Writer REACTS to Taylor Swift lyrics | Learning from Lyrics | Taylor Swift's writing style
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ย. 2023
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This was actually so fun...
In this new series, #LearningFromLyrics, I'm bringing you reaction videos that take a look at analyzing song lyrics. Today, we're analyzing Taylor Swift lyrics to see what we can learn about writing.
It's no surprise that people love Taylor Swift writing songs and plenty of people want to know how to write better song lyrics based on her work. Let's look at Taylor Swift's writing style and Taylor Swift's writing process to see if we can apply any themes and elements to our own work, whether we're writing a novel, short story, or a song of our own.
*Listen to the full songs here*:
Our Song: • Taylor Swift - Our Song
You Belong With Me: • Taylor Swift - You Bel...
Blank Space: • Taylor Swift - Blank S...
Cruel Summer: • Taylor Swift - Cruel S...
Lover: • Taylor Swift - Lover (...
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writer reacts to taylor swift | eras tour 2023 | Our Song lyrics | You Belong With Me lyrics | Blank Space lyrics | Cruel Summer lyrics | Lover lyrics #writerreacts
I claim no ownership of the music in this video
What song(s) should I react to next?
Snow on the beach and cowboy like me!
Omg I almost forgot ‘right where you left me’, one of my favorite stories from her of all time
First time discovering you and your channel and I love your analysis and that you are doing Swift. Subscribed..I want to watch your tips and strategies on writing as I can get time and focus.
I'd Love to watch and listen to you react and analyze two songs that she did with two of her producers/co-writers from 2020 when she did Folklore and Evermore. I think you would find the characters in these songs very interesting and ones that would make great characters in novels. They are "Renegade" from a group called Big Red Machine, with Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon (Aaron is from a band called "The National" and Justin is Bon Iver.
Second song is "The Alcott" from The National band's last album "First Two Pages of Frankenstein" written by the main vocalist of the band Matt Berninger about his wife and Taylor added the wife's viewpoint and some vocals. (That album's title and origin came from Berninger's bout of writer's block because of depression etc
Btw I think you would enjoy him talking about that, as a writer.
P.s. sorry for this novel of a comment from a stranger!
Cowboy like be, Mirrorball and The Lakes its what we call POETRY
Ivy, illicit affairs and my tears ricochet please
you definitely should listen her albums “Folklore” and “evermore”
Yess they're next on my list 😍. Wanted to add something from Folklore to this, but figured the video was getting long enough 😆
You'll find that swifties are quite okay with longer formats 🙂
folklore and evermore are excellent starting points dive deeper into Taylors writing. They have everything, from straightforward storytelling and poetic writing to whole storylines spanning multiple songs. Even if you don't want dedicate your channel to TS lyrics for the next couple of months, I can recommend listening to her discography on your own time just for the storytelling. There are themes, ideas and metaphors that connect songs to each other, sometimes over multiple albums.
@@OnWriting. Completely true, we don't usually mind longer formats, if the content is worth it we don't care. Your video was really cool 😁
OMG yes!
This & Death by a thousand cuts!
The line "Got a long list of ex-lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane, but I've got a blank space, baby; and I'll write your name." is even more clever if you think how the media not only portrayed her as a serial dater who constantly go through men like a train, but also how she only dates men so she can write songs about them.
So clever!!
Yesss I forgot about that!!
18:58 This stanza always spoke to me, in the extensive six months of listening to Taylor Swift that I've had, as her spin on notches on a bed post.
The guitar string scars on her hand line is my favorite line. Guitar string scars could represent both her achievements, past experiences, and flaws. It’s so good! omg!
UGH T.T
This is what Taylor said in an interview about the Christmas lights line, “It’s not about that being a crazy thing,” she continued. “It’s about how mundane it is. It’s about like We could put a rug over there. We could do wallpaper or paint. When young adults go from living in their family to then combining their lives with someone else, that’s actually, like, the most profound thing.”
I love that line.
UGH yes I love that. I think the mundane holds so many treasures 🥰. Thanks for sharing that!
You should explore folklore, specifically the songs "Cardigan," "August," and "Betty." All three songs are interconnected and present parallels. They weave an incredible story of a love triangle: "Cardigan" is from Betty's perspective 30 years in the future, "August" is from Augustine's perspective (the other woman), and "Betty" is from James's perspective. It might seem confusing now, but once you listen to all three songs, it will make sense."
