Since 1927, Time magazine has chosen a Person of the Year (formerly Man of the Year) who, in their words is “the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or for worse.” In 2023, the editors bestowed this title upon singer Taylor Swift, citing her major cultural influence, her billion-dollar net worth, even her emergence as a topic of everyday conversation.
It was a dizzying whirlwind for Taylor Swift. At the tender age of 34, her new tour and accompanying concert film is titled “Eras.” The city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil welcomed Taylor Swift with an image of a T-shirt with a welcoming message broadcast on the Christ the Redeemer statue. This is the modern view of celebrity.
Taylor Swift has much to celebrate. However, over the past year many accomplished singers and songwriters died, resulting in a creative void in popular culture.
Those we lost this year include: Jimmy Buffett, Gordon Lightfoot, Burt Bacharach, Cynthia Weil, Harry Belafonte, Tina Turner, Tony Bennett, Roger Whittaker, and David Crosby.
Over a half-century career, Jimmy Buffett introduced listeners to visions of carefree island escapism and sailing in the Caribbean, as well as liquor-fueled parties. Buffett painted sun-drenched images with his lyrics and cultivated legions of fans who eagerly awaited his annual tour. His songwriting was noted for humor, wit and descriptiveness. Buffett also distinguished himself as an author. In 1998, he became only the sixth author to reach the top of the New York Times Fiction and Nonfiction bestseller lists.
Even nearing the end of his life, Jimmy Buffett wrote a soulful song, Bubbles Up, with a message of hope and love and perseverance in everyday struggles.
Gordon Lightfoot, whom Jimmy Buffett cited as an influence, was a master of ballads that described lonely roads and troubled relationships. His “Canadian Railroad Trilogy” told of the construction of the Canadian Railroad, its glory, and the toil and sweat needed to get tracks in place. He also chronicled the dangers of the Great Lakes in “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Widely regarded as Canada’s greatest songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot sold more than 6 million records and kept up a rigorous touring schedule.
The 1960s era of pop music was dominated by the compositions of Burt Bacharach. Songs such as “The Look of Love,” “What the World Needs Now,” “Walk on By,” and many others have been implanted in our minds thanks to constant radio airplay, in feature films and even television commercials. His collaborations with lyricist Hal David and vocalist Dionne Warwick were some of the most successful in musical history. Bacharach even won three Academy Awards for his songs, including “Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head” from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. More than a thousand artists have covered Bacharach’s songs.
Cynthia Weil, another 1960s legend, co-wrote many of her best-known songs with her husband, Barry Mann. While not a household name, her songs are have been recorded and rerecorded over the decades. Some of her biggest hits include “Up on the Roof” and “On Broadway” by The Drifters. They also wrote The Animals’ defiant anthem, “We Gotta Get out of this Place.” Another Weil-Mann composition (also credited to Phil Spector), “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” was certified to have had the most radio airplay in the twentieth century.
Roger Whittaker, who was born in Kenya when it was a British colony, was known for a rich baritone voice. One of his best known songs, “The Last Farewell,” was originally a poem that someone sent to Whittaker’s radio show that he set to music and recorded it. It was not until several years later that the song got any radio airplay and eventually became a hit. Elvis Presley recorded “The Last Farewell” on one of his last albums. Whittaker developed a European fanbase and toured regularly.
The singers and songwriters we lost in the past year mark an end to an era of prolific creativity and imagination. Compositions by Gordon Lightfoot and Jimmy Buffett were inspired by nature. Cynthia Weil and Burt Bacharach were more cosmopolitan. All of these different styles gained widespread popularity and have inspired memories.
This is Taylor Swift’s moment and 2023 was her year. She can cement her legacy by recording some of the songs of those artists we lost this year and introduce them to future generations.
Kevin P. McVicker is a partner in Shirley & McVicker Public Affairs in Alexandria, Virginia.