There are only two possible reactions to T-Swift’s “Look What You Made Me Do” from her upcoming album “Reputation” – either you love it or you absolutely despise it.
I’m not usually one to bash a song just because of the artist, especially if I can see myself liking it once it gets some major airplay. However, this one was just a big, fat “no.”
As a former super fan of Swift (specifically all albums preceding 1989), this single was yet another disappointment. In the wise words of Twitter user @JeremyAndrewDay, “I miss the Taylor Swift that was riding shotgun with her hair undone in the front seat of his car.” Ever since she turned pop, she’s been a bit problematic, to say the least. It was if she was more concerned with getting involved in celebrity drama than her music.
Overall, I found the track completely childish. The “I’m Too Sexy For My Shirt” reminiscent chorus made my eyes roll back to my brain, and I physically recoiled at the “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now.” “Why?” “Oh, ’cause she’s dead!” part.
Even the title itself bothered me – really, who’s making her do anything? No one, that’s who. If anything, the only thing anyone made her do is embarrass herself with the worst music of her career.
People of the internet have also come to the consensus that the track addresses the 2016 Kanye-Taylor-Kim beef that spurred from the debate on whether Swift gave Yeezy permission to reference her in his hit “Famous.” Long story short, Taylor said she didn’t, Kanye said she did, and Kim came through with the receipts (e.g. recordings of her phone conservations with ‘Ye) that show her expressed permission to use her name.
Obviously, Swift waited until this year to release new material as a publicity stunt. And of course it’s a song about the very same drama to put her back on top. She also coincidentally released the song on the anniversary of Kanye’s mom’s death, which, if on purpose, is a whole new level of petty. I believe it was, but also struggle to comprehend why anyone would be so blatantly disrespectful.
Swift does not only target Kanye with her new single, but also Beyoncé, who she has been compared to since Kanye interrupted Swift’s 2009 acceptance speech. This was the beginning of all the drama that is the Taylor Swift we know today.
Many people also noted that the screencaps Swift tweeted as teasers for the “LWYMMD” video are extremely reminiscent of Beyoncé’s “Formation” video. However, the director of Swift’s video, Joseph Kahn, tweeted negatively about these accusations, saying that he would never intrude upon or try to imitate Beyoncé’s “art space” for Swift’s gain.
But you can’t deny the black leotard (“Single Ladies” video) Taylor wears in the video as well as the fishnets (2016 Super Bowl formation) aren’t some clear Beyoncé staple pieces. Swift tries to outdo Beyoncé’s “Lemonade” but just ends up with the cheap powdered version of Minute Maid instead.
So much for ‘shaking it off,’ huh?
Now, I’m not hating on the song because it’s purely meant as a clapback – in fact, one of my favorite songs by Swift is her hit “Better Than Revenge” from the album Speak Now. But, maybe she was right – there really is nothing she can write about now besides revenge. I guess that’s her new “Reputation.”