Ooooooooh this sounds amazing
@@OnWriting.yes I love how those songs connect! They are some of my favorites. I’m in loveeeeee with Betty!
@@swiftlyme13Yes!!! Betty is my favorite music-wise as well.
Is it just me or this trilogy is an adult version of you belong with me? Because the narrator seems like a Augustine and the boy is like James...
You should definitely breakdown her song Happiness from the Evermore album. It’s has a lot of references to The Great Gatsby!
GASP. I love this!! Adding it to the list
YESSS A HAPPINESS STAN
Happiness vid is on its way! Should be out next Thursday 😍
you should listen to her no n-single those songs show her songwriting skills. The singles are the catchy bops. I'll recommend Right Where You Left Me, literally any song from the album Folklore & Evermore, All Too Well Ten min ver, State Of Grace, Enchanter, Getaway Car, Death By A Thousand Cuts, Fearless and so much more
Amazing!! Thank you 😍. I'll have to do a part 2 😉
YESSSS THIS ALL THIS
Taylor is also great at allegory and extended metaphor - Getaway Car is a great example of a song-length allegory. When she does these, she makes really interesting switches between the allegory and the literal meaning, sometimes line for line.
I also think it’s fun to long for when she goes for layered meanings, like “blank space” being the literal spot on her list of ex-lovers, but also being a “blank space” in her life that she wants to fill with love and romance.
Love that!!
i love that this is just a chill analysis/discussion and it just happens to be around the topic of writing and Taylor Swift. what a beautiful video to stumble upon thank you!
Thank you so much! That's so sweet of you to say 🥺. Glad you enjoyed it!
Every once in a while a small channel makes a Taylor Swift video and it ends up on my feed! Im so glad I clicked on this one, the videos are so well made and useful, tysm for helping on my writing journey, you're lovely.
Thank you! I’m so glad they’re helpful!
With folklore she does long pond studio version where she talks about the inspiration behind the song. If you do “this is me trying” please do that version
I agree. Needs to do a reaction to the analysis and then watch the performance because it really adds a lot.
analysis aka taylor saying what the songs are about. also, this is me trying is one of my fave songs.
Oooooh 👀
As most of the comments are already saying the two albums that needs to be looked at writing wise (IMO) are “Folklore” and “Evermore”. The lakes is beautiful, full of poetry. I'd be curious to see you figure out No Body No Crime, Ivy, Champagne problem, the love triangle of ''Cardigan'' ''August'' and ''Betty''. Invisible String has a few interesting things writting wise, although I don't like the song itself. Maroon from Midnight album and Red from the album Red if you want to explore her use of color (That you'll also find in Invisible string)
Dear John from Speak Now, ''Would've, Could've, Should've'' and The Great War from Midnight 3 AM edition are also good ones!
I hope to see more of you, your analyses are fun and interesting!
Thank you!!!
i would've loved to hear your interpretation of the line "hang your head low in the glow of the vending machine, i'm not dying" in cruel summer, because swifties everywhere are still trying to decipher this lyric with no success😭😭
@carolann500 had the same q, so I'll paste my reply to her here as well. What do you think of this? - It seems specific enough that it could be referencing a moment they actually shared. He's hanging his head low, so I feel like he's made the wrong choice (if we're sticking with the choice idea) or done something he's not proud of, and she's reassuring him "I'm not dying." Maybe the vending machine is also something regarding providing for her - he can only offer her something that seems cheaper or less valuable (maybe just in his eyes?)? And then I totally thought the "trying times" was a reference to COVID but that doesn't make sense given that it was written before haha. But the times have been trying nevertheless (esp. for her at the start of their relationship), and again I feel like she's pleading with him a bit "we're not trying - but we could try" ....idk what do you think??
