you do you understand now, theonewhoknows?
Boats says:
Taylor Swift has created a new venue of country music bubblegum country. Her songs sound like something Betty of the Archies would sing, or Josie and the pussycats. Anyways she has a long way to go before she can be in the same class as Martina, Shania, or a half dozen others. She’ll never be in the same class as Loretta, Or Patsy!
Teri Ford Thomas says:
I have my own style of singing and writing, but anyone who doubts this wonderfully talented gifted young woman is just showing ignorance. Redemption is your only hope and to achieve that is just to stop writing about it now. Trust me, if anyone thinks that she is going to dry up and go away is way off, she may not have the obvious but I remember a talented young woman who wrote this song Coat of many colors, never had strong vocals but how old is she now? The point is there are still just as many people who would wait in line to see her as Taylor. Im 44 and I would for both of them. Check me out on myspace look up my name.