TODD RUNDGREN CRITICISES TAYLOR SWIFT'S MUSICAL ABILITY

Todd Rundgren has criticised Taylor Swift, saying she "ruined music," in an interview with Vulture. Asked which modern artist he would choose to mock, Rundgren said "Taylor Swift, of course," adding that "there's an argument to be made that she ruined music" and calling her "the apotheosis of mediocrity." He said Swift "doesn't do anything particularly great except grow hair," and does not rate her as a singer, songwriter or dancer. Rundgren did describe her as "a role model" for a young generation of women and now their daughters, noting that mothers and daughters attend her concerts together. By contrast, he praised Lady Gaga as "a real musician" and "a classically trained piano player." The Independent said it had contacted Swift for comment.

Rundgren suggested the prominence of female artists such as Lady Gaga, Swift and P!nk reflects a shift he described as "the era of the female artists," theorising that in the 1990s "boys stopped spending money on music and started spending it on video games," leaving a market he said is now dominated by female listeners. Rundgren was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in October 2021, with his long-time friend Patti Smith conducting the induction. He rose to fame as a founding member of the band Nazz before launching a solo career, releasing his breakthrough album Something/Anything? in 1972. His songs include "Hello It's Me," "Can We Still Be Friends?" and "I Saw the Light."

Rundgren has a history of pointed comments about other musicians. He produced Meat Loaf's 1977 album Bat Out of Hell, saying at the time that he took on the project because he wanted to make fun of Bruce Springsteen. He has also worked as a producer for Hall & Oates, Badfinger and the Patti Smith Group. No response from Swift had been reported at the time of the interview's publication.