I saw an analysis that said it was similar to going to a vending machine at a hospital. those kinda feelings for the relationship hoping for the best but scared and sad of the situation ship
I've read the explanation to this line somewhere I don't remember where..so here it goes...he tries to get something from the vending machine..when he looks for items inside the light from the machine accentuates his facial features..which makes her weak on her knees..like she really dying for him..wants him (the adlib after this line says you're right now I want it)...but cannot express her feelings..I think this might be a better explanation of this line
Ooooh love this! Also, the fact that it's another "mundane" normal everyday moment like the ones she puts in Lover. Thanks for adding this!!@@emmanualpious
I always took it as simply her lusting after him as he does a mundane act - she’s dying to get in them jeans
Also in our song when she says “i’ve heard every album listen to the radio wainting for something to come along that was as good as our song”
You should listen to All too Well (10 minute version), Clean, Getaway Car, Anti-Hero, and Mastermind!
I love how in blank space she uses adjectives to paint the picture of the story, like hints and we put them together to visualize the story
Loved that too! Seems simple, but not easy to do
12:57 She had a song literally titled "Dress" so yeah clothings are a big deal
Clearly!
i'm loving this 'series'.
Idk if i've watched your older videos since I watch and follow lots of writing channels but I'm glad I'm here for this swift x writing content ❤
Great job! I look forward to more
Thank you! 🥺
You did a lovely job going through this songs. You are very enjoyable to watch as you do your work on this. Thanks for sharing. Hope you do more of this
Thank you tons! More is on the way for sure :)
I’d love full album reactions!
It would be amazing to see you react to albums some day because Taylor always has motifs, themes & symbols that carry throughout. She is also self-referential to previous songs- she basically created her own metaverse!
I really enjoyed your video.. it was so good and the cruel summer analysis was to the point never seen anyone actually discuss the song and you nailed it at first try
Thank you tons! 🥰
This is very chill. Informative and entertaining
Thank you! That's what I was hoping for :')
I can't wait for more Taylor videos! This is great!
Thank you!!
Impressive job Megan! Love what you did here!
Thank you Gina!!
great video and analysis! thank you! glad it came up!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🥰
She has evolved in her writing so much and so cool because she has made her music her art wildly open to interpretation. She said in an interview she’d never make music just to have a few words and catchy melody. She said she’d make a catchy song but still makes you think. You can have 5 swifties listen to a song and they can have different interpretations and that’s what’s exciting.
Just found you today and I got stuck on all your videos of Tay Tay love them can’t wait to see more videos of Taylor’s songs !!!
Welcome!! ^.^ so glad you love them!
I loooooooved the video, your reaction and point of view. I think you would absolutley love folklore and evermore ❤
Thank you!! I'm excited to listen to these :D. Folklore is next on my list ;)
Please more Taylor reactions and analyses!!👍🏼 This was amazing!
Thank you!! More to come for sure :)
Your discussion/analysis is so elucidating and enriching . You add tremendously to my understanding and appreciation of Taylor's lyric skills. Thank you for these gifts
Aw, thank you tons! I'm glad you're enjoying them
I LOOOOOOVED THIS VIDEOOOO you're awesome, felt in a school classroom
Yay I'm so glad! It was super fun to make ^.^
Ooh girl! This was fantastic! I could listen to you ALL DAY. Peeps are already bringing up Folklore and Evermore in the comment section and I also agree. I find it very interesting that you haven't heard her recent stuff.
And no, you're videos aren't long. I am very much focused on what you're saying and what you think about what's been written that time goes by quickly, I feel. Give us more please. I dig it 👍. Megan, you're awesome ♥
I've been living under a pop music rock haha! And yay!! Thank you so much - that's so sweet. More is definitely on the way ;)
Loved this!
Thank you!! 🥺
I really like this. a reaction to her specifically from a writers perspective. I think you should do more. and you should pick whichever songs strike you, there's no wrong answer😊
Thank you Sylvia!! I've already got a couple more in the works ;) Appreciate the encouragement!
Completely obsessed with this video, you've pointed out some things I've never noticed! I recommend All Too Well 10 Minute Version and anything from folklore or evermore (my favorites are hoax and champagne problems, but I'm sure you'd love any of them).
Thank you so much!! It was a lot of fun to make. And oooh yasss that 10-minute version intrigues me... adding it to the list!
