Time Magazine’s announcement yesterday of Taylor Swift as its annual Person of the Year is an emphatic fuck you to politics, marking the first time in almost a decade that the Person of the Year wasn’t a political figure — an accurate reflection of Americans’ disgust with politics.
I find it telling that people of color & those Gen X and older who are also Swifties continue to be dismissed as though Swifties are only young, white women. My family, friends & colleagues are all mixed, different ages, and other than Swift - have completely different preferences in so many areas - yet, we all love Taylor - and not just in 2023. Kind of reminds me of my "Bernie Bro" days in the media where I simply didn't exist in their eyes. I'm Puerto Rican, 45 years old. My husband is White & also 45.
Taylor is a global phenom - not just an American one. Fans in the Latin America leg of her tour "Taylor-gated" from 10+ hours to DAYS prior to her shows for general admission seats to get as close as possible. YouTube any clips from her shows in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo or Argentina. When Taylor restarts her tour in 2024, I can guarantee you every show will be sold out & she will also be more popular & beloved as compared to any of their politicians, too.
As a household of 4, Taylor is the only artist that we all can listen to & agree is the GOAT. Better than Michael Jackson, the Beatles, Elvis, Sinatra, Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Prince, Whitney, U2 -- they all fall short by a LONG SHOT.
I've seen Madonna(2), Mariah(3), Xtina, JT(2), Beyoncé & Jay-Z, Eminem & RiRi, RiRi by herself(2), Alicia Keys, Britney, John Legend, Demi (2), JLo (2), Chris Brown, Boyz II Men, Pink (2) & so many more the last 2 decades. Taylor is hands down the best performer & concert my husband & I have ever been to amongst all of these superstars/legends.
Her lyrics bypass generations, genders, cultures, language. Why is she more popular than all other politicians? You're correct in that she's inspiring - but you're also missing the point. She is a political force (one post & fans take action), a symbol of excellence & evolution, resilience & defiance in the face of the patriarchy, and the characteristics most of our politicians lack & even find weak to their own detriment: genuine empathy, relatedness, love for humanity, and trying to do make a positive difference in the world (vs the ugly raging greed that sits at the rotted core of our government - the rest of us be damned.
Ken, you're thinking too small on this one & missing the full picture. She's everything they're not & that's why she's on top.
Is that an anomaly? Let me throw your world upside down... I'm a premium sub for Breaking Points, The Lever, The Intercept, & others, and an avid reader/subscriber to only independent media. I also am an Independent voter. ---and 1000% a Swiftie. 😊
Well, she's very mainstream, not really a deep cut, but you do seem enthusiastic about her. On the other hand, your political subscriptions are all semi-obscure progressive outlets. I just got the feeling that it was a contradiction of sorts, to have deep interest in music but have sincere fandom for the most mainstream artist, with the reverse being the case for politics.
She might be well-known, but it's not like she has any genuine desire to change the world. In fact, her being apolitical proves this. She wouldn't have made it this far if she wasn't disciplined about her branding as purely an entertainment figure for mainly teenage girls.
Also, I have to say it's somewhat alienating to me to witness her success. Music superstars have rarely been quite this shallow with such subpar music and so little to say. There is nothing about Taylor Swift that goes beyond the brand, nothing individual about her that makes her stand out from dozens of other performers with the same whiny songs about relationships. And when people start to call her the greatest artist of all time it's like calling a Hallmark movie about saving a dog-birthdaycake-bakery the best movie ever. It demonstrates an embarrassingly undeveloped taste.
Every time I get your letter I think of “Ken ‘Einstein’ general douche-about-town” and chuckle. Have you seen the right wind punditsphere melting down over this cover and calling it a dem psy-op?
I am so fucking sick of Swifties. They are as loud, arrogant, judgmental, defensive, and selfish as any other fandom on the planet.
That said...just because Swift isn’t “political” according to your Beltway/electoral frame of reference, Ken, does not mean she is “apolitical.” Swift is political because she is a successful woman who has made an entire media empire based on her performance of white American femininity, and she has even occasionally used her platform to promote progressive causes. She’s not my cup of tea; I’m not super impressed with her basic, white, 3rd wave feminism; and she’s too rich for me to feel any kind of sympathy for her. But she is political for her fans, which would be obvious if you ever talked to a one of them. This bordering in Politico-level naivety
Whatever one thinks of Swift (I haven't liked any of her songs in a long time, maybe since Love Story), it is beyond dense to think her selection as Time's Person of the Year is apolitical. She's better at inducing tears from conservative pundits than most Democrat politicians.
