Taylor Swift still hates Katy Perry. Obviously. At this point, Taylor has beefed with at least a dozen celebrities and artists and for the most part, she buried the hatchet with all of them. Except Katy. Because Katy is BAD BLOOD. She is The Enemy. She is the #1 Target of Destruction. While their beef may or may not have started over some dancers loyal to Katy, I think their beef has gone next-level at this point, and it’s also about John Mayer (gross), what it means to stand up for other women, and… music, of course. You see, Katy Perry managed to get five #1 singles off her album Roar. And now Taylor wants to make sure she surpasses that record.
Taylor Swift is “obsessed” with getting more No. 1 hits than Katy Perry and is making an aggressive push to get songs from her album “1989” promoted to beat her pop rival’s record.
“She wants seven No. 1s,” said an industry source, adding, “Katy tied Michael [Jackson]’s record for having five No. 1s from a single album, and Taylor wants to beat Katy. She wants to be the greatest.”
Swift set out to woo media and radio promoters by having intimate listening sessions at her Tribeca apartment before she released the album last October. “She knows all the radio execs by name and how to work a room. She’s a complete pro,” said the source.
Swift’s rivalry with Perry goes beyond music. Sources told us the two started feuding last year over mutual ex John Mayer, and Swift’s mention of a “straight-up enemy” in a Rolling Stone interview further sparked speculation that she and Perry were bitter rivals. “Oh, we’re just straight-up enemies. And it wasn’t even about a guy! It had to do with business. She basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour. She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me . . . I don’t think there would be any personal problem if she weren’t competitive,” she said.
As for Swift’s own competitiveness, an insider says she is no different from any other artist: “Of course there’s motivation to beat her peers, but it’s friendly competition. She’s completely focused on delivering great music and a great show.”
Another source said, “She’s so happy with the success of this album. Talk of No. 1 singles is for the label to deal with. She’s not even a part of those conversations. She’s concerned with her tour and putting on a show.”
Swift has been pulling out all the stops on her “1989” world tour, including inviting musicians like Mary J. Blige, Alanis Morissette, Dan Reynolds and Ed Sheeran onstage. But something tells us she won’t be burying the hatchet by inviting Perry to join her. A rep for Swift did not comment.
“Talk of No. 1 singles is for the label to deal with. She’s not even a part of those conversations.” Horsesh-t. I’ve read Tay-Tay’s interviews over the past few years. You would be hard pressed to find a savvier businesswoman. In fact, she’s a better businesswoman than she is a live performer (yeah, I said it). Not only is Taylor PART of those conversations, she’s the one leading those conversations. She’s the one calling meetings for the Let’s Get More #1 Singles Than Katy Perry Club. She’s president and CEO of that club.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
I know it is all the rage on this site to hate on Taylor Swift, but as a mother to a tween, I am glad there is at least one performer who I can tolerate my child to watch. I know all the adults here are going to yell at me and say all the negative stuff she does, and that’s fine, but no younger person thinks about all that. I, for one, am glad she is around without constant boobs hanging out, the constant pot smoking. Sure she is childish in her lyrics and stuff, so what, if she bothers you that bad… don’t watch or listen!
+1
Dude, I’m with you. I’m a grown ass woman and I love her.
Her costumes for her latest tour are basically just glittery lingerie and tight cat suits aka the same thing every pop star wears. Since she went pop she dresses just like all the other pop stars, she just happens to be tall and thin. If she had big boobs and a big butt her outfit choices would be called vulgar and trashy, but she’s skinny so apparently it’s different when she get around in thigh high boots and suspenders.
This. She is literally wearing lingerie and nobody even mentions it because she just can’t do the whole ‘look at me I’m sexy’. It’s both a blessing (she isn’t criticized) and a curse (she clearly wants to tap into that aspect for her image and performances).
If Beyoncé or Miley wore that outfit, it would be a whole thread of pearl-clutching while putting Swift (undeservedly) on a pedestal.
just about to post the same thing –check out katy, arianna and taylor’s costumes for their latest tour– they are basically the same — crop top and skirts, bodysuit with thigh high boots, tight catsuit, figure skater dress with lots of blings, long gown/dress during the acoustic/piano part, etc..
