So, I just watched The Reputation Stadium Tour, and I have to say I came in with zero expectations. Instead, I had an open mind, and I was even feeling kind of excited. Disclaimer: I’ve never seen Taylor in concert, whether live or streamed, because she has never come to Latin America, not even once. But, my doubts and prejudices were confirmed with the Reputation movie: Taylor Swift is, in fact, as vanilla as it gets.
The stage is impressive, with two runways that cross in an “x,” and a second stage near the furthest rows (she walks from the main stage to the second to get closer to her fans). The lighting and main screen are key elements that make the show entertaining. But, apart from that, the concert is pretty boring. The dancers are just… there. They move, and that’s it. The choreographies are dull: one arm up, hips to the left, down on your knees, a sassy twist, and a little bit of “hairography,” the perfect moves for a performer who doesn’t even bother giving it a try.
I can see why some people like her, but is it worth buying such ridiculously expensive tickets to see her? The movie’s editors were the real masterminds at work here, making the show seem a little more appealing than what it probably was live, since all she does is basically singing and “runway” walking for most of the show.
She’s a smart businesswoman. She found her target audience and makes money from them. She understands that she owes everything to her fans (but she makes them spend large amounts of money to be “closer” to her). She’s made important statements encouraging her fans to grow from pain, heartbreak, and loss. She understands that she’s a role model and that she has a duty to open doors to those coming behind her, like with her statements regarding equal pay for women and misogyny in the industry. But that’s her career. She’s not the best singer or songwriter, and definitely not the best entertainer, but she works hard at maintaining a good reputation and public image.
She’s actually been very busy trying to build this reputation for herself, maybe paying too much attention to what the media says about her, while telling her fans to do the opposite. The truth is that Taylor has been so busy taking care of her public persona that she forgot how to be an artist. Her lyrics are plain, her music is boring, and her show is just dull. Expectations were high for what was supposed to be Netflix’s Global Event, but it turned out to be a global flop.
To put it simply, I just can’t relate to Taylor, mostly because she doesn’t feel authentic: she preaches to us all to be true to ourselves, while she’s made a career by playing along with the haters, trying to fit in for her fanbase and the industry. So, at the end, she stays true to her reputation: not authentic at all. That is why we can’t have nice things with you, Taylor, because you simply don’t try hard enough.
Pictures @taylorswift
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