The three most downloaded songs from each of Taylor Swift’s six albums, a total of 18 songs, will be coded to identify the most commonly expressed themes that fans are likely to internalize. In order to determine the top songs, sample selections were crosschecked between various music services (iTunes, Billboard, VEVO, Spotify). Songs under analysis include: - Taylor Swift (2006): “Our Song,” “Picture to Burn,” and “Teardrops on my Guitar” - Fearless (2008): “Love Story,” “You Belong With Me,” and “White Horse” - Speak Now (2010): “Mean,” “Back to December,” and “Mine” - Red (2012): “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “22,” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” - 1989 (2014): “Shake It Off,” “Blank Space,” and “Style” - reputation (2017): …show more content…
The prominence of specific themes will be noted per song and then evaluated across all six albums. By doing so, coders can locate the overarching themes expressed through Taylor Swift’s music, as they are more likely to be acquired by her fans. Only the themes that are explicitly and clearly portrayed will be coded, in order to avoid over counting. Coder Training and Reliability Testing The sample will be analyzed by two coders to check for reliability. Qualitative Content Analysis In order to locate the expected themes for later coding, a preliminary qualitative content analysis was performed of the 18 songs in the sample. One coder examined each song at the expression level in order to identify the commonly expressed themes, as well as analyze the level of dominance per each expression. This process constructed a list of themes, which were then ranked based on prominence throughout Swift’s six albums. The following measures were located: bad break-up/revenge, one and only/soul mates, secrecy/intimacy, fairytale romance/idealization of the perfect relationship, on-again off-again relationship, romanticizing of the bad boy trope, crazy ex-girlfriend, girl power/feminism, unrequited love, and reckless adolescent
Taylor Swift likes to invoke a lot of emotion into her music and includes several things she has experienced in her life. One major recurring theme in her songs is love.
Often music is consisted not only by sounds made from musical instruments, but also by voice and verbal messages. The structure of the voice, or as Roland Barthes describes it ‘the grain of voice’ is the element in a certain piece of music which is responsible for creating the emotions when listening. The grain and the lyrics make the signified and carry out the message. The vocal part of music is formed of words, text, which communicate and make the representation and expression of what it is sung - talked about. According to Barthes the emotive modes of the voice and the changes of the tones from low to high is what delivers the final message and makes us feel the music. (Barthes, R. 1977 [1972]).
Songs, used to create messages, give singers the ability to speak about concerns that are relevant in the current everyday life. A powerful ways songwriters achieve this is by applying the use of imagery. Lyricists use this help readers of literary works to understand specific ideas that the writer is trying to convey. By using symbolism in songs, singers can discuss issues in ways that connect with the listener on a deeper level. Using this method in songwriting is crucial when discussing important subjects; influencing the public in a way that is not direct and more effective. In “ Don’t You Cry For Me,” songwriter Cobi uses repeated images of trees and individuals hanging as metaphors for his feelings towards facing injustice. It is through
Listening to the lyrics of your favorite song you automatically start to have a connection with that song. Then the song starts to represent you and your life because of the lyrics. Some songs show about being a fighter,having freedom, or just being you. There's a billion of songs out there and there's a billion of people who connect with those songs. Usually the most common reason why some songs represent people is by their past experience. For me some songs represent me because I decided to follow my dreams,living in the moment, and get right back up.
With means to express oneself, helps one overcome the difficulties of life. This approach represents the entire nature of the hip hop culture, especially when dealing with social justice issues. Today, the hip hop culture association revolves around raps (lyrics) and the rappers which reflect how consumers receive messages about social justice issues. Unlike breaking and graffiti, the music/lyrics penetrate society more. However, for this analysis, the focus will rely on a visual element with a connection to hip hop music. Even though a music video would make sense as a visual means of expression, this analysis has more interest in the cover art that goes with a hip hop album. Also, this focus will lead to the question of how important is art
It talks about how the drama of Swift’s failed relationship with Harry Styles simmers in the details of the verses before the bombast of the chorus brings the pay-off. A brilliantly crafted track on every level from beginning to end. But not only in that song, Billboard mentions that in an interview "Swift says she has hardly dated since splitting with One Direction's Harry Styles early in 2013, and the songs' musical styles follow the character types she plays on the album: train wreck waiting to happen ("Blank Space"), committed partner ("I Know Places," "This Love"), penitent breaker-upper ("I Wish You Would"), spurned break-upee ("All You Had to Do Was Stay"). Lyrical references to him are all over the album: There are several vehicular-mishap analogies (the pair were in a snowmobile accident in 2013) and even a song called 'Style.'" Even though the songs were inspired from him, I do not like the way she reflected her break up on these
Taylor Swift, a pop icon and polarizing figure, is often known for her empowering music, feminist attitude, and meaningful lyrics. Many of her fans praise the feminist messages some of her songs deliver, however others say she comes from a position of privilege and only advocates for white women. Still, a common perception of Swift is that she has evolved from an innocent country singer into a more controversial and sometimes provocative pop singer. What is ignored though, is that despite this perception, themes depicted in “old” Taylor’s music still displayed highly problematic concepts about gender, just in less obvious ways. Particularly in her music video for “You Belong With Me,” the audience if presented with a fulfilling love story involving a nerdy girl getting the popular. On its surface, this concept may seem normal, but the narrative of this video unintentionally conveys significant gender issues in today’s society. Thus, through her 2008 music video for “You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift ironically presents herself as the ideal nerdy girl next door who gets the guy when she suddenly turns beautiful while demonizing a cheerleader, revealing problematic notions of how women are supposed to look and behave in society, as well as reinforcing negative female stereotypes.
