TIME Magazine: Taylor Swift by Stevie Nicks

[vivfox]

Taylor Swift
By Stevie Nicks Thursday, Apr. 29, 2010

When I first got the call from Taylor Swift about performing with her at this year's Grammy Awards, I really didn't want to do it. She's 20 years old, 5 ft. 11 in. and slender; I'm 40 years older and, to be frank, neither of the other two things! I was not about to stand next to this girl on national television. But her little face just lights up like a star, and I couldn't say no.

Taylor reminds me of myself in her determination and her childlike nature. It's an innocence that's so special and so rare. This girl writes the songs that make the whole world sing, like Neil Diamond or Elton John. She sings, she writes, she performs, she plays great guitar. Taylor can do ballads that could be considered pop or rock and then switch back into country. When I turned 20 years old, I had just made the serious decision to never be a dental assistant. Taylor just turned 20, and she's won four Grammys.

I still walk around singing her song "Today Was a Fairytale." All of us girls want that boy to pick us up and think that we look beautiful even though we're in jeans and clogs. We want it at 14, and we want it at 60. Taylor is writing for the universal woman and for the man who wants to know her. The female rock-'n'-roll-country-pop songwriter is back, and her name is Taylor Swift. And it's women like her who are going to save the music business.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985536,00.html

[HejiraNYC]

The music industry is f***ed.

[JohnL]

I have to give it to Stevie. She always shows true class. She is so complimentary of Taylor despite all the bad press she got for the Grammy performance. This type of article just makes me appreciate Stevie, her grace, and her body of work more than ever.

[Travis]

That is a nice little snippet. I’m beginning to really appreciate Taylor. I’ve written some songs or poems over the years and even though I’m mostly into dance and club music, my writing style is really more like Stevie’s and Taylor’s. “You Belong With Me” came on the other day and for the first time I was paying attention to the words and I realized just how talented little Ms. Taylor is.

[SapphireSister]

She's full of sh*t. She's just being the kind soul that she is. She knows Taylor is no where near the performer she herself was at an earlier age. How could she after the Grammy thing? I'm not saying she doesn't like Taylor as a person but I'd be willing to bet she'd have some big improvement tips for her (i.e. do more coke j/k).

[Travis]

Well, to be fair, Stevie really wasn't the tight performer everyone thinks she was in the 70's. Stevie was young and beautiful and full of energy but a lot of the time, her vocals were all over the place. Taylor is only 20 and she will improve over time. Her recent performance on the CMA's was much better than the Grammy's. She showed great showmanship and I liked her a little more after that.

[LikeAWillow]

Taylor Swift
By Stevie Nicks Thursday, Apr. 29, 2010

When I first got the call from Taylor Swift about performing with her at this year's Grammy Awards, I really didn't want to do it. She's 20 years old, 5 ft. 11 in. and slender; I'm 40 years older and, to be frank, neither of the other two things! I was not about to stand next to this girl on national television. But her little face just lights up like a star, and I couldn't say no.

Taylor reminds me of myself in her determination and her childlike nature. It's an innocence that's so special and so rare. This girl writes the songs that make the whole world sing, like Neil Diamond or Elton John. She sings, she writes, she performs, she plays great guitar. Taylor can do ballads that could be considered pop or rock and then switch back into country. When I turned 20 years old, I had just made the serious decision to never be a dental assistant. Taylor just turned 20, and she's won four Grammys.

I still walk around singing her song "Today Was a Fairytale." All of us girls want that boy to pick us up and think that we look beautiful even though we're in jeans and clogs. We want it at 14, and we want it at 60. Taylor is writing for the universal woman and for the man who wants to know her. The female rock-'n'-roll-country-pop songwriter is back, and her name is Taylor Swift. And it's women like her who are going to save the music business.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985536,00.html

I like the sentiment behind this little piece, really I do. Older rock woman supports and nourishes the very young up and comer. It's sweet. I also like Taylor for what she is, just a little girl writing for other little girls her age. I think she's only going to get better with time, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she grows.

But dear Jesus, Stephanie Lynn Nicks, woman who wrote Rhiannon, please tell me you don't actually believe that all of us girls are looking for a love that starts out "Today was a fairytale/you were a prince/ I used to be a damsel in distress." When I was fourteen, you were teaching me that I should be the type of woman whom men look at and say "wouldn't you love to love her?" not the sort who helps feed madonna/whore complexes everywhere.

[HejiraNYC]

Well, to be fair, Stevie really wasn't the tight performer everyone thinks she was in the 70's. Stevie was young and beautiful and full of energy but a lot of the time, her vocals were all over the place. Taylor is only 20 and she will improve over time. Her recent performance on the CMA's was much better than the Grammy's. She showed great showmanship and I liked her a little more after that.