Taylor’s advantage with winning over parents and the tween crowd even while wearing plunging necklines and short shorts is that she isn’t sexy at all and has a very thin body with few curves. She can wear pretty much anything and not be criticized for being too sexual. But make no mistake she is trying to be sexy, just failing at it. Kind of like Lea Michele.
Taylor trying to be sexy in lingerie with her breast implants hanging out at the Victoria’s Secret show: http://magazine.foxnews.com/sites/magazine.foxnews.com/files/RT_TaylorSwiftVictoriasSecret_0.jpg
And how similar outfits can look very different and more sexual on a curvier woman like JLo as opposed to Taylor: http://www.etonline.com/fashion/2015/05/24150941/640t_taylor_jlo_shoulder_boot.jpg
Well, Taylor Swift did get some puritanical criticism from one feminist blogger for dressing sexy, and I thought it was ridiculous. But it was also yet another painful reminder that just because someone identifies as liberal or feminist, doesn’t automatically mean that the beliefs they promote about women, their bodies, modesty, and sexuality are going to be that much more progressive than the political/religious opponents that they rail against. But other than that one example, Artemis is right that Taylor Swift usually gets away with outfits (bustiers, thigh-highs, hot pants, cleavage-y outfits, lingerie, garters, booty-shorts, cat ears) and song themes (sex) that Beyoncé, Miley, or Ariana have been slut-shamed for. Pink too- people have been chill about her pasties, lingerie, sexual songs, and nudity while acting like others doing it was a sin or some great human rights violation. And it gives you a weird feeling, because on the one hand it’s like “finally, a grown woman is getting to wear whatever the hell she wants with little-to-no slut-shaming, victim-blaming, or stereotypical comments about her being an exploited little thing with no agency!” But on the other hand it’s like, “People need to start applying that reasonableness to everyone now.” If Taylor Swift, Pink, Adam Levine, Lenny Kravitz, and Channing Tatum and Justin Bieber can do it without people clutching their pearls, then other artists should be able to do the same.
I don’t know…she’s not sexual sure but the way she acts is not exactly something I want my daughter to start emulating. She really is a mean girl and a bully, what with literally now suing people for quoting her pathetic lyrics on twitter and in podcasts. I honestly don’t appreciate it.
Also she actually does dress pretty scantily. It’s just she lacks any semblance of sex appeal, so no one notices.
Luckily my 4 year old thinks she’s terrible. Here’s hoping my 2 year old thinks the same way.
Perfectly put, Bethie. I’d add that her brand of feminism is… unhelpful.
But at the same time – how many tweens are reading into the gossip at the level we are? I bet the vast majority are seeing her posting photos of her cats, and her friends, and stuff like that, and hey – that’s great.
I still like Taylor- and I do think people automatically look to the negative with her. Eg: Katy Perry was able to insert herself into a twitter spat that wasn’t anything to do with her, and people were praising her for attacking Taylor just because. So I don’t know – it’s obviously not always skewed, but there is a certain amount of automatically assuming the worst with Taylor that can be unfair – and believe me, I’ve been right there criticizing her over the years. But overall, I kind of like the girl. At least she has a brain in her head, and is involved in as many aspects of her career as she can be – not just auto-tuning a song she had no input on, and not playing a single instrument or promoting herself. She’s at the very least got a good work ethic, which in itself is good for young girls to see.
argh sorry.. so what you are saying is that you rather your daughters be a slut and druggie than a mean girl savvy business woman?
O.o
@itzblissy, I don’t speak for Bethie but I don’t think she meant it’s an either/or situation.
itzblissy
Miley is many things, you just choose to see her as a ‘slut’ and a ‘druggie’. She is also a musician and one who just put out an album for free. Miley is also one of the few child stars who continues to have success.
She’s as much in control as Swift if not more because she doesn’t have to hide behind an ultra-conservative mass-appealing image. If she fucks up, it’s to be expected. If Swift fucks up majorly, she will have a lot of work on her hands.
You said it best, Erinn.
@erinn
I disagree.
