After being named the Person of the Year by Time Magazine in 2023, Taylor Swift recently got ranked as the 8th best guitarist of the past two decades. Following a new poll generated by UK guitar retailer guitarguitar, the record-breaking musician was voted among the top 20 best guitarists from the past few years.
However, while Taylor Swift’s musical prowess is undeniable, this ranking has sparked a wave of controversy and disbelief among fans and critics. Considering how Swift is renowned primarily for her songwriting and vocal abilities, netizens expressed their shock after the singer was celebrated for her guitar skills.
Taylor Swift Ranked as 8th Best Guitarist in a Celebration of the Most Inspiring Players
Recently in June 2024, the remarkable singer Taylor Swift witnessed some bizarre ranking as she got voted among the top 20 best guitarists from the past 20 years. In a poll commissioned by UK guitar retailer guitarguitar (via Guitar.com), to mark the retailer’s 20th anniversary, followed by an exhibition of special guitars to celebrate the most inspiring players, Swift was voted 8th best guitarist.
Although Taylor Swift isn’t widely known for her technical ability with a guitar, the fact that she regularly plays the instrument in front of millions of fans around the world, propelled her to 8th position, among a few of the most renowned icons. The top spot in the poll, however, was taken by Red Hot Chili Peppers’ John Frusciante, followed by Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys in second and John Mayer in third position.
Thereafter, with Sam Fender, Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), and Ed O’Brien (Radiohead) being in 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th position respectively, Taylor Swift got ranked 8th, overthrowing even Blink-182’s Tom DeLonge. This particular way of ranking sparked a wave of outrage among music fans, who argued that guitar playing isn’t usually cited as Swift’s standout talent.
Music Fans Sparked a Wave of Controversy and Backlash Over Taylor Swift’s Ranking
Considering how Taylor Swift’s career has been marked by her ability to transcend genres and craft deeply personal lyrics, music fans appeared truly disappointed with the ranking dropped by guitarguitar. To netizens’ dismay, as Swift’s fans decided to place her so high on the list of guitarists, the polling raised questions about the criteria used for such rankings and the potential influence of her overall star power on the outcome.
Taking to X, critics argued that this ranking overlooked the accomplishments of real guitarists who have made significant contributions to the music industry over the past two decades. Highlighting how legends and guitar prodigies have set high standards, people called the voting rigged, for placing Taylor Swift above many of these seasoned players. Fans noted how the vote diluted the accomplishments of true maestros.
In the end, while Taylor Swift’s inclusion on the list as the 8th best guitarist undoubtedly reflected her influence on the music industry, it also made it hard for people to accept this ranking with seriousness. Raising eyebrows and sparking outrage, the polling thus failed to align with people’s views on guitar proficiency.
