Here are some photos of Taylor Swift performing in Louisiana last week. Her tour has started, and I think she’s organized it a lot like her Red Tour, which is to say that Tay-Tay is mostly performing in clusters on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and then she has the rest of the week off. It’s a pretty smart way to tour, especially if you’re a big pop star and you have your own plane and everything. Taylor did an interview with BBC1 this week where she talked about how “easy” it is to be a touring pop star. Sure?
Being a pop star is really not a bad gig—just ask Taylor Swift! The ex-country singer, 25, told BBC Radio 1’s Nick Grimshaw that touring the world “is not that hard. I’m telling you now it’s really not…Sometimes I really don’t think it’s that hard at all…When I was starting out I’d go on tour for three months and I was gone for three months. Now almost 10 years in, thank God we get to play bigger shows so I don’t have to play as many. If we’re playing stadiums, I’ll do two or three a week, not five shows a week, then I get to fly home in between. It’s not that bad.”
But while Taylor thinks the globetrotting life of a pop star is “made out to be harder than it is,” there is one part she struggles with…As she told BBC Radio 1, “I do have to leave the cats behind when I leave the country, which is the hardest part.”
But Meredith Grey and Olivia Benson surely understand their mama’s got a job to do! Taylor loves this gig, too. “That’s the best part of this [touring], when you walk off stage and you’re drenched in sweat and you’re tired and your legs hurt,” she said. “It feels like you’re really working for the job. It’s nice to feel tired after a show. I’m like ‘Oh my God, I’m finally doing something.'”
And how does Taylor reward herself for all this hard work? With some TV time, of course! “I really like the feeling of: ‘You know what? I’ve been busy. I deserve this watching two hours of TV at the end of the night.’ I like Friends because I’ve seen every episode, so it’s like switching my brain off. I know exactly what they’re about to say.”
Taylor should watch cooking shows when she wants to turn her brain off. That’s what I do – I find cooking shows so relaxing, even when they’re not making food that I particularly want to eat. The Barefoot Contessa is probably the best one to watch after a busy day. But yes, reruns are great for relaxing too.
As for Taylor and how she finds touring so easy these days… a few points. One, from what I understand, Taylor isn’t doing really crazy, intensive dancing like some other pop stars (Beyonce). But unlike some pop stars (Britney), I believe Taylor is attempting to sing most of her songs live. Does she have backing tracks? I’m sure. But she actually is trying to give her fans a live experience. Now, all that being said… of course it’s “easy” to be a touring pop star when you only do two shows a week, everything is expertly managed and you have a private plane to fly home after every show. I wonder who takes care of Meredith and Olivia while Tay is gone?
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and Pacific Coast News.
Beautiful makeup in that header photo.
I do love her makeup.
When you are young, it should be easy, really. I’ve read books from bands and they said it was the best gig in the world. Hit a new town, sing, and party all night, sleep late and do it all over again. As you age and your vocals deteriorate after touring for many years in, the lead singer really has the brunt of it then, being healthier, keeping their voice fit, and energy. Of course, pop stars get help with their backing tracks. I noticed Gaga really used hers heavily this past tour. It was so noticeable how lazy she had gotten and it was in the forefront far too often with Gaga just letting it do the work and her screaming to the crowd. Very disappointing to see that from someone who brags so much. And Gaga only danced somewhat, way less than previous tours, except a couple of songs heavier choreographed. Otherwise, a lot of hand movements.
True that. Years of straining the voice often takes its toll. Have to say though went to see stevie wonder with my parents a few years ago. That guy still sings better than everyone else at 60. I was so impressed.
Right?
When I’ve read the quote I thought to people like AC/DC or the Rolling Stones who have been touring since the 60’s and they are still able to put on an hell of a show! Go to tell them that touring is not that hard.
It’s all about good vocal technique–you can ruin your throat and vocal chords by just not knowing how to sing/breathe properly, and how to pace yourself so that you don’t over-strain. Iggy Pop did an interesting interview a few years ago about having to change his habits and technique in order to keep performing.
True. Plus a lot of these lead singers smoke and it shows up later. Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode was sounding rough as far a s his vocals weren’t great for the last decade consistently. He had some rough spots but still a great baritone This last tour he sounded amazing all the way through. I put it down to quitting smoking after cancer, finally using in-ear monitors, and getting back serious about his vocals with better technique. He really does a lot pre-tour to be in tip-top shape breathwise because he rarely stops moving on stage.
Bono is sounding amazing this tour. He quit smoking. But also his vocals aren’t as thin sounding as they were. I bet he has also put a lot of work back into his vocals as far as lessons gearing up for the tour.
