Did Taylor Swift Really Need Another Grammy?

To the frustration of Swifties all over the place, Taylor Swift went house final night time 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 consuming, dancing, and celebrating along with her fellow nominees because the night time wore on. Actually, it appeared that some followers have been extra disenchanted than she was!

Whereas it’s at all times 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 unique studio albums, 4 re-recorded albums, 5 prolonged performs (EPs), and 4 stay albums.

Whenever you put it like that, 14 Grammys does not sound like a lot in any respect. It is nearly exhausting to consider that she holds the report for successful Album of the 12 months 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 while you have a look at her present nominations, did she should win Album of the 12 months once more?

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

In the end, 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 higher acclaim from followers and critics than “The Tortured Poets Division.”

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

Nobody particular person picks a Grammy winner: as they always reminded us final night time, 13,000 totally different folks vote for which track they consider is the most effective, and so the winner is only a matter of majority guidelines. On this case, a majority didn’t favor Swift’s music and it is not exhausting 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 stage 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 up to now, and, dare I say, she is 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 current flame (Matty Healy), and the joy of an rising new love (Travis Kelce). It is no shock that “So Excessive College” and “The Alchemy” are rated so extremely by followers – these songs mirror the essence of a superb Swift track. She loves being in love, and it reveals.

The album falls flat when she appears to seek out catharsis. Songs like “Imgonnagetyouback” and “I Hate It Right here” mirror an indignant, bitter scorned lover whereas “However Daddy I Love Him” nearly makes it look like she welcomed her personal heartache. It appears like lyrics scribbled onto a diary web page by an indignant teenager and sung right into a microphone with out an edit or an trustworthy 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 nearly looks like a disservice to the Grammys to offer her an award simply because she is the Taylor Swift. She has at all times had loads of competitors, however “The Tortured Poets Division” felt like she put out new music simply because she might, not as a result of she had one thing new to say.

So, with all that being stated, did Taylor Swift actually need to win one other Grammy final night time? Kristin says… no.

Not less than, not for The Tortured Poets Division, anyway.

Beyoncé obtained her well-deserved Album of the 12 months win for “Cowboy Carter” and Swift was clearly completely satisfied for her. We ought to be too.

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