Laden...
This is the face I imagine Taylor Swift making when she hears some Major Rock Dude has something to say about her songwriting.
Hello pals,
It's frigid in New Jersey, but something has me burned up this week. It is this: When men undercut women's achievements to calm their own fears of inadequacy.
Oh, I know we've talked about it here before, when we discussed the unacceptable lack of women on New Jersey's boards and commissions, and how men are always chosen on merit alone while anyone else is chosen for ... other reasons.
Whether it's a woman taking a man's place on the legislative redistricting commission, or a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, or simply existing as one the most successful songwriters of all time, men have thoughts about women's qualifications.
If you missed the Taylor Swift dustup, it mostly went down on Twitter and involved a talented, semi-relevant male rock star, one Damon Albarn. (Please don't send me emails all mad that I called Albarn semi-relevant, I listened to Blur in the '90s.)
Albarn gave an interview to the Los Angeles Times in which he dismissed most current music. When the interviewer, Times music critic Mikael Wood, pushed back on that, Albarn had thoughts on women's qualifications:
WOOD: She may not be to your taste, but Taylor Swift is an excellent songwriter.
WOOD: Of course she does. Co-writes some of them.
See what he did there?
First Albarn made an unsubstantiated, easily disproven claim, that Swift -- whose list of Grammy awards is so long you have to scroll through it -- doesn't write her own songs.
When the interviewer pushed back, Albarn changed tactics: No, Swift's songs don't count because she sometimes she co-writes. Then, I suspect in an effort to forestall any allegation of misogyny, he pits her against another woman, whose co-writing is acceptable because she does it with her brother.
Albarn must not know that Eilish has cited Swift as an influence and shown her the respect of a fellow artist. It's so tiresome when man try to use one woman to undermine another.
The Times Tweeted the story highlighting the girl-vs.girl angle. Enter Swift, who's spent enough time in Jersey to not let this kind of disrespect slide. Swift had some thoughts for Albarn, in a Tweet directed at him (caps and f-bomb hers):
"Damon Albarn, 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 (messed) up to try and discredit my writing. WOW."
Soon, Jersey mega-producer Jack Antonoff weighed in, Tweeting: "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." ("Herb" is an insult meaning someone who should be mocked.)
Even Dolly Parton weighed in, congratulating Swift for standing up for herself.
Albarn, perhaps realizing he had just picked a fight with some people who are far higher on the current industry food chain than he is, blamed it on the journalist. He claimed in a Tweet "he had a conversation about songwriting and sadly it was reduced to clickbait," adding, "I apologise unreservedly and unconditionally. The last thing I would want to do is discredit your songwriting. I hope you understand."
As a wise woman once said: Sure, Jan. How long until Albarn appears on a podcast complaining about cancel culture?
Also this week, an unlucky address, neglectful nursing homes, a look at new laws, it's a not from Hoboken, and give it up for a legend:
THIS HOUSE IS A HIT: This house was hit by cars twice in the space of eight days. Luckily, the house was unoccupied at the time and none of the occupants of the crashed cars was hurt. Hope the homeowners insurance was current!
A FAILURE OF CARE: You'll need a subscription to read this Ted Sherman piece about a nursing home operator, Skyline Health, that collapsed after years of subpar care, short supplies and owner who showed a genuinely shocking lack of care. It's exactly the kind of story your subscriptions make possible, and I hope you'll check it out.
LOTS OF LAWS: Gov. Murphy officially began his second term Tuesday and promptly signed 100 new laws into existence. Here's a look at a dozen that could have direct impacts on your life. Say goodbye to those packing peanuts.
BIG NOPE: Remember that $241 million high school sports complex in Hoboken we talked about last week? Not happening. Voters there turned out in higher-than-usual numbers to reject the plan.
SHE'S A WINNER: Even if you've never played the NY Lottery, you've probably heard of Yolanda -- make that Yolaaanda -- Vega. For 32 years the snazzy Vega was there to draw numbers make millionaires. She's retiring and we wish her well!
Finally, there's bizarre, and there's Jersey Bizarre. The story of a longtime, well-regarded political operative suddenly copping to a murder-for-hire plot that saw the son of a former politician stabbed to death is all of that.
On Tuesday, Sean Caddle pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges in the murder plot. On Thursday we learned he's been working with authorities as a cooperating witness in an FBI investigation. On Friday, he still walking around free. He must be one valuable witness. Stay tuned, Ted Sherman's all over this one.
P.S.: I agree, New Jersey is better than Pennsylvania, but my South Jersey hoagie mouth accent is a gift.
Amy Z. Quinn Audience Editor
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Laden...
Laden...
