i did something bad swift recrafts sound and reputation
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

'I Did Something Bad': Swift recrafts sound and reputation

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today 'I Did Something Bad': Swift recrafts sound and reputation

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.
New York - Arab Today

In her rise to pop superstardom, Taylor Swift was once earnest and anodyne, her life's disappointments more a chance for songs of perky commiseration than of rage.

The world has changed, or maybe the 27-year-old has grown up. On "Reputation," her sixth studio album, Swift is in a fighting spirit -- and the story is all about her.

"Reputation" stars Swift as aggrieved and vindictive -- not the singer from her last album "1989" who playfully pointed to the chatter among her ex-lovers, but one wielding a baseball bat and ready to smash stuff up on the video for the new album's first single "Look What You Made Me Do."

On "I Did Something Bad," Swift -- who breaks new ground on the song by recording a profanity -- tells a man who crossed her, "I don't regret it one bit / 'cause he had it coming."

In a possible nod to challenges faced by strong women, Swift continues: "They're burning all the witches, even if you aren't one."

- More hip-hop, no politics -

Swift has always brought autobiographical elements into her songs but on "Reputation" one target is unmistakably clear -- Kanye West.

The rapper notoriously interrupted Swift as she accepted an MTV award in 2009 and last year infuriated her by boasting that he might be able to have sex with her because he "made that bitch famous."

West's wife, socialite Kim Kardashian, sought to defend her husband at the time by releasing a recording of a telephone conversation in which West appeared to consult Swift about the lyrics.

Swift hits back on her latest album: "Friends don't try to trick you / Get you on the phone and mind-twist you / And so I took an ax to a mended fence."

The focus on West is all the more striking as "Reputation" for the first time sees Swift embracing hip-hop, completing a transformation from her early days strumming country guitar.

"End Game," one of the strongest songs on the album, has Swift collaborating with both rapper Future and English songwriter Ed Sheeran, a close friend, in a finely tuned blend of pop and hip-hop.

If the sharp-elbowed tone may reflect the mood of the United States in 2017, one element is strikingly absent -- politics.

Unlike virtually all A-list pop singers of the moment, the self-described feminist Swift has stayed mum about President Donald Trump.

The silence may be refreshing for music fans looking for an increasingly elusive political safe space in Trump's America. But it also marks a shrewd marketing move for an artist who works on the liberal coasts but whose country roots have ensured her a loyal fan base in conservative states.

- Still peaceful with fans -

And even if her persona on the album is harder-edged, she is also making sure her real-life reputation among fans stays undisturbed.

Swift has made surprisingly few public appearances for "Reputation," instead communicated through safe posts on social media platform Tumblr.

When three years ago she released "1989," one of the top-selling albums of the past decade, Swift also waged a high-profile war against Spotify, accusing the fast-growing streaming site of short-changing artists.

Swift has since dropped her campaign and returned to Spotify. But she is keeping "Reputation" off all streaming services for at least one week, hoping to maximize sales.

Swift is less reserved in other areas.

She speaks more forthrightly than ever about sexual desire, even if her imagery is still prim compared with lyrics from stars such as her rival Katy Perry.

"I don't want you like a best friend / Only bought this dress so you could take it off," Swift sings.

Swift sharply shifts tone to close the album with a ballad, "New Year's Day." Swift's gentle voice is backed by piano, a reminder of her earlier sound -- and that her new "reputation" is also about maturity.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

i did something bad swift recrafts sound and reputation i did something bad swift recrafts sound and reputation

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

i did something bad swift recrafts sound and reputation i did something bad swift recrafts sound and reputation

 



GMT 15:16 2017 Monday ,19 June

Asian markets extend gains at start of the week

GMT 02:52 2017 Thursday ,03 August

March21st-April20th

GMT 14:50 2017 Monday ,09 October

Saving morale, one French boss at a time

GMT 14:48 2017 Sunday ,10 September

PML-N struggling for sanctity of vote: Talal Chaudhry

GMT 21:03 2017 Tuesday ,31 January

Mercedes-Benz Middle East appoints new VP

GMT 15:27 2017 Friday ,03 November

Twin Iraq and Syria assaults as IS loses last

GMT 06:48 2017 Monday ,03 April

Oman Air partners with Lufthansa

GMT 19:39 2017 Wednesday ,15 March

Gaza tailor stitches together business with Israelis

GMT 08:22 2017 Thursday ,27 April

GCC youth prospects highlighted

GMT 08:49 2017 Thursday ,30 March

Stuff magazine launches Hot Stuff online section

GMT 08:16 2017 Wednesday ,27 September

Boris Charmatz, the man who wants to make you dance

GMT 10:26 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Aoun meets US ambassador

GMT 10:50 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

King Salman receives Hariri

GMT 15:43 2017 Sunday ,17 December

South Korea win East Asia title

GMT 04:52 2014 Tuesday ,01 April

November 22 - December 20

GMT 18:06 2017 Friday ,08 December

Yemeni legitimacy troops managed to achieve advance

GMT 05:14 2017 Thursday ,17 August

Taylor hunting down record again - at altitude
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday