Is Taylor Swift the most famous person to ever come from the Philly area? (Philadelphia: designs, celebrity)

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by JulieThruTheGlass

Taylor Swift lived on an 11-acre Christmas tree farm in Reading, which, I agree, would never be considered part of the Delaware Valley. Famous people, particularly celebrities, who did come from the Philly metro region include Tina Fey, Todd Rundgren ("Hello, it's Me"), John Cappalletti, the NFL player from the seventies, (all from Upper Darby), and Jim Croce, from South Philly. There are more from the region, but those are the ones I remember from my "era," which is a long-past one!

Aren't Darryl Hall and John Oates (currently embroiled in a lawsuit: I believe Hall is suing Oates) natives of the area?

ISTR one of their first hits was a beautiful downer of a song titled "Fall in Philadelphia." In the song, they were lamenting the prospect of having to stick around for another year.

[walker1962]

All I know is when Kobe Bryant died, I saw buildings in Asia lit up in remembrance. I remember too at the 2008 Olympics Opening Ceremony, when Kobe was put on the Jumbotron the roar from the crowd stunned a lot of the media hoard.

[roodd279]

You've got to be kidding. Yes, she's famous in PoP music land - but holy crap, you think she's the most famous person EVER, even beyond Benjamin Franklin? Here's a question: Do you think TS will still be on currency 230 years from now? When folks want money they'll say, Hope to get me some Swfities this week! Uh - no.



Get a grip, Swifties - she's a hot in ticket in 2023...in the arena of pop music / entertainment. Maybe the hottest (in terms of "famous"). But turns out - lots of folks find other fields and endeavors useful to the earth.



From Philly, we have...



Guggenheim...of the Guggenheim museum...
Mr. Wrigley...of the chewing gum...


But if we're sticking with entertainers -



WC Fields is pretty famous, as is Chubby Checkers



Betsy Ross is pretty well known, and Edgar Allen Poe (maybe that's just me...)


Sports we could do Reggie Jackson, Dr. J., Wilt Chamberlain...


I'm bothered that nearly 20% of you think she's more famous than Kobe Bryant...or Rocky Balboa.


These people changed their world, and are still in daily conversation dozens or hundreds of years later. Ya think TS is in that conversation? Really?


Also, lots of folks said the OP didn't say EVER. Yep, they did. Go re-read. EVER. That's the q. EVER.

[AshbyQuin]

Originally Posted by roodd279

You've got to be kidding. Yes, she's famous in PoP music land - but holy crap, you think she's the most famous person EVER, even beyond Benjamin Franklin? Here's a question: Do you think TS will still be on currency 230 years from now? When folks want money they'll say, Hope to get me some Swfities this week! Uh - no.



Get a grip, Swifties - she's a hot in ticket in 2023...in the arena of pop music / entertainment. Maybe the hottest (in terms of "famous"). But turns out - lots of folks find other fields and endeavors useful to the earth.



From Philly, we have...



Guggenheim...of the Guggenheim museum...
Mr. Wrigley...of the chewing gum...


But if we're sticking with entertainers -



WC Fields is pretty famous, as is Chubby Checkers



Betsy Ross is pretty well known, and Edgar Allen Poe (maybe that's just me...)


Sports we could do Reggie Jackson, Dr. J., Wilt Chamberlain...


I'm bothered that nearly 20% of you think she's more famous than Kobe Bryant...or Rocky Balboa.


These people changed their world, and are still in daily conversation dozens or hundreds of years later. Ya think TS is in that conversation? Really?


Also, lots of folks said the OP didn't say EVER. Yep, they did. Go re-read. EVER. That's the q. EVER.

All of the people mentioned have an actual connection to the city, which makes them candidates. However, Taylor Swift is undeniably more famous than all of them except for Ben Frank and Kobe. Let's be real, some of y'all are showing your age by mentioning people like Chubby Checker, Reggie Jackson, Sylvester Stallone and Mr. Wiggley.

Do you honestly think a 4 year old in Utah would know Poe instead of Taylor Swift, c'mon.

[jazzy jeff]

Talking in the music idiom only, Swift may be the most popular, but certainly no where the most talented or skilled performer. But then again most Americans have very little appreciation for the more legit forms of music such as classical or jazz. Those two types require far more training, skill set and musicianship then any other genre of music.

I for one will not speak on classical, but Philly has produced some of the great jazz legends. John Coltrane, Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan just to name a few.

I know probably many posting on this thread probably never heard of them or even dig jazz. LOL! But wanted to put it out there.

For any guitar enthusiasts out there , you must check out Philly born Kurt Rosenwinkel, one of the most skilled guitarist out there.

https://kurtrosenwinkel.com/

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by roodd279

You've got to be kidding. Yes, she's famous in PoP music land - but holy crap, you think she's the most famous person EVER, even beyond Benjamin Franklin? Here's a question: Do you think TS will still be on currency 230 years from now? When folks want money they'll say, Hope to get me some Swfities this week! Uh - no.

Get a grip, Swifties - she's a hot in ticket in 2023...in the arena of pop music / entertainment. Maybe the hottest (in terms of "famous"). But turns out - lots of folks find other fields and endeavors useful to the earth.

From Philly, we have...

Guggenheim...of the Guggenheim museum...
Mr. Wrigley...of the chewing gum...


But if we're sticking with entertainers -

WC Fields is pretty famous, as is Chubby Checkers

Betsy Ross is pretty well known, and Edgar Allen Poe (maybe that's just me...)


