Taylor Swift Is Not Abandoning Country Music

The Icon has spread her wings but she will not ever leave Country music behind.

It seems as if some folks out there in the world think that Taylor Swift's evolution from precocious teenage Country singer to worldwide Pop superstar means that she's too big or doesn't care about the genre which remains her bedrock foundation.

Not unlike Shania Twain, Swift tapped into a zeitgeist where she was able to straddle the fences of pop and country music quite nicely. But as her last album, the dual format (but mostly pop-oriented) RED proved, Swift wanted to make music that appealed to as many people as possible throughout the world, and that meant making the album she's releasing in October, 1989, a full-on Pop album. Even as she takes this excursion, she's not leaving Nashville, nor is she leaving Country music behind.

Taylor Swift's not abandoning country music.

Taylor Swift simply wanted to make a Pop music album for a Pop music crowd (many of whom are Country music fans too). Swift will return to Country music in the future and it won't be because her 'pop career is over,' it'll be because the album she makes dictates the genre she releases it in, just like it has for 1989. 

What's funny about this whole 'she used us' commentary is that Swift clearly does have enough respect for the genre to not muddy it's already murky musical identity (the latest existential 'crisis' for a genre in perpetual existential debates) with an all-out Pop music album getting time on the Country charts.

So, for those fans out there who think Taylor Swift has abandoned her roots to explore the world, just slow your roll. She will return to Country music when she next makes a Country music album, be it 1, 2, or even five years from now. And like Garth Brooks, when she does come back, we'll welcome her with open arms.

Again, Taylor Swift's not abandoning country music and we're not abandoning her.

 

 

6 Comments

  • JC

    Almost a year later - Swift is calling herself a NYer, she's doing pop/hip hop songs, and has been pretty outspoken about encouraging more musicians to move to NYC. She's even part of the city's tourism campaign now - Welcome to NY!

    • Matt Bjorke

      Yes, but even then, she's not abandoning the genre she started in. Doubt that'll continue unless she were to totally leave Big Machine Records after her next record and greatest hits collections came out. In all honesty, she'll probably form her own imprint within Big Machine called 13 Records and it'll host her under Big Machine while signing artists friends under just 13 (some of which will be pop, others who fit Country).

  • Abby

    Taylor swift actually did leave Nashville and moved to a penthouse in New York City. I just don't think that country music is who she is anymore.

    • Matt Bjorke

      She still owns plenty of property/homes here. Her family is also here. She didn't leave Nashville. She just spends more of her time in NYC when not on tour.

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    […] (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It seems as if some folks out there in the world think that Taylor Swift’s evolution from precocious teenage Country singer to worldwide Pop superstar means that she’s too big or doesn’t care about the genre which remains her bedrock foundation. Read full article […]

  • Joyce

    I think of Taylor Swift as a pop music singer anyway. Because what she sings certainly isn't country. So if she goes pop which she already is than I say Good Bye... Nice knowing you