I love your entire vibe and how you're going about these analyses! One of my favourite things that you clarified right off the bat was essentially that you're analysing the songs in context, for their audience, her age, the genre etc. I think so many people miss things, or don't know how to think critically *within context* and regarding intention, and it can affect so much of how we take things in!! I feel like I'm just overcomplicating this trying to explain lol, but anyways, love this -- and the nostalgia is so real! Haha.
Aw thanks so much!
I love how she always got a list of names of people in any category, ex-boyfriends and enemies, she got a list of names in look what you made me do, and that the person she's talking to has their name in red underline meaning they're in great danger, she's so geniuss
Love this video. Subscribed.
Thank you tons! 🥹
She wrote gorgeous describing her physical attraction to him, so in this more intimate song, she's describing how she feels about him as a person, therefore she chose "magnetic force" rather than anything physical so we can imagine the hold he has on her and why she could possibly feel insecure about other girls wanting him, not for his looks, but because of him as a person!
Love this! moreeeeeee pls
Thank youuu!
I loved this ❤ i could watch you do all ts songs 😊
Thank you tons!! More is on the way ;)
I love writing and Taylor Swift. Perfect combo. So glad writers are covering Swift’s stuff. Liked this analysis! Definitely want you to cover Folklore. Would love more videos about analyzing Taylor Swift!
My AP Lang teacher was going over perspective today, what a coincidence. I was able to study a TS song in 9th grade, it was fun to analyze it for school. Would love if schools played videos like yours to dissect her genius storytelling. You remind me of how some of my teachers have taught me (I mean it as a compliment).
*never really noticed how much she talks about clothing, but she does!
Thank you tons!!
@@OnWriting. Of course, you’re welcome!
I'm glad i found this video, it was great. You should definitely do folklore and evermore every song is full of interesting writing to analize
Thank you!! It seems like a must at this point, haha! I'm excited ^.^
Loved this! Great comparison and analysis on how Taylor’s lyrical style has evolved with the change in genre of her songs as she transitions from country pop to pop. Country songs have a strong storytelling aspect to it whereas pop songs there’s more emphasis on catchy hooks and short easy to remember lyrics.
Would love to see you react to her Folklore album~ she did a Disney+ special performing all the songs on the whole album acoustically with her two main collaborators, Jack & Aaron at Aaron’s studio. Before each song, they discuss briefly the writing and background behind the song which gives you a good insight into Taylor’s thoughts & intentions with each song. Hope u’ll like it!
Oh no, that sounds amazing!! Thanks for telling me about it. Folklore and Evermore are on the list!
@@OnWriting. It's called The Long Pond sessions
Taylor has a song called Carolina from “where the crawdads sing”. It’s extremely hauntingly beautiful honestly!
Oh snap I just finished this book a few months ago. This one is a MUST. ^.^
I love clever lyrics too. They're satisfying as solving crossword puzzles. But eventually I want to return to listening to songs uninterrupted by acrostic speed bumps.
I agree! So fun, but also sometimes you just want to listen and jam out ^.^
i would listen to u talking about taylor’s writing for HOURS
Thank you 🥺🫶. More Taylor vids are on their way 🥰
Girl, guurl! You are the song reactor I did not know I need 😅 When you said that for you lyrics are the poem in a song 😮 - I have found a kindred soul! Subscribed! Lol 😂 looking forward to more of your content 😊
Haha aw thanks! Glad to meet another kindred soul and so happy you're here!
I'm so glad I discovered you! I will be checking out your previous posts as well.
I agree with the suggestions for folklore and evermore, but I want to also shine a spotlight on Midnights and Reputation. These could provide some interesting contrasts.
Reputation: Getaway Car, and New Year's Day would be perfect for your project. Delicate and This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things would also be fun.
Midnights: I think every song on the album has great potential for you, so I hardly know where to start trying to pick specifics. Given the nature of your videos, you don't have to do "first time" reactions so (assuming you've already listened to the album) I'd be curious to know which songs grab your attention the most. As a swifty, I would love if you reacted to the whole album, but the writers in your audience would probably start to feel that you are becoming repetitive. Despite being as magical as she is, Taylor's bag of writing tricks can't be infinite.
Aw thank you! I really appreciate your comment. More reaction vids are on their way ^.^ And great suggestions! Yes, though I now have a full roster of potential TSwift vids, I will be doing other artists too (along with TV shows, movies, etc.). Glad you're along for the ride!
