Taylor Swift Responds to Damon Albarn: “It’s Really Fucked Up to Try and Discredit My Writing”

    Taylor Swift has responded to Damon Albarn regarding comments he made in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times. Speaking with Mikael Wood, Albarn said that Swift “doesn’t write her own songs.” Wood responded: “Of course she does. Co-writes some of them.” Albarn went on:

    That doesn’t count. I know what co-writing is. Co-writing is very different to writing. I’m not hating on anybody, I’m just saying there’s a big difference between a songwriter and a songwriter who co-writes. Doesn’t mean that the outcome can’t be really great. And some of the greatest singers—I mean, Ella Fitzgerald never wrote a song in her life. When I sing, I have to close my eyes and just be in there. I suppose I’m a traditionalist in that sense. A really interesting songwriter is Billie Eilish and her brother [Finneas]. I’m more attracted to that than to Taylor Swift. It’s just darker—less endlessly upbeat. Way more minor and odd. I think she’s exceptional.

    Swift replied to Albarn on Twitter, writing, “@DamonAlbarn I was such a big fan of yours until I saw this. I write ALL of my own songs. Your hot take is completely false and SO damaging. You don’t have to like my songs but it’s really fucked up to try and discredit my writing. WOW.” She added: “PS I wrote this tweet all by myself in case you were wondering 😑.”

    Swift’s frequent collaborator Jack Antonof weighed in, commenting: “I’ve never met Damon Albarn and he’s never been to my studio but apparently he knows more than the rest of us about all those songs Taylor writes… If you were there…cool…go off. If not…maybe…shut the fuck up?”

    Aaron Dessner also commented on the disagreement: “Not sure why you
    @Damonalbarn would try to discredit Taylor’s brilliant songwriting but as someone who has gotten to press record around her …your statements couldn’t be further from the truth…you’re obviously completely clueless as to her actual writing and work process.”

    Following Swift’s response, Albarn tweeted: “I totally agree with you. i had a conversation about songwriting and sadly it was reduced to clickbait. I apologise unreservedly and unconditionally. The last thing I would want to do is discredit your songwriting. I hope you understand.”

     

    Konstantinos Pappis
    Konstantinos Pappis
    Konstantinos Pappis is a writer, journalist, and music editor at Our Culture. His work has also appeared in Pitchfork, GIGsoup, and other publications. He currently lives in Athens, Greece.

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