~ New Music Monday ~ August 30th, 2017 ~ Swift Edition ~

Taylor Swift - "Look What You Made Me Do"

fr "Reputation"

Duh, of course #NMM is going to cover the release of "Look What You Made Me Do", the first single from Taylor Swifts next project, "Reputation". I'll be honest, it took me multiple listens and multiple viewings before I was on board. Premiering this past Sunday on the MTV Video Music Awards, T. Swift seems to have clapped back at all the haters, critics, rumors, and even truths that have been going on since the end of her 1979 Tour. Swift has been MIA on most of her socials, in the media, etc. since book ending what is being called the "1979 Era". Many feel as though this new video, lyrics, and ways of promotion are a look into Swifts next chapter as an artist, business woman, and simply as a maturing female. After giving it those extra listens/viewings I tend to agree, but I still think that the genuine, loves music, loves her fans, artists is there. I think she just needed to make a bold, I hear you, I see you, kind of statement for her haters straight out the gate.

Being the first to poke fun at herself is nothing new for Swift, but in #LWYMMD she closes the vid with 15 "Taylors" of era's gone by. 15 is the supposed amount of tracks that will be on "Reputation" as well. Coincidence, I think not.  Several of the Taylors are seen in varied scenes through out the video, but this seems to be her acknowledgement of them, what others thought of them, and her moving forward. Also in the vid she addresses the Kanye Controversy, the Snaps shared by Mrs. West of their phone call about "Famous", the Tom Hiddleston chatter from Fourth of July 2016, her rumble with Calvin Harris, other past relationships (again), and most recently, her law suit against a radio d.j.. Winning this suit Taylor added approximately $1.00 to her ever growing bank account. She has said that the suit wasn't about bankrupting the disc jockey, but about letting others know that no matter what, that kind of behavior is never ok. Personally, I think it was a wonderful way to make that statement. Many with the power and pull that Ms. Swift has would have taken him for all his was worth just to add insult to injury, but that's not Taylor. Not in this situation anyway. By way of a bank robbery Taylor also addresses those who think her letter to Apple and streaming companies was all about the Benjamin's. Swift has said that the actions she had taken by removing all her work from streaming services wasn't about her wallet, but the wallet of writers who otherwise never get air play. Some folks LIVE off of writing royalties and if a streaming service isn't paying like a station would, it's robbery. Swift called them out, the matter was addressed, corrected, and Swift returned her music to Spotify several months ago. All is right in the streaming Universe,,,,,,for now.

Katy Perry Carpool Karaoke w James Cordon

I know, I know, we are all over the Katy Perry vs Taylor Swift girl fight, but I admit, I kind of love that she debuted the video at a show that Perry was hosting. That is straight up mean girl if ever there was!! My guess is that it is a reply to Perry's Carpool Karaoke in which Perry confirms the feud. Neither artist, up to that point, had straight forward confirmed the feud. I love both artists music, artistry, etc. and find it ridiculous that either would feel the need to address this alleged "feud" publicly, but humans will be humans and so the drama continues.

While Swift, per usual, addressed a multitude of things visually with the "Look What You Made Me Do" video, I am unsure any of us will ever be able to break them all down. I'm not at all surprised that she has chosen to reply to all that occurred over the last year in a half, with her art. That is how she got into the biz to begin with. Using her life as her fuel, which BTW, as do many artists. For whatever reason Swift takes heat for it. For many people she can do nothing right, for others she can do nothing wrong, while I think I fall somewhere in the middle. I don't agree with all moves, but I understand them. I think that Taylor Swift has done exactly what she set out to do so far with #LWYMMD, by setting up curiosity for the rest of the "Reputation" album, get everyone searching for the hidden Easter Eggs in the video, not doing any press up to this point, but plastering the promo material on UPS trucks, having Scott Borchetta, her labels CEO to do some social promoting, and of course all the buzz created by it being dropped at the VMA's. The VMA's she did not attend, but also won an award at. Girl knows what she is doing and I personally can't wait to see/hear what else is to come down the drain pipe!! I am sure this is not the last "Repuation" post for New Music Monday. Stay Tuned!!

Give "Look What You Made Me Do" a watch, listen, stream, and download. Share the easter eggs you found in the video by way of the comment section below!!

Taylor Swift - "Look What You Made Me Do"

fr "Reputation"

Lyric Video