Jan 26th 2022

Taylor Swift and the Conceptual Revolution in Popular Music

by David W. Galenson

Dr. David W. Galenson is Professor of Economics at the University of Chicago; Academic Director of the Center for Creativity Economics at Universidad del CEMA, Buenos Aires; and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. His publications include Old Masters and Young Geniuses: The Two Life Cycles of Artistic Creativity (Princeton University Press, 2006) and Conceptual Revolutions in Twentieth-Century Art (Cambridge University Press and NBER, 2009). David W. Galenson, picture aboce. Derek Walcott, picture in the text.

The conceptual revolution in popular music is not dead.

During the Golden Era of American popular music, songwriters wrote songs, and singers sang them. Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, and their peers considered themselves to be skilled craftsmen, who wrote songs to be sung by popular performers, who included Ethel Merman, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, and their peers. When a new song came on the radio, the audience understood that its lyrics had been tailored to fit the plot of a new Broadway musical or Hollywood movie, with no expectation that its lyrics represented the personal ideas or feelings of the singer.

This division of labor between writers and singers persisted into the early days of rock and roll. Elvis Presley and others performed songs written by professional writers. Now some singers began to write their own songs: Buddy Holly, inspired by John Wayne's performance in The Searchers, wrote "That'll Be the Day." But the popular music of the late '50s and early '60s was still dominated by professional songwriters, as the teams of Gerry Goffin and Carole King and Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil wrote one hit after another for a wide range of singers and groups. And it was natural for the Beatles to record songs written by others early in their career: "Chains," written by Goffin and King for the Cookies, was included on their first album in 1963. Indeed the Beatles' original goal in writing, as stated by John Lennon, was that "Paul and I wanted to be the Goffin and King of England."

Then there was a revolution. In 1964, Bob Dylan created a new kind of popular music. The simple, clear love songs of Berlin and his peers were replaced by complex and opaque lyrics, filled with literary allusions and symbolism. Dylan rejected the role of craftsman: "I'm an artist. I try to create art." Nor were his songs intended to be universal: "My songs were written with me in mind."

Dylan's novel synthesis of folk music, the blues, and Symbolist poetry created a radical new model for popular music, as the clear, simple language that generations of songwriters had used to express universal emotions gave way to an avalanche of cryptic and enigmatic verses that expressed the thoughts and feelings only of the musicians who wrote and sang them. John Lennon and Paul McCartney were early converts to Dylan's conceptual revolution, as "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane" created fantasy worlds in which nothing was real, and there was nothing to get hung up on. Sgt. Pepper then became another early landmark of the conceptual revolution, using novel recording techniques to create songs that could not have been performed on stage.

Since Dylan and the Beatles, self-respecting groups, from U2 and Public Enemy on, have been expected to write their own songs. But the older craftsman/performer model never disappeared. No one criticized Dionne Warwick for singing songs written by Bert Bacharach and Hal David, and no one objected when Whitney Houston sang Dolly Parton's "And I Will Always Love You," or Judy Collins sang Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns."

But now Damon Albarn, of the Blur, has contemptuously dismissed Taylor Swift as a songwriter, on the grounds that she doesn't write her own songs. Swift's indignant response: "I write ALL my own songs" - often with co-writers, which for Albarn doesn't count. But Swift

then added: "Your hot take is completely false and SO damaging." Damaging only from the perspective of the conceptual revolution. But this is a mistake: Swift's simple and direct songs are not conceptual, but in fact hearken back to the older tradition of American popular
song. Taylor Swift should be proud of belonging to a line of descent that includes such singers as Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Dionne Warwick, Whitney Houston, and Judy Collins. Indeed, no one seems to have complained when Swift herself recorded "White Christmas." So even though Swift considers it damaging to admit that she sings other people's songs, somewhere Irving Berlin and Bing Crosby are smiling.

 

Editor's note:

Background article from the Guardian on 25 January 2022:

Taylor Swift criticises Damon Albarn for saying she doesn't write her own songs

 

