I really think this COULD have been a great lead single as the pre-chorus and middle 8 are brilliant but it's just let down by a big damp squib of a chorus, it's so frustrating (I know people said the same thing about 'Shake It Off' but that worked 10x better than this does even if it was also a bit basic and repetitive). All fingers crossed that the second single will be much better than this because I was actually quite looking forward to this era after how much I liked '1989', her second singles have always been better so far like Jade said.

This very much feels like her Roar moment.

This very much feels like her Roar moment.

 

Massive lead single everything else eh.

 

Next album doesn't do as well.

Thing is, Roar was a huge anthem and this is pathetic compared to it chorus-wise. It's just so underwhelming and nothingy that it makes the rest of the song pointless, as all the lovely buildup fizzles out into nothing again and again. So anticlimatic.

Interesting article about the subject matter of the song, and I do completely agree with it:

 

https://www.bustle.com/p/taylor-swifts-look...;utm_term=share

Does this remind anyone of Sheezus by Lily Allen? The last minute in both songs are quite similar!

 

Not saying she copied lol just saying that I think the songs are structured in a very similar way!

Idk what it is with this song but I'm obsessed. It's her best lead single by a long way (and I loved Shake It Off and WANEGBT!) and a masterpiece. I genuinely don't know what's got me so hooked *.* *insert ATRL kneeling thingy*

Same, I've been travelling all day so this is my first coherent thoughts of it and pretty much not listened to anything else :lol: It's not a huge pop moment or something that's really her but it's really worming its way into my affections. I do love this sort of sligtly off kilter pop sound though, it feels like a Julia Michaels write in a way. That isn't to say it's like groundbreaking or revolutionary, but it's got quirks to it like the spoken repetitive chorus and I am always a sucker for this sort of song. I had it on repeat for my whole flight (only an hour but still) and it's one of those songs where I keep finding new bits to love every listen. Idk how it compares to leads like WANEGBT, SIO and Love Story because they're all huge exactly what you see on the tin sort of things whereas this is slowly burning (I did love it first listen but it's just creeping up and up).

 

Good on her for trying something else and not going for the obvious huge pop smash for lead single, she's the sort of artist that can get away with it bc it's divisive not universally hated, plus she'll get a number 1 from the hype and then as usual I expect the secnd single will be something a bit more obvious of a hit even if this "only" stays at the top for a week or two.

 

I get the problem with the lyrics even as a stan but she's one of those artists why I just bloody LOVE the music and don't really try to get caught up in who she is or how she goes about. I think some of the criticism are ridiculous though, like saying she's deliberately releasing the album on the anniversary on Kanye's mum's death :drama: Of by all means dislike the song, it's clearly going to divide people, but at least dislike it for the lyrics or the production or whatever, I proper cba with people who tear her down for nitpicky niggly things when most other people manage to explain thair feelings towards the song or her well enough without such reaching.

Same, I've been travelling all day so this is my first coherent thoughts of it and pretty much not listened to anything else :lol: It's not a huge pop moment or something that's really her but it's really worming its way into my affections. I do love this sort of sligtly off kilter pop sound though, it feels like a Julia Michaels write in a way. That isn't to say it's like groundbreaking or revolutionary, but it's got quirks to it like the spoken repetitive chorus and I am always a sucker for this sort of song. I had it on repeat for my whole flight (only an hour but still) and it's one of those songs where I keep finding new bits to love every listen. Idk how it compares to leads like WANEGBT, SIO and Love Story because they're all huge exactly what you see on the tin sort of things whereas this is slowly burning (I did love it first listen but it's just creeping up and up).

 

Good on her for trying something else and not going for the obvious huge pop smash for lead single, she's the sort of artist that can get away with it bc it's divisive not universally hated, plus she'll get a number 1 from the hype and then as usual I expect the secnd single will be something a bit more obvious of a hit even if this "only" stays at the top for a week or two.