But if you look at the track record of successful artists, great success is not necessarily correlated directly with great talent/performances. For example, how can you explain that mediocre singers like Britney Spears and Madonna are the pillars of pop music while arguably greater singers like Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera are currently struggling to find an audience? Music today needs a phenomenon- someone who is big on charisma and intrigue moreso than someone who has actual musical talent. Lady Gaga is not the best singer or songwriter in the world, but she is definitely playing according to the Britney/Madonna recipe book- remain enigmatic and always keep them wanting more. That's why, when all is said and done, I think she has great potential to endure considerably beyond the flavor-of-the-month. By contrast there is no enigma with Taylor Swift. She is an open book; WYSIWYG. She's a plain Jane and her level of artistry is about as deep as a microchip. Nobody is constantly following her because nobody cares. When she's around, everybody loves her, but when she's gone, nobody will miss her. She is young, cute, and precocious now... but in a few years, people will not be so forgiving of her off-key singing and vapid lyrics.

[tilthefirefades]

Well guys, this is it. Where is the fourth horseman?

[DashingDan]

Love the self-referential tone of this 'tribute'. Way to be passive aggressive, Fleetwood Mac-STYLE...BITCHES!!! WOOT!!!

[David]

Taylor reminds me of myself in her determination and her childlike nature. It's an innocence that's so special and so rare. This girl writes the songs that make the whole world sing, like Neil Diamond or Elton John. She sings, she writes, she performs, she plays great guitar. Taylor can do ballads that could be considered pop or rock and then switch back into country. When I turned 20 years old, I had just made the serious decision to never be a dental assistant. Taylor just turned 20, and she's won four Grammys.What a nice thing to say! Let's hear it for Stevie!!

[Travis]

But if you look at the track record of successful artists, great success is not necessarily correlated directly with great talent/performances. For example, how can you explain that mediocre singers like Britney Spears and Madonna are the pillars of pop music while arguably greater singers like Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera are currently struggling to find an audience? Music today needs a phenomenon- someone who is big on charisma and intrigue moreso than someone who has actual musical talent. Lady Gaga is not the best singer or songwriter in the world, but she is definitely playing according to the Britney/Madonna recipe book- remain enigmatic and always keep them wanting more. That's why, when all is said and done, I think she has great potential to endure considerably beyond the flavor-of-the-month. By contrast there is no enigma with Taylor Swift. She is an open book; WYSIWYG. She's a plain Jane and her level of artistry is about as deep as a microchip. Nobody is constantly following her because nobody cares. When she's around, everybody loves her, but when she's gone, nobody will miss her. She is young, cute, and precocious now... but in a few years, people will not be so forgiving of her off-key singing and vapid lyrics.

I hear ya Hejira – you make some valid points. I was really talking about all the heat that Taylor got from her Grammy performance and comparing it to the not so great vocals of Stevie in the 70’s. Again, Taylor is only 20 – whereas Stevie was well past that in some of her performances that I’m referring to – Taylor will improve over time, her recent CMA performance is evident of that. While in the club, certainly I’d rather dance to a Madonna or Britney track but when I’m in the car and I need that little boost of hope and inspiration, that is where artist like Stevie and Taylor come in.

Also, Taylor may be a plain Jane compared to Lady GoGo, but neither of these artsits are everybody's cup of tea. I bet you one day there will be some kind of Lady backlash - not that I'm wisihing that on her, but it happens to the best of them.

[ButterCookie]

I still walk around singing her song "Today Was a Fairytale."

Dear Stevie,

If you sing it to yourself why the f*** didn't you steal her mic at the grammys? Stop lying, you hate her as much as we do, we could see the pain in your face.

Lots of love,
Georgie xxx

[sywlindseyfan]

Taylor Swift
By Stevie Nicks Thursday, Apr. 29, 2010

All of us girls want that boy to pick us up and think that we look beautiful even though we're in jeans and clogs. We want it at 14, and we want it at 60." Taylor is writing for the universal woman and for the man who wants to know her.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985536,00.html

If thats what Stevie wants...even at 60, doesn't she understand that i'm here for""" To do just that very thing! pick her up and think she's beautiful....even in jeans or CROCS!!! or leather and lace haha

[michelej1]

Stevie would never have made it as a dental assistant. Can you imagine her taking the cotton balls, thick with saliva, out of your mouth? Good decision not to take that path Stevie!

Michele

[DashingDan]

Stevie would never have made it as a dental assistant. Can you imagine her taking the cotton balls, thick with saliva, out of your mouth? Good decision not to take that path Stevie!

Michele

Oooh..imagine, the prettiest hygienist in the world:
"Yeah, you know, the dentist doesn't like me saying this, but he's, like, gone, so, if your tooth is still a little sore tomorrow, you know, you should take an asprin and, like, dissolve it in water and then drop the asprin-water in, like, your nose. It's, like, WAY faster than taking a regular asprin, you know."

