Tag: taylor swift

“reputation” Snap Judgments

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Taylor Swift – Reputation
Credit: Mert & Marcus, PEOPLE magazine

TS6 is officially here, folks. For me, the best part of any new TSwizz album is trying to figure out who each song is about. (PS, Remember when getting a song devoted to you was special? Especially when the singer is saying how you’re THE ONE and there’s NO ONE else? Lol.)

“Red” remains my all-time favorite Taylor album and while “reputation” is by no means bad, it makes me really miss old school Tay. She sings: “My reputation’s never been worse, so, you must like me for me.” And that statement is completely true.

Also, kind of wish there was a version of “Better Man” on here too…

I listened to the album straight thru once and here are my snap judgments:

1. …Ready for It?

Am I ready for the rest of the album after hearing this song? Lukewarm feelings.
✰✰✰1/2

2. End Game (feat. Ed Sheeran & Future)

Ed and Future make this track. You could probably switch Taylor out for somebody else and it wouldn’t matter. But still, it’s catchy and I assume it’ll be a single at some point.
✰✰✰✰

3. I Did Something Bad

Basically, “Bad Blood”‘s even edgier cousin. It’s petty. It’s bitchy. It’s near-perfect.
✰✰✰✰1/2

4. Don’t Blame Me

Meh. Definitely not my favorite on the album and I tend to like Tay’s slower ballads over the high energy ones…
✰✰

5. Delicate

Another one that’s kind of unremarkable for me.
✰✰

6. Look What You Made Me Do

After streaming this damn song for several months trying to get on the priority list for concert tickets, I can safely say I am sick of this song and if I don’t hear it until the concert (if I even get to go…) that would be fine.
✰✰✰

7. So It Goes…

Really like the beat, but that’s kind of it for the moment…
✰✰1/2

8. Gorgeous

It’s catchy, good reading background music.
✰✰✰

9. Getaway Car

I really like this, and I have a feeling it will continue to grow on me even more. Poor Tom Hiddleston.
✰✰✰✰✰ [my favorite on the album]

10. King of My Heart

(See Don’t Blame Me and Delicate)
✰✰

11. Dancing With Our Hands Tied

Another one where I feel like I’ll like it after a few more listens.
✰✰1/2

12. Dress

Hi YouTube, somebody please mash this with Liam’s “Bedroom Floor.”
✰✰1/2

13. This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things

Oh God. This is deliciously immature, but it’s wonderful.
✰✰✰✰

14. Call It What You Want

I love this song—but the line, “I want to wear his chain around my neck, not because he owns me but because he really knows me” rubs me the wrong way for some reason…
✰✰✰✰1/2

15. New Year’s Day

THIS is the Taylor that I miss and love.
✰✰✰✰1/2

TL;DR

  • Download: End Game, I Did Something Bad, Getaway Car, This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things, Call It What You Want, New Year’s Day
  • Stream: Gorgeous, Dancing With Our Hands Tied, Dress, …Ready For It, Look What You Made Me Do, …So It Goes
  • Skip: Don’t Blame Me, Delicate, King of My Heart

 

 

MORE TAYLOR SWIFT ON THE BLOG:

TSwizz, look what you made me do

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Dear Taylor Swift,

I have a bone to pick with you.

I am a longtime fan who was excited to finally buy tickets for your upcoming reputation. tour. But the hoops that I (and all your fans) are jumping through to get on the waiting list are kind of ridic.

First, I know a lot of artists these days are using Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan program to ensure that ticket scalpers don’t scam actual interested parties in getting tickets. That’s understandable. That’s perfectly fine. But never have I had to purchase merchandise, stream videos 10 times a day, and spam my social media accounts with promo to prove myself as a fan.

I’m in my first “legit” big girl job. I can’t be buying multiple copies of your new album (which I haven’t even heard in its entirety yet…) or buying overpriced and *cough* ugly snake-shaped rings to get boosts. And even if I COULD, I shouldn’t have to give you more money, on top of the $150 I’m expecting to pay for even the crappiest seats at the stadium.

Ok and sure, there are options without spending money aka streaming the videos and posting on social media. I’m not going to spam all my Facebook friends, Twitter followers, etc. with Taylor Swift promo. I’m not going to change my photo to your truly unflattering album cover. That means that I’m left to streaming your videos every day to get my points. And let’s not pretend all these video view records you’re shattering are organic. It’s because all your fans are streaming them repeatedly to get the chance to go to your concert.

