This '70s Rock Icon Is Claiming That Taylor Swift "Ruined Music" And Labeled Her "The Apotheosis Of Mediocrity"

The 78-year-old musician, whose hits include the 1970s classics “Hello It’s Me” and “I Saw the Light,” took aim at Swift in a profile published by

New York Magazine’s Vulture blog last week. His remarks came amid a discussion of what he described as “the era of the female artists,” which he bizarrely suggested was ushered in by “video games.”

The 78-year-old musician, whose hits include the 1970s classics “Hello It’s Me” and “I Saw the Light,” took aim at Swift in a profile published by New York Magazine’s Vulture blog last week. His remarks came amid a discussion of what he described as “the era of the female artists,” which he bizarrely suggested was ushered in by “video games.”

“There’s an argument to be made that she ruined music.

It’s an understandable phenomenon,” he said. “It’s just that, to me, Taylor Swift is the apotheosis of mediocrity.”

“There’s an argument to be made that she ruined music. It’s an understandable phenomenon,” he said. “It’s just that, to me, Taylor Swift is the apotheosis of mediocrity.”

Rundgren went on to compare Swift unfavorably to Lady Gaga, who he praised as a “real musician” and a “classically trained piano player.”

Rundgren went on to compare Swift unfavorably to Lady Gaga, who he praised as a “real musician” and a “classically trained piano player.”

“Taylor Swift doesn’t do anything particularly great except grow hair,” he continued.

“She’s not a great singer. She’s not a great songwriter. She’s not a great dancer. She’s a role model for what was a very young generation of women, and now for those women’s daughters as well, because it’s mothers and daughters going to Taylor Swift shows.”

“Taylor Swift doesn’t do anything particularly great except grow hair,” he continued. “She’s not a great singer. She’s not a great songwriter. She’s not a great dancer. She’s a role model for what was a very young generation of women, and now for those women’s daughters as well, because it’s mothers and daughters going to Taylor Swift shows.”

Rundgren’s Vulture chat follows reports he’s at work on a new solo album, a follow-up to 2022’s “Space Force.”

He’s set to return to the concert stage next month when he resumes his Damned If I Do Tour in San Francisco.

Rundgren’s Vulture chat follows reports he’s at work on a new solo album, a follow-up to 2022’s “Space Force.” He’s set to return to the concert stage next month when he resumes his Damned If I Do Tour in San Francisco.

Swift, meanwhile, is hot on the heels of a history-making appearance at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, where she emerged as the most-awarded artist

in VMAs history by nabbing her 32nd trophy.

Swift, meanwhile, is hot on the heels of a history-making appearance at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards, where she emerged as the most-awarded artist in VMAs history by nabbing her 32nd trophy.

Last week, she unveiled “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore,” a deluxe edition of her 2025 album featuring four new tracks, believed to have been

inspired by her new marriage to NFL player Travis Kelce.

Last week, she unveiled “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore,” a deluxe edition of her 2025 album featuring four new tracks, believed to have been inspired by her new marriage to NFL player Travis Kelce.

Many reviews of “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore,” however, have been mixed at best.

“The singer’s music once put a clever twist on ideas about aging and adulthood,” The Atlantic wrote. “Now she just seems to be going backwards.”

Many reviews of “The Life of a Showgirl: Encore,” however, have been mixed at best. “The singer’s music once put a clever twist on ideas about aging and adulthood,” The Atlantic wrote. “Now she just seems to be going backwards.”

As of Tuesday, Swift had yet to respond publicly to Rundgren’s criticisms.

In a conversation with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe last year, however, she said she had “a lot of respect for people’s subjective opinions on art” when asked about the polarizing response to some of her musical output.

As of Tuesday, Swift had yet to respond publicly to Rundgren’s criticisms. In a conversation with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe last year, however, she said she had “a lot of respect for people’s subjective opinions on art” when asked about the polarizing response to some of her musical output.

“The rule of show business is if it’s the first week of my album release, and you are saying either my name or my album title, you’re helping,” she

said at the time. “I’m not the art police. Everybody is allowed to feel exactly how they want.”

“The rule of show business is if it’s the first week of my album release, and you are saying either my name or my album title, you’re helping,” she said at the time. “I’m not the art police. Everybody is allowed to feel exactly how they want.”