Neil Tennant has a big opinion on Taylor Swift’s pop dominance

Pet Shop Boys Frontman Neil Tennant has admitted that he is a little skeptical of Taylor Swift‘s status as a pop icon.

Earlier this week, Neil took part in a live interview with The Guardianin which he lamented the current state of pop poetry.

““(The self) is the only subject,” he said of modern pop. “To have a successful pop career today, you have to have a series of relationships that are great and then tragically fall apart.”

Later in the conversation, Neil said: “I looked at the charts today and… it’s all Taylor Swift.”

Neil confirmed that he had heard Taylor’s much-discussed new album, The Tortured Poets Department, and admitted that he was “fascinated” by the Grammy winner’s continued dominance.

“Taylor Swift fascinates me as a phenomenon because she is so popular and I kind of like the whole thing,” he explained.

“But then when I listen to the records (…) of such a big phenomenon (like her) … where are the famous songs? What is Taylor Swift’s Billie Jean?”

After suggesting Taylor’s 2014 single Shake It Off, Neil continued: “I listened to this the other day, and it’s not Billie Jean. It’s not…

“Melodically – she has a great voice by the way and the production is beautiful – but melodically… everything is sung with just one or two notes going up and down…”

While Neil praised the Swifties’ sense of community and “collective experience,” he added, “I just think the music is disappointing. Not even the lyrics, the music.”

However, the West End Girls singer is not the only experienced musician who has recently questioned Taylor’s reputation as a pop star.

Last week, Courtney Love made headlines when she claimed Taylor was “unimportant” or “interesting” as an artist.

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