The Weakness of Taylor Swift's Songwriting

Taylor Swift keeps reusing the same tired, simple chords over and over, more or less writing variations of the same song - and this video exposes her weakness as a songwriter.

[@cyriloboco3083]

My mom was listening to the new taylor album while i was in the other room. I literally thought that it was one very very long song and not the whole album. My mom then tells me "all her songs sound the same"😂

[@mrexecutive]

Your mom is hilarious 😂

[@olivesarehealthy2042]

Yeah, I've been a taylor fan for a long time and gods this is EXACTLY how i see the new album. Also our mums are the exact same lmao

[@hinduismwithpremananddasbhagat]

I agree. I listened to a few of her albums and that was my feeling. It was just a long song, nothing jumped out at me, all sorta forgettable.

[@chloelovestay444]

right? i was dancing to "how did it end?" thinking it was "so high school" how crazy 🤣

[@victorkr4118]

I also felt that and I give up from her songs

[@cinnamonnotmylastname7663]

Swifties will say that this is actually a rabbit hole and that we're not intelligent enough to understand her overuse of the same chord progression

[@StMary-yx2bt]

It’s always we don’t get or aren’t smart enough 😅

[@CreatorsChild]

Swifties are stupid who cares what they'd say

[@jcrrangers3005]

Only k dot fans are allowed to say that tbh his music complicated af

[@deg022665]

Or they say that you are old!!

[@turtleseat]

yea fr, yesterday i listened to exile (ft. bon iver, indie folk band) cause i thought it was shake it off

[@ishathakor]

i've actually run into an issue several times where i was playing one of her songs on the piano or guitar (just the chord progression) as accompaniment to practice singing and i've accidentally switched over to a completely different one of her songs without realizing it. that's how similar her songs sound to me. i would get to the end of the song and realize i'd started out playing a completely different song and accidentally switched over and didn't even know it.

[@vincentdaniels3770]

as a beginner to intermediate at best guitarist this video made me feel like a creative musical genius

[@ИапГоревич]

This is the ideal level :D

[@EthanPaul-c7p]

same

[@chloelovestay444]

yet she's #1 on the main charts... why would it be?

[@EmilyIlett]

Really?

[@EthanPaul-c7p]

@@EmilyIlett yep. Taylor Swift's music makes me feel like a guitar god. And I'm an intermediate guitarist.

[@hugging_a_namujoon]

That explains why most of her songs sound the same to me.

[@evacody1249]

I mean, there is a reason she stopped playing country and only made to folk albums. One Carrie Underwood is better and inspired more young women in country music. No true folk music fan is going to buy her two so-called folk albums.

[@cloudyxsxies583]

her songs sound the same to you because you're a basic hater who hasn't even listened to 10 Taylor swift songs

[@Balghae]

7 songs out 243? damn

[@bigfella957]

They literally are the same, usually the same chords just moved up the neck of the guitar using a capo.

[@PercypotterTaylorsVersion]

@@Balghaethat’s what I was gonna say!😄

[@OGseoulite]

This video aged really well after seeing the reception of TTPD

[@dorianmartinez5155]

not at all actually ..

[@becckyy_]

​@@dorianmartinez5155 It did tho...

[@Swervyyyy]

@@dorianmartinez5155that album was trash so it absolutely did 😭😭

[@dorianmartinez5155]

@@Swervyyyy only to you buddy

[@Swervyyyy]

@@dorianmartinez5155 so many people hate Taylor lol cause she mid af. Her music is so generic

[@RD-zj6vc]

She probably has an "if it ain't broke don't try to fix it" mentality.

[@myqueen_RegineVelasquez]

Yup! That's how US-based record labels want it. Because you know.... Money..money...money...

[@CrimsonEclipse]

Just like the patterns of storytelling similar stories over and over again. Just because it's a new relationship doesn't mean much has changed.

[@nichobee]

It's great for making money, but not artistic legacy. She won't leave much artistic legacy

[@firebird4269]

@@nichobee She's Taylor Swift, lmao. Of course she will

[@nichobee]

@@firebird4269 'lmao', her cereal box music will leave very little legacy.

[@rhondab9792]

I just find it amazing that she and many others attract fans excited by listening to what is essentially the same song garnished with different fluff over and over and over.

[@Kalymnah]

you're lucky to find it amazing. I find it so sad. And the amount of money people pay to listen to this crap is astonishing

[@Emerald174]

@@Kalymnahfr

[@orange_turtle3412]

Its not even a matter of opinion really. The majority of her songs use the same chord progression. There is objective music theory to back up the fact that her music is indeed all the same.

[@bradjohnson4126]

I don't think the music is even that big of an interest for fans of taylor swift; I think it's more about the personality (or rather, being able to self-insert as the personality of Chief Girl-Boss Taylor Swift)/ the "vibe". I recently came to a realization that most music listeners don't even listen to the music at all; they just listen to the singer and as long as the singer sounds "cool" or sexy they like song.

[@largeformatlandscape]

The majority of van goghs paintings used the same stipply over blown colour, the majority of turners were fuzzy nonsense, etc. Just because you don't like something doesn't make it bad. Working within 'limits' is a creative way of expressing yourself. If you judge her by this, you reveal your own lack of knowledge. @@orange_turtle3412

[@anjali-ish]

i am a musician and its obvious she uses the same chord progressions all the time. the whole point of her music is her lyrics and the ability to come up with such powerful poetic lyrics that people can relate to. even if you dont relate to the song, people still enjoy it. thats just my opinion and you are allowed yours too. taylor is also a great performer and thats why people (such as me) like her so much as well. i wouldnt say ALL her music sounds the same though, personally i think thats a bit of a stretch but yes she has songs that do sound very similar. by that she makes awesome mashups when she is on tour. just as long as people enjoy it and no one is getting hurt i personally dont see the problem plus this video is titles "the weakness of taylor swift's songwriting" when its clearly more about chord progression. anyways this is just my opinion hate or like it idc

[@snowyowlss]

yeah i agree. the chords can get repetitive yeah but her songwriting is amazing

[@Varun-oh2nn]

I completely agree. And her music OBVIOUSLY sounds different. There's a reason she's still relevant in this day and age 😭

[@kor_di]

Totally agreed 😍🩵💜 Lyrics are healing, through many stages of emotions 💜

[@l3sbianrightz]

girl she’s been using ghostwriters since day one and still can’t manage to release anything impressive or experimental

[@lewthedrummer]

Each to their own I guess. I'v never been much of a lyrics person. I find the music to be the most evocative thing when I listen to songs, lyrics are usually just the icing for me but not essential. I'd rather just read poetry than have thoughtful lyrics set to reused and uncreative musical ideas. In fact for most of my favourite music artists I can barely understand what they are saying anyway.

[@RatFacedJasper]

Today I learnt that I do not possess a musical ear. The comparisons just sounded of noise to me.

[@chunli6197]

bro literally,like i think whats offensive is similair melodies,which I did notice with 2 songs: the lucky one and untouchable and i think he knows and lavender haze,thats it.

[@print-helloworld-8977]

Are you a musician? This helps. But to each their own, it’s clear Taylor has a certain fan-type (young college girls, high school).

[@popaname]

Listen to the (I V vi IV) and (I V ii IV) chord progressions, then play a random Taylor Swift song. 1/3 of the time her songs will follow those two chord progressions.

[@Willow115.34]

Same, they sound like different songs to me.

[@Msgabbb]

This was eye opening and quite hilarious because her fan base loves to make the argument that she’s so great at writing when we all know her voice is mediocre at very best, so the songwriting is the only thing they have going for them. Love this video.

[@justanordinarydemigay5243]

Taylor's lyricism is not mediocre, and I doubt you can find as good and popular of a lyricist today, also, the fact that she can use them so much but still make it different and interesting enough for people to appreciate is definitely a plus.

[@Msgabbb]

@@justanordinarydemigay5243 I said her voice is mediocre at best not her lyricism. And it’s the truth.

[@justanordinarydemigay5243]

@@Msgabbb I won't argue with you, then, because your mind clearly can't be changed with logic...

[@justanidiotmk2749]

@@justanordinarydemigay5243 it's not logic it is subjective just because it is popular opinion doesn't mean it's logical

[@ProximaCentauri88]

While Taylor's lyrical depth is debatable, her sonic talent is obviously mediocre to boring as F. Mariah Carey is a great example of a true icon not just for having a distinctive tone in her voice, but also for her amazingly overlooked songwriting!

[@blorpxd]

1:15 the way I knew what the next chord sounded like before he played it is crazy

[@gfunkk]

actually it kind of is crazy but this is how music works on your expectations. you have heard that chord progression thousands of times in your life, along with a few others that are accepted norms (I, IV, V; ii, V, I; I, vi, IV, V; etc). There is nothing wrong with using these progressions and almost every popular song has some variation of one or more of these in them. The trick is using them in creative ways that fool your expectations, which is what delights us about music.

