Ricky: Here’s who should get artist of the year and why
2017 has been an interesting year in the music
industry. Ricky has decided to share his thoughts on the year that was.
I’m not going to lie to you, but this wasn’t a hard decision at all. I have not ordinarily been a fan of this artist, in fact, she’s irritated me in the past. She’s the queen of beef, feuds, shade, and also pop music right now, and therefore artist of the year in my opinion. She comes across as all cute and pretty - your typical young country girl, but this year has proven otherwise, or has it? Of course, I’m talking bout Taylor Swift.
Given all the drama in the past with Kim Kardashian, Kanye West, Katy Perry, and Calvin Harris, I really was not a fan of her. I didn’t even trust her face, especially those small slitty eyes which look as though she is constantly staring into the sun. I believed the hype. Her music to me was decent, but not something I’d spend money on. This all changed even before her new album came out in November. I fell in love with her on 21st August when she took to Instagram with her first in a series of videos. A tail of a snake. It was war. And I liked it.
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She then posted two more videos completing the snake and I instantly was interested because I could see what she was doing. She was giving people what they wanted. She was going to be who they say she was. She was throwing those middle fingers in the air to them, especially Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. I was scared for them, but all of this got the world excited to see what she had in store for the haters. She was planning her revenge all off the back of this reputation, and we knew it was going to be good.
The first single, ‘Look What You Made Me Do’, dropped, and people went wild for it. I didn’t initially, but it grew on me, and then when the video came out I was totally sold. Outfit changes galore, snakes for days, easter eggs, diamonds, dancing dudes in heels, and a whole bunch of Taylor Swifts - and the not-so-subtle stabs at all of her haters. Artistic genius and it’s obvious it all came from her. I also realised how pretty she really is, and we know how much I love pretty people.
With all this hype I could not wait for the album to be released, so when it was, I bought it straight away. It was my first ever Taylor Swift music purchase and I was not disappointed. I’ve carried on about this album on East Coast Love Songs and the Coke Top 40 many times, so forgive me if you’re tired of hearing me praise it. But you need to get the album. It’s one of those albums where you can start it and listen to the entire thing. Every single song is a win. Ask my bestie Carol Ofori, I made her listen to the entire album on the way to the South Coast for our outside broadcast. She always hates my stuff, but she loves Reputation.
If you’re looking for my top songs from the album, the winner has got to be ‘End Game’, which features Future and Ed Sheeran. They all do this semi-rap vibe (including Taylor) which slays the day. A very close second is ‘Delicate’ - a bit of auto tune never hurt nobody and the beat will make you lose your damn mind. It’s so great! ‘Getaway Car’, ‘Call It What You Want’, ‘This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things’, ‘Don’t Blame Me’, and ‘Dress’ will all complete your life. No need to spend anymore money on music in 2017 after buying ‘Reputation’. Listen to the words, and give her a chance.
Read: Sneak peak into Taylor Swift's 'LWYMMD' zombie transformation
She may be worth $280 million, but that’s fine. Give her your money, she deserves it. She’s embraced the hate, the labels, the lies, the truths, and the fights. She’s done what a true artist does and taken it all in and absorbed it into her craft. She’s been sitting back and letting people rip into her but this has been her tactic and she’s used her life to create her music.
Taylor, I’m sorry I mocked your funny eyes and believed Kanye, Kim, Katy, and Calvin. In the words of Gloria Estefan, you ‘Turned the beat around’, and you win 2017! I can’t wait to see what you’ve been cooking up for 2018. I’ll bring the Iced Zoo biscuits for that hot tea that you’ll no doubt be serving (I obviously know she will read this and that’s why I’m speaking directly to her).
By the way, incase you’re not sold yet, I have 10 words for you - The album sold over a million copies in four days.
So there.