Ready for It?

This is the song they’re pushing everywhere. The number of Facebook and Instagram ads I’ve seen about this video are off the charts. I get why they chose it. The familiar “Taylor-Swift-melody-crack” is there. It’s upbeat, gets stuck in my head. And the title is the perfect phrase for the release of an album, or really any announcement or sponsorship for that matter. The music video was masterful and full of subtext.

But there’s one major disconnect for me… the lyrics are all about sex. And while I’m not totally against songs about or mentioning sex, this song zooms straight in on lust and fantasy, crossing that line into unwholesome and full of edge.

Not to mention the fact that none of the promotions for it (the music video included) have anything to do with the lyrical content. It’s like everyone just overlooked it. And I don’t get it.

End Game

This one had to grow on me. But it did. The Ed Sheeran moment is fun and the refrain incorporating the tongue-and-cheek-ness of her “reputation” is only appropriate. But ultimately, I appreciate a pop star singing about taking a relationship seriously and actually looking at the future instead of getting swept up in the chemistry of now.

I Did Something Bad

This one makes me sad every time. This is a full-on “Blank Space” moment where Taylor seems to adopt the narrative that the press and social media have drawn out for her. It’s full of several disheartening statements like, “For every lie I tell them, they tell me three//This is how the world works” and “They’re burning all the witches even if you aren’t one/So light me up.”

She’s just so lost. She’s been so hurt. I know this is supposed to be a power-statement about how she doesn’t give a rip about the people who hurt her anymore, the undertone of anger and pain is too evident to be ignored. She’s clearly not over it and I don’t blame her. But I wish I could talk to her about what can actually help heal her broken spirit.

Don’t Blame Me

I think this is supposed to be another “Blank Space” moment where Taylor adopts the media’s narrative of “heartless serial dater.” But again, I’m left disheartened. No one should ever look at love or their personal actions in this light. Though she’s making a statement against the stereotype she finds herself cast as, I’m left feeling that she doesn’t really care.

This one has a very unique sound for her, so shout out for that fact.

Delicate

Oh, this track! “Delicate” embodies some of the most entrancing and compelling storytelling I’ve heard in a long time. I imagine this one of the most honest tracks on the album about her current love, the guy who stepped up and loved her in spite of the bad reputation the internet splattered around the world. That’s pretty powerful. Is the story perfect? No. But the redemption is there. And it’s kind of real. We all have problems and a past that we have to be upfront about in a relationship and the most powerful moments in relationships often show up when someone loves us in spite of our mess. If that’s not a spark of hope, I don’t know what is.

Look What You Made Me Do

Don’t even get me started on this one. I get it. It made a buzz. And Taylor Swift has too many hurt feelings and broken pieces to count, so she’s going to pull a power-move and sing about it. Pretty clever move, right?

I’ve mentioned several times about some of these songs making me sad. This one takes the cake. It’s the most vengeful, un-redemptive cry for help I’ve heard in musical form in a while. Not to mention that the lyrics aren’t nearly as clever as the talented Taylor we know and love. Her stardom exists heavily on her ability to transport us into her world, her story and somehow see a reflection of ourselves there. That doesn’t happen for a second here. And I’m so sad about it.

Not gonna lie, the background chaos and melodic repetition gets old. I’m not a fan of this song’s sound, lyrics, or overall feeling. I was a little bit heartbroken when she led off with this song as her first song.

So It Goes

This one seems to be about her new, redemptive love, but the lyrics and melody carry a foreboding feeling. Not to mention, it again, focuses solely on the sex appeal of the whole relationship. There aren’t any mentions of what actually makes the relationship work. It dampens all the other beautiful songs about this happiness she has apparently found.

Gorgeous

When I first heard this song, I thought it was the most unbecoming subject matter for such a seemingly strong, powerful, self-respecting female. She implies lust, a complete lack of confidence, and cheating, which is truly unfortunate, considering she knows the pain of broken trust in relationships.

A second glance at this song in the context of the album made me realize that it fits into her overall narrative. She’s simply telling us what happened. This is how she felt. This is a relatable feeling when girls are in a bad place within themselves and don’t know how to handle themselves around a very attractive male. It’s a real thing. I get it. But it’s unfortunate. I don’t think it’s a subject women (not to mention as feminists ahem Taylor) need to be promoting.

Getaway Car

This song is masterful. I truly mean that. Again, Taylor lets us in on her story with candor and skill. There’s no doubt in my mind, this is addressing her rebound relationship with Tom Hiddleston that was plastered all over the internet after her breakup with long-time boyfriend Calvin Harris. Her comparisons and picture she paints transport me to those moments with her and, though I’ve personally never had a true rebound relationship, I could relate. Her references to fleeing the scene, Bonnie and Clyde, and the overall description of being doubtful of her own loyalty from the beginning, yet still trying to move forward makes so much sense. I understand how she got there and I empathize with her desperation and regret. It makes me hope Tom Hiddleston forgives her, because it sounds like she actually cares about his well-being and regrets not being a little more honest with him (and herself) in the first place.