[@blorpxd]

@@gfunkk oh yeah I’ve heard about that kind of stuff since I’m a musician. That’s really funny how Taylor’s music is so predictable and yet so many people love her to death because of it. It confuses me how such generic and obvious music is so popular, especially among girls. I don’t notice Taylor changing the chord progression at interesting times either, I can almost always accurately guess when and how the song is going to change with a lot of her music. Of course I don’t hate Taylor swift myself, but I could never become so close to her music because of this issue. If she changed melody more often and had slightly more interesting chord progression timings I’d definitely like her a lot more.

[@gfunkk]

@@blorpxd what do you expect them to listen to? Mahavishnu orchestra? Schoenberg? It’s popular music, it’s literally been the same chord progressions in over 90% of songs since the 50’s.

[@blorpxd]

@@gfunkk I’ve found other songs to have more unique chord combinations, and those who don’t usually make up for the lack of surprise using a unique rhythm of percussion. However in Taylor’s songs usually I’ve found a lack of changes in percussion or other added effects to make up for the lack of chord change. Even if there is an interesting percussion part or vocals in the background, they’re usually only during the chorus and are repeated the exact same way whenever the chorus is played, still creating a lack of surprise. There’s a reason why Taylor has so much music and it’s because it lacks creativity in the music. The song writing isn’t bad when you listen to just a few of her songs, but once you hear at least 10 you start to realize they’re mostly about how some guy (who’s name is left anonymous) treated her terribly by either cheating on her or ignoring her. Taylor’s music is still very repetitive compared to other artists. Obviously I haven’t listened to all 243 of her songs, but I think I’ve heard enough to say confidently that the most unique thing about Taylor swift is how strong and dedicated her fan base is for such repetitive music.

[@isabelguzmanmiranda5025]

@@blorpxd Er... No, sorry, no. The private jet is terrible, musically she's not remotely close to The Beatles (despite her worldwide success is similar), all that is true. But her subject matter goes from children dying of cancer to abortion to murder to revenge, to insecurity, to safety, to anger, to bullying, to getting over anger... and yes, love, the birth of love, the death of love... And that applies to most mainstream music (yeah, I love power metal too, but pop is popular for a reason). There are some very valid criticisms of Taylor Swift, but Taylor Swift sucks because the sky is red with pink polka dots is not one of them. She's written about MANY topics. She's just been made famous by sensationalistic media for her break up songs. She's got more than that (and everyone is allowed to dislike or hate every single one of her songs if they so please... but they're not about the same topic). Cardigan, it's nice to have a friend, soon you'll get better, safe and sound, I did something bad, this is why we can't have nice things, mean, The Man, You need to Calm Down, Karma, Bigger than the Whole Sky, Ronan, Shake it Off, Blank Space (yeah, it's a self-trolling song), Welcome to New York, The Best Day, Christmas Tree Farm, No body, no crime, Fifteen, Anti hero, Bad Blood, New Romantics, Miss Americana -OK, this one is half politics, half love-... I mean, dislike all you want and need to, your feelings are valid. Hate if you need to, too. But if you criticise, criticise with knowledge. The private jet is hateworthy enough to justify any bad feelings without the need to say untruths. She has a lot of songs not about love and lots of love songs not about her exes. So, I don't give a shit about her, she's a billionaire that doesn't need anyone. But it terrifies me that you've listened to some songs that confirmed your biases and decided that " I’ve heard enough to say confidently..." Confidently? Dude, when I went to an exam with confidence was because I had studied the full syllabus, so I was confident that whatever the teachers threw at me, I would pass with flying colors. I mean, people vote after getting informed. And you have chosen to "confidently" decide that her songs are all about the same stuff and their fans are the only unique thing about her. Maybe, just maybe, you could get the whole info before speaking with confidence. If a surgeon had learned 10 lessons of 243, I wouldn't feel confidence in that operating theater. I think Swift's music is basic pop with nice bridges, and only a pair of her songs are REALLY good musically (as in to survive being listened by people who don't understand English and just respected for the music), I think her forte are her lyrics. But, no, she doesn't always write about the same stuff.

[@just-so-were-crystal-clear5245]

I've never been impressed by Taylor Swift's lyrics, too stream of thought describing what she is seeing, but I guess I know why many of her songs sound the same to me once I go past production.

[@Emerald174]

Same, her best song is probably shake it off

[@bkirstie]

listen to folklore

[@badgasaurus4211]

She seems to struggle using imagery and strong metaphors. Her subject matter scope is also incredibly small, tending to write about the same things over and over.

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

Ok so you don’t like stream of conscious… that doesn’t mean it’s not good, it means you don’t like it

[@googoogaga490]

@@badgasaurus4211 I can gave you 10 ts song with 10 diff subjects like right now

[@santysvocals]

This is not showing taylor's weakness in songwriting, maybe rather shows weakness in her composition skills. Still I think all the songs have different aspects thematically, in production, the vocals, etc. I love her songs, but I understand someone can get tired of her reapated chord progression, but theres no way you can call her a bad musician just for this.

[@becckyy_]

You can tho- if Beyonce started doing this y'all would start attacking her but not with Taylor🤦

[@sampound3353]

To me I think you can call her a bad musician cus of this, her songs have very little experimentation to them with genre, sound and vocals. I like a musician who can go from a jazz-inspired song with raspy vocals to an acoustic gentle song. Especially with her cult following to not experiment musically is a fault of her music, her lyrics aren’t criticized much in this video I agree but the TTPD I heard some of her worse lyricism yet

[@arianadeleon9805]

@@sampound3353 taylor definitely has songs from different genres and sound, but artists dont have to go through different genres to be good artists, thats absurd! Lately people treat everything as if it came with an expiration date, its like if there was a collective brain rot or something and people cant function without a constant stimulation from a sense of novelty… maybe if you’re fancying some jazz music while listening to taylor swift, you could switch to frank sinatra?? like you can have it all, you can listen to everything and everyone, specially nowadays… you cant expect one artist to fill all your taste quota…

[@max_mdp]

"The Weakness of Taylor Swift's Songwriting" and bro did NOT talk about songwriting😭😭😭

[@thisnigerianlovesdrinkingg4522]

Are you slow? Song writing means more than just writing lyrics. Melody is also part of songwriting and that’s why Jack antonoff is credited on her albums. It’s not like titled it “problem with her lyricism”.

[@daytonsouthall1137]

Melodies and chord progressions are apart of songwriting

[@GibberishDraw]

If you actually think this you have no clue what you're talking about, Chords are the groundwork the rest of the song is built off (Generally).

[@max_mdp]

@@daytonsouthall1137 as you said, its "part" of song writingm this video focuses only on melodies and chords. hope this helps!🥰🥰

[@xandercrew6088]

WOW YOU DONT EVEN UNDERSTAND MUSIC ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND HOW WRONG YOU ARE. YOU MISSED THE ENTIRE POINT OF THE VIDEO YET PROVED THAT TS FANS ARE MUSICALLY IMMATURE 😂😂😂😂

[@shaewall9521]

I wish there were more videos like this. Not to bash Taylor Swift, but to show that Taylor isn’t the end all, be all artist that her fans built her up to be. I find it so disrespectful when people say that Taylor is the best songwriter ever or even one of the best. Many artists before her have written songs with more substance and more meaning, such as, war, segregation, racism, pain, illness, thankfulness...and yet almost all of her songs are about her breakups or people not loving and adoring her.

[@kattej837]

ah yes, the issue with this would be- taylor swift is a white woman. the second she says something about any of the issues you mentioned, her career would be over. She perfectly understands that she can't speak about issues like racism,war and segregation- because she has never experienced that, and writing about it would invalidate all the people that have gone through these experiences. but she has experienced breakups, media attention, slut shaming, body shaming, lack of confidence- those are things she CAN speak about, and they just happen to resonate with a lot of people around the world.

[@googoogaga490]

Here are some of Tswift's songs that matches the messages that you mentioned WAR- "epiphany" from folklore- draws imaginary from war to nurses and doctor dealing with covid patients SEXISM- "the man" from lover- addresses gender bias in the music industry/other workplaces POLITICS- “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince" from lover- about disillusionment of American politics and inequality, set in a metaphorical high school ILLNESS/PAIN- "Soon you'll get better" also from lover- about serious illness in her family since both of her parents have had cancer and her mom is fighting it again during that time THANKFULNESS- "All of the girls you've loved before" again, lover- being thankful for the women that her boyfriend has met (Also, note that most of these songs are from her ONE album)

[@gautamimeherkar]

@@googoogaga490 Exactly! and there are so so so many more which show more depth to life. Other albums also have so many songs which touch upon other issues or even something happy

[@gautamimeherkar]

Hello! Well, adding to the comments already there over here, even though she touches over a variety of meaningful things like you mentioned and more, factually, yes, most of her songs are actually about love and how beautiful it is (Yeah, no, breakup songs dont make the majority). But is that so bad? So many poets and lyricist specialize in writing about love. Like you said, one of the best songwriters include Bob Dylan and our very own Paul McCartney are known for their romantic song writing. Poets (because TS considers herself more of a poet who has a story writing mostly over the same chords) including Shakesphere and Wordsworth are often quoted for their Romantic sonnets. Maya Angelou has always written about racism, sexism etc. All of these are great and do have versatility in their writing as well. And so does TS. Just because she's known for something, doesnt mean she isnt good at it. That is the reason why she has resonated with so many. I dont intend to compare all these people. Obviously these are legends and reformers.. and TS has barely started. But all these great people and great lyricist did get alot of criticism back in their days. Maybe that's the case with TS? could be.

