I kind of agree with Neil Tennant, generally a sage and wise voice. I'm not sure I've actually heard much by Taylor, maybe 'Shake it off' but the whole phenomenon is interesting, following some of the very carefully placed critique coming out recently your suggestion it may be her Tim Machine phase seems to be spot on. As an addition the 'Word in your in ear' podcast recently did a two part cast with Neil about Pop Music, his days at Smash Hits, the Pet Shop Boys, entertaining as always
I'll definitely listen to that podcast. I'm a genuine Taylor fan (see the Lancet essay) - I think the first song I got into was "You Belong With Me" when it was on the 2008 Pitchfork 100, and I saw her on the Red and 1989 tours, and have tickets for Eras. I totally get why not everyone is going to buy what she's selling, but I'm sure there are a few people in the world who don't get the point of "Billie Jean" - I think Taylor is a great songwriter (any one of "All Too Well", "Wildest Dreams" or "Getaway Car" would justify her career alone) who's made a series of really exciting reinventions, though I think Tennant is right that the fractured nature of popular culture gives even more heft to the rare agents of genuine mass experience. Courtney Love's comment about Taylor being a "safe space for girls" was also very astute I thought, and nailed a lot about both Tay's appeal and why she might be hitting the doldrums a bit with this schtick in her mid-thirties.
Loved Civil War (in the sense of “this is terrifying but also just what would happen”), and I had heard (via Ian Leslie) your Wizard of Oz simile before seeing it. And it holds up really well. Perhaps this generation of film critics isn’t quick enough to pick up on the comparison.
Haha I think it's quite hard for a critic to see what's in front of them when they're staring at a score card and trying to tally if this is a "goodie" film or a "baddie" one...
I have just watched the complete second series of Blue Lights. Really enjoyed it but when I lived there, a decade ago, English accents got far more abuse.
I am very glad you enjoyed it! And this is finally the moment I am going to master my embarrassment and say - you are THE Chris Patten, aren't you? Either way, it's very nice to have you here.
When I lived there i wore the hated uniform and so many of my interactions were totally fraught. Because people really hated Northern Ireland Railways.
I kind of agree with Neil Tennant, generally a sage and wise voice. I'm not sure I've actually heard much by Taylor, maybe 'Shake it off' but the whole phenomenon is interesting, following some of the very carefully placed critique coming out recently your suggestion it may be her Tim Machine phase seems to be spot on. As an addition the 'Word in your in ear' podcast recently did a two part cast with Neil about Pop Music, his days at Smash Hits, the Pet Shop Boys, entertaining as always
I'll definitely listen to that podcast. I'm a genuine Taylor fan (see the Lancet essay) - I think the first song I got into was "You Belong With Me" when it was on the 2008 Pitchfork 100, and I saw her on the Red and 1989 tours, and have tickets for Eras. I totally get why not everyone is going to buy what she's selling, but I'm sure there are a few people in the world who don't get the point of "Billie Jean" - I think Taylor is a great songwriter (any one of "All Too Well", "Wildest Dreams" or "Getaway Car" would justify her career alone) who's made a series of really exciting reinventions, though I think Tennant is right that the fractured nature of popular culture gives even more heft to the rare agents of genuine mass experience. Courtney Love's comment about Taylor being a "safe space for girls" was also very astute I thought, and nailed a lot about both Tay's appeal and why she might be hitting the doldrums a bit with this schtick in her mid-thirties.
Loved Civil War (in the sense of “this is terrifying but also just what would happen”), and I had heard (via Ian Leslie) your Wizard of Oz simile before seeing it. And it holds up really well. Perhaps this generation of film critics isn’t quick enough to pick up on the comparison.
Haha I think it's quite hard for a critic to see what's in front of them when they're staring at a score card and trying to tally if this is a "goodie" film or a "baddie" one...
I have just watched the complete second series of Blue Lights. Really enjoyed it but when I lived there, a decade ago, English accents got far more abuse.
I am very glad you enjoyed it! And this is finally the moment I am going to master my embarrassment and say - you are THE Chris Patten, aren't you? Either way, it's very nice to have you here.
Nope, not the politician. You can imagine how much people in that region amused themselves about it.
Haaa! Yes I very much can
When I lived there i wore the hated uniform and so many of my interactions were totally fraught. Because people really hated Northern Ireland Railways.