Taking on the Taylor Swift conspiracy theories | The Old Guy

I am not the biggest Taylor Swift fan in the room. I saw her special about the music she recorded with two musicians during the pandemic and was greatly impressed by the quality of her songwriting. But, other than an occasional Instagram post, I am embarrisingyly unfamiliar with her work.

So, right at the jump, I’m going to ask you to comment. I want to start an earnest investigation of her work. Which album should I start with?

I’m inclined towards the re-released “Red.” What’s your opinion?

And now, to the title match of the day: What the heck is the problem with Taylor Swift?

I get it (I think): Some folks are not comfortable with a talented, beautiful, intelligent businesswoman whose fans would do just about anything she asked them to, including vote for a particular person for president.

That scenario isn’t new. Nixon put John Lennon on his hate list and worked to have him deported because Nixon felt the ex-Beatle had too much sway with younger, hipper voters. He was right. John Lennon did have sway. And in 1980, some lunatic, the devil’s best friend, took John away from us and now, John has been gone longer than he was alive.

But, John was male and British. Taylor is a truly all-American girl. I remember her first single (when she was still considered “country”) where she wrote a song for her and her beau because they didn’t have one. Pretty impressive, coming from a writer who hadn’t hit 21 yet. I was intrigued, but not enough to follow up.

And now, I can’t look at a newspaper or watch “A Closer Look” without her gorgeous face appearing before me. But not because people adore her, quite the contrary. Folks are creating all kinds of conspiracy theories about her.

One pundit opined that she was bisexual, hoping to discredit her with her fans, unaware that she is a strong LGBTQ+ advocate without being a member. That doesn’t seem to be a deal breaker anymore.

Frankly, I think some folks don’t like to see women being supportive of each…