Browse articles by author

More Essays

Improving Art History
by David Galenson
Jul 26th 2023
EXTRACT: "Art historians have never understood economics, and as a result they believe they can ignore markets: in their view, the production of art can be treated in isolation from its sale.  This is of course disastrously wrong.  But their ignorance has led to a neglect of the economic history of art. "
Insatiably Seeking Status 
by R. James Breiding
Jul 13th 2023
EXTRACT: ".....art purchases and prices have plateaued. The prevailing mood at this year’s Art Basel was one of anxiety, as dealers roamed the halls searching for answers. Some speculate that the state of the art market indicates declining confidence among the world’s richest people. When the economy is booming, collectors are more inclined to invest in art and take on leverage, especially when borrowing costs are low. But these dynamics can shift quickly during downturns. The 2008 crisis, for example, caused art prices to fall by 60%."
People with Parkinson’s may benefit from cardio, weight training and yoga – here’s what you need to know
by Aideen Sullivan and Lucy Collins-Stack
Jul 13th 2023
EXTRACT: "But even if you’re having trouble motivating yourself to exercise, many types of physical activity may be helpful as long as you do them regularly. For example, walking, gardening and household chores (such as cooking, hoovering and dusting) may prevent symptoms worsening and improve quality of life. And, these activities may be easier to incorporate into your daily routine than a gym workout."
Why there are fewer insects on UK farms than there were a century ago – and how to restore them
by Simon Potts, Michael Garratt and Tom Breeze
Jul 12th 2023
EXTRACTS: "Insect populations are declining worldwide at a rate of almost 1% per year. This decline is alarming. Insects play a crucial role in pollinating crops, controlling crop pests and maintaining soil fertility. In the UK alone, pollination provided by bees and other insects adds over £600 million to crop production every year. That’s about 10% of the country’s total annual crop value. Through pollination, insects also make sure that fruit and vegetables are packed full of the vitamins and minerals needed for healthy human diets. Insufficient pollination would result in lower-quality foods, less choice and higher food prices." .... "Just like fertiliser and water, these insects should be considered a legitimate agricultural input that needs to be protected and managed sustainably."
Should Rammstein Be Banned? 
by Ian Buruma
Jul 6th 2023
EXTRACT: "But whatever the truth may turn out to be, the Lindemann affair raises a question that has been hotly debated over the past few years, especially in the United States, but more and more in Europe, too: must art be judged by the private behavior of its creator? It has become fairly common for critics to denounce Pablo Picasso’s paintings because he made women in his life suffer. A well-known movie critic declared that he could no longer view Woody Allen’s films in the same way after the director was accused, without any evidence, of abusing his seven-year-old adoptive daughter. Roman Polanski’s movies are no longer distributed in the US, because he drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl in 1977."
How the ancient Greeks kept ruthless narcissists from capturing their democracy – and what modern politics could learn from them
by Steve Taylor
Jun 25th 2023
EXTRACT: "There’s a great deal of research showing that people with negative personality traits, such as narcissism, ruthlessness, amorality or a lack of empathy and conscience, are attracted to high-status roles, including politics. In a representative democracy, therefore, the people who put themselves forward as representatives include a sizeable proportion of people with disordered personalities – people who crave power because of their malevolent traits. And the most disordered and malevolent personalities –the most ruthless and amoral – tend to rise to the highest positions in any political party, and in any government. This is the phenomenon of “pathocracy”, which I discuss at length in my new book DisConnected."
Flavanols are linked to better memory and heart health – here’s what foods you can eat to get these benefits
by Gunter Kuhnle
Jun 11th 2023
EXTRACT: "Although there’s still much we don’t know about flavanols – such as why they have the effect they do on so many aspects of our health – it’s clear from the research we do have that they are very likely beneficial to both memory and heart health."
What Makes the French so Different?
by Michael Johnson
May 4th 2023
EXTRACT: "My recent book on them 25 Unforgettable French Faces covers a wide range of individuals, from an aging Brigitte Bardot to architect Gustave Eiffel. Both of them changed the face of France. In the upcoming sequel, 25 More Unforgettable French Faces, I have completed my collection of 50 examples. The new book, now in progress, ranges from The Bad Boy of the 18th Century (Voltaire) to A Man of Principle (Jean-Paul Sartre) and Big Dark Eyes, (the actress Audrey Tautou)."
Perovskite: new type of solar technology paves the way for abundant, cheap and printable cells
by David Beynon
May 4th 2023
EXTRACT: "Silicon solar cells are an established technology for the generation of electricity from the sun. But they take a lot of energy to produce, are rigid and can be fragile. However, a new class of solar cell is matching their performance. And what’s more, it can now be printed out using special inks and wrapped flexibly around uneven surfaces."
How the brain stops us learning from our mistakes – and what to do about it
by Pragya Agarwal
Apr 21st 2023
EXTRACT: "You learn from your mistakes. At least, most of us have been told so. But science shows that we often fail to learn from past errors. Instead, we are likely to keep repeating the same mistakes." .... "Sometimes we stick with certain behaviour patterns, and repeat our mistakes because of an “ego effect” that compels us to stick with our existing beliefs. We are likely to selectively choose the information structures and feedback that help us protect our egos." ..... "....there are simpler things we can do. One is to become more comfortable with making mistakes. We might think that this is the wrong attitude towards failures, but it is in fact a more positive way forward."
Freeing America from the Quagmire of Inequality
by Sam Ben-Meir
Mar 17th 2023
