2013 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show: Taylor Swift, Fall Out Boy to perform

There are some performers that we never quite expect to be announced for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. Taylor Swift is one of them, and maybe that was part of the point of the following story: To be completely surprised. Not only has Swift been booked for the special (which tapes Wednesday night in New York, but airs on CBS, an unlikely network given the subject matter, on December 10), but there will also be a roster that includes Fall Out Boy and indie bands A Great Big World (fresh off of their performance on “The Voice”) and Neon Jungle.

So why bring so many eclectic performers together for what is basically a show about high-fashion versions of things that few women will ever actually own? Speaking in a statement, CBS’ executive vice-president of specials and events in Jack Sussman had the following to say:

“If a mad scientist were asked to create the perfect combination of the beauty of a Victoria’s Secret Angel with the ultimate talent and creativity from today’s music scene, the answer would be simple — Taylor Swift. The perfect combination of Victoria’s Secret and Taylor Swift, with Fall Out Boy, A Great Big World and Neon Jungle, adds up to a big night of entertainment on CBS.”

If we were to really put on our thinking caps here and try to figure out why in the world CBS booked these sort of performers for the show, we could see the goal being somewhere along these lines. The people that are watching just to see models in skimpy clothing are going to watch anyway, as are the diehard Victoria’s Secret fans. The goal here may be to reach out to different demographics and people who typically scoff at this special and find it to be objectification or a waste of TV airtime, and they may be doing that with these artists. There are few out there who appeal to a broader range of people than Swift, who also performers with such a genuine spirit that she may keep this entire show from becoming total camp.

You can read a little more in the way of details on shows past and present here, and we’ll have more as we get a little closer to the event airing.

Photo: CBS