Despite being the beloved, iconic billionaire that teens and young adults grew up with, Taylor Swift’s newest album, The Life of a Showgirl, has sparked controversy among music listeners.
Within TikTok’s algorithm, Swift faces criticism for her latest work, especially the songs “Wood” and “CANCELLED!”. Viewers use these songs, along with others, as a basis for comedy, mocking her lyricism and execution. However, not everyone is using her works as comedy; rather, they are using the songs to evaluate her changes as an artist.
Senior Daniel Kimalat is an avid R&B fan, and in his time, he has listened to a little Swift. Having grown up listening to her songs on the radio, long before he moved into R&B, he feels disappointed by the maturity changes in her recent albums. Since Swift is especially popular among younger audiences, he believes this shift is somewhat inappropriate.
“2025 is a completely different realm for music than it was in 2017 or 2016, mainly because widespread internet culture can hit these younger kids…these mature themes are being able to hit younger demographics easier,” said Kimalat.
In an interview with Buzzfeed UK, Swift states that she respects people’s “subjective opinions” on her art. However, she also discusses how online criticism has impacted her career and income.
“The rule of show business is if it’s the first week of my album release, and you are saying either my name or my album title, you are helping,” said Swift.
Nevertheless, not everyone opposes the creation of this subjective album. Swifties, as her fans are called, support the album and her success while refusing to let critics’ opinions diminish their loyalty.
Senior Alyssa Holeman has been a Swiftie for many years, while also being a big fan of other artists like Role Model and Lizzy McAlpine. Holeman believes the diversity and emotional expression across Swift’s albums make them difficult to compare, as each is unique.
Additionally, Holeman feels that the media’s response is understandable since people have the right to express their opinions. However, she also thinks the amount of hate is excessive and hurtful to those who genuinely enjoy her music.
“I feel like there is so much hate in the world that people think it’s normal to hate on stuff like that. I think that if somebody likes it, then don’t be rude about it,” said Holeman.
Ultimately, whether they are Swift fans or not, her works influence a wide range of audiences. Whether she is liked or disliked, Swift has the right to decide how she creates and shares her music.