On first listen I was actually a bit 'wtf is this' but I just feel in love on the second one :lol: Exactly, it's nice to see an artist take a risk and Taylor has one of the best teams of any popstar, even if this underperforms they'll have a huge second single. So hyped for this project!! (Don't know if y'all noticed x)

Yeah I'm really loving this, been playing it a lot today. Think it's getting a hard time tbh!

Interesting article about the subject matter of the song, and I do completely agree with it:

 

https://www.bustle.com/p/taylor-swifts-look...;utm_term=share

A solid expose :coffee:

A solid expose :coffee:

 

There's more, here are some other reputable publications thoughts.

Vulture

Guardian

Pitchfork

Dazed

 

And I don't think any of them are over-reacting or being extra, there is a problem with taylor themes that is quite clear and is being addressed. Jesus at this:

 

 

Joseph Kahn has been trying to defend her on Twitter but is only making it worse.

I can't believe she has the nerve to call a song ''Look What You Made Me Do'' after everything that has happened + her 3000 other songs in which she is the victim. Is that what feminism is about? She should just own up to her snake personality.

It is such a good song, I am not normally a Taylor fan but this song is so good!

So many ridiculous reviews....

 

People need to lighten up...it's a song. It's meant to be fun. Stop taking things so seriously!

Who cares if she's being the victim again or not owning up to being a snake, I don't see how any of that makes her disgusting or why it should be a problem?

 

Fair play to her team, it's definitely got people talking which is obviously what they want anyway! They know exactly what they're doing, anything she releases now will face massive scrutiny so they might as well release something that gives those people exactly what they want.

People need to lighten up...it's a song. It's meant to be fun.

In what world is this song designed to be either "just a song" or even remotely fun? It's a completely agenda-driven song designed to send a message and so people are discussing that message and the context surrounding it. Sure, people are going to be extra about it, but it's totally valid discussion on the whole and she has voluntarily invited it by releasing this particular song.

 

Your post reads like a collection of tweets from 12 year old fangirls crying that people are criticising their fave.

🙃

 

I'm not even a huge fan of hers...some of the things I've seen are so ridiculous though.

And it is fun. Agenda-driven of course, but you can't expect anything less than that from someone as high profile and highly-scrutinised.

 

Like I said, lighten up.

Exactly!

 

She's not dumb, I'd prefer if she didn't invite such scrutiny by writing about stuff like this but it's gonna get people talking and set up the new era well to have such a divisive song and themes that can be discussed like this. As has been said, anything she releases is gonna be highly scrutinised and analysed, so why not capitalise on it to launch the lead in the best way? :lol: It feels if she did release an actual banger the usual quarters would say she's pandering to get a hit or something.

 

There have been people on my social media non stop going on and on and on about how awful a song this is, how awful she is, and honestly if a popstar's lyrics affect your life that much that you have to harp on, go outside. On here I haven't really see any problems, people are explaining properly how they feel about the song or her and I can't begrudge that even if I don't agree, I think it's more just stan Twitter but tbh they can barely handle a live performance or music video without being immature idiots, let alone a huge lead like this with themes like this, so moot point really :lol: I need a clarout of my Twitter because some of the stans are absolutely awful, not just to Taylor but anyone other than their designated fave or anyone who might chart higher in a given week than their fave act's latest single.

The one major positive I'd say about this song is that it's a sonically interesting listen. It's not particularly melodic, but there's unusual-sounding & catchy elements throughout (even the chorus, which seemed underwhelming at first, has got stuck in my head). It's an unexpected sound. For that, it's worth playing.

 

The lyrics... very predictable and tired, but I can overlook them & enjoy the song for its sound. I just hope the rest of her album explores different themes, and that it isn't just one long "woe is me" / "you better not mess with me" narrative throughout, because I'd find that tedious.

Music is fun yes etc but you can't attempt to make a statement and then not have people analyse it. I would say a lot of the criticism is actually pretty valid.