[@Thedevilswheel]

Ellie Goulding > Taylor swift

[@allure5422]

Wait till the Swifties figure out that these examples are not all of it. They'll have a melt-down.

[@bitchass9073]

No they'll just say "it's about the story"

[@goread5544]

“Greatest storyteller of all time” 😂😂😂

[@LightYagami-c6t]

They will never they are just a bunch of teenage girls who think she is the music industry and that's pathetic af

[@berrie7098]

there's like 21 plus 😢

[@PercypotterTaylorsVersion]

Outta 270+

[@donnahewitt99]

Pop music often faces criticism for its perceived simplicity, particularly regarding chord progression and harmonic structures. However, to reduce pop music to just these elements is to overlook the myriad factors that contribute to its artistry and cultural significance. Melodic craft -(creating a catchy and memorable melody or hook), lyrical content - (the ability to convey profound feelings in a few simple lines is much harder than you think), production quality - (intricate arrangements, sound design, mixing and mastering), rhythmic innovation - (innovative beat patterns, grooves, bass lines, rhythmic hooks, that drive a song). Pop music is not necessarily about having complex harmonic progressions. The simplicity itself can be magical and is often one of the hardest things to achieve in pop music or in any artform for that matter.

[@arianadeleon9805]

hey there! huge fan of Taylor here! I think this is fair criticism, and I wont debate the facts, but would you tell Wes Anderson to stop shooting all his movies the same way? would you say that Van Gogh was wrong for using the same colors and techniques on all his paintings? I mean, have you heard about Rembrandt light? something accomplished by an artist painting beautiful portraits with subjects under the same type of light over and over again, that put his name on art history forever, these artists developed a style within the repetition, making them stand out, making them recognizable, so I would argue that its not a bad thing, it could even be something intentional on Taylor’s part. But yeah, every artist has its strengths and weaknesses, every human does, maybe this is is hers, shes not a perfect artist, but that doesnt mean she doesnt deserve the accomplishments she has worked very hard for, shes given and continues to give audiences something very human and meaningful through her music, that we relate to or just appreciate artistically, and thats what art is all about, even if it has technical aspects that can be judged or measured. She just makes music that people want to hear, you can argue this and more, at the end of the day if we like her music, we just do, why do people try so hard to change that? so yeah, maybe this is her weakness but her strengths maybe make up for it, cuz no one can say the girl cant write beautiful and masterful lyrics, and maybe she has found a way to make her weakness work on her favor cuz even using this same base you mention, she has given consistency to her music without it sounding the same.

[@ByronWarfield]

Taylor Swift in the same vein as Van Gogh and Rembrandt? 🤦‍♂️

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

I am 79. That chord progression has been used in millions of pop songs in my lifetime. You say it is most used, so what percentage of pop hit songs use that progression? Why did you pick on Taylor Swift? How many Max Martin penned songs have that progression? The reason Swifties react as they do is people like you pick faults in her music which occur in everyone's music. If you claim they sound exactly the same you are wrong. A son is not just chord progressions. Dozens of other factors make a good pop song - not least the lyrics. Next you will be complaining that most of her sentences contain the word "the" which is extremely repetitive. There are a limited number of chord progressions which sound OK. Write a couple of hundred songs yourself and see how many of them use that progression and how many become hits. Did you actually do any research to find how often that progression occurs in top 10 hits? Is it a coincidence that the songs you chose to illustrate your point happent to be amongst her most popular? Do set us know how frequently it hs been used in top 10 hits over the past 60 years. That would be a more productive, interesting and important piece of research instead of picking on one particular singer/songwriter. Or how about how Taylor Swift's use of that chord progression compares with that of the Beatles, ABBA, Michael Jackson, Carole King, Max Martin etc.

[@OmarKasasbeh-yo7qu]

This!!! Like sure this guy could point out the frequent use of this certain progression all he wants but what irks me about this video is how fucking rude he is. Like go on, write 274 songs, let's see how many of them are listenable and have the same chord progression.

[@carolo1309]

@@andrewjenkinson7052 Sir, I’m not even a believer, but God bless you for this comment 🫶

[@WhoAreYou-.-.]

Hahahaha that is funny 😂😂😂 overusing the hahaha

[@WhoAreYou-.-.]

Yeh Beatles were repetitive but amazing

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

​@@carolo1309thank you

[@jamesdeich6102]

It goes beyond chord progression. Taylor writes sentimental songs, bit never genuinely sad songs. When she writes about Romeo and Juliet it is not a tragedy anymore. Not sad. Her breakup song are sentimental and sometimes angry, but never really sad, and deeply hurt. Nothing has the sadness of "drivers license" or many Amy Whinehouse songs. Her emotional range is also reduced.

[@Ob-sw9sd]

i love olivia Rodrigo ALOTTTTTTTTTTT shes one of my faves but to me drivers license wasn't really sad, it felt like a pretend sad.

[@basskit_]

You should check out Elliott smith if you like sentimental songs

[@syntheticsilkwood2206]

​@@Ob-sw9sdI think olivia has potential she tries to do something interesting with her music where even if I don't listen to her music I don't dislike it

[@rhinocore]

​@@basskit_ sentimental songs that will absolutely destroy you.

[@Ob-sw9sd]

@@syntheticsilkwood2206 i know she can do interesting things on her songs, i LOVE her rage songs sm. But her sad songs aren't really sad if yk what I mean

[@markmchenry4489]

I gave a like to this video because it articulated a point and backed it up with facts. I think Taylor is better at working hard and marketing herself as a pop star than she is as a musician. Maybe she can play and sing much more complex music but doesn't because it might be harder to sell, but until I hear her do so I will continue to listen to Eva Cassidy, Joni Michell and other great female artists.

[@dorianmartinez5155]

good to know that is only your opinion, idk about this video "givin a point" bc he only articuled how taylor is bad by doing something that every other artist does, and also just because you don't like her music doesn't mean she is a bad musician and something tells me that you haven't listened to her discography bc what makes you think doesn't do it already? (notice a little hate in your comment)

[@ilyesnoah782]

True she do an extreme and magnificent job when it comes to marketing herself and her music she used everything she can to hype her music and life wow

[@janez6077]

@@dorianmartinez5155 Not "every other artist" uses multiple chord progressions more than 20 times!!! (source: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d5O6ZKZ7iJetedk) I still like some of her songs but you have to admit that this is kinda distasteful

[@dorianmartinez5155]

@@janez6077 i think you need to listen to more music bc they really do Here are few examples: Hank williams Ariana grande Buddy Holly Some artists uses the same chord progressions (which is not a bad thing) the same or even than taylor does And that video just show the same songs that this guy showed I don't really get how her using the same chord progressions is "distasteful" it's not a crime and is something that every single other artist does so i guess that's just for you

[@just_ariadne07]

And here I came, thinking I would watch an instructive and fun video using constructive arguments to launch a debate but no. The point is true Taylor swift regularly uses the same chord progression but it does not at any point mean she has a poor songwriting, doesn’t deserve her awards or deserve to have a video like that publicly shame her just because you’re tired of her getting praised. Just grow up please. Let it be clear I do not think Taylor swift is the best songwriting nor do I believe she is the best artist on earth, I just think maybe you should write 200 hundred songs and see if some of them don’t look similar.

[@ramsescabrera4822]

you guys act in the comments as if all pop music doesn't use these same 4 chords and it's only Swift who abuses them. Anyway Taylor's magic doesn't lie in composing complex melodies with different chords, she's not Mozart, she's Shakespare, she tells stories mostly with good lyrics and some not, but when she does it well, she does it very well, when she doesn't, well we have Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.

[@Grymbaldknight]

It's possible that Taylor Swift's music is popular specifically because it's so samey. Life is full of constant change. Not all of it is welcome. Change can be stressful, especially for people who have homely, romantic souls. Sometimes we like to go home after a difficult day and have enjoy our favourite comfort food - the specific snack or meal which has been delicious and unchanging since we were young. This food is soothing and dependable, reminding us that although time does pass, some things remain the same. It's nourishing in the present, and yet also conjures feelings of nostalgia for a happy past. I'm sure that, to many, Taylor Swift's music is the the audio equivalent of comfort food. Even though she continually releases new music, the fact that her new music sounds approximately the same as her old music - often with the same themes - is probably exactly what a lot of people want. It helps, too, that her music seems quintessentially late-00s (to my untrained ears), and many younger Millennials and older Zoomers probably grew up listening to her earlier songs. This gives it a sense of "timelessness", much as anything associated with one's childhood. I don't listen to her music, but I can understand why that might be appealing.

