Anyone else remembers when music was actually about the song? All we would have to discuss is whether the track is any good. Sure, quality is subjective, and it has always been fun to try and dissect the lyrics, but that is not actually what is happening with Taylor Swift's newest single.
‘Look What You Made Me Do’
"Look What You Made Me Do" serves as the lead single for Swift's upcoming album "Reputation." In terms of tone, it is easily her darkest to date. There is no catchy and upbeat chorus to juxtapose the more somber lyrics. The Queen Of Pop is bitter and not afraid to show it.
Analysts -- yes, that is the description we are going with -- deciphered that "Look What You Made Me Do" might have something to do with Kanye West. They are never specifically name dropped, but the lyrics do their best to be as obvious as possible. Add the fact that the album launches on the anniversary of the day the rapper's mother died, and it becomes even clear. Also, what is the point of that jab? Yes, people will be talking about "Reputation" on November 10, but everyone always has Taylor Swift on their minds, so it's nothing new. It could also be a coincidence, as albums tend to be released on Fridays, and two months is the standard amount of time to promote a new record.
Is it any good?
No, "Look What You Made Me Do" is arguably Swift's worst lead single. The young singer is one of the most powerful people in the world right now, but few artists are capable of translating that position into song. Beyonce and, ironically, Kanye West can pull it off quite easily, but Swift's voice is too clean to deliver the aggression needed to make lyrics like "The role you made me play of the fool, no, I don't like you, I don't like your perfect crime" work.
There is a fine line between threatening and embarrassing, and "Look What You Made Me Do" places firmly in the latter. "Bad Blood" suffered from a similar issue.
"Shake it Off", the lead single from "1989", was one of the weaker tracks from Swift's last record, so the quality of the single should be taken with a grain of salt.
Nowadays, pop music often prioritizes controversy over quality; in that sense, "Look What You Made Me Do" serves its purpose. It got people talking about Taylor Swift and her recent conflict with Kanye and his Kardashian wife. A better song without an agenda would be considerably less effective.
Hopefully, "Reputation" finds the right balance between anger and maturity, as the single could use some of the latter.
