Taylor Swift is known for being one of the best songwriters of her generation. However, Damon Albarn does not agree. The lead singer of the bands Blur and Gorillaz caused controversy by claiming in an interview with The Los Angeles Times that she doesn’t actually write her songs.
For him, co-writing is something quite different, this confusion would be something “traditionalist” in the concept of composition.
In the interview, they were talking about good songwriters and the concept of what really good music is. That’s when the interviewer dropped Taylor Swift as a positive example, but he didn’t agree.
“It doesn’t count. I know what co-writing is. Co-writing is very different to writing”, said Albarn.
“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 the outcome can’t be really great”, he blurted out.
Albarn softens by citing icons who aren’t songwriters:
“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 there.
I think I’m a traditionalist in that sense”, she commented.
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Of the new generation, he praises Billie Eilish:
“A really interesting songwriter is Billie Eilish and her brother. I’m more attracted to that than Taylor Swift.
It’s just darker – less infinitely optimistic.
Much more intimate and strange. I find her exceptional”
Of course, fans don’t agree with this at all. Taylor Swift has always posed real situations from her own life and has been writing since she was very young.
There are too many people to disagree!