Or perhaps the real artist, Taylor Swift’s purpose is to show the audience how ridiculous is the media image that has been created on her. It is a warning for both boys and girls, primarily those who are hoping to attract love from boys that love is perpetuated by its tortuousness. It is painful if boys will lose interest, that is Swift’s warning. The song revolves around a message for girls: do not be a daydream dressed like a daydream; do not be a nightmare dressed like a nightmare; do not find out what kind of a girl he wants and be like that forever, do not be heaven, do not be nice, do not be magic, never be too plain or perfect and good. You can also add torture to love and bring darkness to light, it is all about the
Taylor Swift really knows how to have hidden messages and secrets throughout her lyrics and music videos. Taylor Swift also likes to trash talk other celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Katy Perry. Which gives a viewer a good chance to critic her lyrics and videos.
In musical superstar Taylor Swift’s music video for her song “Blank Space,” she is portraying herself as the high maintenance and dramatic girlfriend that the media believes she is. The speaker of this text is the media’s perception of Taylor Swift and her message is about the disconnect between who Swift really is and who the media sees her as. I believe Swift has two purposes for this music video. One is for her character in the music video to warn her audience about the type of love that boys want, and the other for real life Taylor herself to poke holes into the media’s concept of her love life. The video is filled with satire and paradoxes to convince us that our idea of Taylor Swift is not an accurate opinion of her.
Ironically addressed to the numerous rumors that have risen over Taylor Swift's career, "Blank Space," is a clear painting of the artist as a hopeless romantic with an addiction to erratic relationships. Swift uses the song as an outlet to make light of the gossip in an exaggerated portrayal of the characteristics she is most often associated with, by way of her beautifully choreographed music video to accompany the song. Swift arranges for her personal experiences to severe her as a guide, to write music in which her admirers can personalize. An event that most individuals can relate to is going through a heartbreaking relationship, in which case, Swift is an expert on making public. Identifying with millions of fans, who go through the “fantasy of love,” Taylor Swift portrays the cycles of a relationship in her song and video “Blank Space;” the elements represented are romance, jealousy and disillusionment.
It states that "a good concert, is measured by the audience's physical response, by how quickly people get out of their seats, onto the dance floor, by how loudly they shout and scream". Taylor Swift's concerts are filled with people who sing along, shout and scream as well as dance. Frith also talks about the importance of race in the music industry. Traditionally "African music (and African derived music) are more physical" than other music. Taylor Swift's songs are just as physical as African music.
According to the masses Taylor Swift has been classified as an artist who depends on cliques to add essence to her songs and apparently her hit song “You Belong With Me," is no exception. Unfortunately Taylor Swift has fallen into a loop of controversy, whether her songs actually convey an emotional message or are artificial acts of love. “You Belong With Me,” is one of Taylor’s first world wide hits, allowing for a large quantity of fresh ideas. The song depicts the personified version of sentiment and sentimentality by expressing the personalities of two girls in love with a boy.
Taylor Swift represented that same unhappiness that is associated with love in her music. In her song “Forever and Always” Taylor Swift exemplified her pain through the lyrics. In the sixth stanza of her song Taylor sang, “Oh, I stare at the phone/ He still hasn’t called/ And then you feel so low/
There are no other forms of technology that predict the successfulness of songs in the music industry. The current method used is producer’s gut feelings.