Kaylah Walton
Rock icon Pete Townshend, who co-founded The Who, recently made a surprising comparison between Taylor Swift and The Beatles. This adds him to the list of rock stars who highly esteem Swift. In a sincere interview, Townshend praised Swift’s talent for songwriting and the happiness her music conveys, suggesting she belongs alongside legendary musicians of both the past and present.
On the What It Takes podcast, Townshend, a Grammy-winning songwriter, openly expressed his admiration for Swift’s work. The 79-year-old musician stated, “I’m a song dreamer in a sense,” reflecting his fondness for great songwriters from his father’s time, like Gershwin, as well as contemporary artists including Taylor Swift and The Beatles. His remarks underscore his recognition of Swift’s ability to craft music that resonates with diverse audiences.
Although he acknowledged that not every song of Swift’s may be to his liking, Townshend emphasized the joy she gets from her work.
I appreciate what she does… she appears to love it [and] seems to have a lot of fun. That’s something I connect with.
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour: A Welcoming Space for Fans
Beyond her songwriting, Townshend also commended Swift’s groundbreaking The Eras Tour, which earned over $1 billion and served as a secure, unifying environment for audiences. He likened the tour to music festivals of the late 1960s and early 1970s, which celebrated a variety of musical styles and fostered unity. “It could be heavy music like Led Zeppelin… but also softer music like Joni Mitchell,” he reminisced.
In Townshend’s view, Swift’s ability to create such an inclusive and positive atmosphere mirrors the finest aspects of previous musical eras.
Support for Swift’s Fight Over Her Masters
The iconic guitarist also shared his support for Swift during her struggle to reclaim her master recordings, describing the situation as “heartbreaking.” Following the sale of the rights to her initial six albums by her former manager Scooter Braun, Townshend voiced his empathy, remarking, “She doesn’t own the f***ing music. She doesn’t own the words.”
As Swift is in the process of re-recording her earlier albums, Townshend’s statements highlight the respect she garners, not only from her contemporaries but also from legendary figures like him.
