Grammy Award-winning artist Taylor Swift has slammed Damon Albarn, the lead singer of Blur, over the latter’s claim that Swift “doesn’t write her own songs.”
“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,” Swift wrote on Twitter on January 25. “You don’t have to like my song but it’s really f*cked up to try and discredit my writing. WOW.”
@DamonAlbarn 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 fucked up to try and discredit my writing. WOW. https://t.co/t6GyXBU2Jd
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 24, 2022
She then added that she wrote the tweet all by herself in case Albarn was wondering.
Swift’s comment came after Damon Albarn’s promotional interview with Los Angeles Times where he commented that much of modern music is popular because of “the sound and attitude,” not because “the songs are any good.”
When the interviewer mentioned that Taylor Swift is “an excellent writer,” Albarn said, “She doesn’t write her own songs.”
As the interviewer pointed out that Swift wrote her songs and co-wrote some of them, Albarn then commented, “That doesn’t count. 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.”
He also compared Taylor Swift to the brother-sister duo Billie Eilish and Finneas. “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.”
Following Albarn’s claims, Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, who had worked and collaborated with Swift in her previous albums ‘folklore’ and ‘evermore’, also tweeted their reactions.
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
Swift’s fans and other personalities, namely JP Saxe, Insider video producer Irene Ann, Award-winning author C.J. Farley, and Maisie Peters, among many others, were quick to jump on Twitter and defend Swift.
just read the article.. what an exceptionally stupid thing for him to say. ick
— JP Saxe (@jpsaxe) January 24, 2022
love learning mr. damon has a feud with mr. liam from oasis who praises taylor lmao pic.twitter.com/C8hf44WIQg
— irene the bolter (@enerianna) January 24, 2022
I’ve interviewed everyone from Bob Dylan to Aretha Franklin to Jay-Z. @taylorswift13 is definitely a genius songwriter and one of the smartest artists I’ve ever met. Kind of gross that someone would challenge that. https://t.co/NuFAS2lwVQ
— cjfarley (@cjfarley) January 24, 2022
taylor swift could write song 2 but damon albarn could never write all too well 10 minute version
— maisie peters (@maisiehpeters) January 24, 2022
Taylor Swift doesn’t write her own SONGS ?!!!?! @Damonalbarn where the fuck have you been?? The actual audacity for you to compare Taylor to Billie (who co-writes her own songs) but for some reason when Taylor co writes with one other person it’s NOT THE SAME? Taylor has a whole
— Chats&Reacts ~ Emily & Bonny (@chatsandreacts) January 24, 2022
taylor has always built her career on the fact that she's a songwriter. she has every right to be upset and to defend herself, especially in an era in which she is reclaiming her music
— hannah | taylor seminars (@sippingaugust) January 24, 2022
In the end, Albarn responded and apologized to Swift on Twitter, saying, “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.”
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
Despite apologizing, many Twitter users still called him out for shifting the blame and saying “it was reduced to clickbait.”
"clickbait" is when a quote is taken out of context in order to get readers to click a story. The context here is that Albarn said Taylor Swift didn't write her own songs, was CORRECTED BY THE REPORTER and doubled down lmao https://t.co/E1TwfOqAF7
— kelsey mckinney (@mckinneykelsey) January 24, 2022
What part of this was reduced to clickbait? You said her songwriting doesn't count as songwriting and then compared her to another female artist with a completely different style.
Don't gaslight and throw someone else under the bus because you never thought she'd call you out. pic.twitter.com/Vjupk6XSyT
— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) January 24, 2022
after discrediting taylor you choose to discredit the journalist who interviewed you.. I don’t understand how “she doesn’t write her own songs” could have been misconstrued by the journalist
— Taylor Throwbacks (@ThrowbackTaylor) January 24, 2022
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