I broke the 1,050 boost mark this week and JUST moved into the Priority section and even then I’m not guaranteed to get tickets. And we all have to do this until November 28? I’m already tired, but I’m already too far in and I have a roommate relying on me for tickets.

To be fair, your marketing team is A+. This is a brilliant way to get albums sold before it’s even released and break Vevo records all while claiming to be “for the fans.” But let’s not kid ourselves. Lastly, I obviously don’t know you personally, so I’m not going to make assumptions about your character, but this false advertising as a fan service? Well, “I don’t like your little games.”

5 Things: Taylor Swift Edition

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I used to be embarrassed to say that I like TSwizz. But 1989-era Taylor has completely changed my views on her. I freely admit that I bought into the press’ presentation of her as some sort of needy, lovesick and relaysh-obsessed girl and I always felt like I had to justify buying her music. No more. Girl knows how to make an album. Red is still my favorite as a whole, but 1989 is quickly climbing the ranks. I’d totally invest in concert tix if I had the money.

I’m glad Taylor’s representation in the media is evolving and she’s gaining new fans. I’m glad she’s being seen as a positive role model and a face for feminism. I’m glad she found friends and has surrounded herself with support. I’m glad she feels comfortable enough now to go public with her new boyfriend and the whole “Ooh, watch out, Calvin, she’ll be writing a song about you” thing hasn’t been happening. But most of all, I’m glad that Taylor has found a confidence in herself that isn’t tied to a guy. I think that’s something we should all aspire to.

 

5 SONGS + BONUS LYRICS

  1. I’d Lie: “He stands there, then walks away. My God, if I could only say, “I’m holding every breath for you.”
  2. Enchanted: “Please don’t be in love with someone else. Please don’t have somebody waiting on you”
  3. Back to December: “I’d go back in time and change it, but I can’t. So if the chain is on your door, I understand. But this is me swallowing my pride.”
  4. Mean: “All you are is mean and a liar and pathetic and alone in life, and mean.”
  5. Out of the Woods: “Remember when we couldn’t take the heat? I walked out, said, ‘I’m setting you free.’ But the monsters turned out to be just trees.”

 

5 OUTFITS

While I’m not a huge fan of Taylor’s current obsession with two-pieces, I’m generally lusting over her outfits. I’d be more than glad to take a shopping trip through her closet. I’m a sucker for flowy sundresses and overalls (grade-school, holla!) These aren’t my top five, but just five that I’m loving at the moment.

taylor swift fashion

5 QUOTES

  1. “Hang on. It gets easier, and then it gets ok, and then it feels like freedom.”
  2. “You are not damaged goods just because you made a few mistakes.”
  3. “When I tell people how happy I am to be alone and to be living my life on my own terms and to be free and independent and empowered, the first thing they say to me is, ‘Oh, don’t worry. You’ll find someone.’ And that is so not the point. What if your life complete itself?“
  4. “Self doubt can be like falling down a rabbit hole and it’s hard to tell whether it will end in some new epiphany or in feeling lost and defeated. You have to be the judge of when to just take it easy on yourself. Taking things one step at a time is an exhausting process for impatient people like you and me, but I think one day you’ll look up and look around and see that finding yourself wasn’t as terrifying as you thought it would be.“
  5. “People can say whatever they want about us at any time and we cannot control that. The only thing we can control is our reaction to it. You can either let it get to you, change you, make you bitter, descend into insanity—or just shake it off.”

 

5 ALBUMS

Since she has five albums, I’m cheating aka they all make the list.

  1. Red
  2. 1989
  3. Speak Now
  4. Taylor Swift
  5. Fearless

RECAPS: TV Wrap-Up

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Ah, the early spring hiatuses have begun. Has anyone else noticed that there is nothing on television anymore?!

One Tree Hill: I found this episode very boring. I know the death of Mama James should have had more an effect of me…but it didn’t. I feel like the whole “my parent has cancer – child wants them to fight but it’s a losing battle – parent dies” story line has been WAY overused. It was still touching and very well acted, but I guess I wanted a more original story line for Mama James. I am praying to every higher power that One Tree Hill gets picked up for an eighth and final season so the writers can wrap up the show properly. The show is going to crap as of late.

