The sounds of Taylor Swift can be heard everywhere these days — if one chooses to listen.
Or, for those who would prefer something different, there are many other listening options as well.
This weekend, the iconic singer-songwriter is concluding The Eras Tour with three concert dates in Vancouver. The popularity of the 34-year-old musician means her music will likely serve as the soundtrack for the city, especially during the concerts on Dec. 6, 7 and 8.
I’m not planning to attend any of these shows, and I don’t have her music on my playlists, but I find her accomplishments impressive.
Swift has recorded 11 original studio albums, four re-recorded albums, five extended plays and four live albums. She has 114 million album-equivalent units in worldwide sales.
Her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, sold 2.6 million copies in its first week, including 1.4 million copies on its first day.
And The Eras Tour is the highest-grossing tour of all time and the first to surpass $1 billion USD in revenue.
By any standards, these accomplishments and more show Swift as an artist who has been able to write songs and perform music that resonates with a significant fan base.
It’s easy to find internet radio stations dedicated to playing Swift’s music for those who can’t get enough of her songs.
Swift’s fan base crosses generations. Of those who are Swifties, 45 per cent are considered Millennials, 23 per cent are Boomers, 21 per cent are Generation X and 11 per cent are Generation Z.
And, at the same time, there are some who do not like Swift or her songs.
That’s fine. They don’t need to listen to her. There are plenty of other options. When it comes to music, people have freedom of choice.
On the Billboard Hot 100 list for the week of Nov. 30, only one song is by Swift. The song, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, is in the No. 49 spot. A Bar Song (Tipsy) by Shaboozey is in the top spot, while Die With A Smile, by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, is second.
There are also plenty of places to find almost any style of music. Some online radio stations are dedicated to the music of the Beatles and the solo careers of the former members of the iconic band. Other sources offer jazz, classical, blues, bluegrass and all sorts of other sounds.
Talented and innovative performers with a local or regional reach can be heard at auditoriums, breweries, community festivals and at other venues.
One friend of mine has eclectic musical tastes, and if I’m looking for different sounds, he’ll have plenty of great recommendations to offer.
For those who want something other than music, there are plenty of podcasts, on pretty much any topic one can imagine.
True crime, politics, sports, self-help, comedy and other topics are easily available. Or one can follow more divisive commentators.
Jordan Peterson, a University of Toronto professor with strong populist views, has a podcast which has a significant following. Same with Don Cherry, the opinionated former co-host of Coach’s Corner on Sportsnet, who now has The Don Cherry’s Grapevine Podcast.
There are plenty of fiction and nonfiction audio books available, and with the text-to-speech capabilities on many computers, phones and mobile devices, it is possible to have a voice reading out the text documents of your choice.
An almost infinite array of options is available — if one chooses to listen.
John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.
