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Benedictine and Franciscan Monks: Forgotten Inventors

   Usually, when we think of religious orders, these things come to mind: a cloister, an abbey, a library, prayer in solitude, detachment from the world… All this in the cradle of a period defined as "dark" by historiography up to Romanticism: the Middle Ages . In this period the monks - especially the Benedictines of the various orders - were the custodians of Judeo-Christian but also classical culture, since thanks to their patient and meticulous transcriptions as scribes we have received almost all of the Greek and Latin works which we study today. Today we are grateful to them first of all for this.   However, many do not know that many products - material and immaterial - that we consume and use every day, come from monks who, using their ingenuity nourished by a profound spirituality, invented them due to practical necessities.    Personally, I find it amazing!    Let's begin…   The heavy plow   Plows were a primary agri...
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Taylor Swift, the Singer Rewriting Music History - Part II


"There will be no explanation, there will just be Reputation"

Hey there, I’m delighted to have you back! Taylor’s story has captivated you, hasn't it? I had no doubts!

If this is your first visit, I recommend checking out the first part of this article, to ensure you're fully caught up. Don’t worry, I'm not going anywhere!

Before we dive in, let's fulfill the promise I made last time. As you can see, I'm a man of my word! :))

What is a Swiftie?

Swifties are essentially Taylor Swift's devoted fanbase, known for their high levels of participation and creativity. In a 2012 interview, Taylor herself described them as "adorable," highlighting the intimate connection characterizing their relationship.

Look What You Made Me Do

As I mentioned in the previous part, Taylor's feuds with Kanye West didn't end in 2009. The controversy flared up again after he published a misogynistic verse about her in 2016 (to get the full story, refer to Part 1).

Shortly after, Swift released her sixth album, "Reputation," inspired by the early career struggles and positioned as a triumphant comeback.

(Taylor’s Version) Songs: What's This About?

Why is Taylor re-recording her own albums? The story goes back to when Taylor, at the age of 15, made a deal with Big Machine Recordings for her first six albums, effectively giving away the ownership rights.

Taylor always aimed to purchase her albums from them to secure full ownership, but she faced obstacles. In 2019, Big Machine Recordings sold the rights for Taylor's albums to Scooter Braun, a talent manager who had also represented Kanye West.

Taylor Swift explains Taylor's Version #taylorswift #taylorsversion #taylorswifttok #taylornation

Swift publicly voiced her objections to the deal, stating that Big Machine Records had thwarted her efforts to acquire the master tapes, and she alleged that Braun had been bullying her for years. She attempted to negotiate with Braun, but he ultimately sold her back catalog to a private investment firm in 2020.

Can Taylor Legally Re-Record Her Albums?

Taylor Swift can legally re-record her albums because she writes her own songs, giving her the publishing rights.


However, due to a production clause from Big Machine Records, Taylor is prohibited from replicating her original recordings exactly. This explains why her re-recorded versions may sound slightly different. Additionally, each re-recorded album now includes a few songs "From The Vault" that didn't make it into the original albums.

On 27th October, she released her newest re-recorded album, "1989 (Taylor’s Version)."

Unbreakable Taylor: "Lover"

Before losing the rights to her first six albums, Taylor Swift transitioned to Universal Records in 2018. They struck a deal that allowed her to own all her future work. In 2019, after the incident, she released Lover, her first album of complete self-ownership.

She describes it as "a love letter to love itself," drawing inspiration from her recalibrated personal life and newfound artistic freedom. This is where we find the song titled after the album, Lover.

Folklore & Evermore, and Finally Midnights

With little advance notice, she released Folklore in 2020. Swift's eighth studio album was praised for its introspection and restraint, featuring songs like Cardigan. The sister record, Evermore, followed later in 2020.


Swift adopted a synth-pop sound for Midnights (2022), which she described as "the story of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life." From this album, we can't forget masterpieces like You’re On Your Own Kid (absolutely my favorite song).

This Doesn’t End Here: The Eras Tour – Are You Ready for It?


The Eras Tour is the ongoing sixth concert tour, a journey through all of her musical eras, as described by Taylor Swift. It pays homage to all of her albums and includes 146 dates across five continents, thrilling Swifties all over the world.


I couldn't secure a ticket, but if you had the chance to attend a Taylor Swift live concert, would you go?

Conclusion

That's a wrap, my friends! Did you enjoy this journey through Taylor's story? I bet you did! ;) As always, share your thoughts on this music goddess, and if you need any clarifications, feel free to ask in the comments below. See you next time.


Today’s blogger


Hello there! I'm Francesco Elviretti, a 16-year-old student in my third year of the Liceo Scientifico. I find great pleasure in studying subjects like mathematics, physics, biology, and all things science, but my true passion lies in the field of medicine. I've joined this project to share fascinating insights with you, things you might not have discovered yet. Care to place a bet? XD
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Benedictine and Franciscan Monks: Forgotten Inventors

   Usually, when we think of religious orders, these things come to mind: a cloister, an abbey, a library, prayer in solitude, detachment from the world… All this in the cradle of a period defined as "dark" by historiography up to Romanticism: the Middle Ages . In this period the monks - especially the Benedictines of the various orders - were the custodians of Judeo-Christian but also classical culture, since thanks to their patient and meticulous transcriptions as scribes we have received almost all of the Greek and Latin works which we study today. Today we are grateful to them first of all for this.   However, many do not know that many products - material and immaterial - that we consume and use every day, come from monks who, using their ingenuity nourished by a profound spirituality, invented them due to practical necessities.    Personally, I find it amazing!    Let's begin…   The heavy plow   Plows were a primary agri...
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