Yes, Ken, I can blame them (referring to your ? Re: young ppl not voting). We are a participatory democracy. Fail to participate & our system of government falls apart to demagogues &/or theocrats. Those little selfish brats aren’t going to get anything better under a fascist theocracy. I know this because I can see the fate of young people in Iran. Participate or Perish.
Call me cynical but this is is Time chickening out.
Person of the Year is Time magazine's only relevant issue any more. Gone are the days when their weekly commentary was read by everyone. Everyone. (I grew up in a working class household and we got Time and Newsweek.)
If Time had picked a politician, who were they going to pick? Kevin McCarthy? Who's going to be famous for taking fifteen shots and still couldn't make it to his first anniversary?
Mike Johnson who is unlikely to even be speaker next year?
Trump who is now looking more demented by the moment?
Mitt Romney who released one of the more courageous books but which doesn't seem to have impacted one Republican voter?
Or Joe Biden who is having a great year, accomplishing great things without any of the middle school drama that mainstream media relishes?
If they picked a politician it would have to have been Biden but that would undercut the "Biden is weak" message that commentators need to fill up air space and print space.
Now I think there is a case for Swift being Person of the Year - her tours generated $5B+ in GDP and she is someone who may change the national conversation. And a shout out to Beyonce who also had a phenomenal year and a phenomenal tour and also generated another $5B in GDP.
Each of those women were just as impactful to the economy as all of the NFL. When was the last time you saw the NFL being dissed like this?
I find it telling that people of color & those Gen X and older who are also Swifties continue to be dismissed as though Swifties are only young, white women. My family, friends & colleagues are all mixed, different ages, and other than Swift - have completely different preferences in so many areas - yet, we all love Taylor - and not just in 2023. Kind of reminds me of my "Bernie Bro" days in the media where I simply didn't exist in their eyes. I'm Puerto Rican, 45 years old. My husband is White & also 45.
Taylor is a global phenom - not just an American one. Fans in the Latin America leg of her tour "Taylor-gated" from 10+ hours to DAYS prior to her shows for general admission seats to get as close as possible. YouTube any clips from her shows in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paolo or Argentina. When Taylor restarts her tour in 2024, I can guarantee you every show will be sold out & she will also be more popular & beloved as compared to any of their politicians, too.
As a household of 4, Taylor is the only artist that we all can listen to & agree is the GOAT. Better than Michael Jackson, the Beatles, Elvis, Sinatra, Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Prince, Whitney, U2 -- they all fall short by a LONG SHOT.
I've seen Madonna(2), Mariah(3), Xtina, JT(2), Beyoncé & Jay-Z, Eminem & RiRi, RiRi by herself(2), Alicia Keys, Britney, John Legend, Demi (2), JLo (2), Chris Brown, Boyz II Men, Pink (2) & so many more the last 2 decades. Taylor is hands down the best performer & concert my husband & I have ever been to amongst all of these superstars/legends.
Her lyrics bypass generations, genders, cultures, language. Why is she more popular than all other politicians? You're correct in that she's inspiring - but you're also missing the point. She is a political force (one post & fans take action), a symbol of excellence & evolution, resilience & defiance in the face of the patriarchy, and the characteristics most of our politicians lack & even find weak to their own detriment: genuine empathy, relatedness, love for humanity, and trying to do make a positive difference in the world (vs the ugly raging greed that sits at the rotted core of our government - the rest of us be damned.
Ken, you're thinking too small on this one & missing the full picture. She's everything they're not & that's why she's on top.
My ability to parse sarcasm is off, but is this an entirely serious post and are you a genuine TS fan who is also a Ken Klippenstein reader?
Is that an anomaly? Let me throw your world upside down... I'm a premium sub for Breaking Points, The Lever, The Intercept, & others, and an avid reader/subscriber to only independent media. I also am an Independent voter. ---and 1000% a Swiftie. 😊
Well, she's very mainstream, not really a deep cut, but you do seem enthusiastic about her. On the other hand, your political subscriptions are all semi-obscure progressive outlets. I just got the feeling that it was a contradiction of sorts, to have deep interest in music but have sincere fandom for the most mainstream artist, with the reverse being the case for politics.
Taylor Swift and Beyonce (who is also having a phenomenal year) are being credited with generating $10B for the economy this year.
That's billion with a B.
The Fed mentioned the economic effects of her tour in the Beige Book.
35,000 people registered to vote after one Instagram post where she linked to the site Vote.org.
If you can't bring yourself to treat her music seriously so be it, but she is a force.
And she has far more guts than most male politicians.
