Taylor Swift Hits Back At Damon Albarn After He Said She Doesn’t Write Her Own Songs
Yes, Damon Albarn actually said: “Taylor Swift doesn’t write her own songs.” Did the emergency siren from Kill Bill start immediately playing in everyone’s heads? Because it did in mine. Naturally, Damon messed up pretty hard when he accused Taylor of not writing her songs because Taylor hopped on Twitter and dragged Damon for dragging her.
This all started yesterday when The Los Angeles Times published an interview with Damon, aka the lead singer of Blur and Gorillaz. In the interview, he broke down his thoughts on Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift. Damon Albarn thinks Billie Eilish is “exceptional,” and Taylor, well…he isn’t exactly here for the narrative of Taylor Swift, Prolific Songwriter.
Albarn also spills his thoughts on some of today's chart-topping music artists.
Billie Eilish?
"I think she’s exceptional."
Taylor Swift?
"She doesn’t write her own songs."https://t.co/4Obt2Fjpoi— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) January 24, 2022
Damon elaborates further, saying that it’s not like he’s implying Taylor calls up 1-800-Ghostwriters with an AmEx Black in her hand, and orders 14 hit songs to be delivered by Friday. He knows she writes songs. It’s just that he believes she’s got some help.
“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. 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.”
Taylor swiftly told Damon that she was such a huge fan, but isn’t anymore, all thanks to the audacity to “discredit” her by suggesting she didn’t write her own material. How dare he! A curse onto him, and his children, and his children’s children. XOXO, Taylor.
PS I wrote this tweet all by myself in case you were wondering 😑
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 24, 2022
Taylor’s frequent collaborators Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner also defended her:
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 and brings in. herb.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) January 24, 2022
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
— Aaron Dessner (@aaron_dessner) January 24, 2022
Damon eventually apologized and accused The Los Angeles Times of click-baiting by breaking down his quote in a tweet:
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. – Damon
— Damon Albarn (@Damonalbarn) January 24, 2022
Damon learned a very good lesson here today, and that’s that you NEVER call out Taylor Swift, no matter how innocuous you might sound. Before Damon sat down with The LA Times, he should have requested the shadowy figure-obscuring interview room from Dateline, and that digital sound-altering device to disguise his voice. Oh, and his name is now “Kevin McSmith (Not His Real Name).” That’s the only safe way to dialogue about Taylor Swift.
Pics: Wenn.com