Taylor Swift Used By ‘Grubby’ Politicians To Boost Their Popularity
Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the most popular acts in the pop music industry. Swift is currently in Australia and New Zealand as she brings her hugely successful “1989” tour to a conclusion. Taylor’s current tour has been on the road since May and has included over 80 shows around the world. With six shows left on the tour, almost two million people have seen 25-year-old Taylor perform. By the end of the tour, Swift’s tour will have grossed a cool $220 million.
There is no doubt that Swift’s fans are keen to see Taylor perform and are more than happy to identify with the pop star. It seems that Swift’s fans are not the only ones keen to be associated with Taylor, however.
According to the Guardian, since Swift arrived in Australia last week, “grubby” Australian politicians have been falling over themselves to associate themselves with Taylor. By attempting to associate themselves with Taylor, the politicians are hoping that some of Swift’s “stardust” will rub off on them and they will somehow be seen as cooler and more in touch with the masses.
The Huffington Post report that Taylor has become “the cultural reference of choice for politicians trying to seem hip, cool and groovy for the electorate.” Parliament member Sam Dastyari made no fewer than four Taylor Swift references in a 10-second soundbite in which he attacked Scott Morrison, his political opponent.
Morrison himself posted pictures on his social media accounts taken at a Taylor Swift show.
She might not be @tinaarena but getting ready to #shakeitoff with my girls at @taylorswift13 ??? pic.twitter.com/hHT2TUjnwr
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 28, 2015
The Guardian argues that the chances of these conservative middle-aged men actually being fans of Swift’s music is remote. Their use of Swift’s image is claimed to be a “cynical ploy designed to make them appear more human and relatable.”
In the social media age, it is arguably easier than ever to sell a lie to the electorate, If you can slip a Taylor Swift reference into an interview and post a few pictures of yourself hanging out with your kids at one of Swift’s shows, you can be assured that the media will pick up on it. In the world of 24-hour news, the press are always hungry for a new story. This allows the image of a middle-aged conservative politician at a Swift concert to become “news.”
Of course, the politicians may well be huge Swift fans. Taylor’s music does cross genres and demographics and has a pretty wide appeal. The cynic would argue that being spotted at a Swift show is simply a way to be presented as somehow “more human” while at the same time using a huge star’s profile as a way of generating free and positive publicity.
In other Taylor Swift news, the star reached out to a young fan who is losing her hearing over the past weekend. Billboard report that 12-year-old Jorja Hope is losing her hearing and will eventually go deaf. When Jorja was told of her eventual hearing loss, her first comment was “I won’t be able to hear Taylor Swift sing.”
Jorja’s sister Chloe started a Facebook campaign hoping to afford her sister the chance to meet Swift. Sydney radio station Nova 96.9 got behind the campaign and, as a result, Jorja got the chance to meet Swift and see her concert in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday evening.
We did it! #helpjorjameettaylorswiftsydney https://t.co/ZcVcZVMmbN @taylorswift13 @taylornation13 pic.twitter.com/6S2F75FFNo
— MaitlandMercury (@MaitlandMercury) November 29, 2015
Jorja was obviously thrilled to meet Taylor, and pictures of her with Swift were circulated on social media after the event.
[Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP]
