[Letitroll98]

Yeah, the popstar who's treated like rap music here abouts, we know it exists but nobody wants to actually experience it.  Same here.  But I like perusing random YouTube music videos, rare tracks, music reaction vids, etc, and I came across an NPR Tiny Desk Concert of Taylor Swift.  No dancers, no orchestra, no huge stage with 100s of thousands of fans, just Taylor with guitar or piano, and it was remarkable.  She really is a fabulous musical talent when you strip away all the extras.  Solid musicianship, a great voice, and beautiful, emotional songwriting.  What do you think?

https://youtu.be/FvVnP8G6ITs?si=twt8BXJ5I1Xc74RN

[AllanS]

Her music isn’t my thing, but I believe Taylor Swift to be an exceptional talent.  Our daughter’s 16th bday (she’s now 32) included a Taylor Swift concert.  Even then, still a teenager herself, I was completely floored by her ability to capture an audience.  I’ve been to plenty of stadium and small venue concerts but never had I experienced a performer connecting with an audience in the way she did. 

[Mike B.]

I watched this a couple years back. I agree she is a real talent. I first became aware of her I am guessing over 20 years back. CMT channel had a show titled Crossroads. They would get two groups or individuals for different types of music. At that time she was more into country music and they matcher her up with Def Leopard. I was impressed. 

[Rusty Jefferson]

I'd never heard any of her music or considered listening to it. Something I do make the effort to hear each week is the radio program Echoes, host by John Diliberto. Been listening to his shows since the '70s. I keep the playlist open on my phone while listening and whenever I hear an interesting artist/track I think I want to listen to more of I bookmark it. Several times over a 3-4 month period I heard a compelling track and when I checked the playlist it was Swift songs from the Midnights album.

If you haven't heard it, it's really quite good. The production and studio engineering craft are top notch. If you have a good full range system (and I assume everyone here does) it's worth a listen. I've played tracks from it at several meet-ups with old codger audiophiles who immediately said "that was great, who IS that" and when I told them, let out the predictable "Nooooo!".

[Tyson]

I like 1989.  Nothing wrong with her or her music.