Taylor's latest album is a totally mesmerising collection of poems turned songs, each of which delves into the depths of the human psyche with raw emotion and profound introspection. I could barely contain my excitement when I heard the album title for the first time - as an amateur poet myself, I began counting down the days. Each song within the anthology provides an insight into Taylor's life over the last two years; unbeknownst to her millions of fans, Taylor was putting on a real show during the beginning months of The Era's Tour. She might have been hitting her marks and breaking every record, but inside, she was heartbroken.
The album is unflinchingly honest and the lyrics are Taylor's most vulnerable. The production has received a mixed reception from critics; some find it dreary, others believe that Taylor has finally reached a point where she has overexposed herself to the public. I disagree - she's not interviewed at all for this release. Her 'overexposure' is, really, the unfathomable success she's reached. Some are tired of Jack Antonoff's input and prefer the Aaron Dessner tracks. Personally, I find the artistry displayed across the album exceptional. The language is rich and lyrical with a cadence that echoes the rhythm of the human heart. Metaphors and symbolism are employed masterfully adding layers of depth and complexity to the verses. Every word is carefully chosen, every stanza meticulously crafted. It's Taylor's best work lyrically even if some don't enjoy it.
Unsurprisingly my favourite track on the album is 'Peter.' When I began listening to the album the track caught my eye, but I had to wait until I'd listened to the preceding songs. I fell in love with the melody immediately. A lot of people online have debated whether or not the song is about Matty Healy but I don't care if it is. All I care about is Taylor playing the role of my favourite literary character, Wendy.
I've spoken before on my adoration for Wendy, and how she taught generations of children the importance of growing up but never forgetting. 'Closets like cedar' are referenced, and I would ignorantly like to believe that Taylor is referring to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, as Taylor apologises to her Peter for her misunderstanding. She believed he was going to grow up and find her, and yet, she was forced to in the time it took for him to return.
The song is bestrewed with some of Taylor's best-written lines, my favourites being 'promises ocean deep, and never to keep' and 'we both did the best we could do under the same moon and different galaxies'. The latter is particularly poignant and cathartic; the imagery is stunning and provokes thought on both Peter's life in Neverland and Wendy's in London. They maintained their belief in each other despite being distances apart. It reminds me a little of the set on Ariana Grande's Sweetener tour; she eventually took 'Goodnight n Go' off the setlist but during the time it was performed, the staging featured a stunning, moon-like orb descending into the arena with WallE and Eve circulating it. 'Peter' is one of the few waltzs's in Taylor discography, others being 'New Year's Day' and 'Lover'. I hope we see a rendition of the track on Strictly or DWTS in the near future.
I understand why 'thanK you aIMee' has received backlash; on the outside, it looks like Taylor is bringing up a decade-long feud for no good reason. I argue however that she's entitled to discuss the incident as much as she wants, especially when it affected her so deeply. Most of my insecurities today were planted and sowed by girls I went to school with, so much so that I even messaged one of them about two years ago to tell her she ruined my confidence (it was such a freeing feeling though, trust me). The statue of Kim she envisions in her home town is exactly what I imagined upon my return to my secondary school earlier this year.
I love the lyric 'everyone knows that my mother is a saintly woman, but she used to say she wished that you were dead'. I could say the same about my parents whenever my old school bullies or corporate bosses were topics of conversation at home. I went through a horrendous fallout with friends last year that left me feeling incredibly depressed and alone and at the time, all I could think about was how my loyalty and honesty over ten years had all been for waste. I hit the ground hard, and nobody was there to help me up. A year on, things in my life are so much better and I feel appreciated, loved and cared for by all the people in my life. There's no jealousy, no bitterness. I have an incredible audience. To my Aimee, thank you. The stars are stunning from here.
When I first heard 'Down Bad' the alien abduction metaphor went completely over my head. That said, it isn't really a metaphor; Taylor sings literally about being 'beamed up' and then left stranded on her home planet. The groove of the chorus is addicting, the line 'now I'm down bad crying at the gym' hits so hard. We've all cried in public before, be that in a supermarket queue or public transport. It's the most painful experience and Taylor encapsulates it beautifully.
I also love the reference to 'teenage petulance'. At twenty-four, I have moments where I analyse my sorrows and hardships and question how old I really am mentally. I'm still affected and upset by the decisions I made and things that happened to me at sixteen, even though that chapter has long been closed and sealed. The line 'I might just die' is damning. That offbeat, casual and yet heavy and desperate comment made in the hopes that someone out there might catch on that you're not being sarcastic.
With 'Peter', 'But Daddy I Love Him' is my favourite song on the album. When the tracklist came out, I theorised the track would be a grown-up combination of 'Love Story' and 'Ours'. Both tracks pertain to love so frowned upon it's borderline forbidden. Both songs, also, refer to disapproving fathers. I find certain lyrics in the song relate to Rory's situation during the latter seasons of Gilmore Girls; she carries the expectations of her entire town on her shoulders, all of whom view her as a surrogate daughter. That said, Christopher wasn't a present enough father for Rory to care too deeply about his opinion.
I found certain lyrics relatable to my life, too, especially now that I'm in my 20's making one incorrect decision after another (oops!). I live in a tight-knit estate where everyone knows each other, and on visits to the local co-op or coffee shop staff always seem to know my name and business without me expressing either factoid to them. In the second verse, Taylor sings 'dutiful daughter, all my plans were laid, tendrils tucked into a woven braid, growing up precocious sometimes means not growing up at all'. I too am a daughter who bears the brunt of obligations and responsibilities, subsequently, I plan out my goals year by year. My hair is always in a braid, and I fear living my childhood abiding by the rules has led to my anxiety in adulthood. I'm so constantly worried by things. The tendrils are always tucked in, nothing is out of place. The line is melancholic in that Taylor decides she hasn't really grown at all; her decision to play it safe has prevented any progression emotionally.
Some have criticised the 'I'm having his baby' line. As someone who has intensely followed Taylor's career for more than a decade now, the line makes perfect sense to me. It's a bite back to all the tabloids that have theorised that Taylor is pregnant over the years. Speaking of the tabloids and media, the song is certainly about them and their obsession with Taylor's personal life. She sings that she'd rather 'burn her whole life down than listen to one more second of all this b*tching and moaning'. To the journalists who have found the time to express their disapproval of Taylor's romantic relationships on national television and the fans who tweet their objections, she's talking about you. And no, you can't go to the wedding.
Hello everyone! It's been a while.
I'm well aware that this article is very much belated and I apologise for that. Life happened, you know? I adore this album and I knew I wanted to write about it. There's other songs I want to write about so a part 2 could be on the way. I won't say 'soon', though.
28 days until I see Taylor in person!
Lots of love,
Karisma
xxx