Courtney Love slams Taylor Swift's artistry; says 'she's not important'
Courtney Love, the renowned frontwoman of the now-defunct rock band Hole, recently shared her blunt opinions on several female musicians in a conversation with The Standard. She expressed admiration for artists such as Patti Smith, Nina Simone, PJ Harvey, and Debbie Harry. However, her views on Taylor Swift were less favorable, describing her as "not important" and "not interesting as an artist." Naturally, these comments didn't sit well with Swifties.
She conceded that Swift was 'safe space for girls' but...
Love's disdain for the 14-time Grammy winner was evident when she boldly declared, "Taylor is not important." In her eyes, Swift may serve as a "safe space for girls and she's probably the Madonna of now, but she's not interesting as an artist." Love's shocking comments come as she promotes her new series, Courtney Love's Women—a series delving into the influential women in music who have left their mark on her career.
Swifties highlighted when Love called Swift an 'aspirational model'
Following the comments, Swifties were quick to point out Love's seemingly contradictory behavior, noting that she had previously extended birthday wishes to Swift just a few years ago. In December 2021, Love shared a photo of herself with Swift, referring to her as an "aspirational huge role model." Meanwhile, one user expressed frustration with Love's comments, suggesting that her focus on being perceived as "a b**ch" may hinder her artistic depth.
Meanwhile, Love also declared diminishing interest in Lana Del Rey
In addition to her comments on Swift, Love discussed her waning interest in singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey. She revealed, "I haven't liked Lana since she covered a John Denver song, and I think she should really take seven years off." "Up until Take Me Home Country Roads I thought she was great. When I was recording my new album, I had to stop listening to her as she was influencing me too much."
Love's mutual dislike of Madonna
Love also opened up about her strained relationship with pop icon Madonna during the conversation. She confessed to a mutual dislike between the two, stating, "I don't like her and she [Madonna] doesn't like me." Despite this, Love acknowledged her appreciation for Madonna's film Desperately Seeking Susan, attributing it as much to the city of New York as to the pop star herself.
Love advocates for women in the music industry
Despite her critiques, Love is recognized for supporting women in the music industry. In March 2023, she penned an opinion piece for The Guardian addressing the gender imbalance in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She emphasized the need to recognize pioneering female artists' contributions to music.
