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Pop references in major mode and “a certain authenticity”: Taylor Swift’s recipe for success deciphered by a musicologist
Pop references in major mode and “a certain authenticity”: Taylor Swift’s recipe for success deciphered by a musicologist
(SPECIAL SUBJECT / FRANCE 2)
Behind the commercial phenomenon Taylor Swift, what are the American pop superstar’s recipes to please everyone (or almost)? Decryption in music in this excerpt from “Special Envoy”.
In October 2023, her giant concerts, her records re-recorded in limited editions and her multiple derivative products made Taylor Swift the first singer to become a billionaire solely thanks to income from her music. But behind this commercial jackpot there is also an undeniable artistic success. For “Special Envoy”, a musicologist tells us the “recipe”.
What makes surprises like You’re Losing Me, a new release revealed to fans on streaming platforms (where she won the title of most listened to artist), or Cruel SummerA “Typical track of what Taylor Swift does” ? Musicologist Pierre-Do Bourgknecht analyzed the 250 titles signed by the prolific author-composer. For him, these are simple compositions, often written in major mode: a “luminous, peaceful tone”, likely to appeal to the general public.
To appeal to the greatest number of people, the American’s hits mix all kinds of references to old commercial successes: those of Britney Spears, who has a similar tone of voice, the credits of the sitcom Friends… and even the famous Cannon by Pachelbel. The musicologist makes us listen to how the 17th century work is perfectly superimposed on Taylor Swift’s pop song.
However, Pierre-Do Bourgknecht thinks that Taylor Swift’s recipe, more than in her music itself, lies “in her personality, in the impression she gives of a certain authenticity, the texts she writes, a voice (…) still quite magnificent”, all on “a fairly pop, fairly clear musical base”.
Excerpt from “My Taylor is rich”, a report to be seen in “Envoyéspecial” on June 6, 2024.
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