Photo by Tasia Theoharis
On November 10th, Taylor Swift released her first album in three years. Reputation sold over 1.2 million copies in its first weeks and has topped the Billboard 200 since its release. The album brings a completely new sound for Swift, but it tells the story of her disappearance and life nonetheless.
…Ready for It?:
The opener for reputation displays a new sound for Swift. In “…Ready For It?” Swift brings a mock-rap sound to the verses and a seductive chorus. Swift teases the object of her affection in this piece my chanting “Baby, let the games begin,” and sounding Hunger Games-esque.
Best Lyric: “Knew he was a killer first time that I saw him. Wondered how many girls he had loved and left haunted.”
End Game (feat. Future & Ed Sheeran):
Swift’s third collaboration on one of her own albums brings the musical talents of both Future and Ed Sheeran. An interesting group of artists in this song cause speculation, but they make the message of the song apparent: wanting a relationship that will last.
Best Lyric: “I don’t wanna miss you like the other girls do”
I Did Something Bad:
Swift took a break from taking shots at men in 1989, but “I Did Something Bad” brings back a staple Swift tactic. In this revenge-seeking beat, Swift explains her unapologetic actions. In this song, Swift shows her main point of the album: people will assume you are doing something bad, even if it was provoked.
Best Lyric: “If he drops my name, then I owe him nothing and if he spends my change then he had it coming”
Don’t Blame Me:
“Don’t Blame Me” brings a new type of sound to Swift’s repertoire: a gospel-sounding anthem. “Don’t Blame Me” features Swift’s desire for her muse, also known as her “drug”. This track brings a bass line that emphasizes the want Swift tries to get across.
Best Lyric: “I’ve been breaking hearts a long time and toying with them older guys: just playthings for me to use”
Delicate:
“Delicate” is the first track on reputation where we see a bit of worry on Swift’s side regarding how her reputation will affect a relationship. “Delicate” shows the vulnerability she is showing even though pursuing the relationship may be a bad idea.
Best Lyric: “This ain’t for the best. My reputation’s never been worse so you must like me for me.”
Look What You Made Me Do:
This track is a shot at the people who made her change from the Taylor Swift most people knew as “America’s Sweetheart” to a “snake”. “Look What You Made Me Do” attacks the qualities of the people who caused this, but also shows how she’s not necessarily negatively affected by it.
“The world moves on another day another drama, drama. But not for me, not for me, all I think about is karma.”
So It Goes…:
“So It Goes…” feels like the opening of a circus, a metaphor for the relationship. “All eyes on you my magician/all eyes on us” shows the beginning of a long, public, hard relationship. Throughout the song, Swift goes on to say how they both hurt each other, but it doesn’t matter.
Best Lyric: “You know I’m not a bad girl but I do bad things with you.”
Gorgeous:
“Gorgeous” brings one of the first times that the “old Taylor” makes an appearance on the album. This track warns the possible consequences of pursuing a relationship, but can’t help it due to his qualities. This beat brings the old quirky, catchy Taylor that everyone used to know.
Best Lyric: “If you got a girlfriend, I’m jealous of her. But if you’re single, it’s honestly worse because you’re so gorgeous it actually hurts.”
Getaway Car:
“Getaway Car” tells the all-too familiar story of a love that starts for the wrong reasons. Swift explains her need to get out of a relationship and running to another person in desperation for this. However, she later shows how the relationship was destined to fail because “nothing good starts in a getaway car”.
Best Lyric: “We never had a shotgun shot in the dark.”
King of my Heart:
“King of my Heart” displays Swift’s change from being happy alone to finding the one meant for her. Swift uses her keen songwriting abilities to show the change from lonely to never lonely again in the course of a few minutes.
Best Lyric: “Is this the end of all the endings? My broken bones are mending with all the nights we’re spending.”
Dancing With Our Hands Tied:
“Dancing” is one of the most frantic songs on the album. Swift displays her fears and the assurances her lover gives to her, but still worries about what will become of the relationship. However, Swift shows how she still risks it for the possibility of him.
Best Lyric: “I loved you in spite of deep fears that the world would divide us. So, baby, can we dance through an avalanche?”
Dress:
“Dress” is arguably the most promiscuous song Swift has released. “Dress” dives into a secret love affair that Swift can barely keep herself from. This song brings not only promiscuity but also the goodness of the relationship.
Best Lyric: “Only bought this dress so you could take it off.”
This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things:
This beat shows the rollercoaster of a bad friendship. “Nice Things” shows the punishment Swift gives this bad friend: no more friendship. While surprisingly upbeat, this song gives a tell-off to the subject.
Best Lyric: “Therein lies the issue: friends don’t try to trick you, get you on the phone and mind twist you.”
Call It What You Want:
“Call It What You Want” is one of the first times we see Swift not worrying about what other people think when it comes to a relationship. This song shows how the security Swift has in her relationship affects the way she thinks about love and the world in general.
Best Lyric: “I want to wear his initial on a chain around my neck, chain round my neck. Not because he owns me, but because he really knows me.”
New Year’s Day:
“New Year’s Day” and its piano track are simple, but show the purity of a good relationship, whether it be romantic or friendly. Swift hopes that the person never forgets about her during this song and shows the happiness associated with the relationship.
Best Lyric: “Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere.”