[@ВладимирКруглов-к9о]

Very interesting (and most likely true). Thank you for writing this!

[@boi2679]

Bullshit

[@jool5941]

No. It’s popular because she has an amazing marketing team that has been spending millions since day 1 to make her famous

[@TheReeelBradPitt]

Yes, that’s actually the whole point of developing a formula for movies, music, tv, food, is to appeal to as wide a range of people as possible, because changing it up increases the chances that someone won’t like it. So instead they don’t fight to win, they fight not to lose. The music industry in general is very formulaic, and is the mark of corporatism. It’s much easier to see in other crafts, like food (McDonald’s/Burger King), movies (marvel/illumination), chips (Doritos/cheetos). The reason corporations strive for formulaic products is for all the reasons you just stated as it’s significantly more profitable, and Taylor being formulaic is not too different. I like fast food too, same as everyone else. But for some reason no one compares Ronald McDonald to chef gusteau, or Bobby Flay. Unlike swifties

[@ultravioletpisces3666]

Exactly…. You could make the same criticism of most things in pop culture, there is going to be an underlying sameness…. Most tv shows you can line up the main characters and say they are the same characters as the scooby doo gang, or giligans island, or Friends. You can see that most good dressers follow similar formulas that work for them, Steven king books follow a similar formula too one another, Anne rice follows a similar formula… you break the formula too much and people don’t like it. Success comes from following a formula and occasionally breaking from it but generally going back to it…

[@skyhideaway]

i really don't get the hype around taylor swift. i'm not a music expert but her lyrics are also so mediocre most of the time, and swifties act as if she is the reincarnation of shakespeare. there are a few good lines that i can think of but overall, her lyricism isn't that great. there are a lot of artists who are really good songwriters and lyricists but don't get half the popularity and praise taylor does.

[@lezylol6374]

I was an avid Taylor swift hater a while ago, but her folklore album is beautiful. I think her best lyrically music is the lakes from folklore, seven from folklore, happiness from evermore, would’ve could’ve should’ve from midnights.

[@lastmanstanding5423]

easy to explain: step 1: make bad choices step 2: write shitty songs about bad choices you made step 3: other people making bad choices recognize themselves in you step 4: profit

[@lordfreerealestate8302]

She has rich parents who bought her way into one of the biggest record labels (which her father also owned in part). That's why she's popular.

[@Taylor_Toons]

This person got ranked 8th best guitarist of the past 20 years.

[@deanjonasson6776]

Never a fan but, being an older guy, I'm not Taylor's target audience. However, I witnessed something interesting a few months back. I was at a karaoke bar (celebrating a friend's Birthday). It wasn't a closed bar so there was a 50/50 split between young (20-somes) and old (40-50-somes). Lots of participation from both groups and a fair bit of audience participation when a classic song was sung. However, on three separate occasions, various singers got up to perform Taylor Swift songs. They struggled with the vague melodies and idiosyncratic phrasing and, in each case, talk-yelled the lyrics while laughing in embarrassment. If it had happened once, it would have been fairly unremarkable but the repeated examples had me thinking, "Maybe these work as songs because only Taylor can sing them." (Ryan Adams covered Taylor's "1989" album to mixed success. To me, it sounds like Springsteen covering gum commercial jingles.) There are a few of her singles that will endure, I suppose, especially those with fun videos. The fact that so many young, potential singer-writers love Swift probably means there will be a renaissance in 15-25 years. (Think of all the recent 'country' artists who sound like Fleetwood Mac.) Positive: Taylor is productive, hooky and assertive; she's really helping out record stores. Negative: Her songs are samey and all seem to be about her ex-boyfriends; they sound excessively caffeinated at my local grocery store; her last album came out with four different covers but the same songs! p.s. The blending of "All Too Well" and "Champagne Problems" sounded surreal. As more songs got layered, I felt like I was grocery shopping! p.p.s. Can you do the same thing with Bob Dylan now?

[@runfusion]

Maybe only autotune can sing them... Nowadays, there is not one musician in the world with at least mild popularity who doesn't use autotune, and it's getting out of control. The point of singing is to let out your talent, not to fabricate the authentic experience of music. I can only imagine what Kurt Cobain would think if he listened to modern music today.

[@alyp.3909]

@@runfusion look up videos of her resent tour. I think this is not autotuned. what do you think? but yeah it really is used a lot with popular musik lately

[@runfusion]

@@alyp.3909 kinda hard to auto tune a LIVE TOUR… her albums are definitely auto tuned though

[@alyp.3909]

@@runfusion yeah I know but what is wrong to make your music sound even better? She is a perfectionist and it does not sound so much different from her real singing voice, thats what I meant

[@runfusion]

@@alyp.3909 I know it doesn’t sound much different, and it is very important to make your music sound as good as possible, and that deserves respect. But the people saying that Taylor Swift is the most talented musician of all time are wrong, since she needs to use artificial means to record an album. Yes, she is definitely talented, but not talented enough to deserve nearly as much attention as Elvis got.

[@thagirion9761]

That’s pop for you. It’s a formula that guarantees sales. This hapless chord progression has been used and abused for the last forty years!

[@hollieisabellaa]

taylor swifts main focus is on the poetry, the lyricism and the storytelling of the overall song. just because it may not be catchy or to your liking doesnt mean she is a terrible artist and her songwriting is weak. she has nearly 300+ songs, oh no some of them have the same chord progression!! win 14 grammys for your music then you can come for hers :)

[@VinceLyle2161]

It's a good point, but chord progressions and what they sound like are akin to a cinematographer's work in movies: unnoticed by the vast majority, appreciated by only a few. John Ford ensured his easy retirement with shots of rocks Monument Valley, but he's still considered a great director because he gave the movie-going public what they wanted over and over again. Taylor is doing the same. And it's not even really a shot at people who loved westerns in the 50's or Swifties today. You like what you like. Enjoyment of music isn't (solely) based on the originality of it, in melody or lyrics. It's how it hits your ear. For Swifties, her music hits their ears just right. Like most, I'm not her audience. I like a few early hits, but my musical tastes have ossified. But again, I like what I like.

[@gaylenwoof]

Good points, and thanks for speaking up. I'm wondering if you have listened to her last 5 albums (not just the hits). A year ago I was saying exactly the same things you've said. I liked a few early hits, etc. but wasn't paying attention to anything more. When Midnights came out, I was surprised at how much I liked it, so I decided to listen to folklore and evermore. I totally fell in love with those albums. (The Folklore "Long Pond Sessions" movie added several more layers of appreciation.) Then I tried Lover and, again, I was amazed at how much I loved it. I alread "knew" that I didn't like Reputation, but decided to listen anyway. It turns out that Reputation is one of my favorite albums. I still enjoy the early hits, but my favorite songs are scattered across the last 5 albums. If you have not heard them in depth, I would recommend giving it a try. I'm annoyed with myself for taking so long to discover how much I love her deep cuts.

[@VinceLyle2161]

@@gaylenwoof Someday, maybe I will but for now pop is not really on my radar. I'm not denying she's talented, but my desire to explore music doesn't extend to trying to understand Taylor Swift better. When I listen to music instead of podcasts, I generally head toward Classical for the emotions it wrenches out of me. Or jazz. I'd say the closest I get to Taylor is female folk rock singers of the 90's, like Patty Griffin, Sara Bareilles, and Shawn Colvin. They're singing about bad relationships, too, but they're more a little more grown-up about it, which is maybe bias on my part, since I can't really see Taylor Swift as a grownup since she got famous in her teens. I'm glad you found songs you like in the deep cuts.

[@gaylenwoof]

@@VinceLyle2161 Fair enough. But when you say that you can't see her as "grown-up", I find myself wishing I could hear your reactions to folklore and evermore. Perhaps you won't like those albums, but I think it would be impossible for you to think of her as anything other than fully mature (as a singer and as a songwriter, and as a human being). Part of my consternation stems from the fact that just a year ago my own reactions were virtually identical to yours.

[@naheenisapoet69]

​@@gaylenwoof I didn't like TS at all until folklore and Evermore hit and I was like holy shit she finally matured. But midnights wasn't that great

[@DaPoopIsInDaPudding]

All crap

[@MayMira]

Hi! Massive swiftie and aspiring songwriter here! I have to say thank you for being one of the limited people willing to speak out about Taylor. I’m, as mentioned, a huge fan of hers but I can see the flaws and weaknesses in her songwriting. I can easily understand these flaws and enjoy her music simultaneously, and I’m glad you were willing to talk about it.

[@_Kumorii_]

I'm still learning about music so I wouldn't be surprised if I was corrected, but I think we're too focused on the fact that Swift uses the same chord progression too much instead of focusing on the fact that she somehow manages to make so many songs with it, to the point that some of them actually sound different from one another. Unless people are attentive, they maybe would've never guessed that idk, Love Story & All Too Well share the very same chord progression. It's creative & also not at the same time: She keeps reusing the same chord progression but she's still able to make many songs out of it, some different from others. Ig it's somewhat admirable even if for others, it can get boring at times.

