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Being overly present is destructive
In recent years, especially during COVID-19, I became a big fan of Taylor Swift. I never thought I would. I’m a lover of rock and alternative music. And it wasn’t because of my daughter — I was the one to introduce Tayloy’s music to our family. I still think Folklore is one of the best albums ever made. Evermore is also good. Midnights is fine too, though it’s less appealing to me than the atmospheric Folklore.
Taylor Swift is realising another album this spring. When I start liking an artist, I almost always ‘commit’ to following their releases, even though I realize the quality of their work will vary.
I’m not sure about Taylor’s upcoming record, though. The volume of noise in recent months surrounding Taylor’s relationship with Travis Kelce, including her attendance at games and the Super Bowl, is annoying and fatiguing. I feel like I’ve had enough though it’s not related to Taylor’s music. I realize Taylor is not in control of it — the media’s buzz and obsessive coverage. She is the victim of her own success. She’s too big to avoid the spotlight, even if she wanted to. Still, I think the net effect will be negative. The over-the-top buzz will likely be followed by fatigue, directly impacting her career.
I’ve noticed a similar effect with other influential people, albeit on a smaller scale. There is a popular podcaster Lex…
