Taylor Swift just shot back at Blur frontman Damon Albarn for claiming she doesn’t write her own songs. And he ended up apologizing for “clickbait” mistake.
If it’s one thing Taylor Swift really knows how to do is songwriting. She has been accused of not writing her songs after her second album, Fearless. But she came back stronger with Speak Now, which she wrote entirely.
Now Damon Albarn should ask Alexa to play “Mean,” by Taylor Swift, because, in a new interview, he claimed she doesn’t write her own songs.
During a new interview with LA Times, Albarn claimed she is an example of a modern artist who hides behind “sound and attitude.” The interviewer pointed out Swift writes her own songs, to which Albarn continued: “That doesn’t count. I know what co-writing is. Co-writing is very different to writing. I’m not hating on anybody, I’m just saying there’s a big difference between a songwriter and a songwriter who co-writes.”
Albarn, 53, has written all his own songs as a solo artist, and has written for Blur and Gorillaz as well.
When Taylor heard of it, she slammed the Blur frontman on Twitter, writing: “I was such a big fan of yours until I saw this. I write all of my own songs. Your hot take is completely false and so damaging. You don’t have to like my songs but it’s really f***** up to try and discredit my writing. Wow.”
In a different tweet, she added: “PS I wrote this tweet all by myself in case you were wondering.” Fellow artist Katy Perry has also liked this answer.
After Taylor’s answer, he apologized, claiming his comment was “taken out of context and used as a clickbait.”
But he did, however, say that she only “co-writes.” Which doesn’t apply for all her songs.
Record producer Jack Antonoff, who has been collaborating with Taylor for seven years, and Aaron Dessner both took it to social media to deny the claims Swift doesn’t write her own songs.
See, Taylor, this is the moment to release the re-recording for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). Please.
PS I wrote this tweet all by myself in case you were wondering 😑
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 24, 2022
i’ve never met damon albarn and he’s never been to my studio but apparently he knows more than the rest of us about all those songs taylor writes and brings in. herb.
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) January 24, 2022
if you were there … cool … go off. if not … maybe …. shut the fuck up?
— jackantonoff (@jackantonoff) January 24, 2022
Not sure why you @Damonalbarn would try to discredit Taylor’s brilliant songwriting but as someone who has gotten to press record around her …your statements couldn’t be further from the truth…you’re obviously completely clueless as to her actual writing and work process
— Aaron Dessner (@aaron_dessner) January 24, 2022