There was a lot of controversy pertaining to the “Album of the Year” award at the 2016 Grammy’s. Taylor Swift’s 1989 received the honor, and many were upset by it. People claimed that Kendrick Lamar deserved to win because his album “dealt with racism, poverty, murder, and depression while stepping outside the genre of rap to talk about important issues.” They ignorantly stated that she only won because of her race as well. While Kendrick Lamar may have had an incredible year with songwriting, he was clearly not as successful as Taylor Swift. 1989 deserved to win “Album of the Year” and here is why:
1. The New Genre
After years of people questioning whether Taylor Swift was country or pop, she officially released a pop album. 1989 is filled with catchy songs that make you want to dance in your room or sing the car. The general public clearly loved this change, for she had six songs appear on the radio as singles. Three of these reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, and five of them reached number one on the Adult Top 40.
2. Relatable Lyrics
There is a reason why Taylor Swift is so famous: her song lyrics. Girls all over the world can find at least one of her songs to relate to, especially in 1989. Whether you just moved to a new city or are experiencing a passionate love affair, there will be a song for you on this album. It provides a source of comfort for those who are dealing with a whole range of emotions.
3. Sales
1989 was released on October 27, 2014, and within a week 1.287 million copies were sold. This led to inevitable win of “Best Selling Album of 2014.” People who were not even fans of Taylor Swift heard about her album. It was being discussed and praised over all social media platforms.
4. World Tour
The 1989 World Tour created a buzz throughout all communities. Every concert, Taylor Swift brought out a surprise celebrity guest to perform, or strut during “Style.” There was also the notorious “Loft 89,” which was a special celebration for super-fans to meet Swift after the concert. At the Staples Center in Los Angeles, she won “Most Sold Out Shows” after having sixteen of her concerts sell out in that city.
5. Music Videos
“Shake it Off,” “Blank Space,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Style,” “Out of the Woods,” and “Bad Blood” from 1989 had music videos made for them. They were all extremely popular, especially “Blank Space.” This video currently has over one billion views. Taylor Swift had to put in an immense amount of time and effort while going on tour in order to have these videos released to the public. They are more than just music videos, for they come across almost like short movies.
6. Overall Message
1989 embodies female empowerment and standing up for yourself. The message of the album’s first single, “Shake it Off,” revolves around not letting negative people infiltrate into your mind. “Welcome to New York” is about following your dreams and accomplishing the impossible. “Bad Blood” possesses anger, and how to launch it in the best way possible.
Whether you are a Taylor Swift fan or not, it is almost unreasonable to say that this album was not a huge success. If you try to stand up for Swift with her recognition for 1989 and people criticize you, simply shake it off because as she says, “the haters are gonna hate hate hate hate hate…”
