Music expert makes surprising suggestion about Taylor Swift

Renowned Swedish music critic Jan Gradvall argues that few artists can capture the attention of a live audience in the way Swift can

A music expert has suggested that Grammy-winning pop star Taylor Swift is still “underrated”, both for her live performances and the longevity of her songwriting.

Jan Gradvall is regarded as Sweden’s most respected music journalist of the last 40 years and is the author of a forthcoming authorised biography about iconic pop group Abba.

Speaking to The Independent, Gradvall said he recently attended one of Swift’s Eras shows in Stockholm, Sweden.

“I loved it, it was brilliant,” he said. “Especially her fans, the dedication of the fans singing and responding to deep cuts from the catalogue over three-and-a-half hours – it created a community feeling which I think was amazing.

“[Swift] was so professional, and made it look like this was the best concert of the whole tour, which very few people can do – Bruce Springsteen, maybe [as another example].”

“In a way she’s still underrated,” he added. “Both for her impact on the audience and the way her songs will live on for a very long time.

“She’s ‘overrated’ in the sense that she’s over-exposed now, of course there are people who are getting tired of Taylor Swift, but the strength of her songs is still underrated.”

Taylor Swift performs during an Eras show at Wembley Stadium, June 2024 (AP)

Posting clips from his Instagram at the time, Gradvall wrote of Swift’s Stockholm concert: “It is the 200,000 [fans] who were here who will write the history of these concerts. [I have] never experienced the same dedication and knowledge of a concert audience.”

Swift received further praise this week from The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins, after she was spotted singing along to his band’s signature song, “I Believe In a Thing Called Love”, at the US Open with her boyfriend, Travis Kelce.

Hawkins revealed that he attended one of Swift’s Eras shows with his daughter, as he shared a heartfelt thank you to Swift and Kelce for encouraging their fans to listen to his band’s music.

Swift is a noted fan of The Darkness, having danced to “I Believe In a Thing Called Love” in a memorable 2016 advert for Apple Music.

The “Shake It Off” star recently concluded the UK and European legs of her record-breaking Eras Tour with her eighth and final night at Wembley Stadium in London.

Swift performs ‘The Man’ during an Eras show in London (AP)

She delighted fans with a number of surprises, including guest performances from Florence Welch and Jack Antonoff, and the live debut of her song “So Long, London”.

The pop star is expected to attend the 2024 VMAs, which take place this week in New York on Wednesday 11 September.

She is the most-nominated artist this year, with 12 nods for categories including Song of the Summer, Artist of the Year, Best Pop, Song of the Year and Best Collaboration.

Many of the nominations are for “Fortnight”, the lead single from her latest album The Tortured Poets Society, for which she collaborated with US rapper and singer Post Malone.

In a five-star review for The Independent,critic Helen Brown praised the album as a “terrific reminder of her storytelling powers”.

Swift will not perform at the VMAs, but other artists announced to play live during the ceremony include Eminem, who will open the show, Megan Thee Stallion, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes, Camila Cabello and LL Cool J.