Taylor Swift's lyrics, literal retellings of her everyday life both public and private, sabotage, what to my ears would otherwise be pleasant enough pop tunes that I might play a second and third time if they were recorded by anyone else.
As I listened to "The Life Of A Showgirl," I found myself saying, "This is pretty good" or "Wow, I like this."
The melodies don't veer too far off from the same sing-songy course, but her vocal inflections, the big choruses and overall vibe, didn't make me run away. I enjoyed this record more than I enjoyed any Taylor Swift records before it. I simply can't get beyond the words, which continue to feel like diary entries or tabloid items set to music. This clumsy storytelling has apparently been her selling point all these years, and therein lies my problem. Or, one of them, anyway.
Hey Swifties, if you read about something or see something on social media or television about Miss Swift, do you think, "Oh that's gonna be Track Three, Side One?"
"The last time I laughed this hard, I was on a trampoline in a backyard, I must've been eight or nine, and I fell off and broke my arm...."
...and then Uncle Vinny pulled up just in time for the barbecue, he brought the ribs I like from Faicco's Pork Store and he was wearing those black socks with the white boat shoes again...
Hey, I think my lyrics are just as relatable.
I don't even want to hear my favorite artists drop singles months ahead of a new release. I want the experience of a new record to be, well, new. What if Dylan's new record was called "I'm Wearing A Hoodie Now." Track One, "Put Your iPhones Away." Track Two, "Not Doing 'Catfish' Tonight." Van Morrison tried that and got slammed.
I've given up trying to understand the praise. The disparity between the reality of the music and the godlike status makes my pons melt. But, Tay is talking to a lot of people, young and old, and she is making them very happy, and if I hated this new record, I might be singing a different tune. It was only one full pass and a few spot checks, so far, but it was the first Taylor Swift record that I listened to from top to tail and I felt like I could do it again. "The Life Of A Showgirl" also made me realize how her brand of pop music is a hell of a lot better than most of her competition. "Opalite," "Father Figure," "Eldest Daughter" "Wi$h Li$T" are all catchy as hell. I might even play "The Life Of A Showgirl" a second and third time. I didn't only not hate it. I didn't mind it.
Quinn Martin Epilogue:
"Although Swift hasn’t explicitly said that “Opalite,” the third track on The Life of a Showgirl, is about her fiancé, all signs point to him. The song reflects her search for everlasting love after being hurt in past relationships. (She dated actor Joe Alwyn for six years before briefly being linked to The 1975 frontman Matty Healy at the start of the Eras Tour in early 2023.)
Another major hint that “Opalite” is about Kelce? The Kansas City Chiefs player’s birthday is Oct. 5, which makes his birthstone opal. Swifties also noticed that the Grammy winner wore opal earrings while cheering him on at the AFC Championship Game in January 2024."
In related news, Led Zeppelin's "Lemon Song" is about fucking.
10 comments:
Don't remember ever listening to a TS song. I'm sure have. Just don't remember.
But, I saw her on the Graham Norton Show t'other day and she was tremendously likeable. By far the biggest name on the couch, but she showed no ego and related to the other guests in a natural, friendly way. (See Madonna for the opposite behavior). The discussion of her new record made it actually sound interesting.
So, still not a Swiftie, but I'm keeping an open mind.
"...tremendously likeable. By far the biggest name on the couch, but she showed no ego and related to the other guests in a natural, friendly way."
Absolutely.
"Quinn Martin Epilogue" - nice touch for readers of a certain age!
Taylor -- babe -- go to India for six months. Study TM with the Maharishi. Take a vacation in the French Quarter and hang out in the clubs. Then come back and write a new album.
Just saying. 😎
2012’s Red with its opening trifecta of “State of Grace”, “Red”, and my favorite TS track “Treacherous” is the only album I’ve returned to - sometimes just to get a fix of those opening songs. This is when she begins her Max Martin connection. “Pop confections” is an accurate description. With Red, if you’re not careful, you’ll find yourself singing along. Lol! Your review prompted an enjoyable first pass on the new one. Thanks! :)
Max Martin is a close second to McCartney in Billboard No. 1s. Crazy!
Still loving SSS!!! :)
Love the Epilogue as well. And the Cover of the Day proves that the Schoolhouse does indeed Rock.
She's 35 and she still, as always, writes about relationships like she's 15. Oooo, a song about my boyfriend's dick. Max Martin can certainly manufacture pop music. She's way better than the worst of pop today. But that's just not enough. She is a genius at self-promotion. The rest of her skills are vastly overrated.
Pixies’ “Gigantic” Lol!
You can write about anything you want, that is why is your blog.
But this time, I just don’t understand.
What don't you understand? Why anonymous, by the way?
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