King of My Heart

This one is sweet. Taylor has found love, even after such a tumultuous year. This one also focuses a lot on the physical aspect of her relationship, but she also peppers in themes of loyalty and loving someone for who they are, not because of their fame, reputation, or accomplishments.

Dancing with Our Hands Tied

This one is cool and theatrical, but it drives me crazy because I can’t for the life of me figure out who it’s about. My original theory was Tom Hiddleston, but the references to loving in secret and painted gold, lends itself to the new love. Then you realize that the whole song is talking about how they were loving in spite of great odds, which seem to keep them apart and give her a “bad feeling” throughout the whole song. The lyrics leads me to believe the relationship eventually ended. Who knows! It paints a good picture and sounds good and she stumped me. So, I guess Taylor wins on this one.

Dress

You probably know what I’m going to say about this one. The use of lyrics, vocal cadence, and musicality creates a fantastic story. I get exactly what she means and it’s very romantic. Yet, this is literally all about sex. Again, I’m not against sex by any means, but no relationship can be based on the physical. This whole album’s theme seems to be “Taylor Swift is having a lot of sex.” And honestly, when you’re not in a committed, marriage relationship and you’re feeling very lost ad burned, is having that much sex a very wise move? It overtakes all emotions and so easily trumps all other considerations about the longevity of a relationship. I obviously don’t fault Taylor for enjoying sex or being overcome with romance and love, but I’m left saddened for the sake of her soul. If this has become her ritual – lots of sex from all of these relationships, one after another – I have no doubt that she’s confused, broken, and left in pieces from all that has happened. I don’t want to see any woman go through that.

This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

I call this the “eternally more clever and classy alternative to Look What You Made Me Do.” Why did we need that first single? She already had this track cooking and it’s just fantastic and dare I say a little refreshing to listen to when you’re feeling feisty or wronged myself.

Call It What You Want

When Taylor released this song as her 4th single before the album release, it gave me hope that I might actually like “Reputation” as an album. This is beautiful, hopeful, relatable, and chock full of lovely lyrics and melodies.

New Year’s Day

Does anything get more beautiful than this? The stripped back nature of the piano and acoustic guitar offer the the perfect platform for the setting she sets before us. The sentiment – sticking around even after the party, even after the hey-day, even when things get bad – is breathtaking. This whole album takes on a tumultuous journey of betrayal, revenge, hopelessness, and pain, yet Taylor clings steadfastly to the hope that this is not how her world will work. She’s promising to be faithful, to celebrate the good, to cherish every memory. It’s stunning.

I desperately hope she finds what she’s looking for. As someone who’s faith and relationship with God as the bedrock of my entire life and emotional well-being, I can’t imagine how she’s making it this long. I wish I could tell her how to keep this hope alive. I wish I could tell her about the love that beat all odds, that has never and will never give up on her.

It’s like the whole album illustrates what each of us experience in the world. Betrayal, revenge, empty power moves, attraction, falling in love, failed relationships, brokenness, mistakes, being hurt, hurting others in return,yet daring to hope that there’s something greater, something better.

I think that’s why I so highly dislike parts of it. The lyrics of Look What You Made Me Do, So It Goes, Don’t Blame Me, and I Did Something Bad give up, resign themselves to the fact that the world is full of chaos and crap. Taylor is falling in line and essentially saying, “Screw it. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.” That’s when the pain transforms in to empty power moves, mistakes, and even more brokenness.

Her other tracks drip with honesty. They strike sparks of hope, offer remorse, deal with problems head on, and take a few moments to celebrate some beauty, whether sonically or topically.

Then “New Year’s Day” happens.

And it’s like all along, Taylor is doing what I’m doing everyday. Daring to believe, against all odds, that there is hope that will win out at the end of the day.

I’m so annoyed, yet so wrecked. I was so disappointed in her first 3 singles (LWYMMD, …Ready for It?, and Gorgeous.) They were so full of spite, edge, and unbecoming subject matter. They were missing the creativity and reliability that I’ve admired Taylor for all this time.

Then I heard the whole album. As I suspected, her stories left a mark on me emotionally.

Not only did I relate and rediscover her creative genius somewhere amidst the second half of the album, but it left me praying. For Taylor. Praying that she would discover the incredible beauty of who Jesus is, how much He loves her, what He did for us, and how much bigger and more fantastic His plan and economy are than anything else. Every ounce of beauty or hope we celebrate and believe in is but a reflection of what’s to come. Her hope is not in vain. But she will think it is in vain if she continues to put her hope in lasting romance or her dedicated fans.