What Do You Really Know About Taylor Swift?
Because she has become such a household name and she exudes that girl-next-door vibe every time she's out and about, it may seem like the whole world knows everything about Taylor Swift. But the latest Elle magazine wants to know exactly how deep your Swift knowledge goes. Like, you may know that she's about to move into a condo in Nashville, but where was she born? And she may have been crushing on a guy named Drew in high school, but which one of the Jonas Brothers has she since been romantically linked to? And who did she rap with on the 2009 CMT Music Awards and what did she inherit from her grandmother? If you're a fan, it will be fun to put all those grueling hours of studying Taylor trivia to good use in this online quiz. And while you're at it, you can read the April issue's cover story about what's next for Swift.
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S says:
I know that she can’t sing on-key. And just for the record, Alison was the one who asked. If she didn’t want to hear the comments she shouldn’t ask the question.
moopowerx says:
This quiz is stupid. I’m not a Taylor Swift fan and got 10/10. Why? All the answers have been thrown in my face since she came on board.
1cathie says:
This is a no brainer….EVERYONE and I do mean EVERYONE should score 100%…CMT always is certain to let us all know anything and everything about Taylor…fan or not we all get clubbed over the head with Taylor news.
How did you do Allison on the quiz? lol
Sandy says:
I think her young fans’ time might be better spent by putting “grueling hours of study” into their school work. When that’s taken care of perhaps volunteering in their communities will help them to grow to be the kind of adults their parents would like them to be. Obsessing over Taylor or ANY celeb is a waste of what potential there might be. Our kids need to be finding their heros in every day people that do every day things…like fire fighters, nurses, teachers and the like. Those people are real and emulating them is fine and obtainable goal. Loving the music is great. Loving the artist is fine too but this fixation is wrong.
Jhiselle says:
Hey S I saw her in concert yesterday and she sounds exactly like she does on her CDs and sandy Taylor Swift is the perfect role model for young kids! You guys should look her up before you start judging her!! She is my hero and inspiration.
Jim says:
YES. Jhiselle is 100% correct. I have seen Taylor on her tour,she is absolutely wonderful. Taylor,keep on keeping on.
katrina says:
I know that I’ve never heard her sound good live. The music on her CD’s is repetitive. If you’ve heard one Taylor Swift song, you’ve heard them all. She is very vindictive and immature when it comes to dealing with boys. At this age, you are going to break up with many boys. It’s easy to see why they left, when she refuses to take any reponsibility for her part in the break and instead writes a mean song about them. Great for revenues but it shows just how shallow she is.
Sandy says:
“Hero – remarkably brave person. Someone who commits an act of remarkable bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength.”
Jhiselle – you can idolize whomever you wish. You can worship anyone (although I would think that would be reserved for God). But using the work “hero” to describe Taylor is insulting to the wonderful, every day people in this world who quietly live their lives and do extraordinary things. They don’t require great monetary payment for it. They don’t even expect thanks. They simply just do…no fanfare.
WHO CARES??????? says:
TS IS NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ROLE MODEL, HERO, OR GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
lifetime says:
taylor is a great role model…at least they are not looking to britney,miley or lindsey as role models…taylor has great values and was raised will morals unlike someother young artists or actress out there.
NOT HAPPY says:
She is a snob and spoiled brat from Pennsylvania who uses her Daddy’s money to get what she wants. She also can’t not sing and all her songs about the same thing. Her latest video just shows me how immature she really is and that she is not a good role model at all. All she does does is sling her hair and shake her butt, to hide the fact that she can’t sing. Her fans sound better than she does. I think that the Kayne West incident was staged to give her sympathy votes- which in my opinion is stealing awards and is just plain wrong. She doesn’t fool me at all and I sick and tired of hearing about her all the time. Allison- You need to get a life and wake up and write about someone that people care about and worth writing about. I have never heard TS mention God in any of her speeches when thanking people. He should be the first one that she does THANK!
