What do you guys think about this? (Patreon)

I’ve been seeing it a lot more often lately that people believe the age of artists really committing to their latest works and going all out on an era with theming and publicity is over. In my mind the pandemic likely had a lot to do with that, because artists couldn’t really promote their works the same way they usually would and plus a lot of art that was coming out during quarantine and that following summer was pandemic themed, in their own ways.

As swifties I think we may be a little biased because Taylor has ALWAYS committed to theming and “reinvention” for her new records - but something that struck me was that Midnights had little to no promo and the theming of it was really minimal - again, could be because Taylor is an artist who is still being very covid cautious. That said, Midnights is unique, in that it does feel like an eraless era. Perhaps because its contents are a culmination of all the eras and isn’t even getting its own themed tour. By contrast, she went TITS OUT on the theming for Lover. Even Folklevermore had its own unique signature just because of its release and stylization. But the thing about Midnights is that yea, it has no real imagery, no real unique signature, and I’d BARELY call it an era at all, only because of what it is as a record. The more I think about it, the more I feel it was just really, like she said at the VMA’s, kinda a gift to fans. Not to say she didn’t work hard on it, but I do think it has no personal signature. It’s an album dedicated to her past albums, not a brand new thing.

To me, I don’t consider the age of eras over, but maybe just went on hold because of the pandemic. Miley’s newest release coming tonight) seems to have a very clear theme, clear imagery, and she’s promoting it. Olivia’s Sour was REALLY themed, if you think about it. Beyoncé isn’t a good example because she hates promo anyways but Renaissance is a clear era, even fucking Harry’s house was a clear era. Lana’s newest drop looks pretty solidly thought out and put together, whereas to me Blue Bannisters and Chemtrails never got an era the same way NFR and especially Born To Die was, AGAIN because of the panny.  I think when Selena gets ready to drop we will see the same thing. The concept of eras is becoming massive, and I say all unbiased that’s at least partly because of Miss Taylor’s impact 🤓, and to say “it’s over” and “streaming killed eras” is just kinda silliness to me and not at all taking into account what the pandemic has done to the industry. What do you guys think?

- Madeline