Did Taylor Swift Really Need Another Grammy?

To the frustration of Swifties in all places, Taylor Swift went residence 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 ingesting, dancing, and celebrating along with her fellow nominees because the night time wore on. In truth, it appeared that some followers had 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 unique studio albums, 4 re-recorded albums, 5 prolonged performs (EPs), and 4 stay albums.

Whenever you put it like that, 14 Grammys would not sound like a lot in any respect. It is virtually exhausting to consider that she holds the document for profitable Album of the 12 months a whopping 4 occasions. 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 12 months once more?

This yr, Taylor Swift was nominated for six Grammys. “The Tortured Poets Division” was nominated for Album of the 12 months and Greatest Pop Vocal Album. “Fortnight,” that includes Submit Malone,” was nominated for File of the 12 months, Music of the 12 months, and Greatest Music Video. Swift was additionally nominated for Gracie Abrams’ music “Us” for Greatest 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 better 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 evaluate “Hoax” to “Shake It Off?” Are you able to objectively say if “All Too Nicely” is a greater music than “Merciless Summer season”? Songs are made to suit a temper and it is virtually unattainable to say that one music 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 completely different individuals vote for which music they consider is the very best, 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 finest album? I imply, to every their very own, however Swift has launched much better songs prior 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 latest flame (Matty Healy), and the thrill 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 replicate the essence of a superb Swift music. She loves being in love, and it exhibits.

The album falls flat when she appears to search 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 look like she welcomed her personal heartache. It looks like lyrics scribbled onto a diary web page by an offended teenager and sung right into a microphone with out an edit or an trustworthy critique.

Swift is a prolific songwriter. Any Swiftie can 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 present 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 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.

A minimum of, not for The Tortured Poets Division, anyway.

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

And preserve our fingers crossed that Swift places out a greater album subsequent yr.