EXTRACTS: "The intensifying concentration of wealth, and unjustifiable level of income inequality is proving disastrous in many ways. Here are just a few of them. First, less equal societies typically have more unstable economies, and this country is no exception." --- "Second, there is an incontrovertible link between economic inequality and violent crime. The fact is that rates of violence are higher in more unequal societies." --- "Third, the undeniable fact is that the greater the economic inequality that exists, the worse it is for general health outcomes. What is sometimes overlooked is that income inequality is bad for health outcomes across economic strata, not just for those in poverty. To be sure, poor health and poverty are closely linked; but the epidemiological research shows that high levels of economic inequality “negatively affect the health of even the affluent, mainly because… inequality reduces social cohesion, a dynamic that leads to more stress, fear, and insecurity for everyone.” People live longer in countries with lower levels of inequality, as the World Bank reports. In the United States, for example, “average life expectancy is four years shorter than in some of the most equitable countries.” "
Four common misconceptions about quantum physics
by Alessandro Fedrizzi and Mehul Malik
Mar 10th 2023
EDITOR: "Quantum mechanics, the theory which rules the microworld of atoms and particles, certainly has the X factor. Unlike many other areas of physics, it is bizarre and counter-intuitive, which makes it dazzling and intriguing. When the 2022 Nobel prize in physics was awarded to Alain Aspect, John Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for research shedding light on quantum mechanics, it sparked excitement and discussion. But debates about quantum mechanics – be they on chat forums, in the media or in science fiction – can often get muddled thanks to a number of persistent myths and misconceptions. Here are four."
Ecology as New Enlightenment 
by Corine Pelluchon
Mar 7th 2023
EXTRACT: "....the destructive logic of the false dualism of man and nature continues to threaten our civilization. The new Enlightenment would overcome this dualistic perspective, by bringing about a deep reconsideration of our moral duties to animals and future generations, and transforming how we inhabit the Earth. Instead of thinking of ourselves as separate from nature, we must recognize that we are embedded in it, and that even our most mundane actions have far-reaching consequences."
A Farewell to Russia
by Anastasia Edel
Feb 28th 2023
EXTRACT: " It has now been a year since Russia, my birthplace, invaded Ukraine. For 365 days, we have been waking up to news of Russian missile strikes, bombings, murders, torture, and rape. It has been 365 days of shame and confusion, of wanting to turn away but needing to know what is happening, of watching Russians become “ruscists,” “Orks,” or “putinoids.” For 365 days, the designation “Russian-American,” previously straightforward, has felt like a contradiction in terms. For those in my situation, some methods of adapting to the new circumstances have come easier than others. Russian books still crowd my bookcase, but I no longer have any wish to re-read them. Chekhov and Nabokov cannot be blamed for the aggression against Ukraine, but it nonetheless has stolen their magic and their capacity to teach. These authors were my friends, as were the old-country rituals like Russian Easter vigils and New Year’s screenings of the Soviet classic Irony of Fate. I feel the loss acutely, but perhaps it is for the better. It helps me concentrate on the present."
How my selective horrors spice up the ‘French type’
by Michael Johnson
Feb 18th 2023
EXTRACTS: "Like the United States, France has gained strength through immigration, a fact often overlooked by opponents of open borders. Science, industry and the arts have clearly benefitted. And I found the local color in the population to be a rich source for artwork."
Insects are vanishing worldwide – now it’s making it harder to grow food
by Stuart Reynolds
Feb 17th 2023
EXTRACT: "Insects are by far the most numerous of all animals on Earth. The estimated global total of new insect material that grows each year is an astonishing 1,500 million tonnes. Most of this is immediately consumed by an upward food chain of predators and parasites, so that the towering superstructure of all the Earth’s animal diversity is built on a foundation of insects and their arthropod relatives. ---- If insects decline, then other wild animals must inevitably decline too."
Self-Portrait of an Experimental Songwrite
by David W. Galenson
Feb 14th 2023
EXTRACT: "When Bob Dylan and the Beatles were creating a conceptual revolution in popular music, producing works that were highly personal, obscure, and often incomprehensible to listeners, Bacharach was the greatest composer who continued the experimental tradition of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and the other giants of the Golden Age."
Light and Obliquity: Edward Hopper at the Whitney Museum
by Sam Ben-Meir
Feb 7th 2023
EXTRACT: "Many of Hopper’s most famous works – Nighthawks (1942), for example (not in the exhibition) – have become so ubiquitous that we are in danger of no longer being able to see them. The corrective for this over-exposure is to engage with the artist’s less familiar work; that is, to come to the artist through another portal – obliquely, if you will – and thereby trace a new path into the world that his oeuvre represents. Hopper observed, “I think I’m not very human, I didn’t want to paint people posturing and grimacing. What I wanted to do was to paint sunlight on the side of a house.” It is as telling a description as any of Hopper’s painterly fascination with New York City."
From Frank Lloyd Wright to Edwin Lutyens, why do unbuilt buildings continue to fascinate us?
by Nick Webb
Feb 3rd 2023
EXTRACT: "The built environment we inhabit is just the residue of a much greater imaginative world that never saw the light of day, evoking what might have been or still could be..."
Are the Clintons actually writing their novels? An expert uses ‘stylometry’ to analyse Hillary and Bill’s writing
by James O'Sullivan
Jan 18th 2023
EXTRACT: "In 2018, former US president Bill Clinton coauthored a novel with James Patterson, the world’s bestselling author. The President is Missing is a typical “Patterson”: a page-turner of a thriller, easy to read, with short chapters and large font. Patterson is accustomed to collaborative writing ..... He is as much a producer as he is a writer, using a string of junior collaborators to run his factory of novels. Patterson outlines the plot, the coauthors write the story, Patterson offers feedback. While he doesn’t seem to do much writing himself, it is a system that has made Patterson a rich man."