I think Taylor is given a lot more goodwill precisely because she’s this blonde girl next door that white middle America doesnt feel threatened by.
Katy has been critiqued a great deal on this site and elsewhere, this type of scrutiny is not specific to Taylor at all. And again you could argue that Katy is a smart business woman too.
I don’t like either of them specifically just so that’s clear. I just don’t see how Taylor is somehow subjected to more critique than any other major pop star. Scrutiny comes with the territory.
Bethie, do you listen to Citizen Radio too?
@itzblissy: Aren’t you the same Taylor Swift fan who defended her slut-shaming of Camila Belle a few posts back? If you google the word ‘slut’, you’ll see that it’s a term steeped in sexism and Limbaugh/O’reilly/Duggar-like repressive attitudes about sexuality. It’s very definition is ‘a woman who does something sexual that is immoral.’ The definition alone implies that there are some things that are fine for a man to do with his own body, but immoral for a woman to do with her own body. And that’s not even touching on the violence and discrimination women and girls have faced all because of this idea that a woman is something ‘other’ or ‘less than’ if she does anything others deem sexual and immoral with her body.
Besides that, ‘immoral’ is a relative term. To a large segment of the population (and to many people throughout human history) immoral can be a woman masturbating, having premarital sex, having an affair with a married man, sexual activity with someone of the same sex, nudity, dressing immodestly, dancing immodestly, having sex for pleasure, or anything else. I would want any kids I had to grow up to be good, happy, progressive, assertive people who understood consent and showed a basic level of respect for people’s monogamous relationships. Other than that, I wouldn’t care if their sexuality was something that made other people say “immoral” or “you’re going to hell when you die.” I do not want my future kids internalizing traditional values/rape culture bs about their human worth or other people’s human worth. I wouldn’t care if they were deemed prudes either, as long as it’s not because they’re being intolerant bigots.
I am with you all the way, and on top of everything else you said, I like the fact that she controls her image and her business, she is not an empty headed butterfly leaving others to run it for her. Of course she has help, at that level you have to, but you can tell that the final decision rests with her.
I don’t care for her antics much as popstars should never be role models in the first place. If you want to hold them up to that standards, be mad at yourself for expecting too much tbh.
Besides, there are so many unknown singers/performers who are ‘normal’, I don’t know why people always expect mainstream artists to uphold certain moral standards. They’re in it to make money. Being boring doesn’t make money.
My issue is the lack of skills and energy current popstars have. In my day (late 90s-early 00s), the popgirls KILLED it. Everybody had something special (voice, dance, personality). Now they are all wet blankets with barely there voices and dance skills that mimic the first steps of a baby giraffe without the cuteness.
Beyoncé is probably the only big performer that gives the audience the full experience of what a real popstar is supposed to do. I watched some of Swift’s performances and I feel for this generation, this mediocrity is painful to watch. When I was a tween, I wasn’t shocked by Spears’ sexuality (I didn’t understand what she was singing anyway) or Janet’s or Beyoncé’s. I thought these women were cool as hell. It’s usually adults who clutch their pearls.
THIS!
I’m seconding this as well!
Our support gives them money and fame, but it’s not supposed to go to their head; we want them to keep the schedule and work ethic of a grownup but values of a kid…
Ariana Grande has one of the best voices in modern pop music but you’re spot on about the rest. Taylor has a pretty bad voice, especially live, and she can’t dance to save her life. Don’t get her appeal.
“When I was a tween, I wasn’t shocked by Spears’ sexuality”
I was a teen when Spears came out, and I taught dance to young girls. Spear’s sexuality bothered me GREATLY, especially because they tried to be sly with it. Like in the “You Drive Me Crazy” video, the sitting in a chair and doing a slow-motion lean forward just so the viewers can look down her shirt for 15 seconds. Because she was so heavily marketed via Disney not to teens, but to those younger than teens, it really bothered me. Singing about “Soda pop, bop sho bob, watch it fizz and pop” while at the same time doing half nude photo shoots for Rolling Stone, it was a horrific mix of sexuality targeted to 10 year olds.
In later years, I have to wonder how much of it was guided by her team and not BS.
