Dear Billboard,
Never did I think I would feel the need to pose an open letter to you, a site I once deemed credible and fair.. Yet, here I am. This morning you posted a story covering “A timeline of Taylor Swift’s 10 relationships (and their songs).” Now, normally, that wouldn’t be an issue, because I would expect it from Radar Online, TMZ, or another “credible” news source (gossip rag). However, on this particular December morning, it didn’t come from one of them, it came from you.
So, along with my comments, I also have a few questions.
1. When do we stop placing such sexist claims on Taylor and her music? Yes, she has dated and, in response to said relationships, has written songs about how/what she felt. The sad thing about it is, instead of praising her for her ability to convey emotion through lyric, you down play her ability and make her into a spiteful-ex/serial dater. As Taylor once mentioned in an interview, why does nobody talk about Bruno Mars or Ed Sheeran? Their writing about their love lives, same as Taylor, but you would never see a story such as, “A timeline of Ed Sheeran’s 10 relationships (and their songs)”. So, tell me, why is that?
2. Since when does working with someone constitute a relationship? I ask this because in your article, you mention Zac Efron, Lucas Till, Cory Monteith, etc.. However, Taylor never once dated any of these men. So, why include them in the “10”? To gain more views? To draw attention? To make her past dating history seem a lot worse than it actually is? What? Because I’m having a hard time understanding how three of her friends/colleagues, made it on the “list of exes”. Maybe, and this is just a thought, you don’t even know why. Maybe you didn’t even give it two thoughts before you posted it because, “it’s Taylor, she probably did date them.. Plus 10 sounds better than 5.”
3. Why are we only ever concerned with the songs she has written about exes? It’s sad to me because, unless you’re a fan of Taylor and her music, the media places you under this assumption that all of her songs are written about exes. However, there are multiple songs Swift has written that aren’t about exes at all. To name a few, “Long Live”, “The Best Day”, “Ronan”, “Innocent”, “Mean”, “Welcome to New York, “Shake It Off” (I guess this now applies to you, Billboard). So, tell me, why must we constantly publicize the songs about exes and not the songs about everyday life? However, I guess to answer that, we have to answer the first question).
4. Words.. Words.. Words.. Your article is filled with little instances in which you make snide comments or just flat out ludicrous claims. For instance, when you said, “(when does she ever do that?)” in regards to Taylor’s apologizing to Lautner in “Back to December”. What was the point of that comment? Then, multiple times in your article, you mention how someone might not have made enough of an impact to warrant a song.. However, did you stop to think that it wasn’t that they didn’t make enough of an impact, but that there was never any impact to be made?
5. Why now? You posted the story at 12:30am on 12/18/15, however, the story was actually written last December (12/30/14). So, what’s the point of reposting it a year later? As if your posting it once wasn’t unwarranted enough, you felt the need to send it out again?
Although you mention in the article that all of the information is speculative and based on rumor, it still doesn’t warrant your posting it.. As a credible, respected source, I feel you should know better than to help fuel such sexist views of an artist you so widely respect. I hope, for whatever reason, your post was worth the views and the retweets, because one story lost you the respect and admiration of thousands.
So, as I close this letter, I ask that you remember one thing:
To you, this might not be anything more than an entertaining, attention grabbing story, but to the young woman you’re referring to, it’s much more than that.. It’s her life, her words, her heart, and you’re twisting and manipulating it to benefit yourselves.
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
kianamaiart
discoholicmusic
germansingergirl
izzy806
blakekathryn
