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‘Blank Space’ Replaces ‘Shake It Off’ At #1, Taylor Swift Makes History

By Kristine Croto
Published on: 11:16 PST, Nov 23, 2014

Whether you love Taylor Swift’s music, or think her songs are everything wrong with American pop, there’s no denying that her new video for the song “Blank Space” is making history. This week, “Blank Space” jumped from #13 to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, with Meghan Trainor’s “All About That Bass” at #2, and Swift’s “Shake It Off” falling to #3. That’s the part that makes history; according to Billboard, that makes Swift the first woman to have one song of hers succeed another at the #1 spot on the charts. Taylor also graced the cover of Time this month:

Only 10 acts have managed this over the years, including the Beatles, Usher, Black Eyed Peas, and Boyz II Men. This puts “Blank Space,” Swift’s sassy video about the meta nature of her relationships, in impressive company. As the second single off 1989 to hit the top 100, “Blank Space” also puts 1989 in the category of rare albums which have their first two singles hit #1. The last female artist to achieve that feat was Adele, with her album 21 over 2011-2012.

When the video for “Blank Space” was released, it all but took over the internet, with much discussion over what, exactly, Taylor Swift was trying to say with the song. It’s already been parodied to much rejoicing; it’s no real surprise to anyone that the song, and therefore the album, are enjoying so much success. But the amount of that success, according to Forbes, remains impressive. 1989 has already sold more than two million copies, with 312,000 in the last week of tracking alone.

Meanwhile, Taylor Swift will open the AMAs with a performance of “Blank Space,” according to Heavy, and she will also be the recipient of the first Dick Clark Award for Excellence, which is, as described by the AMAs:

given to an artist who achieves a groundbreaking feat or creates a landmark work. It is to be bestowed upon someone whose spirit and excellence capture the visionary passion that Dick Clark himself incorporated into everything he did.

While Taylor Swift will probably remain a polarizing artist for some time, with some fans loving her catchy ear worms, like “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off,” and those who are not as enthused trying to understand what all the fuss is about. The singer seems, more than any other modern star, able to shrug off criticism and just keep doing her thing, and as long as her thing keeps selling two million albums and more, it’s hard to say that she’s entirely in the wrong.

[Image courtesy of GQ.com]

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