Taylor Swift's Collapsing Country Credit

Taylor Swift, 2006

Country music fans have embraced Taylor Swift since she began her career in 2006. Swift was a very young, talented singer-songwriter with a soft, sweet voice and heart-filled song lyrics. Since the release of her first album at age 16, Swift has always self-identified as a country artist. She very quickly became the bright, young face of the genre but lately things are sounding quite different.

Tuning in to Swift’s newest record Red, it isn’t hard to tell that the famous Taylor-twang we’ve all grown to love is gone. As a big country music fan, I feel comfortable saying there is just nothing country about Swift’s newest hits. In fact, let’s take a minute here to compare Swift’s earlier work like Tim McGraw to some of her newest songs like We Are Never Getting Back Together and I Knew You Were Trouble. I think most of us can agree the lively country vibe of Taylor Swift’s songs and videos is absent from these newer examples.

Taylor Swift, 2013

We haven’t heard much from Swift about her new image since the release of this album. As a country-version-of-Taylor-Swift fan, I’m disappointed. I feel like she’s selling out. Lately when I hear her on the radio, I find myself switching stations. My friends and I have an ongoing joke about the fact that Taylor Swift could even be considered a country music artist. We, like many others, embraced the new country star with open arms when she began to appear in the country music world. Now, as country music enthusiasts, we feel a bit abandoned by the ever-growing pop star. 

I’m not saying there is anything wrong with Swift switching things up and gearing her music toward a new audience. It is clear from my previous post about the change Tegan and Sara are making that I can get behind a move from one genre to another. I simply believe Swift needs to clarify her target market to cover pop music. Her latest work is a clear move away from country music and I think it’s important for her to indicate that to her fans and her audience(s). Is she abandoning her country roots or is she simply trying to push her own boundaries? Clarification from her on this topic could have prevented any hostility from her fans.

If I were part of Swift’s PR team, I would emphasize the importance of open communication and acknowledging change to her audience. Honesty and compassion for fans are admirable traits to possess when a person is in the public eye. Is her goal to gain a larger presence in mainstream media? If so, just say that. Fans appreciate honesty. If I look up to someone and if they want to keep my loyalty, I expect them to be transparent. I expected Taylor Swift to recognize the changes she made and to openly identify them to her audience. If this had happened I would have remained a Taylor Swift fan instead of simply being a member of her audience.

Check out Swift's new album and see what you you think!

Taylor Swift's 2012 Album, Red