Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant questions Swift's popularity as he criticizes her 'series of relationships'

By Khushali Srivastava
Published on : 03:06 PST, Apr 25, 2024

'Where are the famous songs?' Pet Shop Boys' Neil Tennant questions Taylor Swift's popularity as he criticizes her 'series of relationships'

Neil Tennant expressed skepticism about Taylor Swift's ability to produce iconic hits comparable to legendary tracks (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Neil Tennant, lead vocalist of the Pet Shop Boys, has stirred controversy with his recent comments questioning Taylor Swift's status as a hitmaker, despite the success of her latest album, 'The Tortured Poets Department.'

In an interview reported by Daily Mail, Tennant expressed skepticism about Swift's ability to produce iconic hits comparable to legendary tracks like Michael Jackson's 'Billie Jean' and 'Thriller.'

Also Read: Taylor Swift news diary: Travis Kelce turns to his billionaire GF for tips on handling wealth surge

Pet Shop boys' Neil Tennant criticizes Taylor Swift's hit-making ability amid album success

Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys performs at Lanxess-Arena on July 1, 2023 in Cologne, Germany. (Photo by Marc Pfitzenreuter/Redferns) — Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys is not convinced by Taylor Swift (Marc Pfitzenreuter/Redferns)

While acknowledging Swift's popularity, Tennant raised doubts about the enduring appeal of her songs, stating, "She fascinates me as a sort of phenomenon because she is so popular. I sort of like the whole thing but then think, where are the famous songs? What is Taylor Swift’s Billie Jean?"

He further criticized Swift's track 'Shake it Off,' suggesting it lacks the timeless quality of classic hits like 'Billie Jean.'

Also Read: John Lennon's son Sean reveals Taylor Swift song that made him 'uncomfortable', says 'never been a fan'

Taylor Swift's latest album, 'The Tortured Poets Department,' with its 31 breakup-themed songs, has delighted her fans with pointed references to her ex-boyfriends.

While previous albums hinted at relationships with celebrities like Jake Gyllenhaal, Harry Styles, and Taylor Lautner, this project subtly touches on her six-year romance with Joe Alwyn and her brief involvement with the 1975 frontman Matty Healy.

Also Read: Mark Zuckerberg shares why he told his 7-year-old daughter she 'cannot be Taylor Swift' when she grows up

Synth-pop legend Tennant criticized Swift, suggesting that a successful pop career now necessitates a series of dramatic relationships.

"I wonder what the other half of the relationship feels about this. People don’t write songs like Karma Chameleon anymore."

Neil Tennant, along with his musical partner Chris Lowe, formed the Pet Shop Boys in 1981 after a chance meeting in a hi-fi shop on London’s King’s Road. Since then, they've maintained a commitment to elevating the standards of pop music. Their hits, like 'It’s a Sin,' have sold over 50 million records worldwide, earning them the title of the most successful duo in UK music history in 1999.

Despite receiving slightly less favorable reviews compared to her previous albums, Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' quickly gained popularity with consumers. It sold approximately 1.4 million copies on its release day, surpassing the record set by '1989 (Taylor's Version)' to become her biggest US album to date.

Taylor Swift sets Spotify records ablaze, reigns as streaming queen

Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' quickly gained popularity with consumers (Taylor Swift/Facebook)

The digital realm is reverberating with celebration as Taylor Swift achieves unprecedented milestones on Spotify and other music streaming platforms. Before the release of her eagerly awaited album, 'The Tortured Poets Department,' anticipation reached a fever pitch, with the album becoming the most pre-saved album on Countdown Page in Spotify's history on April 18.

Swift's triumphant streak continued on Saturday, April 20, as Spotify made historic announcements. The streaming giant declared, "History made! On April 19, 2024, Taylor Swift’s 'The Tortured Poets Department' was the first album in Spotify history to have over 300 million streams in a single day."

Adding to the accolades, another announcement followed, proclaiming, "On April 19th, 2024, Taylor Swift’s 'Fortnight (feat. Post Malone)' became Spotify’s most-streamed song in a single day."

The album's release on April 19 marked yet another milestone as it swiftly ascended to become Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day.

On April 19th, 2024, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT became Spotify's most-streamed album in a single day, and Taylor Swift became the most-streamed artist in a single day in Spotify history. pic.twitter.com/g2tzdzdgCC
— Spotify (@Spotify) April 19, 2024

In a resounding declaration, Spotify announced, "THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT became Spotify’s most-streamed album in a single day, and Taylor Swift became the most-streamed artist in a single day in Spotify history."