From debut i would have chosen cold as you and from fearless either breathe or white horse
I had never seen the lyrics of a song broken down from a writer’s point of view. It was really interesting seeing how she structured the story, and the way how she not tells but rather shows is awesome. It made me think of how mush telling still sneaks up in my writing. I also loved to see the rhyming in the lyrics. I know that is a song and is expected to rhyme, but it was great see. Great video I liked a lot, it would be awesome to watch another of this videos. Anyway I hope that we won’t have to wait as long for your next video as did for this one.
Thanks a ton! I have more coming ;)
@@OnWriting. For sure once you start with Taylor...you will be down the "Rabbit Hole" in a good way :):):)
It has already begun! Lol
Evermore is by far her most poetic album. Its stories are a bit more complex than folklore's
Seven. I think the lyrics are layered and so engaging, brings us into the story
You should listen to folklore and evemore. Both albums are connected.
In folklore there is Love triangle: August, Betty , Cardigan.
And in Evermore: Willow is continuation of Cardigan. She found her love.
I loved this! Can you do more Taylor songs? If you like storytelling Folklore and Evermore have the best lyrical songs but every Taylor song is amazing
I sure can!
Folklore and Evermore are tops in her lyricism (but The Great War on Midnights is super well done - her metaphors are strong!)
I love this lyrical analysis. Taylor Swift is the queen of bridges. ❤ Here are my recommendations:
-No Body No Crime
- Right Where You Left Me
- Champagne Problems
- Tolerate It
- Cowboy Like Me
- Hits Different
- You're Losing Me
- You're On Your Own Kid
-Maroon
- Forever Winter
- All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
And more... Haha she has a lot of songs with great writing. I had to subscribe for more! 😊
Yayyy thank you for the recs 😍. And so glad you’re coming along for more 🥺🥰
This was so much fun. Lyrics are always key for me and I love when I have to do a little bit of the work myself, makes sense why I've always enjoyed Taylor! Looks like the comments have got other Taylor recommendations covered! If you're looking for another artist who similarly shows and doesn't tell and haven't yet heard him you may be interested in checking out Noah Kahan (if not for a video then just for you because he is amazing). Dial Drunk is the most popular one at the moment but I truly don't think you can pick a bad one from him!
Yay I’m glad you enjoyed it!! ☺️ and ooooh thank you for the rec. I’ll definitely check him out! ❤️
omg do folkore and evermore!!! You'll love it
When she says that I am drunk in the back of the car, it means that she is in the backseat. And at the end of the bridge, when she says he looks up grinning like a devil, she means that he looks into the rearview mirror at her, who is crying, like a baby drunk in the back of the car.
Yes I put that together haha, but I like that idea of him "looking up" via the rearview! When you spread out the lines slowly, it's easier to lose connections between them sometimes. So that's awesome - thanks for sharing! ^.^
I think you missed at 4:29 a clever little thing she's doing in "Our Song" -- the "slam" of a screen door, the "tap" on the window, the sound of the way he laughs (such a sweet one), the sound also of him talking in a unique way, really slow and maybe quieter because it's late and his momma don't know... these are all SOUNDS that make up "our song". The only one that isn't quite a sound is their first date's "man I didn't kiss her and I should have" but she's also quoting him there, so maybe she's saying the song is the fact that he said that out loud afterwards to someone. I love how she's saying our song is all these auditory moments that are special to the two of them. I vidded this song for Rory/Dean on Gilmore Girls per a fellow Gilmore Girls' fan's request when I was 17 years old, not long after it came out. :) She wrote it when she was 16 and I am only a month or so younger than Taylor Swift myself ;) It was my introduction to Taylor Swift! I love that this was the secret song surprise in the Eras Tour movie.
As for later on in this video, during the "Lover" analysis... oh I didn't even realize "you have to have something 'borrowed and blue' at your wedding" was being referenced there! Maybe I realized the reference on some level but I kinda just thought it sounded really poetic! I can't believe I was missing something so obvious about the wedding reference right there lol. I knew it was wedding vows with the way she phrased it, "I take this... man to be mine" and "Ladies and Gentleman"... but yeah wow. Thanks for that!
