Taylor Swift and Adele Take Different Approaches to Aging and Pop Stardom
The Waves: Gender, Relationships, Feminism
Slate Podcasts
4.2 • 903 Ratings
🗓️ 18 November 2021
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this week’s episode of The Waves, managing producer of Slate Podcasts Asha Saluja and senior editor Shannon Palus dive into new releases from superstars Adele and Taylor Swift. In the first half, they talk about how Taylor Swift shaped their views of romance and being 22, and whether her move to take back her song catalogue is actually feminist. Then, Asha and Shannon explore the conversation around Adele’s weight loss and the patriarchal expectations put on female pop stars.
In our Slate Plus segment, Asha and Shannon talk about whether it’s feminist when female pop stars don’t dance in their music videos.
Recommendations:
Asha: Jao Refresher hand sanitizer and singing in the shower.
Shannon: Getting a latte and going for a walk with said latte.
Podcast production by Cheyna Roth with editorial oversight by Susan Matthews and June Thomas.
Send your comments and recommendations on what to cover to thewaves@slate.com
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is the waves. This is the waves. This is the waves. This is the waves. This is the waves. |
| 0:06.5 | This is the waves. Welcome to the waves, Slate's podcast about gender, feminism, and today at least, |
| 0:18.7 | aging alongside your favorite pop stars. Every episode you get a new pair of feminists |
| 0:25.0 | to talk about the thing we can't get off our minds. |
| 0:28.0 | And today you've got me, Asha Saluja, |
| 0:30.0 | managing producer of Slate Podcasts. |
| 0:33.0 | And me, Shannon Paulis, |
| 0:35.0 | Slate's senior editor, mostly covering science and health. |
| 0:38.0 | So, the thing we can't get off our minds this week |
| 0:42.0 | is that it's a huge week in pop music. |
| 0:45.0 | Last Friday, pop icon and near constant figure of public fascination Taylor Swift |
| 0:50.8 | marked the re-released of her 2012 album Red with a short film, a slew of |
| 0:55.4 | late night interviews, and an SNL appearance. And this coming weekend, |
| 0:59.9 | beloved but reclusive Megastar Adele gears up for the release of her next album, 30, |
| 1:06.2 | after a two-hour primetime special that featured an intimate concert and an interview with Oprah. |
| 1:12.4 | I am a huge music fan and devoted for and an interview with Oprah. |
| 1:12.5 | I am a huge music fan and devoted follower of all of the pop girlies, so I'm really |
| 1:17.9 | excited to talk to you Shannon about both of these album cycles and in particular how they speak to one decidedly feminist concern |
| 1:26.2 | the way we react to prominent women aging in the public eye. |
| 1:30.8 | Shannon, why did you want to talk about this? |
| 1:33.0 | Asha, I spend maybe 90% of my life when I have headphones in listening to Taylor Swift. |
| 1:39.0 | I was a big fan of Red when it came out. |
... |
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