Lost: On the flip side, Lost just keeps getting better and better. This final season is turning out to be amazing. I am so glad that we are finally learning the answers to some of the fundamental questions on the show. Jack is a father in the flash-sideways story line…never saw that coming. In the final moments of the episode, Hurley and Jack arrive at the humongous lighthouse on the island (a light house they have conveniently never found during their 108 days on the island). Hurley tells Jack that Jacob has instructed him to turn the wheel to bearing 108 to help direct someone to the island. 108 has a name next to it on the wheel, Wallace. Okay, Damon/Carlton & Co., who the hell is Wallace?! I sincerely hope it’s not a random character being added to the show in the final episodes. It is becoming glaringly obvious that the passengers on flight 815 were indeed called to the island.

Nip / Tuck: Nip / Tuck’s last episode ever will be aired next Wednesday. So sad. I always look forward to tuning in to the tumultuous lives of those at McNamara/Troy. I recently read in an article here about the finale, saying that the “final hour of Nip / Tuck was unlike anything we ever expected.” This disappoints me slightly. The best thing about the show was the shock factor. I’m still looking forward to the series finale nonetheless AND to see what happens with Matt and Ava. Poor kid can’t seem to catch a break.

Valentine’s Day: I finally saw Valentine’s Day last night and it yet again asserted to me how amazing ensemble cast movies can be. Sure, some story lines took slight precedence over the others, Ashton Kutcher’s character for example, but the sharing of screen time was equally dolled out between the large cast. I personally loved the “best friends to something more” story line of Kutcher and Jennifer Garner. They were really believable as best friends. The whole Eric Dane – Bradley Cooper story line came out of left field for me. Truly a shocker there. I am not used to seeing Dane without scrubs and Cooper without Zach Galifianakis. Anyways, lovely movie.

best of 09. part II

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(These last few days have been crazy! Sorry for the extreme delay)

So my list of albums from 2009 are not necessarily albums that were released in 2009 (most released in 2008), but the albums that I listened to/enjoyed the most in 2009. My taste in music is kind of all over the place, so bear with me.

Music

  • Kate Voegele, A Fine Mess : So I discovered Kate Voegele back before she became more well known, and when she released her new album, I was afraid that Hollywood had gotten to her… Not in the slightest. “A Fine Mess” is full of clever lyrics and the right mix of slower songs and more upbeat tunes. The only letdown on the album for me is “Talkin’ Smooth”, where she tried to infuse a bit of country. Earth to Kate: please do not try this again. It was a fail. Tracks to check out >> Angel, Sweet Silver Lining, Forever and Almost Always.
  • Rosi Golan, The Drifter and the Gypsy : This is the absolute perfect album for a long drive. The songs are mellow but have the right amount of beats and razzmatazz to not make you fall asleep. I discovered Rosi Golan from One Tree Hill, where three of her songs were featured. I’m a sucker for melancholy and sad music, so this album is definitely up my alley, definitely worth your money. Tracks to check out >> Come Around, Been A Long Day, Hazy.
  • Taylor Swift, Fearless : Okay, so it is common knowledge that I despise country in all shapes and forms. But ever since Taylor Swift took the world by storm, I have slowly been warming up to the “pop” side of country. I still can’t handle twangy hick country and I doubt I ever will, but to even be able to stomach a country album is a huge improvement for me. I would suggest the platinum edition of Fearless, some of Taylor’s new songs (“Jump Then Fall”) are great. Tracks to check out >> Love Story, You Belong With Me, Forever & Always.
  • Lady GaGa, The Fame : We all think it, Lady GaGa is a freak of nature. Maybe so, but there is no denying that the girl (she is a girl, right?) can sing. Her outfits range from classy to “what the hell was she thinking?”, her music video to “Bad Romance” has haunted my nightmares, and her over-sexual nature has been under the public eye for months now. Despite it all, her album still remains a personal favorite of mine. Her attempt at a ballad, “Brown Eyes”, was admittedly a flop, but she shines on the typical night club tracks like “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”. “Boys, Boys, Boys” has very weak lyrics, but is a guilty pleasure of mine. I can’t help it. GaGa rocks. Tracks to check out >> Paparazzi, Telephone, Bad Romance.