@Artemis: Once again I agree with you. Growing up, seeing the sexy costumes and sexuality of different female entertainers never taught me that my only value as a person was in being beautiful and sexy 4 da menz. And seeing/meeting women who practiced religious modesty or who saved sex for marriage/committed relationships didn’t teach me that my only value as a person lied in saving my body for my future husband either. I grew up to do my own thing, like a lot of other people. We need to get to a point in society where we don’t feel the need to fight against all women’s right to make x, y, or z decision about their bodies in the name of keeping others from thinking it’s their worth. People treating and talking about women like their worth is in their chastity/sex appeal/beauty/modesty is the harm, NOT women choosing to wait, to dress a certain way, to not dress a certain way, etc. I agree that the ‘female role model’ thing is unrealistic, sexist, short-sighted, and reductive.
Yeah I was about to say the same. She gets away with her current outfits because she’s not curvy and she hasn’t a natural sex appeal like the other popstars have.
And how about just having a conversation with your kid about having a critical view on their idols and not taking them too seriously (while at the same time just enjoying their music)? When I was 10-15, Eminem was all the rage and I was a fan of course, but I knew he was an asshole and I knew that there was a lot of crop in his lyrics I had to filter out, in no way I was going to play out like his lyrics. At the same time, my biggest idol back then was Bono, and he has disappointed me way more than the former, precisely because I built him up like a role model, music and persona undistinguished. There will always be outrageous and deliberately provocative artists out there and they will catch the attention of young people, and guess what? As long as you instill in them from as young as possible to have a critical outlook on them, it is impossible they will be ‘corrupted’ or whatever.
Plus, do I need to remind you all what has happened to 99% of every single “family-approved”, commercially pre-packaged, “goody girl” artist? From every generation, including those in high control of their image? They always have a dark side and when it finally comes to light, the fans are left shocked, though probably it had been telegraphed the whole time. I’m not into Miley in any way, but I much rather have someone who literally and metaphorically hides nothing than an image of perfection polished to exhaustion.
And also, just a remainder that there are myriads of new brilliant, actually musically talented, creative and still easy to listen pop artists out there that are available. Check that Ryn Weaver for example.
I 100% agree, Alberto. I had the exact same experience with regards to Eminem and can’t say I came out worse for wear.
+1 Vickie I appreciate her for my girls, too. We can actually listen to her songs for the most part, without skipping past bad words and overtly sexual platitudes. Like you said, the little ones know nothing of her beyond her songs (well mine, anyway).
Adding- the way she dresses: they’ve never seen a concert or video. Just listened to catchy, harmless tunes. Sometimes we need a break from kid music (wheels on the bus, peekaboo I love you, etc.)
Frankly, I think the Barbie movies are worse than Taylor. Check them out. They dress worse, and what bothers me even more- they are sassy and rude and sometimes mean! I let my daughter watch one and she was sassy and repeating back all that to her sister for ages. No more Barbie movies!
It amazes me how Taylor’s asexuality? blandness? faux sweetness? lets her get away with anything. She prances around in lingerie and catsuits during her new tour. 1989 has multiple references references to her sex life with Harry Styles. The song Style is basically a song about Harry showing up at her place for a booty call and her being weak for him and caving. She’s pretty much tonguing some guy down and rolling around on the bed with him in the Wildest Dreams video.
But she’s still so unlike those nasty sexual pop princesses. She’s such a good role model with such good, wholesome lyrics.
I don’t see it…
I find taylors image incredibly vapid and hollywood, i don’t see that would inspire kids to anything but consumerism and obsession with fame and looks. She isn’t a million miles a way from the kardashians.
How about a strong ballsy woman whose not just about collecting famous people for friends? Someone who actually stands for something? I am not a mother yet, but when i do have kids i know thats not what i want my kids to inspire to.
stay strong for the post-tween years! I can guarantee the music taste will change…
I was wondering why Taylor was releasing yet ANOTHER single off of 1989. It all makes sense now.
Yep. Especially because the real hits have already been tapped out. This is textbook over saturation.
Which song is gonna be her new single?
The one with the video with Squint Eastwood?
