The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
New Year’s Day
There’s glitter on the floor after the party/Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby…/…You and me from the night before but/Don’t read the last page/But I stay when you’re lost and I’m scared and you’re turning away/I want your midnights/But I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day/You squeeze my hand three times in the back of the taxi/I can tell that it’s going to be a long road…/…But I stay when it’s hard or it’s wrong or you’re making mistakes/Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere…/…You and me forevermore
The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
King Of My Heart
And we rule the kingdom inside my room/’Cause all the boys and their expensive cars/With their Range Rovers and their Jaguars/Never took me quite where you do/And all at once, you are the one I have been waiting for/King of my heart, body and soul, ooh whoa/And all at once, you’re all I want, I’ll never let you go…/…Your love is a secret I’m hoping, dreaming, dying to keep/Change my priorities/The taste of your lips is my idea of luxury
The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
Gorgeous
And I got a boyfriend, he’s older than us/He’s in the club doing, I don’t know what
You’re so cool, it makes me hate you so much (I hate you so much)/…You’ve ruined my life, by not being mine/You’re so gorgeous/I can’t say anything to your face/’Cause look at your face/And I’m so furious/At you for making me feel this way/But, what can I say?/You’re gorgeous…/…You should take it as a compliment/That I’m talking to everyone here but you (but you, but you)/And you should think about the consequence/Of you touching my hand in the darkened room (dark room, dark room)/If you’ve got a girlfriend, I’m jealous of her/But if you’re single that’s honestly worse/’Cause you’re so gorgeous it actually hurts/(Honey, it hurts)/Ocean blue eyes looking in mine/I feel like I might sink and drown and die…/…You make me so happy, it turns back to sad, yeah/There’s nothing I hate more than what I can’t have/You are so gorgeous it makes me so mad
The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
Getaway Car
It was the best of times, the worst of crimes/I struck a match and blew your mind/But I didn’t mean it, and you didn’t see it/The ties were black, the lies were white/In shades of gray in candlelight/I wanted to leave him, I needed a reason/”X” marks the spot where we fell apart/He poisoned the well, I was lyin’ to myself/I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed/We never had a shotgun shot in the dark (oh!)…/…There were sirens in the beat of your heart/Should’ve known I’d be the first to leave…/…It was the great escape, the prison break/The light of freedom on my face/But you weren’t thinkin’ and I was just drinkin’/While he was runnin’ after us, I was screamin’, “Go, go, go!”/But with three of us, honey, it’s a sideshow/And a circus ain’t a love story, and now we’re both sorry (we’re both sorry)…/…It hit you like a shotgun shot to the heart (oh!)…/…We were jet-set, Bonnie and Clyde (oh-oh)/Until I switched to the other side, to the other side/It’s no surprise I turned you in (oh-oh)/’Cause us traitors never win…/…I was ridin’ in a getaway car/I was cryin’ in a getaway car/I was dyin’ in a getaway car/Said goodbye in a getaway car
All of this is total speculation on my part. Don’t come at me.
Who was the other relationship, and was it Taylor Swift?
Use of gender-neutral pronoun when she brings up “person” she had sex with prior to her marriage.
Very for “The Man” which seems apt if we’re talking about a one-sided (Kaylor)rebound relationship based on sex.
Girl’s trip. Girlfriends. Pure joy.
It sounds like Kelsea likes being around women a lot.
this version of myself.
Reminds me of Subject to Change which I think is discovering sapphic sexuality.
Secrets and crimes.
If you’re going down I’ll be going down too. It sounds like closeting to me. Are the secrets about her sexuality? Are the crimes cheating on her husband with a woman?
I’m awake.
Gay awakening
Not honoring yourself.
Kelsea wants to be true to herself, and her sexuality
You’re finding yourself.
You’re figuring your shit out.
It sounds like a lot of discovery that Kelsea is going through at age 29…
Oh God. Am I ready to date again?
Skirting the issue of dating.
I’ve never really dated, I don’t know how it works.
She got married at 22, but did she date as a teen? Maybe she doesn’t know how sapphic dating goes…
just put ourselves out there.
Let’s just vibe. It’s been fun.
Minimizing the new relationship in the interview.
Move on. Stay here? Be sad forever.
Could be a repression situation.
single? ha ha ha. Am I single? God…
There is a lot of panic about this seemingly simple question.
Maybe Kelsea doesn’t want to outright lie about dating a dude, but she also doesn’t want to come out if she’s dating a woman…
No
The interviewer makes an assumption and says a name.
Kelsea never says his name or brings him up. She just doesn’t correct the assumption.
A possible PR story:
Eden the Lounge:
Gay bars:
I’m just vibing.
