On Sunday, the Los Angeles Times published an interview with Damon Albarn, the lead singer of Blur, in which he asserted bluntly of pop icon Taylor Swift, “She doesn’t write her own songs.”
That precipitated an avalanche of criticism, starting with Swift herself, who tweeted:
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 f***ed up to try and discredit my writing. WOW.
… PS I wrote this tweet all by myself in case you were wondering.
The Times’ pop music critic, Mikael Wood, had asked Albarn, “You think a lot of modern musicians are relying on sound and attitude?”
“Name me someone who’s not,” Albarn replied.
Wood persisted, “She may not be to your taste, but Taylor Swift is an excellent songwriter.”
“She doesn’t write her own songs,” Albarn bluntly answered.
Wood insisted, “Of course she does. Co-writes some of them.”
“That doesn’t count,” Albarn continued. “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.”
Albarn later apologized, saying to Swift, “’I totally agree with you. i had a conversation about songwriting and sadly it was reduced to clickbait,” The Daily Mail noted.
Criticism of Albarn came fast and furious:
Record producer and songwriter Jack Antonoff, who has worked on all of Swift’s albums since 2014, lashed out:
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.
… if you were there … cool … go off. if not … maybe …. shut the f*** up?
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
Chilean president-elect Gabriel Boric Font:
Here in Chile you have a huge group of supporters who konws that you write your own songs from the heart. Don’t take seriously guys that need to insult or lie to get attention. Hugs from the south Taylor.
Here in Chile you have a huge group of supporters who knows that you write you own songs from the heart. Dont take seriously guys that need to insult or lie to get attention. Hugs from the south Taylor
— Gabriel Boric Font (@gabrielboric) January 25, 2022
Aaron Dessner, a collaborator with Swift:
Not sure why you @DamonAlbarn would try to discredit Taylor’s brilliant songwriting but as someone who’s gotten to press a 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.
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
Record producer Nathan Chapman:
YES. @taylorswift13 1,000,000% writes her own songs. And she’s one of the best songwriters of our time.
YES. @taylorswift13 1,000,000% writes her own songs. And she's one of the best songwriters of our time. https://t.co/HOA1O4d6Ci
— Nathan Chapman (@PainInTheArt) January 24, 2022
Record producer Joel Little:
Just to confirm what 99% of people already knew, @taylorswift13 is a force of nature in the studio and one of the best to ever do it. Anyone who’s made music with her knows they were lucky to be in the room.
Just to confirm what 99% of people already knew, @taylorswift13 is a force of nature in the studio and one of the best to ever do it. Anyone who’s made music with her knows they were lucky to be in the room.
— Joel Little (@iamjoellittle) January 25, 2022