With the increase of female fans of the NFL and the resurgence of pop girls, I wanted to combine the two and dive into what positions female artists in the pop genre emulate in football.
Tate McRae: Quarterback
Everyone knows the quarterback. It is usually the only position those who don’t watch football can name. The quarterback decides plays while needing to think quickly on their feet. This position is considered one of the most important and hardest positions, due to the need to be able to adapt to what the defense is doing.
I don’t think Tate McRae is the most popular person on this list by a mile. However, her ability to perform full out-while still singing very well live-is outstanding, and very difficult to do. McRae is also attached to her famous mishaps on stage; her shoes falling off, dropping her mic, head-mic going away from her mouth, etc. However, she is able to make quick decisions and keep going about her full out performances.
Olivia Rodrigo: Running Back
The running back is the quarterback’s go-to person, especially on a team that has a good run game. They are important in making big plays in a game. A running back can also run routes if needed, making them the optimal person to get a touchdown. They must also be able to run through the defensive, while holding onto the ball, and therefore needs to be a strong person.
Olivia Rodrigo’s ability to grow as fast as she has is outstanding. On top of that, she has received countless awards for her albums, which haven’t received any backlash from the media. Many artists have released albums and the media has torn it a part for being shallow or not in their genre. For example, “Man’s Best Friend” by Sabrina Carpenter got backlash for having too many innuendos, and Taylor Swift’s switching of genres has gotten backlash for it not sounding like her music. However, Rodrigo has been able to create popular music, while keeping her own musical style. Rodrigo hasn’t just had rainbows and awards come her way. She has dealt with haters, especially after the Joshua Bassett and Sabrina Carpenter “feud.” However, she has been able to block all that out and push through with her music.
Taylor Swift: Tight End
In football, the tight end is considered a versatile offensive player. They are expected to be good at blocking, but also running routes and catching the ball.
I hated making Taylor Swift a tight end for obvious reasons, but she really embodies what a tight end would be in the music industry. She is super versatile in music, having made country, pop, and folk albums. She also has talents in all aspects of the entertainment industry. She can obviously sing, but she is also able to act and dance during her performances. However, Swift has also dealt with lots of haters during her career. But she is able to block them out and continue being the artist she is and continues to be popular.
Gracie Abrams: Kicker
The kicker is the one that kicks the ball into the uprights for field goals and extra points. They are game-makers/breakers, and yet are extremely underrated.
Gracie Abrams has won her share of awards and is considered in the conversation when talking about pop girls. However, her music still gets overlooked and people on social media constantly rank her vocals, songwriting, and performances low when compared to others. I believe that she deserves recognition for her ability to overcome nepotism and show people that she does know how to sing.
Chappell Roan: Cornerback
A cornerback is considered the toughest defensive position because they do everything defensively. Whether it’s blocking, tackling, running, or intercepting. They must adapt quickly in order to keep up with the receivers.
While Roan has been making music for a while now, she just got popular due to her switch to more pop than indie. She has also adapted to the festival fad that is currently happening, making her concerts their own festivals. I believe that vocally, Roan has the most difficult music to sing live. Her vocal range is all over the place in her songs, yet she is able to execute them perfectly-sometimes even better- live. She also barely complains about her choice of a wide vocal range.
Charli XCX: Free Safety
On the defensive side, lining up with the tight-end, is a free safety. Their goal is to stop pass coverage, especially on the throws from the tight-end. They are known to be faster and smaller than a strong safety.
Charli and Taylor Swift currently have beef over a multitude of things. She’s kind of the opposite of Swift in every aspect; her clothing, her music, and the way she presents herself to the media. Charli wears all black, while Swift wears tons of glitter and colors. Charli also makes music for a club, while Swift has been quoted saying she doesn’t want to make music that is just “club,club,club,” and instead makes music for the heart. In football, the free safety is the opposite of the tight-end, and in the music industry Charli XCX is the opposite of Taylor Swift.
Although she had some hits before Brat, I would’ve considered her a smaller artist. However, she does know how to make songs that can get to the top of the charts. She may be a smaller artist, but she knows how to make her music popular fast.
Lorde: Personal Protector
The personal protector is in charge of protecting the punter from anyone rushing and tackling them mid-kick.
Lorde is an artist that is very outward in her beliefs of diversity and inclusivity. At her concert, she spoke upon issues like trans-rights and Palestine. She makes sure that everyone feels seen and tries her best to advocate for the protection of human rights.
Sabrina Carpenter: Flanker
In football, a “flanker” is the player who has similar responsibilities as a tight-end, but doesn’t run as long of routes or has as many screen plays.
Carpenter constantly faces comparison to other artists such as Taylor Swift and Olivia Rodrigo. Due to her close relationship with Swift, it feels like she’s constantly in her shadow and is attached to her. I mean her top song on Spotify is “The Life of a Showgirl,” which she was merely featured on. Carpenter has more recently also struggled with the depth of her music. Flankers don’t run long routes, and Carpenter doesn’t go deep with her more current music. I love her music, but I also recognize the lack of personability her lyrics contain.