[petep9000]

No, she'd be like:

"Well, you can take some of the tylenol w/codeine the dentist wrote you a script for. Just take as much as you want, don't read the bottle or ask someone to look it up for you. Just take them and take them. And if you think it's effing you up, feed them to your assistant and see what happens. Then blame the dentist."

[Christopher]

While I agree that the verdict is still out for Taylor Swift, she is very young and can easily become a has been, having such incredible success so young and so fast is going to be hard to sustain and live up to. He teenage audience may grow up and move on. LeAnn Rimes had early success very young along with many others. Her getting all these accolade 's and 4 Grammy's may be the kiss of death for her career, where else can she go from here.....:shrug:

Stevie is simply just paying her respect in the way she has done on many other occasions i.e. Sheryl Crow, Michelle Branch, Vanassa Carlton, basically younger female singer/songwriters like herself, that are current and playing the elder-mentor stateswoman that she revels in. Learn from me, do not make the same mistakes... etc.

Also, Stevie's notoriously inconsistent performances in her heyday were a part of her allure and mysterious rock star pathos, and tolerated more in that era, compared to the American Idol, Auto-tune & karaoke mentality of today. She sang incorrectly from the back of her throat, and roughed up her voice, suffering several bout's of nodes, for the sake of her art and passionate unforgettable performances, which has endeared her as a potent concert draw back in the day all the way up till today!

[louielouie2000]

Well guys, this is it. Where is the fourth horseman?

:cool:

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8500000/Justin-Bieber-Personal-justin-bieber-8596409-404-604.jpg

[petep9000]

a potent concert draw back in the day all the way up till today!

This might be stretching it a bit Christopher. In what way is she 'potent'? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm just curious what your thoughts on Stevie 2010's potency are.

[vivfox]

Oooh..imagine, the prettiest hygienist in the world:
"Yeah, you know, the dentist doesn't like me saying this, but he's, like, gone, so, if your tooth is still a little sore tomorrow, you know, you should take an asprin and, like, dissolve it in water and then drop the asprin-water in, like, your nose. It's, like, WAY faster than taking a regular asprin, you know.
"

LMFAO:xoxo:

[tilthefirefades]

:cool:

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8500000/Justin-Bieber-Personal-justin-bieber-8596409-404-604.jpg

Hahahahaha!! :laugh:

:xoxo:

Guess I better tell Noah bye.

[Christopher]

This might be stretching it a bit Christopher. In what way is she 'potent'? I'm not trying to be snarky, I'm just curious what your thoughts on Stevie 2010's potency are.

Yes, perhaps "potent " is the wrong adjective upon reflection. I really wanted to convey that Stevie earned her stripes on the road and on stage with her persona. She is a road warrior, although she is now undoubtable more conservative on stage, the 10 years or so in her heyday (75' through 86') Stevie really built up a mythology around her performances that were sometimes dazzling, emotional, & mostly unpredictable!

Stevie has become a legendary concert draw because she has built up this myth that still pervades to some extent. I still hear at concerts some casual fan remarking with a straight face "you know she's a witch". And to those of us that have been longtime fans, we still watch with fascination that at any moment she just might become unpredictable, emotional, or delight us with switching up some lyrics & phrasing to remind us she's still the siren she built her reputation on.

[Phoenix]

:cool:

http://images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/8500000/Justin-Bieber-Personal-justin-bieber-8596409-404-604.jpg

OMG! :laugh: i almost spilled my drink. :laugh: Damn that justin beeber. him and his donald trump come over.

[Phoenix]

Yes, perhaps "potent " is the wrong adjective upon reflection. I really wanted to convey that Stevie earned her stripes on the road and on stage with her persona. She is a road warrior, although she is now undoubtable more conservative on stage, the 10 years or so in her heyday (75' through 86') Stevie really built up a mythology around her performances that were sometimes dazzling, emotional, & mostly unpredictable!

Stevie has become a legendary concert draw because she has built up this myth that still pervades to some extent. I still hear at concerts some casual fan remarking with a straight face "you know she's a witch". And to those of us that have been longtime fans, we still watch with fascination that at any moment she just might become unpredictable, emotional, or delight us with switching up some lyrics & phrasing to remind us she's still the siren she built her reputation on.

Wow. reading that delighted me. because i have been at afew of those moments, and when they happen, there really is nothing like it. All hail the queen:thumbsup: And thanks vivfox for posting this. i like today was a fairytale, and i like that stevie does too. just because she is a strong woman doesnt mean that she cant also wish for that kind of romance. that 14 and 60 comment reminded me of how i think Stevie (like alot of us) still has that young person inside no matter how old she is. As far as Taylor Swift, afew of her songs i really like, some not so much, and weather or not she becomes a flash in the pan or a career artist, i dont know, but she IS a better example for girls than the slutty lohans, brittneys, or gosh theres too many to name. but time will tell for her, but i think and i hope she will grow and get better. im glad she has stevies support.