[@MendingWall2]

You're absolutely right. Variety of chord progressions doesn't matter. Variety of melodies matter, and there's untold millions within a chord progression. Most sophisticated musicians can't find them. She can.

[@dickcastle]

she uses the same chords because shes creatively bankrupt

[@rosanaconta3416]

@@MendingWall2basci

[@rosanaconta3416]

@@MendingWall2basic

[@lezylol6374]

She has many songs with other chord progressions also, her making songs in the same chord progression doesn’t make her a bad artist as, that chord progression is popular in all music.

[@Ty-mu7gl]

Aw I was excited at the beginning of this video because it's an opinion I've had for a long time as a fan myself. I found it disappointing that this didn't have much substance; I get the humor of it but it would've been great to explain how this is a weakness, what it does for the listeners, how it interweaves with the prestige of her songwriting, compare it to other prolific songwriters in and out of the pop genre (e.g. Max Martin to Bob Dylan). It's a juicy topic that was reduced to a repetitive joke and a few comments about her Grammys (which I think wasn't too helpful since pretty much no one with Grammys for pop music is inventive and rebellious in their chord progressions). Also, does your use of “Innocent” really help you make a point if you deliberately chose the only bit of that song that uses that chord progression?

[@Bekind94]

Thank you. Please keep doing this. I’m a singer and musician and I just. Can. Not. Take anymore.

[@hienchi2565]

Taylor's music is a McDonald of music 😂

[@MendingWall2]

This progression and other combinations of I-IV-V-VI of the diatonic scale are the basis of popular music in America, whether fans of complex music like it or not. There's a reason for that: it's much easier to write catchy tunes with these progressions. And attractive melodies are what makes music popular. It's just a fact of life.

[@thierryhenry674]

Catchy? 😂 Do you mean cheesy?

[@peterbigblock]

Perhaps the silliest part is that “her” songs typically have a load of co-writers and producers. Taylor Swift music is mass-produced on an assembly line, like desk lamps.

[@carolo1309]

Hey ! 😊 Swiftie and music lover here, I have several comments to make : - Chord progressions are one of the main elements of songwriting indeed, but there’s so much more to it. Pining down Taylor Swift’s songwriting as bad just because she comfortably uses the same chord progression over and over (as many pop artists do) means you deliberately ignore all the other dimensions of songwriting : melodies, dynamics, production choices, lyrics, expressivity, song structure, etc. It’s quite a reductive vision of songwriting. Example : all too well and champagne problems are very similar indeed regarding the progression, but they FEEL completely different. Because the mood is not the same, the instrumentation is so different… chord progression isn’t everything. I can understand if it’s a core element for you, but if it prevents you from enjoying songs that are similar, well you’re going to have to stop listening to a lot of stuff 😅 - The chord progression you refer to is not per se C G Am F, but I V vi IV, if I’m not mistaken. As you said, you needed to tune down several of the songs to get in the exact same key. I know the progression remains the same in terms of degrees in the scale, but I just thought it would be fair to be a little more specific. - I’m honestly a bit surprised that she used it only 7 times ; she has an enormous discography and it wouldn’t seem shocking to me if she had used this chord progression more than that. - Also, is it really that big of a deal if a few songs sound a little bit alike ? Even : maybe this chord progression is quite popular in pop music in general for good reason ; maybe it just strikes a universal chord, is immediately relatable and pleasant to listen to, and so what, if artists use it on more than one occasion ? No hate of course, and thank you for you video, it’s interesting anyways.

[@inserthahafunniusername9656]

Whats funny is that i dont like taylor much but even i agree with you. Its a nice chord progression, i dont see the issue with her using it often. And like you said, the songs sound a little similar but also very different. Glad to see a swiftie whos calm when responding to this video lol (i know yall arent all like this, its just easy to assume theyd be a bit upset over a video thats discrediting an artist you like. Hell, i felt a bit upset cuz the chord progression reminds me of let it be by the beatles whom i adore)

[@carolo1309]

@@inserthahafunniusername9656 i think it is, in fact, the « let it be » progression 😂 (part of it at least)

[@inserthahafunniusername9656]

@carolo1309 probably lmao, it's a damn good progression so I don't blame her for using it

[@ii7559]

Finally, a comment that doesn't mindlessly hate on Taylor just because. I too am a music lover and I listen to Taylor's songs (My favorites being All Too Well, Is It Over Now?, and 'tis the damn season.) The reason why people say that her music sounds the same is they hear it from the supermarket and they're usually from her first 5 albums. I would agree that her pre-Reputation albums were almost same-sounding but there are still pretty good hits there. Technical music-wise, a lot of her songs do use chord progression and I agree with you that there are elements that make a song stand out aside from the chord progression. For me, they are the lyrics. Her breakup songs, not so much but folklore and evermore lyrics are the best dude. Maybe if her songs aren't overplayed on supermarkets then she would've got the same love as Sabrina Carpenter; for me they got the same flavor of music. 😅 TL;DR: I agree.

[@max_mdp]

the fact that you have to EXPLAIN it its just so😭😭 like thats basic knowledge this people r so dumb fr

[@shawnandrew_artist]

The 7 songs of the Apocalypse.

[@SandymoorFerrariClub]

It's often said that Taylor Swift writes music for people who don't like music. It's completely true. Her lyrics are good. Her singing is good. Her image is good. Her ability to promote herself and engage with fans and operate a successful music business is good. Her music is really bland and basic. Very little is going on in the chords or the melodies, except a lot of repetition. If you don't like music, she's an ideal musical artist for you, because she provides nice lyrics, voice and image for you to enjoy without getting distracted by all that confusing music. You get to pretend that you enjoy music when what you're really enjoying is everything else that comes along with the music. I don't see this being a problem, if you enjoy it you enjoy it.

[@matrixfan58]

Imma put you on game here boss- lyrics and vocal performance are parts of music.

[@aarushi.s9908]

It is more than her chord progressions. She is a songwriter, not much focused on composition and its her lyrics how even if its the same theme can hit different each time. Technicalities are always used against her, but she has owned her songwriting as her own form of expression even if its multiple chord progressions it makes her music hers. It can also bring beauty to have an identifying chord progression with different words and emotions expressed. So you can hate on her whatever but its not a generalizing fact. If you don't like her expression its fine, you cant see her art so leave it at that.

[@testing7802]

I credit her massively as a business person to be able to monetize herself with the same songs over and over. She is a master of branding and PR. She acts silly and weird so teeny boppers can relate to her. I guess it infuriates me though because there are artists with 100x the talent but a fraction of her net worth. I don’t fault her but I fault her brain dead fans who can’t appreciate good music.

[@TheFirstHurrah]

EXACTLY

[@max_mdp]

just said you havent listened to nothing else aside from 1989 dawg😭😭😭

[@myrongoodman6741]

@@testing7802 Yikes! You say artists with 100x the talent with a fraction of the net worth. Do you mean to say you don't understand the quandary of that comment. We all end up with what we deserve.

[@joyartemas]

she has multiple songs with the chord progression of G-D-C-D.

[@harshitasingh0506]

Hi there! A Taylor swift fan here. I get your point. It’s a bit annoying to see the same chord progressions is every song but I guess that’s the whole pop music industry at this point. The reason I like her songs is because of the lyricism and the storytelling ability that some of her songs have. It’s also just written from the female perspective so it’s really hard for guys to relate to it. But ya, to each their own I guess

[@SirHadoken]

With the title saying "songwriting" I feel like just harping on the I V vi IV thing that a lot of mainstream pop is guilty of for 8 minutes is wasting the opportunity to dive into what really holds Taylor's lyrics back specifically. I think if you can write killer lines to a really conventional chord progression then go ahead and use the chord progression, but a lot of Taylor's lyricism feels like examples that third grade teachers use to explain to their students what figurative language is rather than actual genuine uses of it. As much as I think Taylor has deserved and earned every ounce of success that she's gotten through her work, her writing feels like it tries to bring itself down to the common denominator's reading comprehension level to a point where it just feels too tacky to be poetic. The times when she gets it right (a la ivy, the last great american dynasty) don't do well commercially so it seems like she even has *pressure* to continue writing sloppily. In a way her weakness is her success; I think there's so much to this that the video could've gotten into and I was kinda surprised the criticism stopped at the chords.

[@Ty-mu7gl]

Omg this! I'm interested in hearing your examples of her sloppy lyrics!