Kelsea minimizes the new relationship again.
OK I want to see you.
What does that feel like though, to have that be so public?
It’s interesting a new relationship is being publicized so much. It’s like Kelsea’s team is pushing that story, but why? I’m not sure people love when a divorcee is already with another person quickly (I don’t make the rules). What is the reason a brand new relationship after a very recent divorce is being amplified? Maybe it’s covering up something else.
Also it’s new. Everything is new for me.
Again Kelsea talks about how new and novel this situation is.
Dating.
Being photographed with someone.
It’s also interesting how Kelsea’s pauses separate “dating” with “being photographed with someone”
It’s all really new and I’m tiptoeing.
She really emphasizes the newness, and says she’s being very careful. Why does she have to be careful dating a guy? Why does dating a guy feel so, so new to Kelsea? I mean, she dated Morgan, and married him. She knows what dating a guy is like.
I’m happy.
And I’m really, really learning a lot about myself.
More talk of uncovering things about herself.
It’s been like a really beautiful re-awakening.
Like waking from a 20 year dark night, perhaps?
How did you guys meet? I slid into those DMs.
This seems out of the blue to me.
My manager lives there and he like put the bug in my ear.
So HER MANAGER INITIATED the dating?!
He was like, you know this really cute
when you’re ready
it’s Chase
and I was like, you’re so right.
NOW I’ve seen the show.
Kelsea had not seen his show before writing to him…
but I just knew OF him.
I followed him and he followed me.
Purely online interaction that isn’t all that personal/romantic
we’re manifesting, baby
Basically we had been hanging out and people got a photo of us
Doesn’t sound very personal. They were in public together then a photo was published.
he was like, I mean, it’s going to keep going. So should I just like poke the bear.
He wanted to validate the rumor
and I was like sure.
Kelsea was also cool with the public knowing
the poking the bear was like a photo of me just like leaning in
Kelsea emphasizes the non-romantic nature of the photo
how long have you guys been together before that photo leaked
Another moment of hesitation and panic for Kelsea.
I mean, WE WEREN’T EVEN TOGETHER, like so relative, I know even really know…
Kelsea says they weren’t “together”
She also says she doesn’t know…
WE HAVE BEEN TALKING for since the beginning of December
It’s interesting that tour dates and promotion of the Heartfirst tour started in January.
I’m having fun. I’m having fun.
PARTNERSHIP
Idk if I believe in like the LEGALITY of it all
it should be a daily choice.
Yup, I’m implying Kelsea discovered she’s sapphic and left the marriage in part, to explore that side of herself.
I think Chase Stokes is a gay-buddy and bearding.
And I think Kelsea is dating a woman. IDK if it’s Fletcher, but they are sure playing up their thing.
The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
So It Goes…
See you in the dark/All eyes on you, my magician/All eyes on us/You make everyone disappear, and/Cut me into pieces/Gold cage, hostage to my feelings/Back against the wall/Trippin’, trip-trippin’ when you’re gone/’Cause we breakdown a little/But when you get me alone, it’s so simple/’Cause baby, I know what you know/We can feel it/And all the pieces fall/Right into place…/…You know I’m not a bad girl/But I do bad things with you…/…All eyes on me, your illusionist/All eyes on us/I make all your gray days clear and/Wear you like a necklace
The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
Delicate
Dive bar on the East Side, where you at?/Phone lights up my nightstand in the black/Come here; you can meet me in the back…/…Just think of the fun things we could do…/…Yeah, I want you…/…Is it cool that I said all that?/Is it chill that you’re in my head?/’Cause I know that it’s delicate (Delicate)…/…Is it too soon to do this yet?…/…Long night with your hands up in my hair/Echoes of your footsteps on the stairs/Stay here, honey, I don’t want to share/’Cause I like you/This ain’t for the best…/…Sometimes I wonder; when you sleep/Are you ever dreaming of me?/Sometimes when I look into your eyes/I pretend you’re mine, all the damn time
The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
Reputation (11/10/17)
…Ready For it?
Beard
Holdin’ him for ransom…/…I see nothing better, I keep him forever…/…Knew I was a robber first time that he saw me/Stealing hearts and running off and never saying sorry/But if I’m a thief, then he can join the heist…/…And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor/Every lover known in comparison is a failure/I forget their names now, I’m so very tame now…/…Baby, let the games begin/Let the games begin
This is sort of a meandering explanation, but before I get to the subject I want to tie to Taylor’s song you need some background:
We’re in the Golden Age of Hollywood when studios contracted a stable of actors and used them for every movie in the brand. Since it was a handful of people the studios needed to keep their images clean to keep the audiences coming back to see them in movie after movie. Studios would cover up crimes like drunk driving, and they would also cover up sexuality. Arranged, Lavender marriages were not uncommon.