[michelej1]

I really do think it's great the way Taylor's music appeals to so many. I thought it remarkable when I was in the car with my 10 year old and 16 year old nieces and we were all three singing along to Taylor's single with joyful abandon.

Even so, I think it's rather shocking:shocked: that Taylor Swift made Time Magazine's list of the 100 Most Influential people. Even Secretary of State Clinton didn't make the list this year, but Taylor did?!

It's nice that Stevie was the one to give the little descriptive quote about Taylor though to go along with her entry.

[vermicious knid]

And Stevie told Jimmy Fallon he was the embodiment of a reincarnated Johnny Carson. Happy feel-good lies.

[golddustgypsy09]

Stevie is just a kind hearted woman.
I think its great she is trying to get young women involved... it just sad she chose to support t-swift.

[Sahara]

When I was fourteen, you were teaching me that I should be the type of woman whom men look at and say "wouldn't you love to love her?" not the sort who helps feed madonna/whore complexes everywhere.

I love this :nod: :xoxo: Stevie's still teaching me that!

[Musicman408]

This is really graceful of Stevie. How cool that the article is in Time!

[LikeAWillow]

I love this :nod: :xoxo: Stevie's still teaching me that!

I'm glad someone does! Whenever I play my ledge drinking games, I make a spot for "Marissa throws madonna/whore out in the conversation again and everyone rolls their eyes." Really, though, I feel like I learned so much about what I think it means to be a feminine, sexy, and empowered woman from Stevie, and it's absolutely nothing like the "universal woman" that she's now saying Taylor writes about.

A little edit with a graphic for funsies:

http://www.autostraddle.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/madonna-whore.jpg

^It's so un-Rhiannon of you, Taylor.

[michelej1]

This is really graceful of Stevie. How cool that the article is in Time!

Since each "influential person" only has one person talking about them, I am glad that Stevie was included. Cyndi Lauper did the Time description for Lady Gaga.

I was glad that Prince and Elton John made the list. I didn't realize they were still considered influential. Ricky Gervais made it too. I'm in love with him (well, I'm pretty smitten with Karl and Steve too).


Michele

[TrueFaith77]

But note: That is Taylor as both the Madonna and the Whore!

That is saying SOMETHING.

I'm not saying it's saying something profound, but is it JUST supporting the cultural myth of Madonna/Whore options/archetypes for women?

I think I read it as aligning itself with the sentimentality that cultural myth allows--a sentimentality to which Stevie NEVER stoops, but that doesn't mean she doesn't understand its appeal, its comforting appeal. After all, it's dangerous to be taken by the wind.

[LikeAWillow]

But note: That is Taylor as both the Madonna and the Whore!

That is saying SOMETHING.

I'm not saying it's saying something profound, but is it JUST supporting the cultural myth of Madonna/Whore options/archetypes for women.

It is indeed because it's painting the Whore as even more of a shallow, one dimensional character. This isn't Taylor saying "the madonna and the whore are inside of all of us a little bit." It's saying, there's so little to this girl, we're not even bothering to get another actress. Do you know how much it takes to become a whore? Just a red, skimpy dress and a loss of virginal, blonde curls. Hang on to your hymens, ladies, one wrong step, and you're losing your boyfriend, too!

[LikeAWillow]

its appeal, its comforting appeal. After all, it's dangerous to be taken by the wind.

You added this after I replied, so I missed it, sorry :) I like the comfort that comes from innocence and flowers and pretty dresses and pretty hair, I do...in little girls. I guess I just wish we lived in a world where it was okay for little girls to become women and it was just as sentimental and feel-good when they did :angel:

[TrueFaith77]

It is indeed because it's painting the Whore as even more of a shallow, one dimensional character. This isn't Taylor saying "the madonna and the whore are inside of all of us a little bit." It's saying, there's so little to this girl, we're not even bothering to get another actress.

Hmmm... honestly, I haven't thought much about the video, but I don't think it's signifying that they cast Taylor in both parts to avoid hiring another actress. I think its significance has more to do with Taylor's vanity and the medium's emphasis on novelty/gimmicry. Now, to your point: This vanity showcase for her "range" defines "range" utilizing certain cultural myths (red/white; glasses/no glasses)--which means the video supports those myths. (A myth is not inherently good or evil btw.) The emphasis on gimmicry/novelty for tis own sake as opposed to its expressive potential explains why that novelty is being utilized to the service of ideas about femininity and romance that the culture accepts as Truth (i.e. myth). However, I think the point is supposed to be: they are both equally beautiful outside (once the glasses come off :laugh:) but that one of them is ugly inside.

Do you know how much it takes to become a whore? Just a red, skimpy dress and a loss of virginal, blonde curls. Hang on to your hymens, ladies, one wrong step, and you're losing your boyfriend, too!

