Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Young singer earns her ‘fearless’ reputation

“Firsts” are always memorable times in a person’s life. While most are positive events, such as first steps, there are also negative firsts, like a first bad grade. This contrast is clearly illustrated by country music sweetheart Taylor Swift’s past year.

The “fearless” singer has captured the hearts of millions and shattered records. However, with all of her exciting firsts, which include such honors as youngest singer to win the coveted Entertainer of the Year award at the Country Music Awards, she has also begun to experience her first big controversy.

Yes, Swift has faced negativity in the past, but this time she has really been put under fire. Why? Because she won a Grammy award for Album of the Year, beating other fan favorites, including Beyonce and Lady Gaga.

I’ll come right out and say that I love Taylor Swift. I think she is fabulous, not just because she can pull off head-to-toe glitter, but also because she writes her own music and seems like a down-to-earth person.

The biggest problem I have with the backlash is that I have heard arguments that Swift did not deserve the award, and the supporting reason is an insult to her Grammy performances. I agree that Swift’s duet with Stevie Nicks was lackluster, off-key and all-around disappointing. Maybe she was sick, maybe she let nerves get the best of her or maybe, heaven forbid, she had an off night. Regardless of the reason, Swift did not win an award for Best Grammy Performance; she won Best Album.

If numbers alone determined Grammy winners, Swift would have won without argument. “Fearless” has sold more than 5.5 million copies.

Grammy selection isn’t as simple as crunching numbers, however. According to the official Web site, www.grammy.com, the Grammys “honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry.”

It has become increasingly popular for artists to have little to no input in the music they perform; yet Swift writes all of her own music. In fact, six of the original tracks on her “Fearless” album bear only her name in the writing credits. If that isn’t an “artistic achievement,” I don’t know what is.

Again, I wish to reiterate that the award in question is Album of the Year. If the discussion were about Best at Entertaining the Nation with Sheer Shock Value, then Lady Gaga was more deserving. Beyonce definitely deserved her Best Female Pop Vocal Performance win, as she can out-sing almost anybody. Sheer vocal talent and the ability to stun a crowd are not the elements considered for this particular award. Album of the Year looks at the album as a whole.

While the winner is not selected by numbers alone, it is impossible to ignore the fact that “Fearless” has more Billboard hits than any other album.

“And, ho hum, [Swift] makes Hot 100 history once again. ‘Fifteen’ pushes 46-38 to become the 13th top 40 hit on the Hot 100 from ‘Fearless,’ extending the record for most such entries from one album (including the set’s ‘Platinum Edition’ re-release) in the chart’s 51-year history,” according to the Hot-100 Web site, www.billboard.com.

It would be futile to argue that Swift should have been the winner out of the nominees. However I will be bold and say that Swift was more than deserving.

The way I see it, there will always be people who disagree with the winners at awards shows. As long as Swift continues to write and sing about real emotions, she will “Forever and Always,” “Jump then Fall” into the hearts of millions.

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