United States President-elect Donald Trump might have been just a wee bit afraid of the 35-year-old singer-songwriter in 2024.
"I hate Taylor Swift!" he wrote on social media in September, capital letters, emphatic punctuation and all, a few days after her endorsement of US Vice President Kamala Harris for the November presidential election.
A funny response, if one recalls that Swift released a song about him, titled You Need To Calm Down, back in 2019.
Ultimately, Trump taking umbrage was unnecessary, as he went on to win the presidential race.
Nevertheless, his fear of Swift's outsized influence—an even more dominant force in pop culture in 2024 than ever—was not unwarranted.
TTPD, released on April 19, became the most streamed album on major streaming services—including Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music—while she was the top-streamed artiste of the year.
TTPD also earned five nominations for the Grammy Awards to be held in February 2025. Even if it nets zero wins at the ceremony, Swift already made Grammy history in 2024 when her 10th album, Midnights, won Album of the Year—the event's most prestigious category. It was her fourth time clinching the accolade, an unprecedented feat.
In the same week in September that Swift endorsed Ms Harris' presidential bid—generating dozens of think pieces about her political influence—she won seven "moon man" statues at the MTV Video Music Awards. This made her the most-awarded solo artiste in the event's 40-year history, having racked up 30 trophies since 2009.
In December, she followed that feat with a haul of 10 prizes at the annual Billboard Music Awards, making her the most decorated artiste in that awards show as well, with an all-time tally of 49 wins.
Esta historia es de la edición December 22, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición December 22, 2024 de The Straits Times.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
BLACK DAY FOR BRITISH PUBS
At her London pub, landlady Kate Davidson has taken to issuing Guinness ration cards, but the beer still ran out amid a British shortage of Ireland's national drink.
Her Last Gifts
It was exhausting, he sighed. But Carol insisted; her name being what it was and his, she said with a big grin, being Chris. Remember, this is the blessed spirit of the season, to give as we have been given.
When You Think About Me
She empties the last drawer and, between stray baubles, there's the cookie tin, the one hunted down from some narrow shop in Liverpool because it didn't ship here.
Gift Of The Magi
Let's say you never intended to use Magi. Let's say you know about all the scandals: the accusations of stolen data, the EU lawsuits, the CEO's abhorrent behaviour. Let's say you don't even believe the outlandish social media claims that the app is magical, like actual magic. You know it's not possible it reads your mind, plumbs your soul, knows your heart's desires. You're not so gullible.
Ho Ren Yung: Steering global brand evolution of Banyan Group
Ms Ho Ren Yung, deputy chief executive of Banyan Group, oversaw the company's brand relaunch in a bumper year of 19 openings in 2024. These included Banyan Tree Higashiyama Kyoto in Japan and Angsana Tengchong in China.
Jury-rigged Hotpot
The Japan Home folding table was just big enough to accommodate two.
Tales of love, peace and hope
The Sunday Times invites five authors to pen short stories around the theme of A Christmas Gift
Japan: Taking centre stage in Singapore and beyond
Scroll through your social media feed this holiday season, and practically everyone you know is in Japan or making plans to vacation there.
UOB: Most influential patron in Singapore art scene
UOB's \"day job\" is handling loans, deposits and a wealth of diverse portfolios. But the bank cemented its role as the most influential patron in the Singapore art scene in 2024, investing good chunks of cash in both arts and arts education.
Fong Chi Chung: Putien restaurants make dining out more affordable
In a year where diners made themselves scarce - preferring to spend their strong Singapore dollars overseas, and leading restaurant owners and chefs to despair over empty dining rooms - this power lister made a power move that others in the industry are watching closely.