Here's where we disagree. I don't remember (and I COULD BE WRONG) that there is any suggestion she and the boy are sexually ACTIVE; although the red dress tends to signify SOMETHING about sexuality (Jezebel, Wharton, Jessica Rabbit), perhaps it is the sexual appeal that disguised the fact that she's not a nice person (which seems to be the point of the video's dual casting--not deep, just . . . another Mean Girls redeux).

[LikeAWillow]

So before I reply, I just want to say how happy I am that someone's actually talking about this with me :laugh: This is awesome. Anyway. Moving to the post.

Hmmm... honestly, I haven't thought much about the video, but I don't think it's signifying that they cast Taylor in both parts to avoid hiring another actress.

I was mainly kidding about the "to avoid hiring another actress" part. I agree with you that it's part of a gimmick, but I think that the gimmick pulls on a lot of symbolism that's unconsciously buried in all of us...which it sounds like you agree with as well. We'll look at that symbolism to answer...

I think its significance has more to do with Taylor's vanity and the medium's emphasis on novelty/gimmicry. Now, to your point: This vanity showcase for her "range" defines "range" utilizing certain cultural myths (red/white; glasses/no glasses)--which means the video supports those myths. (A myth is not inherently good or evil btw.) The emphasis on gimmicry/novelty for tis own sake as opposed to its expressive potential explains why that novelty is being utilized to the service of ideas about femininity and romance that the culture accepts as Truth (i.e. myth). However, I think the point is supposed to be: they are both equally beautiful outside (once the glasses come off :laugh:) but that one of them is ugly inside.

What evidence do we have that one is ugly on the inside? Let's look at what we really know about this girl. The song lists a lot of positive assets about Taylor, but I'd rather look at the negatives about the other, the drawing of the whore archetype. The comparisons they draw between the two girls are...

She doesn't get your humor like I do.

Okay, this could be a personality thing. They're not right for each other.

She'll never know your story like I do.

Why? We're not really sure, but it could be personality, too! Okay, I'm on board! Tell me more, Taylor.

She wears short skirts, I wear t-shirts.

Woah. Hey now. Let's look at the pattern. We've seen so far that Taylor is showing us a negative about that girl then a postive about herself. So short skirts? A negative! Might this explain why the whore'll never know his story? Let's listen on.

She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers.

Negative and a postive: she puts herself out to be ogled, I'm just a nice little girl who knows her place and cheers for her team. I'm half way there, take it home.

Final comparison: What are you doing with a girl like that? She wears high heels, I wear sneakers.

Yup, I get it. She's got you because of that body of hers, whereas me, the little girl next door who would never show off like that, well, you should be with me because you'd like my mind.


If the girl isn't sleeping with him, she's certainly tempting him with sex. It's all we know about her, and apparently all she has going for her. Taylor, well, she's just not that sort of girl. You belong with her!


Let's compare this to a few Stevie Nicks lyrics, just to bring this home...

Rhiannon rings like a bell through the night, and would you love to love her?

The ringing is powerful. It's active. This is a woman who can't be ignored.

She rules her life like a bird in flight, and who will be her lover?

She RULES her life. She doesn't stand around waiting at some man's backdoor, and it's a competition to take her to bed, rather than a competition between two women over who is least likely to go to bed.

[TrueFaith77]

^^^^Oh, you listened to the lyrics of the song! My bad.

I totally agree with how you broke down the difference between Stevie's writing and Taylor's.

Taylor wouldn't know a metaphor, a symbol, simile, or a sign if it rang like a bell through the night.

For a great film dealing with many of the subjects that seem to interest you (and even have two parts played by the same actress), I HIGHLY recommend my second favorite film of the 2000s: Femme Fatale.

It might inspire you.

[LikeAWillow]

^^^^Oh, you listened to the lyrics of the song! My bad.

I totally agree with how you broke down the difference between Stevie's writing and Taylor's.

Taylor wouldn't know a metaphor, a symbol, simile, or a sign if it rang like a bell through the night.

For a great film dealing with many of the subjects that seem to interest you (and even have two parts played by the same actress), I HIGHLY recommend my second favorite film of the 2000s: Femme Fatale.

It might inspire you.

Sweet. I'll check it out. Thanks! :)

[goldustsongbird]

I understand people like Stevie serve as mentors to the up-and-comers, but it still seems a bit backward for them to be writing the praise articles. Taylor and Gaga should be the ones writing about Stevie Nicks and Cyndi Lauper's influence, not the other way around.

[michelej1]

Taylor wouldn't know a metaphor, a symbol, simile, or a sign if it rang like a bell through the night.



I think Our Song is one giant metaphor and a lovely sentiment at that.

Michele

[michelej1]

I was mainly kidding about the "to avoid hiring another actress" part.

It reminds me of Lindsey dueling with himself and his principles in Wrong.

Actually, the Holiday Road video had a similar premise. A part of him left the regimentalized, the prison of what is expected of you, behind.

I think some of the recent sex scandals have fit the Madonna/Whore theme. The men want to marry and raise children with one type of woman, but want to have affairs with another.