Also if you want to see my Rory & Dean vid for Our Song, it is still on my channel. Just search for it and it should come up on TH-cam :)
Ohhh I love this point!! Thanks for adding it! And yess I love the wedding references :')
Very cute! I haven't watched Gilmore Girls, but you did a sweet job putting it to the song. Also, I realized your name is Emily, not Violet haha.... My bad!!
omg great video pls do folklore and evermore, i would watch a 5 hour video of you breaking down the lyrcs lol
Aw, thank you! I appreciate that. Folklore and Evermore are on deck 🤩
Omg until this moment i havent put together that,, my hearts been borowed and yours has been blue,, is a refrence to a wedding tradision . Ive alwaye thought thats was about her being taken already and him being just sad 😂
Yaaaas it's so good!!
Loved this!! So. More lyrical choices to sample:
Debut: cold as you, the outside
Fearless: forever and always, the other side of the door
Speak now: story of us, never grow up, last kiss
Red: forever winter, the lucky one, all too well 10 min version
1989: I know places, clean, New Romantics
Reputation: delicate, getaway car, New Year’s Day
Lover: death by a thousand cuts, the archer, daylight
All of folklore and evermore. For real. They are lyrical masterpieces.
Midnights: the Great War, labyrinth, would’ve could’ve should’ve
An organized queen 😍. Thank you for listing them by album - that’s so helpful!! Lol
The Archer reaction is here! 😍🤩
I am going to react to your face Megan... you are stunning... i could look at you forever, and yet, it still wouldn't be long enough!
You should react to some songs on Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)!!! She’s got some great songwriting on there!
This is me trying, cardigan, Evermore please
Folklore and Evermore are a must because her writing is insane in those but I please do more songs from lover.
Daylight and Cornelia Street are amazing I'd love to see your reaction.
Don't have to ask me twice to do more songs from Lover ;););)
And thank you for watching ^.^
I would love for you to do a video on dear John (off her third album) and would’ve could’ve shoulve (off her 10th album) they’re connected and should be reacted to in the same video
Ooooh I’m intrigued. Thanks for this! I love knowing which ones to do together 🤩
I'd love to know what's your take on You're On Your Own, Kid off of her latest album Midnights
every song on "folklore" and "evermore" would be great for analysis. I'd watch every video of this. If you ever do this, on "folklore", there's a storyline made in three songs (cardigan, august and betty). On "evermore", there's another but with 2 songs ('tis the damn season and dorothea)
Oh dang, that sounds amazing!
The other comments are already telling you to listen to folklore and evermore soo i wuld recommend you listening to Speak Now (Taylor's Version) as it is completely self written by Taylor! Meaning there are 0 co-writers in the album, it was a "revenge album" to a critic i believe who said that taylor swift doesn't write her music. I'd recommend Dear John, The Story of Us, Haunted, and Enchanted.
Also, the Lover album is under appreciated due to their lead singles (except the title track) but it is also a really great album with songs like Death by a Thousand Cuts, Afterglow, Daylight, The Archer, and my favorite, Paper Rings!
Hope you do a part 2
Yessss thank you for this!!
oh i love writers listening to Taylor. so attractive 😩✨
I think "he looks up grinning" refers to the beginning of the song when she mentions she's waiting for him to be waiting below idk that's how I always thought about it
OMG. Amazing interpretation I love that idea!! 😍
Please react folklore and evermore! She’s so good at storytelling
Can't wait to listen to these!!
Bravo. Send to Taylor Swift
Another commenter below asked the same thing that I want to know. What does the lyric mean (in Cruel Summer) when she says Hang your head low in the glow of the vending machine, I'm not dying (oh yeah, your right I want it)We say that we'll just screw it up in these trying times, we're not trying (Oh yeah, you're right, I want it). Is the vending machine a metaphor for the decision that you make picking something out of the machine (life) that you really want but you have a lot of choices so you're not sure what to choose? Ugh, I'm usually really good at figuring out what she's talking about, but I'm not sure about this one. So great to find a writer to help us all out with Taylor's lyrics and enjoy her beautiful songs together! Would love to see you react to more songs. Her Folklore and Midnights would be great, so many good lyrics and storytelling.