[@SirHadoken]

@@Ty-mu7gl "Familiarity breeds contempt so put me in the basement, when I want the penthouse of your heart" - Bejeweled "We gather stones never knowing what they'll mean, some to throw, some to make a diamond ring" - my tears ricochet "Sanctimoniously performing soliloquies I'll never see" - But Daddy I Love Him "Get it off your chest, get it off my desk" - Lavender Haze "This love is good this love is bad, this love is alive back from the dead" - This Love "Now I'm pouring my heart out to a stranger but I didn't pour the whiskey" - this is me trying "The burgundy on your t-shirt when you splashed your wine into me" - Maroon "Did you ever have someone kiss you in a crowded room, and every single one of your friends was making fun of you, but 15 seconds later they were clapping too?" - Question..? "Wait by the door like I'm just a kid, use my best colors for your portrait, lay the table with the fancy shit" - tolerate it "All the king's horses, all the king's men, couldn't put me together again" - The Archer "I look through the windows of this love, even though we boarded them up; chandelier still flickering here" - Death by a Thousand Cuts "He got that boyish look that I like in a man, I am an architect I'm drawing up the plans" - I Think He Knows "My twisted knife, my sleepless night, my winless fight, this has frozen my ground" - hoax I may be reading this comment with the wrong tone in my head but in case there's war on the line here I want to make sure my position on her work is expressly clear; I do not hate her as an artist. If I truly saw no potential in her I wouldn't have listened to her whole discography, and if I wasn't at least mildly invested in the intentions and thought processes behind her work I wouldn't have thought to intentionally list exactly 13 examples. I don't even dislike all of the songs I pulled examples from; I enjoy listening to But Daddy I Love Him and Death by a Thousand Cuts in spite of my criticisms of them. I only wish her fixation on widespread marketability didn't hold her back so much from tapping into her talents more. There are plenty of lyrical moments in her discography where her figurative language does stick some neat landings (coming to mind are ivy, Clean, All Too Well, The Story of Us, New Year's Day, most of folklore), but there's an air to lines like the ones I listed that feel like they're just trying to check enough boxes to get a B- on an AP Literature assignment and move on with their lives. Tortured Poets is conceptually even more up-front about it than most of her past work ("what about your quiet treason" from Fortnight, the "long for our trysts" line from Guilty As Sin, "if rusting my sparkling summer was the goal" from The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived, to name a few); it almost feels like an attempt to reclaim it as a strength rather than address it. Obviously I'm coming from a place of opinion here and have no intentions of invalidating people's experiences if any of these lines really touched them; they just come off to me as weak writing and if nothing else I hope to at least confirm that I have listened to her music and I'm not just complaining about her to be that guy.

[@kaybrown4010]

SPOT ON. On behalf of my ears, thank you for noticing.

[@versevica]

Swift fan backlash is a minor threat.

[@00bikeboy]

I don't listen to music too often any more, but she's been all over the news here (Canada) and I felt I had to sample a little of her music. For context, I was born in 1959, and consider my musical era to be the '70s and '80s. I found her stuff, well, just boring. Nothing remotely interesting, catchy, nothing that made me want to sing along or physically move. When a great or fun song comes on, you involuntarily want to move (tapping your foot, or bobbing your head). Taylor Swift... nothing. I find her 'music' self-indulgent, boring, and tedious. But that's world we live in, Donald Trump was president (and may be again) and Taylor Swift is popular. But if you'll excuse me I need to cleanse my ears with some Talking Heads.

[@CrimsonEclipse]

I felt the same and I tried listening to all her music. Nothing sticks. Nothing make me feel anything but annoyed, bored, or eyerolled. I found her to fit into modern western girl problems which I don't relate. People kept saying she is a good storyteller but all I see in her stories is an over privileged girl who is over dramatic with too many personal issues. Too many emotional problems. Too many day dreamings. Too many pettiness. Kind of the typical modern American girls now a days who has daddy issues and relationships problems. Even if she is still he daddy's little princess she obviously has relationship problems where she saw anyone who dumped her as the problem. Also the victimhood. But hey that sells now a days I guess.

[@pauljordan4452]

THEY WERE BRILLIANT.

[@matildafaltyn6253]

I listened to her 3 most popular songs expecting something catchy. But I agree with you. It's like walmart music. Not a big fan of Madonna but at least many of her songs are distinctively different. @@CrimsonEclipse

[@misfits9294]

@@CrimsonEclipse Yikes, this comment is a red flag. It's clear you haven't spoken to a real woman in months if not years. "Modern woman" as a concept doesn't exist because, just like men and any people ever, we are all individual human beings. Go outside, touch some grass, and talk to a real life woman and not your strawman reactionary caricature the internet told you about.

[@CrimsonEclipse]

@@misfits9294 I found it funny you assumed my gender. It just show what kind of people are into Taylor Swift. FYI I'm a woman and a biological one too. Maybe you should check yourself and your own problematic relationship with men in general. It probably explains your choice of music.

[@peterprimes497]

Compare her best written song, whatever that is to "Sympathy for the Devil". They're on different planets as far as sophistication. Her music will be in the dumpster 10 years from now. Stones will be around 50 years from now.

[@Keli_mafuyu]

Let me summarized the good and bad things about her singing/songwriting Bad: She tends to use same chord progression more often than other artists, her voice is subjectively good but her vocal range is limited Good: She's versatile when it comes to genre (country, pop, rock, edm, folk), her lyricism is above average at worst

[@basskit_]

She hasn't made a single rock song

[@Keli_mafuyu]

@@basskit_ rock has many subgenres. Her old songs from the album Speak now were considered country rock/pop rock by many critics.

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

"...she tends to use the same chord progression more often than other artists..." Is that true? He did not say that. I doubt that he checked other Artists. It is most popular progression precisely because songwriters USE it most. If they did not it would not be most popular😁

[@JaysonT1]

​@@andrewjenkinson7052In her defense, she likes to steal off other artists so she's not technically the one writing the the progressions.

[@andrewjenkinson7052]

​@@JaysonT1unless you can give evidence for that I call you a liar.

[@nicholastotoro7721]

That's also the chord progression from "Let It Be" 🤣 That said, the I-V-VI-IV progression is in soooooooo much pop music and she constantly uses it, just changes the keys.

[@bitchass9073]

But let it be has a bridge that breaks up the boring chords, Taylor Swifts songs are so linear and monotone.

[@bitchass9073]

And also it's not at all the chordprogression from let it be

[@nicholastotoro7721]

I was being semi-sarcastic. It’s the chord progression from the main melody, but it does change up and play around a lot. Taylor uses it in everything, just transposes keys and adapts lyrics from whatever guys she’s… uhm… that given week.

[@isabelguzmanmiranda5025]

@@bitchass9073 Taylor swift has, in general, very good bridges. In some cases, (like Lover, which is super boring in general), the bridge is better than the rest of the song. The bridges in Karma, Look What you Made me Do, Cruel Summer, Love Story... those are great. So, I see how some of her songs can be considered boring (I find folklore -save for Exile- and Evermore boring and repetitive), but her bridges are not the problem. And "Lover" is a really good pop record, with very different songs. That record was not monotone at all, such a pity that the worst songs were the singles.

[@bitchass9073]

@@isabelguzmanmiranda5025to me, a good bridge doesn’t save a bad song though. My problem with Taylor Swift is her massive influence on pop music, and how she is keeping it exactly the same it has been for so long. Music has to evolve

[@joemck74]

Axis of Awesome have entered the chat..........

[@wangshuyuspop]

AS A SWIFTIE AND A MUSIC KID I believe that this is true, but around 50% of pop songs use those chords anyways. Anyways, she has most definitely improved :)

[@pamus6242]

This is the exact reason why i subscribed to this channel and do not have the time to listen to the drinkers ramblings. Thank you Echo Chamberlain.

[@Coastpsych_fi99]

I think she’s a great song writer in that she knows what her audience and consumer will love and delivers. It’s more the lyrics. Again more complex chords does not equal better automatically. She is good at putting lyrics over the songs and she has a strong brand. I’m never going to be a swiftie (love Jazz some Coltrane, Fitzgerald) and again I think you make a decent point about the musical abilities but writing and using words to convey stories and connect with her audience is the real key. She provides lore and clues - I’m not into that but I can dance around and enjoy some Taylor Swift. Thanks for sharing ❤

[@dewardshrewd6729]

actl i dont find chord progressions to be the biggest issue sometimes. but the problem now is even the melody sounds samey and bland.

[@compulsiverambler1352]

The minimalistic and formulaic studio production with small range of instruments used and lack of dynamic range is what makes all expensively promoted pop music sound like it was pumped out of a factory, not the chord progressions in my opinion - there are only so many of them anyway.