The red dress discussion reminds me of one of the best scenes in Gone With the Wind. Rhett made Scarlett wear red to expose her for what he thought she was. And the moment when Melanie walked across the room, ignoring the gasping crowd to embrace Scarlett was even more dramatic than when Scarlett entered the room in the first place. In essence, Melanie was saying, "I am not going to let you label her. I won't play by your social rules of good and bad. I refuse to let you make my pain your cudgel against a woman who has both harmed and helped me. None of us can be defined by our bad acts alone, much less by the color we wear."

Michele

[StreetAngel95]

ok, well Lyrically, i can relate INCREDIBLY to Taylor. Her style is straightforward and blunt. With Stevie, as much as she is, IMO, one of the best songwriters ever, i can't really relate. I've never had a boyfriend, much less kissed a guy, and don't know what it feels like to be in love. With Taylor, her lyrics are about wishing to be with a guy and the ups and downs of adolescence. That's my life right now. I think it's just her voice and her musicality that i don't really care for.

a couple excerpts:

Cory finds another way to be
The highlight of my day
I'm taking pictures in my mind
So I can save them for a rainy day
It's hard to make conversation
When he's taking my breath away
I should say, hey by the way

i listened to this song nonstop on my 15th birthday:

'cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you
You're gonna believe them
And when you're fifteen
Feeling like there nothing to figure out
Well count to ten, take it in
This is life before you know who you're gonna be
Fifteen

I took a chance, I took a shot
And you might think i'm bulletproof, but i'm not
You took a swing, I took it hard
And down here from the ground I see who you are


You could write a book on how to ruin someone's perfect day
Well I get so confused and frustrated
Forget what i'm trying to say, oh

[michelej1]

I understand people like Stevie serve as mentors to the up-and-comers, but it still seems a bit backward for them to be writing the praise articles. Taylor and Gaga should be the ones writing about Stevie Nicks and Cyndi Lauper's influence, not the other way around.

True. But on the other hand, I wouldn't be all that happy to have Taylor Swift's input if Stevie was being profiled. Heck, I'm still mad about Sheryl Crow and the RRHOF. If Stevie was on the "Most Influential" list and Time asked someone to write about her, I'd want it to be someone equal to or above Stevie who commented. I wouldn't want it to be one of the newcomers.

So, I guess I can see their point in having a vet discuss why they think the newbie is deserving -- even if she may not be. It kind of gives the selection (undeserved) credibility. You don't want a lesser person to be the one speaking.

Michele

[chelluversu]

ok, well Lyrically, i can relate INCREDIBLY to Taylor. Her style is straightforward and blunt. With Stevie, as much as she is, IMO, one of the best songwriters ever, i can't really relate. I've never had a boyfriend, much less kissed a guy, and don't know what it feels like to be in love. With Taylor, her lyrics are about wishing to be with a guy and the ups and downs of adolescence. That's my life right now. I think it's just her voice and her musicality that i don't really care for.

Same here, and her songs are completely understandable so that there's no need to interpret what she is trying to say because they are right there. With Stevie you have people arguing (or not arguing..just thinking differently) over interpretations of songs because the words/phrases are ambiguous. I'm not a screaming fan of Taylor but I have plethora of friends who are which is the reason why I know most of her songs (the Jonas Brothers though...I'll pass). I actually like her :sorry:

[goldustsongbird]

True. But on the other hand, I wouldn't be all that happy to have Taylor Swift's input if Stevie was being profiled. Heck, I'm still mad about Sheryl Crow and the RRHOF. If Stevie was on the "Most Influential" list and Time asked someone to write about her, I'd want it to be someone equal to or above Stevie who commented. I wouldn't want it to be one of the newcomers.

So, I guess I can see their point in having a vet discuss why they think the newbie is deserving -- even if she may not be. It kind of gives the selection (undeserved) credibility. You don't want a lesser person to be the one speaking.

Michele

I don't like Taylor, but if someone wanted to write a tribute piece for Stevie, who am I to keep them down? ;) It's an odd reversal of roles, for someone with actual talent (even if her hey-day has pasesed) to be sucking up to this whiny little Shirley Temple with a guitar.

I think that's why it's so weird to me: Suddenly they've become Stevie and Taylor, like they've joined forces. The supposed mentor relationship seems forced. I doubt Taylor was influenced by Stevie before they were paired up, and I doubt even more the fact that Stevie walks around singing her songs. Then again, she is a Mariah fan, so anything is possible.

[ButterCookie]

I don't like Taylor, but if someone wanted to write a tribute piece for Stevie, who am I to keep them down? ;) It's an odd reversal of roles, for someone with actual talent (even if her hey-day has pasesed) to be sucking up to this whiny little Shirley Temple with a guitar.

