Taylor Swift

Seeburk is right. Alicia Keys would eat her for lunch. Marketing pure and simple. Usually when a female singer is as mediocre as Taylor Swift is, they're at least easy on the eye--e.g., Jennifer Lopez. And come to think of it, Jennifer Lopez is at least a half way decent actress, and in fact, has terrific comedic timing--witness her performance on SNL this past week. But Taylor Swift is a junk bond. I'd feel sorry for her if she weren't raking in the dough. But that's a career that's bound to end badly, and sadly.

"I think the young woman's vocal skills are limited. I don't see the basis for your statement."

Probably just wishful thinking on my part. And in fact, given my take on American musical taste, her limited vocal skills and unlimited marketing will probably give her all the legs she'll need. I was just thinking of flashes-in-the-pan types like Billy Ray Cyrus (while we're in the country genre), who are little more than this year's cabbage patch dolls. I think she's that bad, but it finally comes down to preferences, I realize.