By Ollie Warnock.

If you’ve been paying attention to the music scene, you’ve undoubtedly noticed Taylor Swift’s ubiquity. But as a die-hard Kanye West fan (or Ye, as he now chooses to go by),  I can’t help but feel that despite her massive success, Taylor’s discography is seriously lacking in substance. So, let’s break down why Taylor’s catalogue might not live up to the hype, especially when compared to the bold innovation of Ye’s work.

First off, let’s talk authenticity. Ye is known for pushing boundaries and unapologetically being himself, even if it means ruffling a few feathers. His music is raw and innovative, and he isn’t afraid to address deep, sometimes uncomfortable themes. Taylor, on the other hand, often seems to tread in safer waters. Sure, her songs are relatable, but do they really take us to new places or just rehash familiar tales of heartbreak and love? It seems Taylor has been reliving her teenage heartbreak sob stories for the best part of two decades now. Niel Tennent, singer-songwriter of The Pet shop Boys believed Taylor’s musical popularity didn’t correspond correctly to the quality of her music, quoted to have said  “What’s Taylor Swift’s Billie Jean?”

Then there’s the question of artistic evolution. Ye has always been about reinventing himself, whether it’s through groundbreaking production, unexpected collaborations, or just his larger-than-life persona. Taylor’s musical journey, while certainly impressive, has sometimes felt more like an artificially curated progression rather than a bold leap forward. From country to pop, and now to indie-folk; it’s almost as if she’s following a strategic roadmap rather than carving out new territories in the music landscape.

Let’s not ignore the impact of their public personas either. Ye is often seen as polarizing, but there’s a certain magnetism to his unpredictability. He’s a figure who’s larger than life, and even his controversies can’t overshadow his creative genius. Taylor on the other hand hasn’t done anything close to reinventing any of the genres she’s tried to place herself in. The rock icon Courtney Love made it clear in an interview with The Standard that she saw nothing special about the pop singer; “Taylor’s not important…she’s not interesting as an artist”. Where his persona is spontaneous and often challenging, Taylor’s feels meticulously planned and safe.

Although this article has disparaged Taylor’s music there is one interesting positive I’d like to speak about: her re-releasing of her old albums. From an outsiders point of view this may seem like a careless cash grab from a lazy artist who doesn’t want to have to write new music, and maybe it is. However, there is a prominent reason for her doing so; ownership. The rights to her old album were tied up with her previous record label, meaning she wasn’t making money from them and instead it was going to the recording company. Now on a new label and on terms she’s happy with, she is able to profit from the music she has actually released. Cash grab or not, this move speaks to a greater issue within the music industry. Musical icons such as The Beatles, Prince and Frank Ocean have all had issues with and spoken out about ownership of their catalogue’s, and its an issue that continues to plague the music industry. Any artist promoting the injustice of the music industry should be given their flowers. Musicians should be able to own their creative brilliance, although whether Taylor is creative or brilliant is certainly up for debate.