It’s no secret that Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour was a major success. But despite her millions of fans, there was one moment during the show that everyone in attendance—including Taylor herself—watched in awe. When the pop star performed her new song ‘Meanie’, she was backed by a seven-piece band and choreographed fireworks displays. For the first time ever, Taylor Swift was performing on a gigantic stage and the audience’s reaction showed it.
After the show, Taylor excitedly exclaimed, “I just did what I’ve always wanted to do!” Little did she know that she wasn’t finished yet. On August 24, Robert Pattinson (her ex-boyfriend and the father of her children) posted a pic on Instagram of himself with Taylor Swift.
The photo, which has since been removed, showed the two posing together while Swift’s daughter Finneas looked on from the sidelines. The caption of the picture simply read: “Me and @taylorswift13” and was quickly followed by another of the actor and the pop star kissing. Just a few months later, on October 27, 2019, the couple announced they were going to end their three-year relationship.
Although they’ve called it quits, it looks like Taylor Swift and Robert Pattinson aren’t done spending time together yet. During a recent interview with Vanity Fair, the pop star opened up about the end of her romance with the Twilight actor: “I’ve always wanted to be an artist and do things my own way. And I feel like I can with him [Pattinson]. I can be spontaneous and take a chance.”
As for why they split, it’s probably best to boil it down to three words: money, money, money. Let’s talk about it.
Money
It’s been a rough year for the music industry as a whole, with record labels going out of business and artists struggling to make ends meet. Inevitably, this is reflected in the music that fans are listening to. And it’s not just the major artists. As someone who regularly invests in smaller, independent acts, it’s been an absolute pleasure to see them rise (and fall) this year. One of the biggest disappointments in 2020 is undoubtedly George Clooney’s Beautiful Soul, which didn’t quite match the international smash hit that was Ocean’s Eight. But that doesn’t mean that the year was entirely bleak. Fans of the Ocean’s Eight franchise will soon be able to relive some of the film’s biggest moments through a brand-new album called The Music of Ocean’s Eight. It’s due out on June 23 and will feature music from all eight of the films in the franchise. An accompanying tour will visit North America, Europe, and Australasia.
The eight-album collection is the first new content to be released by George Clooney’s Sleeping Beauty Entertainment since the company was formed earlier this year. It’s also the first time that any of the Ocean’s Eight music has been released since 2010’s Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, with the exception of the song ‘You’re Still the One’, which was featured in the film’s trailer. The entire franchise has been covered by the songbook before, but The Music of Ocean’s Eight will be the first to incorporate new songs mixed with classic tunes from the films’ soundtracks. The album’s lead single, ‘Don’t You Tell Me’, was released last month and will be featured during the forthcoming Sleeping Beauty World Tour.
The Future Of Music
It’s always interesting to look back on the early days of a musical career. Back in the 1960s and ’70s, the mainstays of a pop musician’s career were typically their recording contract and their concerts. Live performances were essential for establishing a connection with their audience, but they were often seen as a stopgap until more material could be worked into the concerts. In the digital age, things are very different. Thanks to streaming services and music blogs, artists can now connect with fans on a much deeper level. In the coming months and years, live performance will undoubtedly be replaced by online videos, where musicians can share their music with the world and connect with their audience. This is great for the fans because it means they get to discover new music and connect with the artists they love, even if they can’t make it to a concert.
The ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Factor
One of the most interesting developments of 2020 is the rise of ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’, the hit musical series that follows Rebecca Bunch, a woman struggling to make her way in the world after her ex-boyfriend (and also her lawyer) Greg proposes to her. Although Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a fictional series, it has a lot in common with real life. Its creator, Rachel Bloom, drew inspiration from her own life, as she previously told Hollywoodlife: “I actually wrote it very much as a result of my own [romantic] troubles. When I started writing it, I had broken up with my boyfriend at the time and had to rebuild my life.”
As the show’s co-creator, Rachel Bloom, points out, “People who have loved ones dealing with mental illness or addiction, whether it’s a parent, sibling, or child, will relate to this show. It is a safe space to talk about your mental health.”
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has become a mainstay on Saturday nights on the CW, with the show surpassing all previous ratings records to become the network’s most-watched series. But if you told somebody that in 2021 they would only need to watch sitcoms and reality TV to get their entertainment, they’d probably question your sanity. The world is a very different place now, and while TV may seem like a wasteland, especially with the ongoing pandemic, there is a wealth of incredible content out there that didn’t exist just a few years ago. This content is available to us all thanks to the internet, and it’s changed the way we will experience entertainment in the coming years. It’s not all good though. While much of the content is accessible, affordable, and free, there is also a wealth of content hidden away behind paywalls that the average person cannot access. In the coming months and years, it’s important to continue to fight for the little guys (and gals!).
In addition to the work that she does on her own show, Rachel Bloom also serves as one of the songwriters on House of Gucci’s ‘The House of Gucci’, which is set to appear on the 2020 Soundtrack to the Motion Picture The House of Gucci. This is the second time that Rachel has written with the fashion house. Her other collaborator on the project is Steve Aoki, whose “Tokyo Street Food” was one of the films’ standout tracks. It won an AARP-accredited ALMA Award for Best Original Song Score in 2020.
Steve Aoki is also featured on Maren Morris’ highly anticipated debut album, Beautiful Kid, which is out on April 29. The 28-year-old singer/songwriter announced the news on Instagram, where she also shared a behind-the-scenes photo of herself and the producer responsible for her new album. She wrote: “I’m so grateful for all my fans who’ve stood by me through this entire process. This album was written and recorded in LA, with the help and support of my incredible band and my family. I love all of you and can’t wait to share this with everyone!”