[@SuperDuperSentinel]

Her fanbase comprises of 9-year old girls and boring suburban women who shop at target and Starbucks. I’m sorry, but no, these people are not the trendsetters of music, style, tastes, or anything: they are consumers. They are not cool and they probably never will be cool. I wish as a collective we stopped conflating big numbers with artistry and vision.Just because Olive Garden is the most successful Italian restaurant in the world doesn’t make it BY ANY MEANS the best. And yet when it comes to music and film people cannot seem to grasp this concept. Conformity sells, and Taylor Swift is the quintessential “suburban girl”…THAT is her appeal and that’s okay. But pretending that her brand and products are artistic excellence is where I’m drawing the line. It is not. And this is why her fanbase keep trying to gas up her mediocre songwriting rather than just being honest: they identify with her because her very identity is very much like their own

[@rebeccasingerman-knight6111]

Completely misses the point about where Taylor’s genius lies - ie in the poetry of the lyrics. It is true she uses common chord progressions but if that was the only determination of success, she wouldn’t be successful. Taylor is an exceptional lyricist, she has the ability to write lyrics which scan brilliantly into her melodies and manages to encapsulate the female experience in a way speaks to millions, if not billions, of fans globally. Chord progressions are merely the very basics of songwriting - Taylor is a poet and a genius.

[@HeyyyDera]

These are valid points, but I never listen to Taylor Swift and think, “wow, the instrumental sounds SO unique!”. I like her music for the lyrics, her voice, and catchiness. It’s not for everyone, oh well.

[@brittscott4673]

Taylor Swift has a rudimentary knowledge of music on the guitar and piano. She is a good lyricist which is her greatest strength when it comes to songwriting.

[@durosuave]

Lol

[@brittscott4673]

@@durosuave I'm not being a hater T.S. has talent. I just think her success is partially due to how bad today's artists and music is.

[@its_clean]

I think Taylor's knowledge is clearly more than rudimentary. She just chooses to write accessible music using familiar chords because that's what she likes, and what can have the greatest reach to the broadest number of people. She's like a skilled cook who **could** make you a white tablecloth tasting menu with white truffle foam and dry-aged bison Wellington and idk a yuzu soufflé or something, but instead she **chooses** to make you just the world's greatest grilled cheese sandwich, or a perfect Caesar salad. Accessible doesn't mean bad. Our brains can only do so many things at the same time. By not forcing us to spend energy trying to decipher complicated chords or unique time signatures or dissonant harmonies or cryptic lyrics, we're able to feel the music rather than thinking about it or analyzing it in KZbin sheet music breakdowns. She wants us to experience the music, the stories she writes and the feelings she's trying to convey, she's not trying to teach music theory. This ain't math rock, this is pop, and at this point I'm not sure if there's a living soul on the planet who does it better than Taylor.

[@cinnamonnotmylastname7663]

@@its_cleanso she COULD write better music but she CHOOSES to write mediocre music because her fans are slow and she doesn't want to confuse them?

[@its_clean]

@@cinnamonnotmylastname7663 That is exactly not what I said, but ok

[@TheMediaMachine]

This is a big problem now with music. In many studies done it's revealed that music today especially pop music in the last 10 years till now has no variety in chords, in type of instruments used, and it's the same chords, same instruments. It's got worse. Taylor is good at selling and she focuses on what sells and when I say "what sells," I mean what will get radio stations want to play the song more often, what will get distributors to play the song more often, what will get movies producers to buy the songs etc. She is only playing into the hands of the machine that exist because it makes money and it pleases the simple minded audience...for now. Hey, if this is for you, awesome but she is only doing knowing what the big music outlets, channels, broadcasters and labels want. So what do people expect? It's not going to change.

[@CrimsonEclipse]

I totally agree on your perspective. Even when she reinvent herself she is following the latest trends. Like she got into cottagecore Indie music because it was trending at the time and she needed to get into the market to make the sells. Even if I don't like her stories and her sounds no matter which genres she jumps into. I do have to admit the girl knows how to sell. She knows what's popular at the time and will jump on that train to get into the market.

[@naheenisapoet69]

Yup a people pleaser at her best

[@nix3081]

Anyways folklore >>>

[@lauraw.2837]

she "only" won 14 grammys, but 4 times album of the year

[@prd004.2]

Kudos for having the intestinal fortitude to listen to her music

[@boomer3150]

No one knowing anything about music calls it music.

[@marcmarc1967]

So Lonely, by The Police. When it's done well, you don't even notice it.

[@tjcint]

Taylor Swift is not a good melody writer. Her melodies are consciously catchy and little else. There is nothing deeply moving, soulful, they are froth .. clever catchy froth ...

[@virgil81nz]

😂😂 You're absolutely spot on. That's gold.

[@christopherkelley1664]

Funniest lyric "and the saddest fear comes creeping in." As opposed to the happiest fear? Like someone throwing you a surprise party?

[@user-jokingsage]

if you pay attention to the suffix in 'saddest' it's saying it is THE worst. THE most sad. She is never saying that there are happy fears, just that there can be a range of strength in the sadness that accompanies the fear. It's followed by "..That you never loved me..or her..or anyone...or anything" Thinking about the possibility that someone you had loved and cared for in a relationship could've never loved you or anything else in the world can really hurt, making it the saddest, or worse, fear that she has. I would understand where you were coming from if she only said 'the sad fear comes creeping in' because would be insinuating that there is another kind of fear that is happy, but adding 'est' to the end makes a scale of sadness.

[@christopherkelley1664]

@@user-jokingsage No, the "saddest fear" comes creeping in. The fear is the saddest fear. Words have meaning, it's all right there as a modifier.

[@user-jokingsage]

@@christopherkelley1664 yeah. its the saddest fear. i know that. just because there is a most sad fear does not mean there is a happiest. it is just more sad than other fears.

[@christopherkelley1664]

@@user-jokingsage It implies a range of fears, from not sad to sad. Is there a fear that is 0% sad? A good way to examine your writing is to see if your modifiers create unnecessary questions or implications. Neil DeGrasse Tyson once said "We are stardust in the highest exalted way." Exalted already indicates high, but using the word high in addition to exalted opens up the questions: Is there a middling exalted way? Is there a lowest exalted way? Since it was extemporaneous, he can get a pass. But a lyricist should be more precise.

[@isabelguzmanmiranda5025]

@@christopherkelley1664 Fear and sadness are different emotions, and yes, there are fears that are not sad (for example, fears that could make you angry). On the contary, NDGT I feel was wrong in saying "the highest exalted" because "exalted" is a superlative adjective already and using it with another superlative adjective is redundant. Saying one fear is "the saddest one of them all" means that in all the range of sad fears one can have, this one was the worst, that a person one loved was a psychopath. If you want to find trouble with her lyrics, you can mention "riding shotgun in the front seat of his car". Girl, if you were riding shotgun, we already know you were in the co-pilot seat of his car. As for "We can leave Christmas lights up until January..." that's pretty normal, she could have said "February", which has the same amount of syllables, and it would have made more sense. But, "the saddest fear"? That has zero problems, gramatically, semantically and syntactically.

[@FlameSpiderMusic]

correct me if im wrong, i think she used that chord progression more than 20 times already

[@snibber]

He was right about the rabid swifties

[@jamesallison9662]

Look out! The Taylor Swift PR Industrial Complex is coming after you now, Boomer, Hater, Jealous!! Truly talented songwriters don't need a PR Industrial Complex.

[@thel1355]

I can't believe you made me listen to Taylor Swift. Fortunately, the songs are so forgettable it won't be a problem in a about 10 minutes.

[@soulfireonfire6423]

So why bring it up.

[@shaewall9521]

​@@soulfireonfire6423Well they are quite basic and easily forgettable.

[@shaewall9521]

I concur

[@durosuave]

@@soulfireonfire6423 cry

[@ИапГоревич]

I really forgot them after 5 minutes 💀

[@hezixiao]

And when she isn't using this progression, she uses the same 4 chords and just changes the order... like I Knew You Were Trouble (Am F G C)

[@stevenotice2918]

Funny but true - as far as it goes. By analogy you could say that a white Ferrari is the same as a white Toyota as a white Fiat etc. Or that because they all have four wheels that they are the same. No, there's much more to a song than it's basic chords. There are THOUSANDS of hit songs with those four chords and other generic progressions. And what about Rap? It's just words over the same beat again and again and again. So, clearly, while you're correct in one small detail that applies to a handful of her songs, you completely ignore, on purpose, her hundreds of other songs and the varied music and lyrics that make her one of the best songwriters of all time. And you're cashing in on her name like many others on youtube because without it no one would come to your channel in the first place. 😀

[@idoru6441]

idk where the issue lies…. she has like 300 songs and like 20 of them use the same chord progression (which is obviously something that she PURPOSEFULLY does, it’s not a weakness as we know she’s able write using other progressions and time signatures) so…. it seems that you just have and opinion about how music should be ans are taking it out on her songs which are made that way on purpose. Like she likes that chord progression and the effect that the simplicity of it creates. And we do too. So honestly thats a good use of tools according to an artistic vision. You’re short sighted.

[@thomasfahey8763]

I have nothing against the girl, but I laughed out loud at your video.

[@downwithHamasandIran533]

Is She a Dude??

[@brickking6068]

The reason she's famous is: group mentality, they can call themselves swifties and talk about the new album. But you know that, at night, when you're alone in bed on Spotify with earbuds, it sucks.