Sports we could do Reggie Jackson, Dr. J., Wilt Chamberlain...


I'm bothered that nearly 20% of you think she's more famous than Kobe Bryant...or Rocky Balboa.


These people changed their world, and are still in daily conversation dozens or hundreds of years later. Ya think TS is in that conversation? Really?


Also, lots of folks said the OP didn't say EVER. Yep, they did. Go re-read. EVER. That's the q. EVER.

I second Ashby...
Taylor Swift being from the Philly area is questionable, but she is undoubtedly more famous than everyone you mentioned (except maybe Ben Franklin).

I also have several quibbles with your post...

1. Rocky Balboa is a fictitious character.

2. What have Kobe Bryant and Rocky Balboa done to "change their world" more than Taylor Swift? I suggest you read her credentials and accolades in music and her involvement in various programs, charities, etc., around the country and world. She is more than just a pop star, she is a global icon influencing an entire generation and most certainly in daily conversation, and has been for a long time (she's been huge since 2008)... Heck, her ERAS tour is now the highest grossing tour ever, and it isn't finished. Taylor Swift is not a one-hit-wonder that will fade into obscurity, and she has the fame and pull of Madonna, The Beatles, Elton Jon, Elvis, etc. (whether you like it or not).

Anyways, before your clap back, I am not a "swiftie", but I wish people would give credit when due, whether they care for the person or not...
In your spare time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I second Ashby...
Taylor Swift being from the Philly area is questionable, but she is undoubtedly more famous than everyone you mentioned (except maybe Ben Franklin).

I also have several quibbles with your post...

1. Rocky Balboa is a fictitious character.

2. What have Kobe Bryant and Rocky Balboa done to "change their world" more than Taylor Swift? I suggest you read her credentials and accolades in music and her involvement in various programs, charities, etc., around the country and world. She is more than just a pop star, she is a global icon influencing an entire generation and most certainly in daily conversation, and has been for a long time (she's been huge since 2008)... Heck, her ERAS tour is now the highest grossing tour ever, and it isn't finished. Taylor Swift is not a one-hit-wonder that will fade into obscurity, and she has the fame and pull of Madonna, The Beatles, Elton Jon, Elvis, etc. (whether you like it or not).

Anyways, before your clap back, I am not a "swiftie", but I wish people would give credit when due, whether they care for the person or not...
In your spare time: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Swift

Actually, my suspicion is that after she passes from the scene, Swift will join Chamberlain, Guggenheim, Bryant et al. in the ranks of the most famous people of the past, or perhaps more accurately, people who were huge in their time.

I can guarantee you that both Chamberlain and Bryant were nationally famous, and both for their baskteball prowess. This was before the era of viral everything and Internet celebrity, and sports stars generally don't have fan-atics of the kind who engulf pop musicians, so their fame might not strike you as being the equivalent of Swift's, but trust me, having grown up while "Wilt the Stilt" dominated the NBA after returning to Philadelphia from the University of Kansas (which has one of the most storied college basketball programs in the country), his name seemed to be on everyone's lips. Bryant still enjoys residual posthumous fame.

As for Ross and Poe, they don't match Franklin for fame, but they are both very well known figures.

Edited to add: And actually, I don't think Guggenheim belongs in this pack at all, for more people know him as a name on one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous buildings (and the last to be completed while he was alive) than know him as a person. I can tell you what Andrew Carnegie did even before he started giving his money away; what did Solomon R. Guggehneim do to accumulate the pile that enabled him to endow a museum?

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Actually, my suspicion is that after she passes from the scene, Swift will join Chamberlain, Guggenheim, Bryant et al. in the ranks of the most famous people of the past, or perhaps more accurately, people who were huge in their time.

I can guarantee you that both Chamberlain and Bryant were nationally famous, and both for their baskteball prowess. This was before the era of viral everything and Internet celebrity, and sports stars generally don't have fan-atics of the kind who engulf pop musicians, so their fame might not strike you as being the equivalent of Swift's, but trust me, having grown up while "Wilt the Stilt" dominated the NBA after returning to Philadelphia from the University of Kansas (which has one of the most storied college basketball programs in the country), his name seemed to be on everyone's lips. Bryant still enjoys residual posthumous fame.

I didn't suggest that Chamberlain or Bryant weren't famous or well known, I just think TS surpassed them.

And to the bold, that applies to all famous people... I place Taylor Swift in the rankings of Madonna, Cher, Elton John, Elvis, Prince, Mariah Carey, etc. She has longevity and her legacy will remain for some time. Some of her most famous albums are already 10-15 years old, not like she only became big in 2023.

Anyways... this thread is going in circles. I'd say she is among the most famous people from PA, but not Philly specifically. That would probably be Will Smith.

[BajanYankee]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I place Taylor Swift in the rankings of Madonna, Cher, Elton John, Elvis, Prince, Mariah Carey, etc. She has longevity, and her legacy will remain. Some of her most famous albums are already 10-15 years old, not like she only became big in 2023.

And less talented than all of them. She will go down as a kids bop legend though.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by BajanYankee

And less talented than all of them. She will go down as a kids bop legend though.

Is she though?...
I am not arguing who is the most talented, but in TS defense, she writes all her music, designs/plans her music videos, designs her tours, and puts on fantastic shows.

Is she a vocalist on the level of Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, heck no, but I don't think that automatically makes her less talented.

*(and a gay icon).