WHO CARES??????? says:
AMEN NOTHAPPY!!! I TOTALLY AGREE!!! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SICK OF TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wanda says:
I think alison should do an article on jimmy wayne thatr a hero walking from tn to az to raise awareness of homeless teenagers
NOT HAPPY says:
Wanda- That is a good idea! Jimmy Wayne did a wonderful thing and I would love to read a story about him and his journey!
kate says:
Why don’t you go to Jimmy Waynes boards then.
taylor247 says:
I LOVE TAYLOR ALISON SWIFT SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH <3
Sandy says:
Oh…and Kate. I hate to break it to you, but THIS IS NOT Taylor Swift’s Board.
Netteo says:
TS can’t sing, isn’t entertaining, write children’s songs that all sounds the same and all she CAN do is flip her hair - and that ain’t a good thing. As for being a role model? NOT for MY daughters. TS talks about how she writes about her life, people she meets and things she has done. Great - so she was dating a college student when she was 14? Sneaking out her window at night? Losing her innocence at 15? She lies about people (Joe Jonas said she lied about their break up call) and is essentially a freaking GOSSIP. You do me wrong I will destroy you in song - but as she seems to have a superiority complex doing her wrong in her eyes is not treating her like the princess she seems to think she is.
Susan says:
I’m sure Taylor’s fans loved the article but I doubt any of her diehard followers don’t know the answers already to any detail of her life she allows them to see. Publicity is so necessary but I’m afraid there is an over-saturation of her in the media. I realize she has older fans out there but I imagine the average age is probably teen. Teens tend to have short attention spans so I guess that’s why her management has gone the bombardment route. I hope she’s not putting all her eggs in one basket, so to speak. She’s writing for a specific audience…young and female. I’m sure there are some male admirers but let’s get real. Not many males want to hear about breakups especially when it’s the boy who is the bad guy. She’s not doing herself any favors painting herself into this corner. She needs to expand her subject matter. If the only place she can draw from for inspiration is still high school breakups at her age…something is wrong. She’s living a fantastic, crazy life and I can’t imagine there isn’t something else out there for her to write about. With her obvious writing talent it seems ashame to waste it. I’ll bet she has more potential fans out there waiting if she’d just be a little more well rounded. Dont’ stop writing about the breakup/boys are slime thing because obviously many like that. But she should step out of her comfort zone and write a song or two with a bit more substance. C’mon Taylor, I know you can do it.
Peacock Queen says:
Susan,
I agree with you completely. I actually enjoyed Taylor’s cover of “Breathless” on the HFHN telethon. She was calm, not slinging her hair around, and she actually sounded good on a song that wasn’t about being a princess or hating some guy. I do believe that she will develop a more older fan base as the matures. Right now, all of her songs sound very immature because she wrote them when she was very young. I hope she does become a more well-rounded artist as well. I just don’t know if she will be around much longer. Too much marketing can cause her to become “old news” way too fast. An overdose of anything is, well, fatal.
BTW - I worry that the backlash against Swift will become a backlash against all of country music. A lot of fans are angry that Swift was given vocal awards, and not just the “jealous Carrie fans” or the “haters” as we have been called. Fans of other artists such as GaGa and Beyonce will be all too happy to bash country as a genre to get even over the disappointment of watching a “quirky” singer walk away with awards that should go to, well, a vocalist.
S says:
Kate, why don’t people who want to know all about Taylor go to Taylor’s board? After all, this is the CMT web site where we’re supposed to read and talk about ALL Country artists, not just Taylor.
And as far as being a role model, what is she teaching young girls; that it’s OK to bad-mouth boys just because you’re no longer dating them? Have you ever thought that Taylor might be either responsible or partly responsible for the breakup? After all, it takes two to tango.
I agree when Peacock Queen said, “I worry that the backlash against Swift will become a backlash against all of country music. A lot of fans are angry that Swift was given vocal awards, and not just the “jealous Carrie fans” or the “haters” as we have been called. Fans of other artists such as GaGa and Beyonce will be all too happy to bash country as a genre to get even over the disappointment of watching a “quirky” singer walk away with awards that should go to, well, a vocalist.”
There are a lot of people who say they don’t like Country music (I doubt they even listen to it) and I hate that Taylor is becoming its representative. She needs to go to Pop radio and stay there..
