Deep Dive: Taylor Swift Part Six (reputation)

    It became a meme of sorts, but I think we all have had a reputation era in our personal lives. I remember Taylor Swift's sixth studio album dropping in November of 2017, and people not thinking it was personal enough and made Swift seem entirely like a celebrity in an echo chamber. I disagree. We've all had that coworker that has tried to tear down our hard work at certain points. Or rumors about us make rounds in professional settings. People that would like to see us torn down and at our weakest and get a kick about it. At the center of its black heart, reputation is an album about finding love in the midst of struggle and weakness. And strangely being at peace sometimes during phases where everything you have worked for has been ruined. Get edgy and let's dive deep.

    Swift's 2016 was probably worse than a lot of ours. She was overexposed. The weird Kimye receipt debacle happened. She had a messy break up and rebound. Ridiculed at every point and turn. The theories have endured for ages following this year. Swift disappeared from the limelight, began dating Joe Alwyn, and then unleashed her Halloween-tinged "Look What You Made Me Do" as the lead single of her upcoming comeback album. At the time, fans and the public were divided over this sudden change. I, for one, loved it. I missed the glitz and glam of 1989 and, at the time, couldn't help wonder what if if Swift's 2016 witch hunt hadn't happened. 

    Looking back now, reputation was a genius move through and through. It's a magnificent record that almost seems unassuming at first until you really bite into it. I don't care what you all say, "Look What You Made Me Do" is a killer song built off that snazzy Right Said Fred sample, and there is no other song on this album that could have served as the lead single. It created its own buzz with its lyrics "oh cuz she's dead," y'all. And it went for its own brand of shock value. I loved it from the minute it was released. I stayed up to listen to it. I was dying to see Swift in a post 1989 world. All eyes were on Swift to see how she was going to make a comeback, and she did it so brilliantly. Slithering into a new, darker era just like a serpent. 

    We begin our revenge with the first track and second single, "...Ready For It?" Which was released not long after the lead single. There were rumors at the time it was because of a lackluster response to "Look What You Made Me Do." "...Ready For It?" did not fare any better. No one expected this sound from Swift. I do think that the rollout for reputation was messy. Weird single choices. "Getaway Car" not being promoted. Not pushed enough in general. The injustice of "Getaway Car." Lack of promotion in general, which was understandable and planned but still. Oh! And "Getaway Car" not being an absolute smash hit that everyone's mama knows. "...Ready For It?" was such a drastic yet cool cat change for Swift. She raps here and it's good and clever. The clashes of sounds. It definitely gets you pumped. 

    This album is honestly a no skip for me. If I listen to it from start to finish, I sing along the entire way. "End Game" is one of my favorite Swift songs. It's a fun collaboration. Ed Sheeran raps and sounds adorable in general. "For all your bea'tiful tricks and the way you do it with ease." Future raises anticipation with his verse. Then Swift, herself, ends us with her verse and bridge. "I promise I don't love the drama/it loves me" is such a wink to the audience here. Almost as if she is staring right into the camera and is in on the joke with the audience. It's just a sleek and chic song. 

    

    

    "I Did Something Bad" is Swift playing into the monochrome character she created for this album. It's a exciting listen from beginning to end. And would have made *cough* *cough* a great *cough* single. But I don't think we liked hits in this era. IDK. The bridge here is hot. "they're burning all the witches even if you aren't one." Great to sing along with. We get what's she's referencing here. Love it. "Bad" has proven to be a deep cut and as reputation has gotten its flowers so has this song. Thank God.

    "Don't Blame Me" also got its black roses with thorns as it went viral on TikTok, and it has become a top streaming track for Swift. It also would have made a GREAT single. But what do I know? I'm just a normal blogger guy. The wobbly synth here is superb. The foreboding "mmms" in the beginning set the mood. It could almost be a title track as it encompasses the album's themes so well.

    "Delicate" and that vocoder. *Chef's kiss* You can almost listen to that intro repeatedly again and again and never grow tired of it. Its spunky instrumental continues to keep things interesting along with the squeaky "delicate" leading up to the chorus. Lots of good things with this track.

    "So It Goes..." continues the trend of cohesiveness. I also see fans praising this song. They do so with good reason too. The chorus is such a bombastic moment that's fun to sing along too. "Gorgeous" is a fun and quirky pop piece. The *ding* before the chorus is such a memeable moment. Expect this song to go viral any moment on TikTok. If it hasn't already. I personally don't Tik the Tok. 

    Then we have the hit that got away, "Getaway Car." It's pure bliss. Everything about the song is perfect. We can only hope that with the upcoming Taylor's Version that we get a video or some promotion. This song needs the "Cruel Summer" treatment, people. Start streaming. Those synths in the chorus immediately take us from 0 to 60. The vocoder at the beginning before the beat drops is an adrenaline rush. The verses here are Swift being at her most clever "the ties were black/the lies were white." I mean, come on!

    "King of My Heart" is just delectable. There's two major themes here at play on this album. The first is the darker of the two. Swift's reputation getting ruined, her revenge, and her telling her side of things. Essentially, the black side of fame when you're not America's darling anymore. "You want bad, I'll give you bad." "They say I did something bad/then why does it feel so good?" The second is where "King of My Heart" falls. Finding true love when you're at your lowest and worst. "This ain't for the best/my reputation's never been worse, so/you must like me for me." When this track soars, it never falls down from the sky. 

    "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" is dramatically gothic and beautiful. Sonically, it is the most diverse and convincing and fragile on the album. It's so hauntingly beautiful. Possibly my favorite song on this set. It's a hidden treasure. It's the most beautiful rose on the vine, and one that only blooms every hundred years. 

    "Dress" is a song we had yet to hear from Swift up to this point. It's sexy but not raunchy. It's classy and there's emotion there. It's love. Not lust. Its refrain-like production makes it almost feel like a secret we're not supposed to know.

    "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" is a meme moment. The obnoxious laugh. The subject matter. The little jabs here and there. The relatability of it all. It addresses the 2016 controversy perfectly in one song instead of spreading it into 5 different songs at various angles, dragging it on, and tiring us out over things we already know. No, this is enough right here. It's her thoughts on it, and she doesn't have to say anything else. And it packs well enough of a punch. Like "you may have won the battle. You really got me here. But the war has just begun." 

    We move into the album's possibly most vulnerable moment next with "Call It What You Want." We also get treated to one of Swift's most well-crafted and often-quoted choruses. It's a great way to start winding down the album.

    Then finally we move into final track, "New Year's Day." This song lacks the electronic elements of the rest of the songs. And yet, that piano is so icy cold you don't notice this at all. Swift is vulnerable here yet at peace. It's her saying "all this bad stuff happened, but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. If it didn't happen, I wouldn't be here right now with you." It's a perfect snapshot of a moment. The hooks aren't pop. They're natural and catchy. The production makes a memorable and not boring ballad to end things. 

    reputation has proved to be one of Swift's most enduring albums. Possibly gaining even more interest years after its release, and has had a longevity greater than even 1989. It's pop in Swift's own color or monochrome-lack thereof. And it's down-to-earth and great. 

Rating: S Rank! There will be no explanation, just reputation!

Recommendation: It can convert even the worst naysayer into a fan

Standouts:

    This time I have to give it up for the non-single tracks. 💣