It very much feels like Regina George accusing Janis of being in love with her! Which feels on brand with how juvenile a lot of the album feels in a not fun way (also “sonic terrorism!”). I so wish this had been a Girl So Confusing remix situation instead, as that song gets me choked up AND is a jam.
Not to mention that spirit of this song is being leveled at anyone offering critique in a way that very much lands as high school bully like “dude are you gay or something”
I disagree. There is nuance and a tongue-in-cheek tone to this song that conveys a different meaning.
You say, "This obsession the rival has for her gets reimagined as “flirting.” YES, but in the way an adult may tell a young girl a boy has a crush on her because he's being mean to her. Taylor gives a list of ways Charli has been mean behind the scenes, then she draws the connection, wondering if Charli has a crush on her because she is being mean. We, as the listeners, know the answer is NO. Being mean does not mean somebody is romantically attracted to you.
I agree that ultimately it's homophobic but I also think that thought process is too sophisticated for Taylor to conclude. She really let me down with this album. It's a flop on so many levels.
thank you for writing this!! i immediately thought "that was kind of homophobic" after listening and then immediately figured i was reading too much into it. but truly, how else are we supposed to take "you're so obsessed with me it's gay which is hilarious and bad."
I wish people could see their misogyny coming through their criticism of Swift and pitting women against each other. I fear we have truly lost the art of reading comprehension.
I like the album but this song is absolutely the worst. In the past, I hated the Kim K diss track, I hated Mean, Better than Revenge- I don’t believe Taylor is a victim so it’s always hard for me to listen to! I fully believe the Kaylor rumors and think she had a dramatic breakup with Karlie Kloss and has complicated feelings about queerness in general- it reminds me of the “straight” women who were in year long relationships with my college friend. They married men and never acknowledged their past relationship with a woman again.
This song feels too rude to me. I loved You Need to Calm Down and at Eras it was incredible to see all the rainbow lights. I’m always on record as more people need to call her out, she has the biggest platform in the world and can withstand some criticism!
incredible piece! i wasn't familiar with the statement issued on her behalf last year, and it does immediately bring to mind Lady Gaga and the way she handled a similar situation.
another point about you need to calm down: it's not enough to put on support for queer people like a costume, you have to actually care. and comparing homophobia to people shitting on you online as a straight woman is kind of crazy.
taylor's use of queer desire as a "dig" at charli made me so uncomfortable when listening to the song and you put it so eloquently and clearly. thank you!
The only post I've read about the Taylor discourse; the title caught me and it didn't disappoint. I've not listened to the album yet and this has convinced me not to, so thank you!
It very much feels like Regina George accusing Janis of being in love with her! Which feels on brand with how juvenile a lot of the album feels in a not fun way (also “sonic terrorism!”). I so wish this had been a Girl So Confusing remix situation instead, as that song gets me choked up AND is a jam.
I made the same association!
Yes!!
Not to mention that spirit of this song is being leveled at anyone offering critique in a way that very much lands as high school bully like “dude are you gay or something”
I disagree. There is nuance and a tongue-in-cheek tone to this song that conveys a different meaning.
You say, "This obsession the rival has for her gets reimagined as “flirting.” YES, but in the way an adult may tell a young girl a boy has a crush on her because he's being mean to her. Taylor gives a list of ways Charli has been mean behind the scenes, then she draws the connection, wondering if Charli has a crush on her because she is being mean. We, as the listeners, know the answer is NO. Being mean does not mean somebody is romantically attracted to you.
I agree that ultimately it's homophobic but I also think that thought process is too sophisticated for Taylor to conclude. She really let me down with this album. It's a flop on so many levels.
thank you for writing this!! i immediately thought "that was kind of homophobic" after listening and then immediately figured i was reading too much into it. but truly, how else are we supposed to take "you're so obsessed with me it's gay which is hilarious and bad."
THANK YOU!!!! I mentioned to a friend that actually romantic truly cuts like a knife in its homophobia. Been blasting brat since
I have also been blasting BRAT!
I wish people could see their misogyny coming through their criticism of Swift and pitting women against each other. I fear we have truly lost the art of reading comprehension.
She has done the pitting herself unfortunately
Ironic that you’re talking about reading comprehension when you just ignored the entire article…
I like the album but this song is absolutely the worst. In the past, I hated the Kim K diss track, I hated Mean, Better than Revenge- I don’t believe Taylor is a victim so it’s always hard for me to listen to! I fully believe the Kaylor rumors and think she had a dramatic breakup with Karlie Kloss and has complicated feelings about queerness in general- it reminds me of the “straight” women who were in year long relationships with my college friend. They married men and never acknowledged their past relationship with a woman again.
This song feels too rude to me. I loved You Need to Calm Down and at Eras it was incredible to see all the rainbow lights. I’m always on record as more people need to call her out, she has the biggest platform in the world and can withstand some criticism!
Oooh thank you for this.
incredible piece! i wasn't familiar with the statement issued on her behalf last year, and it does immediately bring to mind Lady Gaga and the way she handled a similar situation.
another point about you need to calm down: it's not enough to put on support for queer people like a costume, you have to actually care. and comparing homophobia to people shitting on you online as a straight woman is kind of crazy.
taylor's use of queer desire as a "dig" at charli made me so uncomfortable when listening to the song and you put it so eloquently and clearly. thank you!
The only post I've read about the Taylor discourse; the title caught me and it didn't disappoint. I've not listened to the album yet and this has convinced me not to, so thank you!
everything is romantic is definitely about George right? so I is the song for SOPHIE