Yup, I’ll totally buy that she’s “obsessed” with beating Katy’s record. She is, after all, the gal who wrote this gem:
“So go and tell your friends that I’m obsessive and crazy, that’s fine. I’ll tell mine you’re gay.”
(^^^ for all the moms who are wondering if she’s a good role model or not)
Anywho, Katy Perry is the Ultimate Brunette and therefore must be destroyed by the Swift Squad.
You realize she was still a teen when she wrote that, right?
It’s weird because “Wildest Dreams” does not scream “Number 1 hit” at all… it’s a pretty boring song.
haha I should have looked to see this comment! +10000
The funny thing is Wildest Dreams isn’t even ‘radio catchy’ she’s grasping straws cause there’s nothing good enough left on the album to be a #1 single
It’s also almost an exact copy of something Lana Del Rey would release.
Max Martin must be making bank off of this feud.
But don’t you know they write their own songs?!?
I’m going to slam my face on my keyboard and hit ‘SEND.’ See if my boss considers that ‘writing’ 🙂
Of course. Whats funny is that Max Martin is credited on most songs on both katy and taylors records.
Max really is the “genius” behind all these pop songs. Besides Katy and Taylor, he wrote hits for Jessie J, Britney, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, ‘N Sync, Backstreet Boys, etc.
Yeah, Taylor gets lots of help. She’s not the gifted songwriter the media keeps saying over and over.
Its just business. Not a fan of either 2, some of their music is OK but is it me or are they always about the women being all drama?
I don’t see how she gets 7 No.1’s out of 1989. I actually like the album, but there’s a lot of uninspired filler.
She went through the obvious hits first and managed to create hype for the worst track with stunt queening and a feud, but there aren’t another 3 No.1’s on that album.
I wonder if there’s a limit on how many tracks a studio will release off of one album. She’s released five already, and only three of them made it to #1. How many more songs will they try to milk?
I’m just really glad you said Bad Blood is the worst track off the album. I completely agree. I think it’s one of her worst songs, ever. The lyrics are so petulant and childish.
It’s really, really stupid.
All I got out of this was that Katy Perry tied Michael Jackson’s record, and that makes me sad. He was a real mess, but talented as hell, and Katy…not so much. And if Taylor, who I’ve never heard actually sing well live, breaks the record…ugh.
I know, I hate those comparisons too. It’s so different in the digital age though, one click any time of day or night to buy the single, when people used to have to physically drag their butt to the record store and buy a copy.
This depresses me too.
That shocked me too.
No way Katy Perry Roar is near to the quality of MJ.
I got that too. And then I got that Taylor wants to be the GREATEST! I’m sorry but Katy Perry nor Taylor Swift can even compare to MJ. He was and continues to be (in my humble opinion) the GREATEST. Not pop tart is going to change that. The only thing changing is the marketing, the fact that you can buy one single song off of iTunes or Google Play and that there are a lot more people buying music these days.
I says this all but want it to be clear that I really like Taylor and I don’t mind most Katy’s stuff either. But, regardless, they can’t measure up!
Where her and Katy even besties to begin with, it’s a cut throat business where crews get shifted around and go for the bigger package and career advancement. Jennifer Lopez and Janet Jackson once upon a time had the same choreography Tina Landan I think, who ever would scoop her up first she worked with. And how come Taylor was so quick to squash it with Nicki, this is just very personal.
It does seem personal. Dancers exercising an out that Taylor/Taylor’s team provided to the dancers in the dancers’ contracts seems like an odd thing to take so personally that she’d write a rather nasty song about betrayal and still hold onto the grudge against Katy even years later (the Red Tour started in spring 2013). I suspect the feud/bad blood is really about Taylor feeling betrayed that Katy hooked up with John Mayer.
She’s a Woman child.
We all know that one woman that turns what should be adult situations right into high school drama. Doesnt matter what the situation is she manages to act like a child about it. That type is exhausting but that’s Taylor. And I still don’t believe she’s some amazing buisness woman the world has never seen. Let’s be real she’s part of a well managed team who decides and creates her image. She’s just the front for it all.
