Taylor Swift, the pop star who is undeniably political, has been criticized for her song “You Need to Calm Down,” which some believe either preempted or appropriated Gay Pride Month. Despite this, she has continued to perform the song during her “Eras” tour, revealing her career strategies. Swift has been hailed by some as “America’s Ingenue,” while others view her as a phenomenon of artistic significance. However, her stilted manner and use of revenge songs have led some to question her authenticity and the message she is sending to her young fans.
The song “You Need to Calm Down,” which features bubble-gum style rhymes and a shout-out to gay media, has been criticized for hijacking queerness and expropriating drag-queen lingo. Swift has been accused of veiled homophobia and of fostering misandry, with her bratty voice and use of boyfriends as foils. Her self-directed video for “(I’d be) The Man” has been called pointless, as she is already seen as an alpha type by her fans.
Swift’s will-to-power has been compared to Hillary Clinton’s biggest ambition, and her manipulation of the media has been likened to the Spice Girls mania of the ’90s. While some view her as an ideal for the TikTok era, others believe that her message is specious and dangerous. Ultimately, Swift’s career strategies and the message she is sending to her young fans are up for debate.