We start our journey with Elizabeth Taylor was said to be the most beautiful woman in the world and married 7 times (twice to the same man, so 8 times):
It’s said the one man Elizabeth couldn’t have was the one she wanted most:
To me (based on only this excerpt) it sounds like Elizabeth was a narcissist who wanted to “win” every man in order to feel beautiful and important. The story shows Elizabeth was willing to look past homosexuality and pursue men, and generally they were pretty receptive to her advances…
Now we move slightly adjacent to Debbie Reynolds (mother of Carrie Fisher). It was said Debbie and her husband were the best of friends with Elizabeth and her current husband Michael Todd. Michael died (in a DUI car accident) and “best friend” Debbie sent her husband, Eddie to console Elizabeth. He consoled a little too hard, and never came back to his family, leaving Debbie to raise Carrie and her brother so he could marry to Elizabeth.
Debbie Reynolds says everyone she dated was gay, except Robert Wagoner. Is she including Eddie Fisher? I don’t know and I couldn’t find anything about it, but that’s her quote.
Now to the romance Taylor Swift brings up: Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor met in 1961 on the set of Cleopatra.
What does our Taylor want to emulate from Liz and Dick’s two marriages?
They had “a bond”
There was a very visible romance.
There was PR and publicity. Maybe that’s what Taylor Swift is comparing in Ready for it… ?
Because the marriage itself was passionate (euphemism for drunken, emotional, and sometimes physically abusive) and marked by public fighting in addition to the PDAs. Not really anything to aspire to, unless you dream of narcissist + gold-digger = alcoholism x2. I mean… maybe. We’ve heard Anti-hero we’ve been told of the producing and songwriting Joe supposedly does, and 4th drink in my hand could be problematic…
Also, Liz and Dick could be a lavender or even a mutually beneficial Hollywood marriage for exposure and PR. And so could Toe (Lavender Haze, Grammy).
Here’s some interesting quotes from Richard Burton:
Do with that what you will. I see it as a question mark…
Now for the other part of Taylor Swift’s song. She’s talking about two different people, if you didn’t know–HIM and YOU.
…Ready For it?
Actual lover
Touch me and you’ll never be alone/No one has to know/In the middle of the night, in my dreams/You should see the things we do, baby (mmm)/In the middle of the night, in my dreams/I know I’m gonna be with you…/…Touch me and you’ll never be alone/No one has to know…/…In the middle of the night, in my dreams (my dreams)/I know I’m gonna be with you
It’s the male version of what Taylor sings: Songwriter Cole Porter had a long marriage to a woman [SHE] but “dalliances” with men. He even left most of his royalties to “best bud” Ray Kelly [YOU]…
We can ALL agree Wonderland is a Dianna song. It’s obvious and proven. But at the risk of upsetting Swiftgrons I postulate, that though “mad” is prominant in that song, it is not tied to Dianna, specifically. Like Gold/golden, the word is a concept, not = to Karlie alone. We know gold was used prior to Karlie. Same with mad, it’s used IN Swiftgron songs, but conveys a wider meaning. Used in TheMan and Madwoman, the word is more fighting to break out of the confines of internalized homophobia.
Swiftionary:
Mad is the idea that queer love is crazy and exciting.
Subversive and risky.
Not necessarily associated to one muse, the word is a concept.
Taylor feels rebellious and defiant actively engaging in sapphic relationships (that makes society angry).
Yeah, she’s talking $hit to $cooter here, but also putting “mad” into context.
Queer people are seen as abnormal, aberrant, deviant, mentally disturbed (institutionalized not that long ago).
Homophobia is anger. Taylor’s coming out was foiled by the people who owned her music precisely because they didn’t want to lose money from homophobic intuitions and people. She cannot be viewed as queer and her anger about the deal is construed in a misogynistic light.
It’s not a mistake that Taylor used mad, crazy, and angry in the same part of Madwoman. She sees them as a correlation.
The songs on Reputation are packed with meaning, and there are many rabbit holes to go down. As such, this post would be too long if I included each song as I did with Debut, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. I’ll release these song by song.
I Did Something Bad
They’re burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one/They got their pitchforks and proof/Their receipts and reasons…/…So light me up (light me up), light me up (light me up)…/…They say I did something bad/Then why’s it feel so good?/They say I did something bad/But why’s it feel so good?/Most fun I ever had/And I’d do it over and over and over again if I could/It just felt so good, good/Oh, you say I did something bad
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