Do you hate Taylor Swift or do you love Taylor Swift?

According to the internet, there really isn’t much middle ground when it comes to the woman who was recently crowned as TIME magazine’s Person of the Year.

No one, not even her most ardent detractors, can argue against the fact that Swift has become a cultural phenomenon; and her overwhelming success cannot be denied.

Taylor Swift, 34, has shattered long-held records in the music industry. Her influence among people under 30 is staggering.

Consider this. Both Billboard and Rolling Stone magazines have described her as one of the greatest singer/songwriters of all-time. She has sold more than 200 million albums; and she is the highest-grossing female touring act ever.

According to the New York Times, Taylor Swift has more number-one albums than any woman in history.

A Political Trigger

According to a wide-variety of sources, Taylor Swift encourages young people to register and vote.

For reasons I cannot explain, this seems to anger many Republicans. Apparently, many far-right stalwarts get nervous and rather upset about young people voting.

Among her most vocal critics, there does seem to be a not-so-subtle layer of misogyny and self-loathing.

In fact, many people have claimed that “Taylor Swift is ruining the NFL (National Football Leage)” because of her romantic relationship with Travis Kelce, a tight end with the Kansas City Chiefs.

In a few days, the Chiefs will return to the Superbowl to take on the San Francisco 49’ers. (More about that in a moment)

Lots of people find themselves annoyed whenever Taylor Swift attends games to support her boyfriend. Again, what is it about two young people being in love that winds people up?

Is the relationship between Swift and Kelce ruining the NFL? Hardly.

In fact, CNN reported that the estimated brand value Swift has generated for the Chiefs and NFL is $331 million, according to Apex Marketing Group. That’s a pretty big boost for the Chiefs, the NFL and especially Kansas City.

Did anyone think that Marilyn Monroe ruined baseball when she began publicly dating Joe DiMaggio, the legendary center-fielder for the New York Yankees?

Does Kelce play better or worse when Taylor attends one of his games? We’ll get there in a minute.

A role model for young women?

Taylor Swift’s fan base – though predominately under the age of 35 – also extends to many older folks who say they like her music; they like her reputation as a philanthropist; and they view her as a strong feminist.

In fact, many of my friends have said, they see Taylor Swift as a role model for their own daughters and other young women.

On this point, I’m not so sure. But, again, this is the phenomena of Taylor Swift. There are many, many strong, generous and very accomplished women in the world. What makes Taylor Swift so special?

For example, Dolly Parton is also a very accomplished musician and actor. She is also a strong, self-made woman who grew up in extreme poverty and went on to become hugely successful in the entertainment business.

Parton is from a different generation, however. While Swift grew up in a wealthy family, Parton had to overcome much larger obstacles on her way to success, fame and fortune.

If you think it’s tough being a woman today, try being a woman in the 1950s.

I think Swift is the voice of her generation, and my wife reminded me that when Dolly Parton was struggling as a songwriter/musician, there was no internet. No Tik-Tok videos. No Apple streaming.

I think it’s quite admirable that Taylor Swift is a well-known philanthropist. Even better, I like the fact that she doesn’t feel compelled to issue a press release every time she opens her checkbook.

More impressive: unlike so many other celebrities, she reportedly treats her staff well. Though I am not a fan of her music, her songs do exude a common thread of strength and self-confidence.

These are all great traits; and thus, great lessons for young women and girls.

But let’s not kid ourselves. Taylor Swift uses her sexuality as a reliable base for her performances. I don’t mean to sound like a prude, but Swift encapsulates that still predominant image and goal of girls being thin, attractive and shaking your booty.

Though we have made some progress on this issue, so many young women today are still struggling with body-shaming issues; the proverbial Barbie-Doll body type.

Would Taylor Swift be as successful if she put on 90 pounds? I don’t know. Should she be a role model for young women? I guess, there’s a lot more to like than there is not to like.

Me and Taylor Swift

I am a grumpy, old, white guy . . . a rather under-represented demographic when it comes to liking Taylor Swift.

A few weeks ago, I made the mistake of publicly stating my distaste for Taylor Swift. I wrote that I was perplexed by the fact that academic institutions – including Harvard University – were teaching courses relating to Taylor Swift.

The reaction was swift (no pun intended) and visceral. I was told that I must be uncomfortable with my own sexuality; that I was yet another insecure man who harbors a misogynistic view of the world.

Look, folks, I admire and respect many women. I have never met Taylor Swift. I do not own any of her music, nor have I ever attended one of her concerts.

How can you possibly “hate” someone you have never loved? Is it not okay to say that I’m not a big fan; or that I could not possibly care less about Taylor Swift?

Despite what some of my friends said, I really like and love the music of several female singers, most notably Liz Phair and bands such as Veruca Salt, The Breeders and The Linda Lindas.

Strong women rockin’ the house

Liz Phair is an accomplished indie-alternative singer/songwriter. She has never come close to Taylor Swift’s popularity but she has been an outspoke advocate for female performers in the music industry.

Many of Phair’s songs drip with anger and resentment. She is an in-your-face performer who is an undeniably independent and strong woman.

If I had a daughter, I would want her to listen to Liz Phair. Or maybe, the Linda Lindas would be more appealing to younger women. In fact, the drummer of that band is only 13 years old.

The Linda Lindas are young women, all under the age of 20. They are predominantly Asian and their music is sharp, poignant and relevant, taking on issues such as racism and misogyny.

In my opinion, Taylor Swift pales in comparison to Liz Phair, the Linda Lindas or Veruca Salt. But that’s just me.

Taylor Swift and The Superbowl

Will Taylor Swift be a distraction at this year’s Superbowl game? Will her presence affect the performance of her boyfriend, Travis Kelce? Let’s close out this blog post by considering some stats about Swift and Kelce.

With Taylor Swift in attendance, the he Kansas City Chiefs’ record is 9-3 (3-0 in playoffs). Without Taylor Swift in attendance, the Chiefs’ record is 4-2.

With Taylor Swift in the audience, Kelce’s stats: 80 catches, 946 yards (78.8 yards per game), five touchdowns.

Without Taylor Swift in the audience, Kelce’s performance dims somewhat with 36 catches, 300 yards (50 yards per game) and three touchdowns.

The only people who should be upset about Taylor Swift attending this year’s Superbowl are the San Francisco 49’ers.

Let’s close out with a couple videos: The first from Liz Phair and then one from the Linda Lindas.