It has shocked me how great Mick Jagger sounded this last tour and the reviews from their performance the other night. One concert-goer said the concert was as good as years ago. But he said getting reading for tour he runs eight miles a day, takes ballet, takes vocal lessons, yoga. He approaches performing like an athlete as he got older because he is moving all the time. Like Dave Gahan he gets in great aerobic shape to be able to move so much and sing without being winded.
I’m glad she’s called it. Because even if you are dancing, you attain a certain level of fitness that makes it not as tiring as one may think. Preparing for the tour is probably the hardest part.
I don’t think there is anything disagreeable about what she said.
She says that as she is now playing bigger venues that she doesn’t have to play as many shows and anyone who has a plane at their disposal is going to have an easier time that those still using buses.
I don’t, either. If she would have said touring and being a pop star was hard, we would have jumped all over her.
touring is only hard if you dont have money. if you can stay in the best hotles and fly in for your gigs its a sweet gig.
all the big bands from the 70s to now also all say the worst thing is the absolute boredom on tour.
Somewhere I’ve read Madonna has all her personal fornitures in her hotel rooms, to look like she is at home. To me that says a LOT about touring.
She’s not belting melodically complex songs, she’s not playing that guitar, and she’s not performing intense dance routines. And she’s only playing a few shows a week, with the kind of money to ensure she’s comfortable at all times.
But at least she paid lip service to the fact that she didn’t always have it this easy.
Exactly. Of all the young pop stars right now, her shows require the least effort. They’re highly entertaining, but take away all the smoke and mirrors and she’s just standing around a lot while singing along to a backing track of a really simple song. And the crowd goes nuts for her her, she doesn’t have to put in any effort to get them feeling it. Even her costume changes are super chill compared to other pop stars.
If you’re Pink doing a acrobatics routine 5 nights in a row while singing live, or Beyonce dancing your heart out, it’s going to take more out of you even with the private planes and 5 star hotels. Even Rihanna and Katy Perry’s shows require more from them than Taylor’s.
Katy Perry and Rihanna’s shows would a lot easier if they stopped pretending that they can dance. Taylor knows she’s not beyonce or Madonna so she doesn’t try to be.
She does play the guitar. I was at that concert and she played acoustic guitar, electric and piano plus sang live. She didn’t dance elaborate dances but she was all over the stage – she doesn’t just stand there. Plus it was HOT Friday night. probably in the mid/high 80’s when the concert started with 90+ percent humidity – it was an outdoor stadium show in South Louisiana
She looks like Farrah Fawcett’s mother. Time to rethink that awful hair and that heavy make-up.
Also, I agree with an above commenter…she’s not dancing or really straining her voice to hit high notes, plus has every dime at her disposal so why would it be hard?
God, no one looks good when you wear high waisted leggings as pants. Even if you are as thin as Taylor. She loves a good camel toe, doesn’t she?
I’m glad she didn’t say it in a preaching tone but admitted that it’s easy for her in her current circumstances, because she made it and now she has every luxury to make touring much easier. That’s probably the goal and the dream of every musician. But it’s much different for struggling artists. My friend is a very talented touring drummer, who has to travel coach or in a small van, has to shower in gas stations and sleep in said van or cheap, dirty motels. He and his bandmates have to carry all their equipment by themselves so the hard physical work begins hours before they even start playing. He was in a hospital for exhaustion and dehydration several times in the last 3 years. His fiancee just called off their engagement because he booked some additional gigs in order to make money for their wedding – he was basically gone for 7 months and she got tired of waiting for him. I dreamed about being a musician back in the day, I played the piano and did some touring as a lead singer with a band but when I look at him, I’m less sad about not singing anymore.
I’d much rather hear her say it’s an easy life than listen to Goop go on about how difficult she as it in her career
I agree. I found nothing wrong with her answer.
Maybe certain circumstances make it easier for her, but I don’t think there’s time during the radio segment for her to go on about every caveat as to why her pop career might be easier or to make a comparison between her’s and someone else’s.
ITA. I feel for her about her kitties. I hate leaving mine for even one night.
ITA, I think this was her point–to acknowledge that, yes, it’s a job and hard work, but she realizes that it’s pretty plush as far as jobs go.
Taylor’s album is fabulous … 1989 really is the first time I’ve bought her entire album and it’s really really good
Yeah, touring isn’t hard because she does under 100 shows in the span of a year. Beyoncé has done 100+ shows in a year. Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour was 203 shows in a span of a year and half. How many shows did Taylor do for her Red Tour? 86. That’s it. In a year. Of course it’s going to be easy. My brother is a guitarist for a rock band and their last tour was about a year long and they did 130+ shows (sometimes 15 shows in a month), 8 legs. It was non-stop traveling, and my brother was exhausted. They very rarely had time off to enjoy the location they were in. He says it’s rewarding, and he LOVES his job, but it’s certainly not “easy”. So yeah, Taylor. It’s easy for YOU. You got that right.
