Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album, “reputation”, has been out for almost four days and has sold over 925,000 copies. 700,000 of those were sold within 24 hours of the album’s release, according to Billboard -WOW! Between her amazing marketing team, relatable and one-liner lyrics, it’s no surprise Ms. Swift’s album is such a success.
I have been a fan since her debut album was released nearly a decade ago. It’s crazy to think how long it has been and how I can be that old! To prep for the album release, I took a stroll down memory lane. I loaded all five of her prior CDs in my car and sang along at the top of my lungs to the familiar and evoking lyrics. It was as if a movie was playing in my mind. The echoes of the first note from”Teardrops On My Guitar” reminded me of the first day I heard her song, which tugged on my heartstrings along with the memories of my childhood. Playing dress up with friends pretending we were on stage with the superstar, riding the bus to school listening to the albums in my portable cd player (remember those days?), Christmas Day when I opened my very first iPod and loaded her songs onto it- all of those came to mind and I couldn’t help but smile. Over the years, through the good and the bad, there her music was and continues to be.
What I like about Taylor is her ability to make you feel what she is feeling. I live through her happiness, pain, and can’t help but dream when she sings about it. The depth and vulnerability of her lyrics are inspiring. Writing is incredibly personal. Taylor writes how she feels, her experiences and what she sees. Writing about your own life can be intimidating and nerve-wracking enough. Releasing it for the world to read, hear and sing along to is next level! I will never understand why she receives so much hate. I know people rag on Taylor about her dating life, etc. but honestly, who cares? So she didn’t find “the one” the first time. Did you? Her happiness, sad days, traumatic events, upset moments, and trials are magnified. I can’t imagine what that is like. I’m not sure I would be able to get back up each time, as she does when someone knocks me down while the world looks on, interjecting unsolicited advice.
Photo: Taylor Swift
Of course, reputation was on repeat the entire weekend (and will be until the next album and long after that)! I love every song on the album. The tracks as individuals are incredible. When they are paired together for this album, it’s magical. Each new song is a melodic adventure. I feel as if I was there for a part of her life as more than a fan. While my mind is ever-changing with my favorite songs from the album, this is the current list of my favorite songs in order from “Reputation”.
1. Call It What You Want
Favorite line: the entire first verse and the whole song. Narrowing it down, I love “my castle crumbled overnight. I brought a knife to a gunfight. They took the crown but it’s alright. All the liars are calling me one. Nobody’s heard from me for months. I’m doing better than I ever was“.
2. Don’t Blame Me
Favorite line: THE ENTIRE SONG! But, if I had to choose it would be, “for you, I would cross the line. I would waste my time. I would lose my mind. They say, “She’s gone too far this time“”.
3. I Did Something Bad
Favorite line: “They I say did something bad. But why’s it feel so good? Most fun I ever had and I’d do it over and over and over again if I could. It just felt so good, good“. Also, “They’re burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one. They got their pitchforks and proof, their receipts and reasons. They’re burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one. So light me up“.
4. Getaway Car
Favorite line: “The ties were black, the lies were white”, “and a circus ain’t a love story and now we’re both sorry” and “he poisoned the well, every man for himself“.
5. Delicate
Favorite line: “My reputation’s never been worse, so you must like me for me…“.
Photo: Taylor Swift
6. New Year’s Day
Favorite line: “Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere” and “hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you and I will hold on to you“.
7. …Ready For It?
Favorite line: “But if I’m a thief then he can join the heist and we’ll move to an island. And he can be my jailer Burton to this Taylor every love I’ve known in comparison is a failure.” “I forget their names now. I’m so very tame now. Never be the same now“.
8. End Game
Sidenote: MY BOY ED SHEERAN IS ON THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!!!
Favorite line: “Big reputation, big reputation ooh, you and me, we got big reputations. Aah, and you heard about me. ooh, I got some big enemies“, This is Ed’s line: “and you understand the good and bad end up in a song. For all your beautiful traits and the way you do it with ease. For all my flaws, paranoia, and insecurities. I’ve made mistakes and made some choices, that’s hard to deny“.
9. So It goes…
Favorite line: “And all our pieces fall, right into place.“.
10. King of My Heart
Favorite lines: “Salute to me I’m your American Queen and you move to me like I’m a Motown beat”,
“Cause all the boys and their expensive cars, with their Range Rovers and their Jaguars never took me quite where you do” and
”Say you fancy me, not fancy stuff“.
11. Dancing With Our Hands Tied
Favorite line: “First sight, yeah, we love without reason“.
Photo: Taylor Swift
12. Dress
Favorite lines: “They’ve got no idea about me and you” and “if I get burned, at least we were electrified“.
13. This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things
Favorite lines: “Bass beat rattling the chandelier. Feeling so Gatsby for that whole year” and “it was so nice being friends again. There I was giving you a second chance, but you stabbed me in the back while shaking my hand“.
14. Gorgeous
Favorite line: “There’s nothing I hate more than what I can’t have. Guess I’ll just stumble on home to my cats, alone, unless you wanna come along“.
15. Look What You Made Me Do
Favorite line: “Maybe I got mine, but you’ll all get yours“. #Karma
I also created a bracket (with help from my awesome friend, Bobby, who showed me how to make one). Feel free to share it and make your own! If you create one, tag me in it! I would love to see how you arrange yours.
‘Reputation’ is now available on Taylor’s Website, iTunes, Target– there is an exclusive magazine Taylor created only available here and it comes with the CD. Walmart also sells the album and the album is now on Spotify.
