In the unmatched display of musical ability and cultural sensation, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has grasped audiences worldwide since it began March of 2023. Recently, the international leg of the tour just ended and the tour is making its way back to the United States for a second U.S. leg. She has been to many cities in the US including Los Angeles and Tampa Bay, but unfortunately she has not been to St. Louis. Throughout the year and half the tour has gone on, it has broken numerous records but has also started intense discussions about Taylor Swift’s overwhelming popularity.
Taylor Swift was born on December 13, 1989 and for the past 20 years of her career has been making history with all the records she’s broken in the music industry. She was inspired by many country artists to start her career like Dolly Parton and others. Her first big hit was in 2006 with the song “Tim McGraw” which was a major success and led to the succession of a lot of her other popular songs like “Love Story” and “You Belong With Me.” Additionally, she made history back in 2022 when she won Album of the Year for her album “Midnights” and became the first artist to win in that category 4 times. Swift is seen as a very successful artist based on her net worth which is 1.6 billion. She has continued to break records with her new albums and her tour.
“I think Taylor Swift is one of the most successful artists because of her music diversity and captivating lyrics,” said junior Allison Miele.
Swift began on this tour to celebrate her enumerated discography, performing through the different “eras” of her career—from her country roots to her pop anthems and indie-folk albums. In the first eight months of the tour, she performed in over 50 cities, drawing millions of fans and generating an estimated $1 billion in ticket sales, making it one of the highest-grossing tours in history.
The Eras Tour has shattered many records, including the largest attendance at a single concert and the highest-grossing tour of all time. Swift’s ability to sell out stadiums in minutes and the giant support from her fanbase, known as “Swifties,” has shown her influence in the music industry.
On the other hand, not everyone is on board with the support surrounding Taylor Swift. Many people argue that her success is just because of her popularity and not because of her music or lyrics itself, labeling her as “overhyped.” People believe the obsession surrounding her can overshadow other deserving artists in the industry.
One student who is not as enamored with Swift as others is junior Natalie Brody.
“I think she is talented, but not as talented as other musicians who don’t get as much attention as Taylor Swift,” Brody said.
Many people including critics and fans in the media agree that she can shadow other artists and block the attention of them with her own “undeserving” success. Many other artists like Lana Del Ray have repeatedly lost to Taylor Swift in many award ceremonies like the Grammy’s and do not have as lively audiences in concerts like Taylor Swift. Because of her massive audiences, the prices of her shows are very controversial since they are so expensive.The average cost to go to one of her shows is $1,088.66 which is extremely expensive and critics believe the concert isn’t worth going to because of the price.
A lot of critics in the media believe the only reason she has won so many awards is because of her popularity and not because of the content in her music.Taylor Swift’s devoted fans are quick to defend her in the heated discussions. They argue that her artistry and ability to connect with her audience is different from any other artist. Also, many people think that her songwriting skills, her involvement with social issues, and her innovative concerts are reasons for her popularity.
“Taylor Swift is not overhyped. Her music is popular because of the lyrics that many people can relate to and enjoy,” junior Hannah Truesdell said.
Many people enjoy listening to Swift’s music and believe that she makes up the music industry because of her diverse musical background. Taylor Swift’s impact on the music world and her ability to show strong feelings—positive or negative—will be felt for years to come. Whether seen as a remarkably talented or an overhyped spectacle, Taylor Swift has undeniably left her mark on the world, continuing to inspire and challenge the norms of celebrity and music industry. As fans and critics alike look at the tour, it becomes clear that Taylor Swift is a cultural force, and her journey through the eras of her career is nowhere near over.
“Taylor Swift is the music industry” said Truesdell.