Shadow says:
News flash. Swift already is at Pop radio. It’s called Pop Country. And since the majority of Pop fans, including Pop Country fans, don’t even acknowledge all of country music, I doubt if any backlash is forthcoming against ALL of country music.
These are the ways of Pop culture, where enterprise wins over artistic endeavour. Milk the cash cow til it dries up, then find the next big draw. Nothing for ALL of country music to worry about.
Sis says:
Beside that she CAN’T SING!!!!!
S says:
I’ll bet that most of Taylor’s fans don’t listen to country radio stations. I’ll bet the majority of them listen to pop stations, or top 40 stations, or however else you want to describe them.
Sugarland Express says:
When any of you people go out and sell 10 million albums in the US and 3 million international and have sold out stadium after stadium for two years of headling tours and won the kind of awards Taylor has then come back and talk smack, otherwise I will just consider you bitter jealous people.
Sis says:
Why in the world would we be jealous of that CAN’T KEEP A TUNE, cry me a river, teeny bopper, that needs to TRY!! to sing about something other than her personal life. Which we don’t care what happens to her anyway.
solongsowrong says:
Sugarland Express: Now why would people be jealous of a singer they don’t even listen to? Why would people who care more about what their ears like, be jealous of record sales, popularity awards and stadium tours?
Buddy Miller is an Americana/Country artist who has won numerous awards over the last couple of years, and performed to packed houses, too. Do you like his music? If not, does that mean you’re jealous of him? Do you even know who he is?
Music is subjective, and most of these things are meaningless to some of us. Please explain why jealousy needs to be factor, just because someones music doesn’t appeal to all.
Peacock Queen says:
THANK YOU SOLO!!!!!
Peacock Queen says:
Shadow, good point about Taylor being “pop country,” but unless you are a student of Redmaz, you don’t really understand that there are different subgenres of “country.” When R&B, Soul, dance, etc. fans begin to bash Swift, they are going to say “that country artist who cannot sing” and to the untrained (or un-Redmaz-ed) that will mean Americana, Roots, etc. That is what I am getting at. You many not worry about it because a backlash against Swift will not effect Americana or Roots charts, but I think “country” (not just “pop country”) is headed for some [unfair] bashing in the mass media worldwide. I have lived through that before. It is not fun.
kayko says:
Peacock Queen, What bashing in the mass media world wide have you lived through before? And if there was this bashing in the past that you are talking about, then how can you explain that country music is alive and well.
kayko says:
Solo, maybe you can explain to me then why those who don’t care for Taylor continue to read the blogs about her and continue to say the same thing over and over again. It seems a bit strange to me, they seem to be more obsessed about talking about Taylor then I do and I’m a fan. Please share your wise insight so I can understand this.
Shadow says:
LOL @ Peacock Queen!! I don’t need to be a student of someone to know that there are sub genres of country out there. Even as I type, I’m listening to Folk Alley. My knees are all-a-quiver with excitement! What a mix, even some legendary country artists being played. Kristofferson just played, and now Alison Krauss is up!
I guess that’s a difference between you and me. I don’t care what the mass media worldwide thinks. Aren’t they the same ones who helped build up Tiger Woods, but now tear him down? Is the sport of Golf and other players going to take unfair bashing because of it?
I seriously doubt, that when Levon Helm, Steve Earle, and Steve Martin were picking up their Grammy’s this year, anyone in the mass media was comparing Swift’s music with theirs. Most probably didn’t even pay attention. Also, who suffered more with West’s outburst at that one awards show? Him or Swift?
If anything, instead of a backlash, maybe it will help people realize how fake and superficial the pop world is.
solongsowrong says:
Peacock Queen: I tend to agree with Shadow. I don’t see anything about Taylor Swift, that is going to effect all of Country music, since no other form of Country other than Mainstream Pop, recognizes her music. Any bashing is all going to come from the Pop scene, and be about the Pop scene.
