After concluding his farewell tour, ‘Adios Mofo ’23,’ in July, Ted Nugent shared his views on modern music during an appearance on ‘The Joe Pags Show.’ Nugent directed criticism towards Taylor Swift, accusing her of negatively impacting ‘real music’ and labeling her work as ‘cartoon music.’
Expressing his concerns about the state of the music industry, Nugent stated:
“So, I’m afraid to say in this world that’s gone down the toilet in all aspects, I’m afraid the success of Taylor Swift, and God bless her work ethic, God bless her musical dreams, but that’s cartoon music. I mean, it doesn’t have any piss and vinegar. There’s no fire; there’s no sensuality in that. It’s all poppy nonsense as far as I’m concerned, and it’s the most popular stuff in the world, which is an indictment to the music industry and music fans.”
Continuing to lament the perceived lack of intensity in contemporary music, Nugent mentioned older bands like ZZ Top, Mitch Ryder And The Detroit Wheels, Brownsville Station, and Amboy Dukes, expressing a longing for the passion and energy they brought. Nugent asserted that he and his music still embody the fire akin to what The Beatles delivered in their early days.
These comments echo Nugent’s previous criticisms of Taylor Swift’s music, which he had previously labeled as ‘cartoonish’ on an episode of his show, ‘The Nightly Nuge,’ in October. Nugent acknowledged his gratitude for being born in an era that embraced ‘quality music’ and commended bands like Foo Fighters for attempting to carry on the tradition. However, he maintained his perspective that newer artists lack the same ‘fire’ as their predecessors.
Using Taylor Swift’s music as an example, Nugent described it as sounding like ‘cartoon music,’ suggesting that it resembled the soundtrack of a children’s cartoon show rather than embodying the qualities he associates with authentic and instinctive music. He criticized the formulaic nature of Swift’s music, arguing that it lacked the organic, instinctive, sexy, unleashed, genuine, and believable qualities that he values in music.
11 comments
Grumps gonna grump.
That’s what happens when the music machine takes over and you have songs written by committe rather by indidual artists.
Ted I love you man and I’ve listened to your music and seen you in concert multiple times, but you are way off bass with your comments about Taylor Swift! She is an amazing artist and song writer. I am not a follower of her music, but your comments are a terrible attack on a talented artist. You’re sounding like Jayz right now. Smh.
Nugent is right.she not a great artist and mostly kids like ber
Put all his politics aside he’s a talented SOB. It’s nice to see that he takes the time to first complement her work ethic and high five the musical dream. What I think he’s really pointing out is that somewhere she and many other artist, male, and female, have forgot, what drove them to want to be professional, musician in the first place. Lawyers and people that don’t love the dream the same way somewhere have gotten involved and just like the above comment says a committee is writing the music and it just doesn’t have the same piss and vinegar Flame throwing attitude the Music did in the first place. Of course he brings up older bands, but back in the day, They were starving for it craving it. I think that’s what he’s really getting at. I think sometimes people look at Nugent‘s comments, one-sided. He’s not wrong. So it’s up to the newer bands to make a stand and change the music industry… Or should I say the monster that is the music industry.
The woman cannot sing. She will never sing a ballad song. She has to have music machines in the background to hide the imperfections of her voice.
UNCLE TED IS 100 AND HALF PERCENT RIGHT. TAYLOR SWIFT REMINDS ME OF BARBIE DOLL SINGING SHES ONLY POPULAR BECAUSE SHE HAS A YOUNG TEEN GIRL FOLLOWING. SHE’LL BURN OUT SOONER OR LATER THEY ALL DO.
There have always been shallow, vapid pop bands that became quite popular, even during the years of classic Rock. Taylor Swift certainly didn’t invent that genre.
The problem these days is the lack of serious, talented rock bands that don’t sound like an older classic band. The exact same problem has been going on in Country music for the last twenty five years.
I agree this crappy negative rap crap and sad pop is not music.performers now a days are just talentless.just make any sound today and people will listen to the crap.soul and rock from the 60s 70s and 80s were talented performers .I will hate to hear new supposedly music in ten years
I saw Ted July 1969 with the Amboy Dukes and again early September 1970 just after he jammed with Hendrix and a week before Jimi died. Ted talked about that jam. Great shows, great songwriting, great guitarist. Both shows in Columbia, SC. One at Jack Skenes’ Copper Door and the other at Woody Windham’s Hoparoonie night at our local US Armory. Influenced me along with other great players to make music my career! But I salute Taylor Swoft! She is incredible. Great writer,,.works her tail off and a phenomenon we have seen since the Beatles. And I and I’m a rock blues player/writer/singer! But I give credit where it’s due and Taylor is the incredible.
It is quite regrettable to believe that she will influence the result of the election, remain in her current position, political progressive agitator. And I just noticed that there isn’t a single actual Swiftie in the comments, instead consisting of a group of older/elderly white individuals who are politically motivated and fixated on Trump. Her fanbase consists primarily Gen Z / tween girls who, have no interest in you creepy progressive boomers from the crowded corridors of senior citizen nursing home facilities, and mental institutions. It’s easily to identify the fake Swifties because they stand out conspicuously like sore thumbs they are usually the ones emerging from nursing homes and behavioural psychiatric health clinics, these individuals often exhibit a tendency to engage in like political simp leeches
That is a lot of word salad from a BlueAnon Russian conspiracy theorist bot account residing in a nursing home.
You can’t make this stuff up; the fake swifties that political simp clout chasers come from nursing homes and behavioural psychiatric treatment centres.