There has been something really off-putting to me about her during this new era.. I can’t quite articulate what it is. I’ve been a ride or die since ‘Tim McGraw’, but I found myself rolling my eyes all throughout that article. Almost to the point where I have to assume that her next single is The Man due to how many times she mentioned gender inequality. I could be wrong but I think I question that she has any other intention than leaving Easter eggs and marketing herself. It doesn’t feel real anymore.. just a meta mess. It also doesn’t help that I still don’t like the album. You’re not alone Kiana.. Positive thought to end on. Something about her RS cover photo gave me a Lucille Ball vibe and that’s pretty awesome.
My favorite part of the whole album is still that screamy part at the end of the bridge in "Cruel Summer." That's pretty much all that's stuck with me though. I haven't listened to this in over a week.
while i was researching my red review i learned/remembered that the primary reaction to "we are never ever getting back together" was "wow all taylor swift does is write mean songs about her exes, what an asshole" so yeah, i think she's been the subject of more scrutiny than any other artist i can think of in my lifetime, and most of that interview rings true to me. (regardless i agree with kiana about the materialist bent of "the man," a song i enjoy but wish were less narrow and "why can't i be an asshole too???" in its message)
i also think beyond the joel little songs this is easily one of her most emotionally open and vulnerable records, it feels extremely real to me
not only that, but songwriters have always found inspiration in personal emotional experiences, good or bad. i never understood why people specifically criticized her for it when it's literally being done by every musician today and in the past. they just wanted to target her specifically which is obviously fucked up.
I would see her live even if she just played that one song so I could scream along to that part In regards to the songs about exes thing, I think most of the criticism was silly. I do think Taylor was a unique situation where many artists will sing about an ex, but Taylor came out the gate naming names. I think that worked to her benefit because it felt more personal and ppl related to the diary feel, but then the other end of that is it made her love life up for discussion. She continued that trend for a long time, including album note hints. It never bothered me that she sung about her exes but it did annoy me when she would actively encourage speculation on her relationships and then pretend like it bothered her or she tried to act coy and like she's super private when she wasn't. And I tooootally get that she was young for a lot of this. I think any young person (and many older ppl) would love to name a loser ex in a song on a large platform. But I do think it makes her situation different than most artists who write about exes. I remember Hey There, Delilah getting a lot of speculation because she was named (tho that was even creepier because he never dated her and she had a bf). Idk. I think part of it is def misogyny and part of it was her marketing. I mean this was her promo during speak now. "...and I'm naming names." And again she was young. But I think that is such a unique part to her marketing that not many other musicians have that I can think of.
For Speak Now in particular, a nuance that people seem to forget is that there is a huge difference in teenage Taylor naming an adult man that treated her like shit (John Mayer) and some pop punk bro lambasting a girl that broke up with him for him being an asshole. Of all the legitimate criticisms to have of Taylor, it’s insane that the media has spent a decade focused on trying to tear her down for having the guts to name men that don’t treat her how she deserves to be treated.
Some Lover Fest lineups went around this morning that I think were fake but I got fooled and thought East was really getting Lorde, Bleachers, and Maren Morris for a second there.
And, in the pop realm, as responsible as any one LP for the concept of the album as we know it (I know, I know Dust Bowl Ballads, but that was really a pile of 78s sold together).
Listened to this album in my car and my sister was like ashamed that she enjoyed it like stop being a loser and give in!!!