I love your view on it as a metaphor - I bet that could be a double meaning for sure. It seems specific enough that it could be referencing a moment they actually shared. He's hanging his head low, so I feel like he's made the wrong choice (if we're sticking with the choice idea) or done something he's not proud of, and she's reassuring him "I'm not dying." Maybe the vending machine is also something regarding providing for her - he can only offer her something that seems cheaper or less valuable? And then I totally thought the "trying times" was a reference to COVID but that doesn't make sense given that it was written before haha. But the times have been trying nevertheless (esp. for her at the start of their relationship), and again I feel like she's pleading with him a bit "we're not trying - but we *could* try" ....idk what do you think??
I strongly believe you will love the storytelling and imagery of the last great american dynasty and no body, no crime. UGHHHHH! She has released an album and a bunch of re-recordings, but the writing supremacy on Folklore and Evermore got me stuck on those eras.
FOLKLORE AND EVERMORE ARE THE EPITOME OF TAYLORS AMAZING FLABERSGASTING WRITING! please check! every song on each album is CRAZY. it’s all made up, stories in her head, not personal. please please check those! i swear you won’t regreat and maybe you’ll understand why she’s at the top of the world right now! her debut album is impressive cause a KID wrote it, she was 12-14 years old, is already SOOOOO GOOD!!!! but folklore and evermore, jesus, is out of this world, the day she dies people will finally realize how amazing it is
Hahaha amazing. Yes, it's been fun to explore folklore and evermore ^.^ she is so creative!
As for 1989 clean or all you had to do was stay
would love to see you analyze a song that wasnt meant to be a single like sweet nothing, the archer, or peace. major emphasis on sweet nothing, i think youd love it
Thank you for these!!
@juliette6035 the Archer reaction is up! 😍
Please do cardigan or anything from folklore / evermore !!!
You should really listen to All Too Well, Dear John and cardigan, those are 3 of her best songs in terms of lyrics
They are coming!! :D
you definitely should listen to folklore and evermore, they're lyrical masterpieces
I can’t wait!!
Next:
- All Too Well (10 minute version)
- No Body No Crime
- Cardigan, Betty and August
Love these recs! I'm planning to do all of these :D
She should hear folklore album
i always think she should’ve just said “we could leave the christmas lights up til february” because january is so normal to have lights still up 😭
Pleaseeee react to Folklore and Evermore ,i am pretty sure its going to be a really great expirience and i am exited to see your explanation, there are so many things that i notice that i dindt notice when listening, loved your reaction.
Thank you tons! :')
Please consider “Death By a Thousand Cuts,” also from _Lover_.
Great reaction! You're right in Cruel Summer that she expected it to be a fling but fell for him. They were hiding out from the press which adds to the keeping secrets. Also fun fact about it - the man in question is taller than Taylor! So there's really only one way for him to be grinning up at her 😏
Lover was written about him too, hence the three summers. She also references another of the songs she wrote about him "Gorgeous" with the line magnet force of a man. In Gorgeous she tells him to think about the consequences of his magnetic field being a little too strong. (Which itself ties back to them starting as a secret in Cruel Summer)
Thank you! And ooh I love all the inter-song connections 😍
@@OnWriting. I love it too! She does like to interconnect her songs. I think I've seen comments recommending Folklore (which is a great album) and in folklore you can connect quite a few. To the point she mentioned a trio of songs and there was debates about which three she meant
I used to really like TS when she was writing country music (that was what I listened to at the time), but a lot of her more recent stuff doesn't appeal to me because I've never acquired much of a taste for modern hip-hop sounds. I will, however, acknowledge that she is a fantastic song writer, and I have a lot of respect for her ability and ambition to write all of her own music. I really liked your analysis of her lyrics in this video, and it just goes to show the conscious effort she puts into them--sometimes telling a story, sometimes leaving the story ambiguous.
I think, as you noted, there are some things you discussed here that definitely can be applied to writing novels and short fiction, not only song lyrics. For one, the idea that you can say so much with so few words. I suppose you could translate that concept into a novel with this contrast: You can write scene/character/setting description and then add backstory to it, or you can tell some of that backstory with your scene/character/setting description. In this comparison, the latter seems like it would immerse better and seamlessly communicate important details that don't need the spotlight but help humanize a character or bring a setting/scene to life. What do you think?
