The “Folklore” artist fired back at Damon Albarn on Twitter Monday after the Blur frontman claimed in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that Swift “doesn’t write her own songs.”
When the LA Times’ Mikael Wood pushed back, telling Albarn “of course” Swift writes or co-writes her songs, Albarn, 53, said co-writing “doesn’t count.” Swift, 32, has co-written with Aaron Dessner, Jack Antonoff and other artists throughout her career.
“I know what co-writing is. Co-writing is very different to writing,” Albarn said in the article, published Sunday. “I’m not hating on anybody, I’m just saying there’s a big difference between a songwriter and a songwriter who co-writes.”
He continued: “Doesn’t mean that the outcome can’t be really great. And some of the greatest singers — I mean, Ella Fitzgerald never wrote a song in her life. When I sing, I have to close my eyes and just be in there. I suppose I’m a traditionalist in that sense.”
Albarn then went on to compare Swift to Billie Eilish, whom he called a “really interesting songwriter.” Eilish frequently co-writes with her brother, record producer Finneas O’Connell, who goes professionally by FINNEAS.
“I’m more attracted to that than to Taylor Swift,” Albarn said of Eilish’s music. “It’s just darker — less endlessly upbeat. Way more minor and odd. I think she’s exceptional.”
Swift fired back on Twitter the next day, writing that she was “such a big fan” of Albarn until he tried to “discredit” her writing.
“I write ALL of my own songs,” she continued. “Your hot take is completely false and SO damaging.”
Swift added in a follow-up tweet: “PS I wrote this tweet all by myself in case you were wondering”
Albarn apologized to Swift later on Monday, tweeting of the wide-ranging Q&A that he “had a conversation about songwriting and sadly it was reduced to clickbait.”
“I apologise unreservedly and unconditionally,” he added. “The last thing I would want to do is discredit your songwriting. I hope you understand.”
Albarn’s comments struck a nerve with Swifties, who rallied on Twitter to support Swift and tout her songwriting. Many pointed out that Swift wrote her third studio album “Speak Now” entirely on her own to silence those skeptical of her songwriting abilities.
Antonoff, who collaborated with Swift on her 2020 albums “Folklore” and “Evermore,” also came to her defense.
“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,” he tweeted. “herb.”
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