Country music is an important part of the American lifestyle. I may not be from the Deep South like a real cowgirl, but country is my favorite genre of music. The genre’s most popular themes include tractors and trucks, American freedom and, of course, break-ups. One of the most famous “country” artists is Taylor Swift. She started out as a humble country singer true to her Southern roots, but as her fame built, her sound deviated from twang to pop.

Taylor’s first album had simple songs about love and break-ups, the typical things a teenage girl would write songs about. Her self-composed songs varied in style from upbeat love songs, to angry break-up songs. She learned and observed from other successful artists as she began to create her own sound. As it turned out, young girls really enjoyed her modern country twist. Taylor’s fan base grew from one of merely U.S. tween girls to an audience of all ages, gender, and nations; she became an international sensation. In 2005, Taylor Swift was a no-name country singer, but today her name is acquainted with fame, fortune, and a whole lot of breakup songs.

As the years rolled on, she released new singles and albums, and her fame increased. Taylor still embodies the characteristics of her young aspiring self, being kind and respectful to her fans, but her musical style has changed. Her latest album, Red, although categorized as country, should be lumped into the Pop genre. Her new music no longer has the gentle guitar or soft vocals of her previous records; rather, it contains techno beats and harsh yelling in the place of singing.  Sadly, Taylor’s recent musical choices have led many people to believe that she is becoming another pop superstar only trying to play what will bring her fortune and a broader audience.

Aside from the shift of her musical taste, Taylor’s style in clothing has been reshaped as well. She went from wearing the typical sweet ‘country bumpkin” dresses and cowboy boots to floor length gaudy ball gowns and flapper dresses while performing. Yes, she has an amazing sense of style, but the dramatic change in her wardrobe has made her stand out in the humble world of country music, and not in a positive light.

I do not like Taylor Swift. I find that she is not an authentic musician, and she seems more committed to her image than her music. She places too much emphasis on her appearance and the public’s opinion. Almost all of Swift’s relationships have been set up by publicity representatives to boost the image of Swift and whomever she is “dating.” For example, Swift was supposedly dating Taylor Lautner, her co-star from the movie Valentine’s Day, but it is rumored that their relationship was a publicity stunt attempting to upgrade their images and promote their movie.

In conclusion, Taylor Swift’s “music” has infected every nation and continues to penetrate the ears of people everywhere. She has placed her image over her music, and decided that publicity is more important than real relationships. She has gotten to a point in her career where she can hardly be considered a musician anymore. She does nothing to feed her appetite as an artist, but only the appetite of the crowd.