If most Pop Country fans don’t even acknowledge the rest of Country music, why would anyone else see a comparison? When Alison Krauss won all those Grammy’s the other year, including Album of the Year, for an album that was registered under Americana, quite a bit of the mass media didn’t even know who she was. I laughed my butt off watching on youtube, some of the commentary about that one.
solongsowrong says:
kayko: Even though you appear to be condescending, I’ll answer you anyway. I guess people do that, for the same reason others keep responding to it. Human nature? Maybe where they tell people on here to say what they think, they should also tell people not to feed the trolls. Personally, I’m here for the music, not to try to figure out the human mind. Especially those who limit their Country to Mainstream Country, then complain about it’s favorite stars.
For me, caring or not about Swift or her music isn’t the issue. I read all blogs, no matter who they’re about. I don’t write an artist off just because they aren’t played on the radio, are old or aren’t popular. The word has-been isn’t a part of my music world. My ears tell me if an artist’s music is like able or relevant to me. If I don’t like it… I don’t listen… no matter what sales show about other people’s tastes. Jealousy in relationship to music or popularity is not a consideration. If you like Swift’s music, that’s great. Enjoy it. Don’t let the negativity of others dilute that.
I come here for a number of reasons, most of then dealing with increasing my musical knowledge. Tonight, I responded, because I would like for Sugarland Express to explain their logic.
D Trotter says:
Robin, how do you “know for a fact” that all the great reviews Taylor is getting for her concerts are because she uses pro tools in concerts. Because she has gone on record athat she never uses pro-tools in live performance.
D Trotter says:
Peacock, I really don’t think that Swift has done anything except HELP the popularity of pop country. And most of the other artists from Brad to Sugarland to Reba to Lady A have told us that again and again and again. And if you’ve been following her concert reviews, her millions of fans are staying right with her, screaming louder than ever.
Observer says:
Taylor Swift, or more precisely the countless awards that have been lavished upon her, has without a doubt had a hugely negative impact on the way in which country music is perceived.
Observer says:
I fear that the ACM will make the same stupid mistakes as the CMA and AMA last fall and the Grammys on Jan 31. Heck, they’re already half-way there by nominating someone in so many categories that she doesn’t deserve to be in. I mean, on the one hand Taylor Swift seems to be a lovely young woman. On the other hand she seems a shrewd, manipulative, conniving, chameleon. But Country? No. Vocalist? No.
Observer says:
Lord knows Taylor Swift could never have even gotten past the first audition at American Idol. She simply does not have the singing ability to have done so. That’s why she used that shameless gimmick of titling her first single after one of the most famous and influential people in all of Nashville.
dowhat says:
Since someone brought tiger woods into this, I’ll share what my husband said earlier:
Saying Taylor Swift can sing is like saying Tiger Woods is celebant.
Peacock Queen says:
Gee whiz, folks. No offense intended by anything I said. I love country music, and I do not hate Taylor Swift.
First, just because you are not a fan of someone’s vocals or their music does not mean you “hate” or are “jealous” of that person. I have been saying that on here for months. I love Emmylou Harris. How many of you own “Roses in the Snow?” If you don’t, is that because you are JEALOUS of Emmylou’s success, or is it because her music does not appeal to you? Do you own Kanye West’s music? If not, is that because you are “jealous” of his success, or is it because his music is not your thing? Think about that.
Why do people come on here to talk about Taylor Swift? Because she is a part of MUSIC and this is a MUSIC website? That is the point of this site and the invitation to blog, isn’t it? To express opinions and read what other’s think? I have learned a lot of things from this site. I like it.
Shadow, I know you are very educated about music. I was referring to all the R&B, Dance, Hip Hop, etc. fans who don’t know squat about “country” except for Taylor Swift. But I am glad you got a good laugh out of it! I like to make people happy. :)
I think Observer summed up far better than I did what I was trying to say:
“Taylor Swift, or more precisely the countless awards that have been lavished upon her, has without a doubt had a hugely negative impact on the way in which country music is perceived.”
Thank you, Observer.
I think
lifetime says:
observer, who do you think you are calling taylor all of those names you have no idea who taylor is just your hate or jealousy talking…I no have had said things in the past about certain artists but I do not personally no them so I can’t say that for sure…and the same for you..that’s ok if you don’t like taylor or the she sings but it is no reason to call someone manipulative or any of the others you had said!
