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Love Story

Some thoughts on the eve of April 26.....
A Tay Tay Song I Hate:

 "Gorgeous." Again, "hate" is a strong word. I just agree with the NYT here: This song very quickly runs out of ideas. I think it's weaker than--say--"All Too Well"--because there's only one actual character (Taylor herself). The two men in the song are sketchy outlines at best. Chekhov said, for a successful story, you need both a He and She, and, really, this song has only a She.

A Tay Tay Song that Is Over-rated:

 "Shake It Off." It's charming, but I don't really buy the argument. If I physically shake, after a traumatic event, I'm actually not any better or emotionally stronger. It's a paradox that Tay Tay's songs of forthright wallowing are far more comforting to me than "Shake It Off."

The Tay Tay Song that Made Me Love Tay Tay Songs:

 "You Belong with Me." Obviously. The exuberance! The detail! The short skirts, tee shirts, cheer captains, bleachers; the jokes "she" doesn't get; the back door, the park bench; the midnight drive. The universally-relevant teenage angst. Brisk, confident, funny, and tight as a drum.

The Tay Tay Song that Changed My Life:

Maybe "White Horse"? It's just stunning to me that a writer who had seen so little of life could breezily repackage a series of Howard Ashman tropes and make a solid-gold story. A story that moves from A to Z. A seamless, authoritative dream.

The One I Could Hear on Repeat:

 How to choose just one? Right now, it's "Babe."

One to Love:

"Clean," where Tay Tay boldly seems to suggest that a break-up with Harry Styles is something like heroin withdrawal. Oh, Tay Tay!

Tay Tay the Under-rated:

"Begin Again" isn't quite in the pantheon, but it's basically perfect. Sprinting along like a thriller, the song gives us damaged Tay Tay, trying hard not to think about her emotionally abusive Jake Gyllenhaal-esque former love. Having willed herself to go on a new date, Tay Tay can't help but note all the ways this guy is *not* Jake: He isn't insecure about Tay's height, he isn't late to the cafe, he thinks Tay has a sense of humor. ("I think it's strange that you think I'm funny...cuz...he never did.")

The song builds to a surprising climax, which is that internally-conflicted Tay almost mentions her ex at the end of the date, then wills herself not to. Such an unusual, quiet way to end a pop song. Delightful! Happy Taylor Weekend!
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