The only real talent I see in her is constantly flawless styling and posing. Not even that I like what she wears, or it’s a style I would want for myself, but just that I don’t think I’ve ever seen her in something frumpy and ill-fitting, or not 100% photo ready. Even the way she physically carries herself is to ensure that she will always look perfect.
Honestly, it’s obviously a skill she has put a lot of work into. It’s at once impressive for the dedication, and a horrifying perversion of physical existence, like contestants at the Mr. Universe pageant.
I agree with you completely. Also, I prefer katy perry any day. She gets so much hate compared to taylor swift and I don’t think it’s deserved. Taylor is a petty, brat. Both are overrated but at least katy isn’t as petty about EVERYTHING.
Honestly reverse this and put Katy name in many of the areas where Taylor name is. Katy is not innocent by a long shot. I would bet to say Katy is in decline of popularity and I am not a major fan of either
I’d just like her to stop with the black eyeliner. It doesn’t make you look sexy, Taylor, it just makes you look mean.
Used to like Taylor, but 1989 did nothing for me. Even the hits bored me and Bad Blood was ridiculous.
Didn’t “Shake It Off” come out around this time last year? Just how long is this album going to get dragged out for?
The cynical part of me says she’ll drag 1989 out until she and Calvin break up, giving her new material for a whole album, maybe two albums. She and Harry were together for like 4 months and she pretty much got an entire album of songs out of that relationship.
What bothers me about all these stories is that the “enemy” rarely has anything actually against Taylor. It is all Taylor’s words about what went wrong, why Taylor feels victimized…what in the story above says anything about Katy also feeling hatred towards Taylor? This “feud” with Katy is very one-sided, but all the articles write about it as if its two-sided. Like with Camilla Belle–so…what exactly did she do? Taylor is the bully here. According to most reports, Katy signed the dancer’s contracts fair and square. It seems like Taylor doesn’t understand. Katy has reacted to the hate, but not with more hate, sort of…like, you hate me? Um, okay, you’re mean, too…
I Think Katy’s record is from Teenage Dream, not Roar (Prism)!
Yup, it was Teenage Dream (I was just about to say the same thing)
Even my 13 year old daughter recognises Swift as a mean person with a big ego who sings the same kind of song over & over. I played Blur’s Song 2 the other day and her head shot up from her iPad “omg I love that song”. I will conquer bland cookie cutter crap with decent music. She will know Rock, proper Grunge, the good stuff from the 70s & 80s, Brit Pop and mighty Oz bands.There is hope.
My 14 year old is into pretty good music. She likes Lucero, The American Spirit, early Sufjan Stevens, and good old fashioned loud stuff like Pantera and Type O Negative.
Disingenous. That’s what I get from this one. I used to say I prefer ‘nice and fake’ over ‘real and rude’ but Taylor is making it hard.
I’m done. After today, I will not be opening a Taylor Swift post. Unless… It’s of her backlash or her imminent break up 🙂
I have no real strong opinions about either of them, but I see Taylor lasting for the long haul, as i think she will be smart enough when the time comes to evolve musically so her songs will sort of mature with her fans. If that makes sense. Katy not so much. Her entire appeal revolves around sugary teenage/tween pop. I can’t picture her at 35 wearing candy canes on her boobs…….
On the contrary, Katy has an excellent voice and she could always transition into rock/alternative/indie vibe.
I’m not a fan but I do think Taylor Swift has a tiny bit of staying power, based on how long she’s succeeded so far, her album sales and the level of attention she gets. She’s been around since 2008; I could see her lasting another 5-10 years. Maybe more.
These two crackerbarrels need to recreate Michael Jackson’s video and tie themselves together by the wrists and go at one another with Twizzlers!!!!! Minaj can ref, and Miley can be the Ringworm Girl.
I think it’s a little bit of all of the above
Sure, why the hell not? I’m with Lainey Gossip on this one. If they want to battle it out for control of the pop industry, go for it. I’ll take that any day over infighting over John Mayer.
Very nice post
I’m just going to leave this here, because it’s hilarious: http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/what-massive-appeal-taylor-swift-says-about-church#ZvYbir4piV804QqC.01.