I think that's why it's so weird to me: Suddenly they've become Stevie and Taylor, like they've joined forces. The supposed mentor relationship seems forced. I doubt Taylor was influenced by Stevie before they were paired up, and I doubt even more the fact that Stevie walks around singing her songs. Then again, she is a Mariah fan, so anything is possible.

Oh sh*t. People are going to start shipping!! :eek: :lol:

[Edgeof27]

Taylor Swift
By Stevie Nicks Thursday, Apr. 29, 2010

When I first got the call from Taylor Swift about performing with her at this year's Grammy Awards, I really didn't want to do it. She's 20 years old, 5 ft. 11 in. and slender; I'm 40 years older and, to be frank, neither of the other two things! I was not about to stand next to this girl on national television. But her little face just lights up like a star, and I couldn't say no.

Taylor reminds me of myself in her determination and her childlike nature. It's an innocence that's so special and so rare. This girl writes the songs that make the whole world sing, like Neil Diamond or Elton John. She sings, she writes, she performs, she plays great guitar. Taylor can do ballads that could be considered pop or rock and then switch back into country. When I turned 20 years old, I had just made the serious decision to never be a dental assistant. Taylor just turned 20, and she's won four Grammys.

I still walk around singing her song "Today Was a Fairytale." All of us girls want that boy to pick us up and think that we look beautiful even though we're in jeans and clogs. We want it at 14, and we want it at 60. Taylor is writing for the universal woman and for the man who wants to know her. The female rock-'n'-roll-country-pop songwriter is back, and her name is Taylor Swift. And it's women like her who are going to save the music business.

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1984685_1984940_1985536,00.html

okay,

it's over,

she can not sing,

but,

she will make it in country music,

sometimes thats all it takes,

next....

[bellagypsy79]

I just have one question to everyone...what is so awful about Taylor Swift? Why doesn't anyone like her? She's not a trouble maker, she doesn't do drugs etc. she's a good kid. Everytime Stevie does a duet with a FEMALE singer such as The Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, or Taylor Swift people bash them like crazy. Some duets and performances aren't the best when they sing with Stevie but these are women who love to sing with her and Stevie is also a fan of their music and likes to sing with them. I will admit though, the only women Stevie sings very well with are her back up girls. And as for male artists, Stevie does duet better with them than she does with women. I will admit that. But it just seems like everytime Stevie sings with a female everyone hates it. I will admit though the performance back in 2001 when she sung with the Chicks, really wasn't that great. I am not a fan of that band though I do like some of their songs, but you could barely hear Stevie. They drowned her out. But the Taylor and Stevie performance really wasn't that great, and I think that's another reason Stevie didn't want to sing with Taylor was because she knew that Taylor couldn't pull off singing that song and for the other reasons she said. But I did enjoy reading that article she wrote and I believe every word of it. I just don't see what's so bad about Taylor. I like her music. It's fun to listen to. Young girls need a role model in their lives and Taylor is one of them. She's influenced young girls including my 8 year old niece Lily to pick up a guitar and want to play and sing. Stevie was OUR role model, now in this day and age, someone like Taylor can be the same. And not just Taylor but other young girls too. I know a lot of you may not agree but that's how I feel. Thanks for posting that article by the way.:wavey:

[Edgeof27]

I just have one question to everyone...what is so awful about Taylor Swift? Why doesn't anyone like her? She's not a trouble maker, she doesn't do drugs etc. she's a good kid. Everytime Stevie does a duet with a FEMALE singer such as The Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, or Taylor Swift people bash them like crazy. Some duets and performances aren't the best when they sing with Stevie but these are women who love to sing with her and Stevie is also a fan of their music and likes to sing with them. I will admit though, the only women Stevie sings very well with are her back up girls. And as for male artists, Stevie does duet better with them than she does with women. I will admit that. But it just seems like everytime Stevie sings with a female everyone hates it. I will admit though the performance back in 2001 when she sung with the Chicks, really wasn't that great. I am not a fan of that band though I do like some of their songs, but you could barely hear Stevie. They drowned her out. But the Taylor and Stevie performance really wasn't that great, and I think that's another reason Stevie didn't want to sing with Taylor was because she knew that Taylor couldn't pull off singing that song and for the other reasons she said. But I did enjoy reading that article she wrote and I believe every word of it. I just don't see what's so bad about Taylor. I like her music. It's fun to listen to. Young girls need a role model in their lives and Taylor is one of them. She's influenced young girls including my 8 year old niece Lily to pick up a guitar and want to play and sing. Stevie was OUR role model, now in this day and age, someone like Taylor can be the same. And not just Taylor but other young girls too. I know a lot of you may not agree but that's how I feel. Thanks for posting that article by the way.:wavey:

Did you see the Grammy's,

did you see how bad T.S. was,

sure she can sing .........country.......

you could too.....

sorry.....

[bellagypsy79]

Did you see the Grammy's,

did you see how bad T.S. was,

sure she can sing .........country.......

you could too.....

sorry.....

