With Taylor Swift’s new album The Lifetime of a Showgirl having dropped in all its glory within the early hours of this morning, followers are already inhaling the songs and poring over the lyrics.
For an artist identified for dropping hints, clues and Easter Eggs in each rigorously deliberate transfer she makes, it’s pure for followers (and nosy informal observers) to start out questioning who the inspirations for numerous tracks had been?
When everybody and their mom (and Dionne Warwick) is aware of Taylor was singing about ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal retaining her scarf on All too Effectively, there’s heaps to analyse along with her newest file
Many are considering there’s a transparent Charli XCX diss observe, whereas Joe Alwyn and Blake Energetic have been within the dialog – however let’s not neglect that Taylor is writing from a contented, comfy place, having simply bought engaged to athlete Travis Kelce.
She even revealed she was as soon as involved about it affecting her songwriting skill, telling Greg James on the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Present: ‘I used to form of have this darkish worry that if I ever had been actually completely satisfied and free, being myself and nurtured by a relationship, what occurs if the writing simply dries up? What if writing is instantly tied to my torment and ache?
‘And it seems that’s not the case in any respect, and we simply had been catching lightning in a bottle with this file.’
So with that in thoughts, let’s dive in and talk about…
The Destiny of Ophelia
This tune is generally a grateful ode to Travis for rescuing her from the tragic ‘destiny’ of Ophelia, who was pushed to insanity by her lover Hamlet (sure, the Shakespeare one) and ended up drowning.
In addition to many specific references to him, together with his ‘staff’ (the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs) and that he was ‘calling on the megaphone’ when he introduced his curiosity in her, this might be seen as normal shade thrown to most of her exes.
Though it must be famous that Joe Alwyn is ready to star in two very related Shakespeare-themed movies quickly – Hamlet and Hamnet.
Elizabeth Taylor
Right here, Taylor Swift is feeling a kinship with the late cinema icon Elizabeth Taylor, a girl identified for her motion pictures – however possibly much more so her love life.
She was married eight instances, together with to fellow actor Richard Burton twice.
Clearly Taylor has all the time crammed column inches along with her relationships too, and Elizabeth Taylor is a transparent acknowledgement of that – so right here any digs are wider and concerning the frustrations of fame – reminiscent of ‘Hollywood hates me’ and You’re solely as sizzling as your final hit, child’.
Father Determine
This observe borrows from George Michael’s well-known 1987 hit of the identical title in tribute to him.
However whereas that one is sung from the angle of a person eager to be a ‘instructor’ and ‘daddy’ to a youthful lover, Taylor’s Father Determine has a extra sinister edge.
The lyrics right here recommend somebody within the music business taking care of a ‘pricey protégé’ and asking just for loyalty in return – however with references to defending ‘the household’ and ‘sleeping with the fishes’, the gangster phrases recommend insincerity and hazard lurk beneath the floor.
Taylor not too long ago purchased her masters again after music businessman Scooter Braun bought her rights to her music when he bought her former label, Massive Machine Information, with the star famously re-recording songs she had misplaced the rights to.
Wreck the Friendship
There was a really tepid sizzling take doing the rounds that this tune, from it’s title, is a few latest friendship that soured.
Many have assumed it might be about Blake Energetic, given the awkward authorized drama Taylor has virtually been embroiled in between her and former It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni.
However this isn’t the case, along with her singing as a substitute a few highschool friendship she held again from progressing into romantic territory.
Within the bridge, she continues: ‘Abigail known as me with the unhealthy information/Goodbye, and we’ll by no means know why’.
Longtime followers will know that Abigail is Taylor’s faculty greatest good friend, suggesting that this tune is probably going about Jeff Lang, one other faculty good friend who died aged 21, and to whom Taylor devoted her BMI Nation Songwriter of the 12 months award to in 2010, the day after his funeral.
Really Romantic
This isn’t a swoony ballad, it’s truly a reasonably direct diss observe the place Taylor sings about somebody who has criticised her (‘I heard you name me “Boring Barbie”’) – however she truly finds it flattering ‘on a regular basis you’ve spent on me’.
As our reviewer Danni Scott noticed of Really Romantic: ‘Taylor unleashes her venom as she sings about somebody high-fiving her exes ‘when the coke’s bought you courageous’ and a ‘tiny chihuahua barking’ at her.
‘Sadly for whoever the tune is about, it’s extremely catchy with an virtually 00s pop punk guitar riff all through the observe — it jogs my memory of Provides You Hell by All American Rejects, a intelligent however lower than delicate nod.’
Many are positive its meant goal is Charli XCX, who beforehand in contrast supporting Taylor on her Repute tour to ‘waving at five-year-olds’, however I’ll guess we’ll by no means know for positive except Taylor says so herself (unlikely).
Wooden
This tune’s which means shouldn’t be exhausting to, um, catch on to, particularly if I let you know it’s about Travis Kelce.
It’s playful with many unsubtle double entendres, as she sings about experiencing ‘new heights of manhood’ (the title of Travis’s podcast together with his brother Jason) in addition to revealing: ‘The curse on me was damaged by your magic wand.’
Once more, her present happiness is evident, so it’s a little bit of shade to her previous boyfriends together with Joe Alwyn.
Right here she predicts her present engagement and observes: ‘His love was the important thing/That opened my thighs.’
Cancelled!
One other tune the place the which means is evident, particularly on this present local weather.
In addition to Taylor beforehand addressing feeling like she had her personal fall from grace after the success of 1989 along with her 2019 album Repute, followers truly suppose there’s a direct reference right here to Brittany Mahomes.
‘Good factor I like my associates cancelled,’ Taylor sings, whereas additionally mentioning that she likes her friends ‘cooked in Gucci and in scandal’.
Brittany is a fellow Kansas Metropolis Chiefs WAG who has been criticised beforehand for speaking about gameplay on social media and spraying followers with champagne on a chilly day – and was additionally pictured in Gucci with Taylor, Travis and her husband Patrick Mahomes on the US Open final yr.
President Trump has additionally insisted that Brittany ‘loves him’, which isn’t precisely thought-about a glowing endorsement from lots of Taylor’s followers.
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