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/pa...985536,00.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]

Originally Posted by 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/pa...985536,00.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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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]

Originally Posted by vivfox

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]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

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]

Originally Posted by vivfox

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]

Originally Posted by vivfox

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/pa...985536,00.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