She might be well-known, but it's not like she has any genuine desire to change the world. In fact, her being apolitical proves this. She wouldn't have made it this far if she wasn't disciplined about her branding as purely an entertainment figure for mainly teenage girls.
Also, I have to say it's somewhat alienating to me to witness her success. Music superstars have rarely been quite this shallow with such subpar music and so little to say. There is nothing about Taylor Swift that goes beyond the brand, nothing individual about her that makes her stand out from dozens of other performers with the same whiny songs about relationships. And when people start to call her the greatest artist of all time it's like calling a Hallmark movie about saving a dog-birthdaycake-bakery the best movie ever. It demonstrates an embarrassingly undeveloped taste.
The great thing about being alive is we all have opinions and they're all valid.
I advise all to listen to her Tiny Desk appearance. Just herself, guitar or piano.
You will be moved.
It's one of my favorite performances she's done. Thank you for your comment. 🥰
Lost me at “she’s better than The Beatles..”
There's only one song I enjoy from them - and it's John Lennon's "Imagine". Other than that, the songs are beyond boring. But, to each their own.
Yeah, you’re right. It’s no wonder that they never amounted to anything.
Interesting response. I never said they didn't amount to anything. But ok, good talk. 👍🏽
Every time I get your letter I think of “Ken ‘Einstein’ general douche-about-town” and chuckle. Have you seen the right wind punditsphere melting down over this cover and calling it a dem psy-op?
It's a good move for TIme. They're going to sell a ton of copies to her fans.
I absolutely *cackled* at 'Hassan Nasrallah of young white women'
Maybe her talent, drive, and goodwill also contributed to the accolade.
I think Taylor Swift is Time’s Person of the Year because Taylor Swift is Taylor Swift. She’s incredible.
Entertainment brings people together; politics divides them.
I am so fucking sick of Swifties. They are as loud, arrogant, judgmental, defensive, and selfish as any other fandom on the planet.
That said...just because Swift isn’t “political” according to your Beltway/electoral frame of reference, Ken, does not mean she is “apolitical.” Swift is political because she is a successful woman who has made an entire media empire based on her performance of white American femininity, and she has even occasionally used her platform to promote progressive causes. She’s not my cup of tea; I’m not super impressed with her basic, white, 3rd wave feminism; and she’s too rich for me to feel any kind of sympathy for her. But she is political for her fans, which would be obvious if you ever talked to a one of them. This bordering in Politico-level naivety
Whatever one thinks of Swift (I haven't liked any of her songs in a long time, maybe since Love Story), it is beyond dense to think her selection as Time's Person of the Year is apolitical. She's better at inducing tears from conservative pundits than most Democrat politicians.
Yes, Ken, I can blame them (referring to your ? Re: young ppl not voting). We are a participatory democracy. Fail to participate & our system of government falls apart to demagogues &/or theocrats. Those little selfish brats aren’t going to get anything better under a fascist theocracy. I know this because I can see the fate of young people in Iran. Participate or Perish.
Should've been the funny NDN from Reservation Dogs, William Knifeman. Oh well. Let this comment be my nomination for Knifeman 2024.
Not my person of the year. Just another useless mole swinging from a vine in plain sight.
How about a real hero such as a firefighter, policeman or service member vs a teenybopper pop star ?
Shawn Fain!
Call me cynical but this is is Time chickening out.
Person of the Year is Time magazine's only relevant issue any more. Gone are the days when their weekly commentary was read by everyone. Everyone. (I grew up in a working class household and we got Time and Newsweek.)
If Time had picked a politician, who were they going to pick? Kevin McCarthy? Who's going to be famous for taking fifteen shots and still couldn't make it to his first anniversary?
Mike Johnson who is unlikely to even be speaker next year?
Trump who is now looking more demented by the moment?
Mitt Romney who released one of the more courageous books but which doesn't seem to have impacted one Republican voter?
Or Joe Biden who is having a great year, accomplishing great things without any of the middle school drama that mainstream media relishes?
If they picked a politician it would have to have been Biden but that would undercut the "Biden is weak" message that commentators need to fill up air space and print space.
Now I think there is a case for Swift being Person of the Year - her tours generated $5B+ in GDP and she is someone who may change the national conversation. And a shout out to Beyonce who also had a phenomenal year and a phenomenal tour and also generated another $5B in GDP.
Each of those women were just as impactful to the economy as all of the NFL. When was the last time you saw the NFL being dissed like this?
Really? I think it’s because Time Magazine is worthless.
Disgusted with republicans
Who made politics disgusting, the politicians? Who elected the politicians?