Sis says:
I’m with you observer.
Observer says:
I do not hate Taylor Swift and I am not jealous of her. As I said in my post, on the one hand she seems to be a lovely young woman. But that does not mean that she is without shortcomings, character flaws and errors in judgment. Also, I didn’t call her manipulative but rather offered that she seemed to be, as a counter to my “lovely”
comment. I find it ironic that criticism of Taylor Swift is so often dismissed by her fans as hatred and jealousy when it is in fact their idol who often incites, promotes and encourages hatred and jealousy.
Observer says:
How about this for what seems to me to be shrewd, conniving and manipulative: in one of her most popular songs “You Belong With Me”, she eagerly demonizes cheer captains all across America, while playing to the simmering jealous rage felt by millions of other girls who only wish they could be so popular and gifted as those cheer captains. This is a very safe strategy, politically speaking, on Taylor Swift’s part because at any given high school there may be only three cheer captains (one each for Varsity, Jr. Varsity and Frosh), but hundreds of other girls “in the bleachers”. So, with those kinds of numbers in mind, Ms Swift can easily afford to alienate all the cheer captains of the world because there are hundreds of times as many girls on “her side”. This kind of divisiveness is both conniving and manipulative. Given the numerical imbalance between the members of each group, it is shrewd.
lifetime says:
good cover observer, I did not call her manipulative but rather offered ya whatever that is what you said it is in black and white…you can say you didn’t say it or mean it that way but you did… whatever I really don’t care because taylor is amazing and that is all I need..too see for my self that taylor is an unique and great artist and millions love her as I do!!
NOT HAPPY says:
In my opinion her songs are all about boys that has done her wrong. I also heard her say that sometimes she still drives by their houses and watches some of these guys. To me that makes her a Stalker and she is NO ROLE MODEL!!!
Observer says:
Very cute lifetime. You’re a sweetheart, I’m sure. And that’s probably true of most of Taylor Swift’s devoted fans. But can’t you just slow down a bit, trust me when I say that I don’t hate her, and carefully read what I’ve written. You could still love her and enjoy listening to her music while at the same time recognizing that she isn’t perfect and every point that I’ve made is true. Besides, I have a lot more to say about the titling of her first single (March 10, 12:24 am) and my use of the word “chameleon” (March 10, 12:19 am). And just for you, I’ll try to be gentle when the time comes.
Peacock Queen says:
Trotter,
I think you may have misunderstood my original post. I did not intend to imply that Taylor has been bad for country music. Not at all. I have commented from the first day I came on this site to blog that our society can be brutal and cruel to people, especially in the media to teenage idols when they are on the downhill slide for some reason or another. It’s the “kick them while they are down in order to be funny and/or entertaining” syndrome, and I hate it. It can be a DUI, in Hilton’s case, or simply an off performance, in Taylor’s case. Anyway, what I was saying about a possible backlash against Taylor could encompass all of country music was meant as a word of caution to those who may be a little happy that she is getting negative press right now. I was harkening back to your comment that we are all “country” fans and we need to stick together. That was what I meant. I am trying to not type dissertations on this site, and although my posts make sense when I type them, the real meaning is lost when I limit the wording. Sorry about that.
k.d. says:
I don’t care what anyone says about Taylor Swift have much of right as we do and Taylor Swift if you reading this you have a great voice and i love forever and always,fifteen,picture to burn,should said no,our song, you belong with me and fearless. I LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!!!!!
D Trotter says:
Sorry, if I misunderstood, Peacock. I thought I saw you quote “Observer” and his claim that Taylor “without a doubt” has had a “hugely negative impact on the way country music is perceived”.
I think there is plenty of doubt about that statement (as with just about everything “Observer” observes. Last year was a horrible one for album sales across almost every genre — except Country Music, which did quite well; and Taylor was cited by analysts as a major reason for Country’s market power.