[@PercypotterTaylorsVersion]

I love doing exactly what you just said sucks. And I can assure you that I enjoy every moment of it

[@PercypotterTaylorsVersion]

But that’s just my opinion so

[@lezylol6374]

The reason she’s famous because the music is bops, I hate HATED Taylor swift for so long, but a big fan of folk-indie music her folklore evermore albums are great. If you took time to maybe just listen to her more in depth songs maybe you’d like her(you don’t have to like her), the over-saturation of her more basic popular pop songs makes it perceive her music is terrible. Honestly I don’t choose to listen to those songs because to be honest those are her most tiring, but songs like the lakes, glitch, are great!

[@Maximus-tg1ee]

She was born rich and she’s complaining about her life in her song 💀

[@misterknightowlandco]

Taylor isn’t an artist or musician she’s a cult leader…

[@Ciborium]

I am waiting for the A-G-Am-F v Taylor Swift trial. I am looking forward to the list of experts demonstrating Taylor's history of abuse of this chord progression. I seriously hope that A-G-Am-F is able to get out of that relationship and seek counseling. But seriously, even Todd in the Shadows has remarked on the "four chord pop song" being a trope. Taylor Swift is no different than any other pop artist using the same four chord progression. The band Journey is well known for their abuse of the "four chord pop song" trope.

[@MajesticWaffle]

You realize it’s C not A major?

[@ghjgknjkl]

"Taylor Swift is no different than any other pop artist..."

[@ilaytsa2685]

I think that this in a way also makes an argument against itself - these are all at least good songs that sound different from each other, yet they all use the same chord progression. I think it's a very cool ability to be able to get so much out of one musical idea. Kind of wish i could do that, although I'm sure that it's an ability you can obtain with experience.

[@largeformatlandscape]

My thoughts exactly... The idea that working within a limited 'palette' and still creating popular and interesting harmonies and lyrics is a weakness is baffling? Do we criticise painters because they work to a style and with a certain palette? In fact in most arts, people who try to do too much variety tend to get looked down on as dabblers - it's the people who deep dive into a subset of an art that get the plaudits... obviously if you're someone 'into' the techniques of chord structure, she won't attract your interest. Just like somebody who hates landscape will never like a constable..

[@naheenisapoet69]

​@@largeformatlandscapewell more like she still hasn't matured probably

[@largeformatlandscape]

@@naheenisapoet69 I'm a bit against the whole 'matured' word as so many amazing artists produced there best work when 'immature'. Perhaps if you value a certain sound that could be interpreted as 'mature', then yes

[@rosanaconta3416]

@@largeformatlandscapebasic

[@rosanaconta3416]

@@largeformatlandscapebasic

[@Eric-y1g9f]

I don’t know much about songwriting but I think Taylor should have given this line a little more thought: “Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind.”

[@gaylenwoof]

From my perspective, complaining about a songwriter “using the same old chord progressions” is a like a reader of novels complaining that an author keeps reusing the same old boring letters over and over. There is so much more to music than chord progression. I suspect that your subjective preferences simply don’t resonate with Taylor’s music, and there is obviously nothing wrong with that. But then you take it a step further and try to develop a quantitative/objective argument for why she is not a great songwriter. I think you probably mean well, but you are deluding yourself. Whether you mean to, or not, you are essentially claiming that your musical tastes regarding Taylor are better than mine, based on a presumably objective criteria. (Since she has written over 200 songs, I suspect that you have done some cherry-picking for the sake of your rationalization but, even if that is not true, my central points still stand.) Bottom line: If Taylor has, in fact, produced such vast amounts of highly-loved music (quantifiable on the basis of sales and streams) across several genera that appeal to all ages (BTW, I’m 65), and all cultures (she’s an international superstar who can sell out stadiums on practically every continent - the only exception being Antarctica, for obvious reasons) based on a few chords, then this is not a criticism of her talent, but a testament to her incredible skills. In other words, your criticism based on supposedly objective evidence reduces down to purely subjective preferences that might possibly be nothing more than sour grapes.

[@AlexanderCrab1]

When this video came out she had released 9 albums and 2 re-records which added I think 14 more songs to her discography which led her to be at around 220 songs have the same chord progression in 7 of those songs isn’t much you are really reaching for something to complain about

[@DanVDemo]

its even more impressive that shes able to do the same thing but make it so impactful each time

[@chikitamaharani1291]

impact who

[@becckyy_]

​@@chikitamaharani1291 it impacts the charts and awards but it never impacts culture or is influential, which is not true art.

[@dorianmartinez5155]

​@@becckyy_are you sure about that?

[@becckyy_]

@@dorianmartinez5155 yes she has never shaped music like Lauryn Hill shaping hip hop, Brandy shaping R&B, and Beyonce shaping pop music. Taylor isn't impactful.

[@dorianmartinez5155]

@@becckyy_ ins't she is impactful then explain all the people who listen to her, go to her concerts or even artist like (conan gray, olivia rodrigo and Camila cabello) have inspired about her, ins't that impactful to you? And i now that you're talking about "shaped music" but no artist needs neccesarily do that to be considered good and neither other artist like Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry etc has done the same, so why are you only dragging taylor about it?

[@delbo7181]

I completely agree with you but I feel like Taylor Swift is nit picked the most out of many other artists who do the same things. And I think this criticism exists because she is successful and the richest person whos main income source is music. I understand holding her to a higher standard but shes clearly doing something very very very right.

[@sharikvashny8786]

This is hilarious. I love it. My guitar teacher hates her and says that she just writes simple songs for teenagers that have no music appreciation or ability.

[@zeejay4458]

Now she’s doing 4-1-5-6 repeatedly

[@lrs7777]

Recently my daughter staged her 50k Taylor Swift themed bridal shower, wedding rehearsal, and wedding. It was bleak.

[@arcynic5404]

That's unfortunate. I wish you several nights of blissful solitude and Pink Floyd records.

[@loore586]

at the end of the day, what is the problem in ysing the same chords over and over again. you said it, its the most used combination so whats wrong with it? why is it considered a bad thing?

[@nix3081]

playing champagne problems with a picture of fearless tv in the back..

[@whenever_mature]

And this love with a picture of speak now in the back...

[@monaural2.988]

Got news for you; There has ALWAYS been someone stating that much of everything since “Rock Around the Clock” is either cheap, predictable, unoriginal or boring. Any criticism of Taylor is nothing new. Zero.

[@rembot7061]

Brilliant video

[@cassiASMR]

In order for me to like a song, it has to “satisfy” me. Her music very rarely does . Her lyrics may be creative at times, I’ll give her credit for that. But when it comes to chord progression, rhythm, build, resolving, and creativity in general, im so unsatisfied with her music. In some songs, it genuinely feels as though she doesn’t understand music literally at all. I’m so glad im not alone here.

[@chunli6197]

4:13 what is this supposed to say i dont get it? like all the songs play at once and have the same chord progressions and they sound nothing alike?

[@justsomeguywithoutagirl4956]

Sounds same to me

[@dorianmartinez5155]

​@@justsomeguywithoutagirl4956just 4 you

[@SnowyFinland]

"The great Taylor Swift chord progression psycho-nightmare." Sums it up. I haven't laughed this hard in probably a year. This Echo Chamberlain guy is a genius in getting the point across. Swift is either a dunce (which I doubt) or a greedy, self-absorbed egoist willing to trash our rich musical culture by polluting the impressionable minds of the young with so much trash that little space remains in them for the appreciation of real music. If you like pop, instead listen to Joni Mitchell. Or better yet, listen instead to Miles Davis or John Coltrane, or Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven. There's so much good music out there, and it's not hard to find, if you simply ignore Spotify's rankings.

[@sseltrek1a2b]

when i was starting out in music, someone told me that you should always have someone in your life that will keep you from, "listening to your own press..."...apparently, Taylor doesn't have anyone in her life telling her that she's less artistically than she actually is...

[@floh2959]

This has ALWAYS bothered me!! Glad other people hear it

[@gregtroyan]

Tell me you know nothing about songwriting without telling me you know nothing about songwriting. this video: hold my beer

[@ShyGal3]

LITERALLY. Only referencing the chord progressions, and even that, only a few songs out of 250+ she's written. And not addressing the lyrics once

[@gregtroyan]

@@ShyGal3 This channel looks like a conservative clickbait "woke is ruining the world" kinda channel, so shallow artistic analysis is to be expected. I would say don't tell the channel creator about chord progressions in the blues, but given the racial undertones of anti-woke, that might just give him an idea for another video.

[@ShyGal3]

⁠@@gregtroyan😭😭😭 I love that you mentioned Blues because the harmony is relatively simple and it seems the same people who claim Taylor Swift is trash because of lack in diversity in her chord progressions, like to claim they prefer "old music". Honestly though, yea it seems like it pretty much. Reminds me of Ben Shapiro's "review" of TTPD

[@matrixfan58]

​@@ShyGal3It's either old music or math rock they endure while pretending to enjoy because some one told them it had a 73/19 time signature (they couldn't identify a 4/4 if there was a gun to their head).