Did Taylor Swift Really Need Another Grammy?

To the frustration of Swifties in all places, Taylor Swift went residence final evening with out scoring a single Grammy award regardless of six nominations.

The loss did not appear to disappoint the “Shake It Off” singer, although, as she was seen ingesting, dancing, and celebrating together with her fellow nominees because the evening wore on. In truth, it appeared that some followers have been extra disenchanted than she was!

Whereas it’s all the time disappointing to see such a beloved determine miss out on such a coveted award, did Swift actually deserve a Grammy for “The Tortured Poets Division”? Let’s focus on.

It is no secret to anybody paying consideration (and let’s face it, she instructions consideration), that Swift is a prolific artist. She has launched 11 authentic studio albums, 4 re-recorded albums, 5 prolonged performs (EPs), and 4 stay albums.

If you put it like that, 14 Grammys would not sound like a lot in any respect. It is virtually arduous to consider that she holds the file for successful Album of the Yr a whopping 4 instances. Her first win was for “Fearless” in 2010, adopted by 2016’s “1989,” 2021’s “Folklore,” and 2024’s “Midnights.”

However if you take a look at her present nominations, did she need to win Album of the Yr once more?

This 12 months, Taylor Swift was nominated for six Grammys. “The Tortured Poets Division” was nominated for Album of the Yr and Finest Pop Vocal Album. “Fortnight,” that includes Submit Malone,” was nominated for Report of the Yr, Tune of the Yr, and Finest Music Video. Swift was additionally nominated for Gracie Abrams’ tune “Us” for Finest Pop Duo/Group Efficiency.

Finally, she misplaced out in each class. She wasn’t alone, although. Billie Eilish additionally walked away empty-handed after scoring a number of nominations for her newest album, which was met with a lot larger acclaim from followers and critics than “The Tortured Poets Division.”

Rating Taylor Swift’s songs is all the time a problem. Everybody has their very own private opinions, however there are some songs that may’t be ranked. For instance, can you actually examine “Hoax” to “Shake It Off?” Are you able to objectively say if “All Too Effectively” is a greater tune than “Merciless Summer season”? Songs are made to suit a temper and it is virtually not possible to say that one tune is “higher” than one other on an goal scale.

Nobody individual picks a Grammy winner: as they consistently reminded us final evening, 13,000 totally different individuals vote for which tune they consider is the very best, and so the winner is only a matter of majority guidelines. On this case, a majority didn’t want Swift’s music and it isn’t arduous to see why. “Fortnight” was removed from her strongest displaying, regardless of a stellar collaboration with Post Malone. The music video featured some incredible cameos, however general, it did not rise to the identical degree that the opposite nominees did.

Is there a Swiftie on the market who actually thinks that “The Tortured Poets Division” was her greatest album? I imply, to every their very own, however Swift has launched much better songs previously, and, dare I say, she’s going to put out a greater album sooner or later. There’s a sure cohesiveness to a few of her earlier albums – “Folklore” and “Midnights” instantly come to thoughts. “The Tortured Poets Division” was removed from cohesive.

The album was a muddled mixture of songs mourning the lack of a deep love (Joe Alwyn), the anger at being burned by a latest flame (Matty Healy), and the joy of an rising new love (Travis Kelce). It is no shock that “So Excessive Faculty” and “The Alchemy” are rated so extremely by followers – these songs replicate the essence of an excellent Swift tune. She loves being in love, and it exhibits.

The album falls flat when she appears to seek out catharsis. Songs like “Imgonnagetyouback” and “I Hate It Right here” replicate an offended, bitter scorned lover whereas “However Daddy I Love Him” virtually makes it seem to be she welcomed her personal heartache. It seems like lyrics scribbled onto a diary web page by an offended teenager and sung right into a microphone with out an edit or an sincere critique.

Swift is a prolific songwriter. Any Swiftie could be overjoyed to get 31 new Taylor Swift songs, however does it matter what number of songs there are in the event that they’re simply mediocre? Swift has proven us that she is able to much better, and it virtually looks like a disservice to the Grammys to provide her an award simply because she is the Taylor Swift. She has all the time had loads of competitors, however “The Tortured Poets Division” felt like she put out new music simply because she may, not as a result of she had one thing new to say.

So, with all that being mentioned, did Taylor Swift really want to win one other Grammy final evening? Kristin says… no.

At the very least, not for The Tortured Poets Division, anyway.

Beyoncé bought her well-deserved Album of the Yr win for “Cowboy Carter” and Swift was clearly pleased for her. We ought to be too.

And maintain our fingers crossed that Swift places out a greater album subsequent 12 months.