Another thing you hit on that seems like it could be applied to a novel is interweaving lyrical prose to set the tone of a scene. The juxtaposition and back-and-forth lyrics that make some of TS songs really sing can be applied in different ways to a scene of dialog or character description--perhaps to create chemistry between two characters that readers feel, as opposed to just telling the reader that two characters are close. What are your thoughts on this?
Basically, a song or story is composed of two fundamental things: what you're saying and how you're saying it. And as a writer you can manipulate these two things to create the experience you want your reader or listener to have at each point in the song or story.
Also, this is a very interesting idea for a video series. Great to see you posting again!
i feel like u would like folklore and evermore
Hi! First, thank you for such a kind and thoughtful comment and for the encouragement. I really appreciate it and loved your q's! To your first - I definitely think it's stronger to tell some of the backstory through the descriptions, but it's tougher to do. You probably have to add backstory here and there (in a more "tell-y" way) just to keep things clear, but what do you think?
To the second - yes, yes, I'm all about lyrical prose haha. To spend time looking at each sentence and asking "what's a different way I could say this?" or "what's a way to hint at this idea?" can be a helpful exercise. Even practicing writing the same sentence in multiple ways on a page can get the ideas turning. Doing that for every sentence will be laborious, but for certain descriptions I think it's worth it and likely gets easier over time.
Love you last point! So true. How you say it is so important and basically determines how your reader will interpret the "what." THIS IS WHY I LOVE WRITING. It's like putting together a puzzle :D
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts!!
@@OnWriting. Yes, I see you're point--important aspects of a character's backstory ought to be communicated clearly to the reader, and that task may not always lend itself well to the subtlety of character or scene description. But perhaps an author could inlay small details or themes into the character/setting description that reinforce the backstory, details that add depth to it while not necessarily entering into the foreground of the scene or dialog. Some of those "background details," then, might stand out more prominently on rereads and give the reader an even deeper understanding of the character.
Thanks for your insights!
Everyone’s talking about folklore and evermore but you should also include a song from red maybe all too well 10 min version, nothing new, or forever winter
Yes let’s give the other albums some love too! Poor Red, 1989, etc. 🥺😆. ATW is coming tho!
@@OnWriting. red is like the OG breakup album before folklore and evermore too idk why it’s not as mentioned 😭
Subbed...Take me down that Taylor "Rabbit Hole"
Thank you! And you've got it! ^.^
I think it'll be cool to react to "You're Losing Me" which is a song Taylor released during the eras tour in 2023 and still not released on streaming. it's about Joe Alwyn. they've been together since 2016 and broke up in 2023 and the song 'Lover' is about him. here's the youtube link to the song with lyrics:
You're Losing Me - th-cam.com/video/--TwitkGPnc/w-d-xo.html
More recommendations (honestly all of Folklore and Evermore) but these are great too:
happiness: th-cam.com/video/tP4TTgt4nb0/w-d-xo.html
You're On Your Own Kid (A song about her career so far): th-cam.com/video/7Gbg6Z70J7E/w-d-xo.html
Bigger Than The Whole Sky: th-cam.com/video/l8Tps3PITx4/w-d-xo.html
Nooooo I don't want to listen to "You're Losing Me" that sounds so sad DX. Can't they get back together? lol
Jokes aside, thank you for the recs!! Will definitely put them on my list
the whole Folklore and Evermore albums deserve an analysis
- Timeless from Speak Now TV from the vault.
- I Bet You Think About Me from Red TV from the vault
- Mr Perfectly Fine from Fearless TV from the vault
- Maroon from Midnights
- Champagne Problems from Evermore
- August from Folklore
I think these ones are peak storytelling and songwriting. ❤
Yaaas thank you!!
I’m like 3 mins in and I love this already! So excited you’re doing more of Taylor and checking out songs that are not singles! Subscribing 🤍
Btw one song that is underrated imo in terms of writing is Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince (from Lover)… it’s not her best song, but imo it’s her best metaphor yet (along with Getaway Car from Reputation), and it basically talks about a love story in the hardships of high school which is a metaphor for the world and the political scene in the US at the time (there are many political nods if you know what you’re looking for)
Thank youu 🥺🥰🥰 and thanks for the recs!!