In the contemporary world, very select few individuals remain unaware of the stardom that Taylor Swift heralds, which has much to do with her commitment to her career. As a standout benchmark among other artists in the industry, the pop sensation remains a source of inspiration to most. Yet, following the release of her eleventh studio album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department’, like the surge of positive reviews, the flowchart of criticism has also elongated with the latest addition being an artist from Pet Shop Boys.

In recent times, although this singer is the only one from the industry to give his two cents on Swift’s music, he is indeed the first to direct his critique at her undeniable fame.

During a live event by Guardian on Monday, the Pet Shop Boys singer, Neil Tennant, gave his take on Taylor Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ and her global icon status. When asked if he had listened to the album, Tennant confirmed while expressing his fascination with the Taylor Swift “phenomenon”. He stressed that what intrigues him most is her worldwide popularity, but when it comes to her music, he finds it somewhat "disappointing". Tennant clarified her lyrics are not necessarily bad, it is the musical aspect that falls short as per him.

According to Tennant, despite Swift's immense popularity, she lacks what he believes to be her "famous songs." He invoked Michael Jackson's iconic ‘Billie Jean’ to pose the question, "What's Taylor Swift's 'Billie Jean'?" Tennant's bandmate, Chris Lowe, suggested ‘Shake It Off,’ but Tennant disagreed, finding it difficult to compare to ‘Billie Jean.’ He acknowledged elements that make him appreciate Swift as a cultural icon who bridges generational divides, but he remained firm in his critique of her music.

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Like Tennant, just a while ago, another music figure, more specifically, a critic, Anthony Fantano, seemed to echo similar chants upon ‘The Tortured Poets Department’s’ release.

In a recent episode of The Needle Drop podcast, Anthony Fantano offered sharp criticisms of Taylor Swift's album ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ Fantano quickly delved into the album's content, questioning Swift's collaboration choices with Jack Antonoff and suggesting she end their creative partnership. He believed the latest record consisted of “leftovers” from ‘Midnights’ but in a deteriorated state.

According to Fantano, ‘Midnights’ was overflowing with "synth bits" and "overcooked vocals." He further argued that the current album's content and style were a "mismatch", largely due to Antonoff's heavy reliance on 80s aesthetics, which Fantano deemed outdated. Additionally, Fantano criticized Swift's fans for blindly defending the album, contributing to its lack of challenge. While Neil Tennant's viewpoint shares similarities with Fantano's, his particular emphasis on Swift's absence of signature tracks sets him apart from the latter.

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What do you think of Neil Tennant's blunt calling out on Taylor Swift's popularity and music? Let us know in the comments below!