Man, does someone have a chip on their shoulder? She is doing all these shows in just over 6 months….and so what if she chooses to do less shows because she doesn’t want to be on the road all the time. She has the money and can make that choice, what she has to do over 100 shows to be valid? I think it is refreshing to hear a celebrity admit that their life is pretty easy…
It doesn’t seem like Kelly resents Taylor, so I don’t see where the “chip on the shoulder” comes into play. She was stating the truth. Taylor doesn’t do 86 shows in 6 months. She tours for a little over year. She does about 5 shows a month with breaks in between. I am huge Swift fan. I think she is talented, but as far as touring, she doesn’t even put in half the effort of other artists. It doesn’t make her any less “valid”. But, for such a huge artist, I kinda feel like she is lazy in the touring department. Whatever works for her. At least she admits her minimal touring is a piece of cake.
She’s worth a bajillion dollars so I think minimal touring makes sense in her case. There’s not really a necessity to put on more tour dates if she’s comfortable with the level of wealth (which appears to be a lot) she’s already acquired. I assume people at her level of fame and success who tour more than what Taylor does are doing it for the (extra) money, not because they’re trying to prove they work harder. Beyonce is not hard up for cash, so if she’s doing more dates than Taylor, I assume it’s to wrack in more dough (along with her vegan food line).
If you already have the kind of money Taylor does, I tend to think balancing time between travelling and coming back home makes sense from a mental health perspective.
But I don’t think Taylor is comparing herself to tour managers and musicians, I think she’s comparing herself to other stars who are touring. Lady Gaga chose to have so many shows in such a little time and I think that says something about her own insecurity in quality of her music: Swift does smaller number of shows, because she believes that she’ll be booked after the next album that comes along; Gaga was obviously aware that she was hot stuff of the moment, and that who knows who’ll want to see her in a year or two. Everyone of this pop stars should have a right to choose how many dates they want and will do, and I don’t get where is Taylor’s fault in thinking rationally? I agree with perplexed.
And not being able to spend more than one night in the same bed. UGH!
I wish Taylor was just plain bitchier so the ‘you hear that Leann?’ i finished her sentence with would actually have occurred somewhere other than my head.
It wasn’t in your head, unless you & I are reading each others’ minds! Lol.
LOL. Yeah, I immediately thought of her too! 2 hour-long shows over 3 days and she’s moaning before and after for days about exhaustion, missing home, how hard “touring” life is. She’s lazy AND codependent! And she bitches about it nonstop to fans – she could take a few cues from a professional like Taylor!
hahaha! My thoughts exactly! Poor lil ole Leann hates “touring”. But then her “tours” consist of one or two gigs every couple months and then she is soooo exhausted. Oh but wait—maybe the reason she only has such a limited amount of shows is because noone wants to waste their time and money on a hasbeen! And her work ethic is nothing like Taylor’s, which is to give her fans a really good entertaining show performing all her number one hits.
Ok little Princess, go home. All you have to do is show up and sing poorly. When you have everything done for you, then I guess, yes, touring is easy. Bugger off you reedy voiced mean girl.
Yeah touring is easy for Taylor, I wonder how easy it is for the tour manager.
I took my daughter to Taylor’s show in Louisiana last week. It was entertaining but she only sang live for like maybe 3 songs.
This would be a change from her previous tours then. I’ve taken my daughters to the last 2 and she was definitely singing live throughout. She had a cold the night we saw the Red tour and you could hear the congestion as she sang (and spoke).
If she sang everything live, I couldn’t tell. I guess it’s possible there were audio problems . I talked with others who were at the same show and they had the same impression I did. The only times it was clear she was singing live were her ballads. The other songs had heavy voice over tracks and back up singers. It was a great show anyway. My daughter LOVED it.
Not a snark but most of the stuff I’ve read that people find hard about touring is being away from their family/SO. She’s single/no kids, this is the time for it to be fun and easy. Plus, as others have said, she plays a big show with effects and no dancing, good hotels and no buses.
Seems she was just speaking her truth for her situation..maybe people are just mad that she’s admitting she makes a ton of $ for something that’s not that hard? That’s show biz..
It should be easy. Because that’s THEIR JOB. Plenty of people work high stress jobs that never pay off to the extent of stardom. Millions of dollars in compensation for an exhausting year is nothing. Methinks she’s shading artists who doth complain much.