Yes I did. And as a matter of fact that's what I said in my post. I said that it wasn't great. I don't know what the "you could too" means though. Are you asking if I can sing country? What does singing country have anything to do with the "bad" Grammy performance? Sorry I don't understand what you were trying to say...:shrug:

[chelluversu]

Yes I did. And as a matter of fact that's what I said in my post. I said that it wasn't great. I don't know what the "you could too" means though. Are you asking if I can sing country? What does singing country have anything to do with the "bad" Grammy performance? Sorry I don't understand what you were trying to say...:shrug:

I think Edge is bashing country as full of "taylor swift", meaning sucky, singers :shrug:

[Zombie]

When I was fourteen, you were teaching me that I should be the type of woman whom men look at and say "wouldn't you love to love her?" not the sort who helps feed madonna/whore complexes everywhere.

This times infinity, but with me at that age, it was Tori Amos. No madonna/whore for me, just Tori's Magdalene.

I was taught that wearing a slinky red thing does not mean a damn thing about me or anyone else as a person - it's just a dress (or a short skirt & high heels or a t-shirt & sneakers), and I learned never to be the cornflake girl (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1tNLnWHDzM), trying to tear other girls down for what they wear or say or do like I'm somehow better, because that's when things get gross.

I was taught that you will never gain weight from a doughnut hole (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssuXZ_seN5Q), so don't waste your time mooning after boys that don't deserve it. I mean, if he wants the cheerleader, Taylor, then let him have the cheerleader. If you're not a cheerleader, what do you want with a boy that wants a cheerleader? After all, even if it feels like flu in the moment, it's probably just h'achoo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Z3yq3nbL4), and there really are enough boys to go around, I promise.

I also learned that when something hurts, you've got to learn to recognize it for what it is (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnMaUU-UCGY), and then break its hold and let it go (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjXZrzmdnAE).

I count myself lucky that I got those lessons early in life instead of some damsel-in-distress bubblegum junk, because while I'm twice as old now as I was then, they are still lessons I use every day. And they are lessons I hope to pass on to my daughter when she's that age.

/rant

[michelej1]

I give Taylor props because she doesn't just sing badly, she also writes catchy tunes and plays an instrument. I don't think that's a bad start for a young woman, because there are some who just stand there and pose. I think the writing is something to be quite proud of for her age and it will only get better.

Michele

[tlssln]

The music industry is f***ed.

LOL. Yeah, really.
Taylor Swift isn't going to have anywhere near the career Stevie has had.
The music industry has been in trouble for a long time and Taylor isn't going to save it, even if she IS from my home town.
Stevie should call Hillary Clinton and ask for a job at the State Department as a diplomat.

[GypsyBlueEyes]

It completely slipped my mind that we have a subscription to Time magazine until I looked down at it today and saw the name Stevie Nicks...so now, not only is that profile online...its also in my house *insert some sort of projectile vomit smiley here* :p

At first I just couldn't believe that Stevie would write all that about her..."she's writing for the universal woman"...whateverrrrr. She writes for lovesick teenagers...the thing is, the songs sound catchy so everyone jumps on them. Another gem was "I still walk around singing her song "Today Was a Fairytale"...I don't believe that for a second and if I knew for a fact she did, I'd feel sick that STEVIE NICKS was walking around singing something like that.

Here's the thing...other than those 2 quotes, if you go through it line by line, it doesn't really seem like there is that much there...it's all smoke and mirrors. At first sight, it reads like a glowing tribute to Taylor...but if you really look at it, there really isn't that much to it. There is nothing in it that suggests she's writing about one of the most influential people in the world. A lot of it references Stevie herself...almost everything else that she wrote is true and yet there is very little substance...its empty. At first I thought she'd kind of sold out...or that at the very least, she was back on drugs :D ...but then I developed this little theory and I feel much better. :p Our Stevie is a pretty clever girl! She's way too sweet to say or write anything negative about Taylor and she managed to walk that very fine line between telling the truth and making it positive. She really had an opportunity, if she wanted to, to gush over how talented Taylor is, what a great voice she has, how she writes songs that will transend time, etc (things that you would expect someone to say when they're talking about an artist they really admire)...but she didn't. I think that says a lot. :nod:

I know that a lot of people think Taylor will mature and get better as she gets older, and I can totally see why they feel that way...its an evolutionary process and the longer someone works at something the better they will get...but if, sitting here right now, someone asked me to predict the future, I would say she'll get older but she won't mature as a writer and her songs will still sound the same and no one will take a grown woman singing stuff like that seriously -->like I said, though...that's just my intuition about her future success

Oh, and I totally agree with everything Marissa said :nod:

[vivfox]

I thought it was Barry Manilow who writes the songs that make the whole world sing?:p

[GypsyBlueEyes]

I thought it was Barry Manilow who writes the songs that make the whole world sing?:p

Ahahaha...I thought it was Frank Sinatra :p