Even this week, with “Fearless” sales finally slowing, the Billboard 200’s top 10 is STILL dominated by Country albums. Lady A’s album is looking like the NEW “Fearless”. American Idol product Danny Gokey goes COUNTRY with his first release and scores huge. “CRAZY HEART” with its incredible Country soundtrack is a huge success in the theaters and grabs the Oscar for best song. All kinds of Country artists have shot to the top of the Billboard this year, from Carrie to Reba to George to Tim etc., etc.
If this is Taylor’s negative impact on Country Music’s, I think a whole bunch of artists and labels are saying, ”
More, more, more!”
Observer says:
Can you hear me now? Thank You…
k.d. says:
Well you are wrong about every thing about Taylor Swift i may not that much about her but can you give her a hand Taylor Swift sing well good and she have pretty voice how i know because you take a good look at her concert at the American Airlines Center i bet it was a sold out and you top that with sold out fans who know her like i do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
k.d. says:
well anyone there what burst your dream?
Peacock Queen says:
*****
I did quote Observer. What I am saying is that she is not a great vocalist and should not have been given vocal awards over other, more talented vocalists. I am not talking about Album of the Year, Entertainer, Song, etc., just the vocal part. I do believe that the bashing of Swift by people upset over her vocal awards will possibly be directed at all of country music. So, I do agree with Observer, but I was not implying that she is bad for country as a whole. I am simply saying that she will be used to bash the entire genre by people who don’t care about country music and will be happy to use Swift as an excuse to take it down. I hope that makes sense.
Oh, and BTW, when I say “she will be used” I am not blaming her for that. I am saying it isn’t right to do that to HER.
D Trotter says:
Peacock, I understand your statement — it’s a valid point of debate, though I differ that Swift’s Grammy performance has any carry-over relevance that would affect George, Carrie, Brad, Zac, Sugarland, or others.
My post from that other blog you referenced is almost the opposite — Country has become SO popular, and Country artists like Taylor are now winning Mainstream Awards that pop artists once had a stranglehold upon.
Obviously, those pop and rap artists and their fans are looking to criticize Taylor’s Grammy awards, Carrie’s Star-Spangled Banner at the Super Bowl performance. They’re jealous of Country artists getting those things.
But with all the Pop and Dance Music performers who have openly acknowledged using pro tools live, it’s somewhat amusing that their fans would criticize Country artists for making a mistake while singing WITHOUT artificial aids.
I just wish Country fans could learn to be proud of all our artists in their diversity — from pop to Americana — and not lend our our support to negative bashing from fans of other genres.
k.d. says:
you two okay?
Peacock Queen says:
****
Trotter,
I agree! When you said “not lend our support to negative bashing from fans of other genres” that is what I meant, exactly!
(the ***** above my comments are the only way I can get them to post!)
D Trotter says:
Yeah, I’ve been having trouble posting too,Peacock. What does the **** do?
Observer says:
You are kidding
D Trotter says:
Ah! Observer! The champion of the Cheer Captains, protecting the clique queens from the nasty barbs of Taylor Swift. What a dastardly plot!
You know, if you READ the lyrics, Swift never says anything nasty about the Cheer Captain (other than suggesting that she’s a bit of a drama queen in the first verse, “going off about something that you said”. She also alludes to how dazzling and stylish the cheer captain is compared to her own “girl next door” ordinariness.
Other than that the song is about how much the boy and Taylor have in common but he overlooks it, blinded by the dazzle of a girl who doesn’t like his humor, his music and who has taken his smile away.
In short, it’s a familiar and real story, straight out of a John Hughes movie, made very modern and believable by a skillful writer whose details bring the story to life and whose passion comes from the fact that she writes from her own experiences.
How you can try to spin such a commonplace love triangle, so easily identifiable, into some fantasy of sinister manipulation is something only a truly cynical mind could appreciate.
Swift says:
hey, i think Taylor swift is a great honest, loving person . if u are reading this t-swift im ur biggest fan. i can relate to all ur songs and just to let u know i am 13 and live in Maine. love yous!!!!! PS im kinda of a dork in my high school. love yous!!!!!!!!!!!
taylor is a beast =D says:
I think all u Taylor hater just need to get over yourselves because all u people know she can sing, but your just jealous that she is a beast. honestly if you dont like her this site doesnt need your dumb comments!