Taylor Swift decided to create 4 songs with the duo Max Martin and Shellback as a thank you for the commercial success of "The Life of a Showgirl." She went to toast with them, and 4 songs emerged that are part of a second record called "The Encore."
I confess that I didn't stay up to listen to the release of the new tracks—5 a.m. is a bit late or early, depending on your perspective. So, I had breakfast and decided, wide awake, to give her new work a chance. As a fan, Taylor Swift's music fills a good portion of my days. Her discography is so vast that everyone can choose what they like best and, above all, what they want to listen to. At this point, I still cherish "Folklore," and the side of Taylor that I choose to listen to appears in my playlists. Every now and then, some songs outside of what I usually listen to pop up, and if I don't feel like listening to them, I skip them with the help of my fingers—I have total free will.
New songs are imposed on us by artists, and it's up to us to like them or not. Probably for this reason, when someone doesn't like or isn't ready for a new work, a new sound, it can be difficult to accept what the artist gives us. However, just because it doesn't suit us, or doesn't reflect what we wanted or expected to hear, doesn't mean the songs aren't good. I myself didn't like everything the first time I heard "The Encore."
TTPD was very poorly received, but over time we realized it is probably one of Taylor's best albums. Jack Antonoff was too much back then, but now, in this specific project—where he isn't present— he is missed!? It's hard to understand...
"The Life of a Showgirl" certainly won't be her best work, but it is one of the happiest and most fun, with a few sad and very powerful songs mixed in...
I'm going to give my opinion, let's go!
Patient Zero
The first song is "Patient Zero": "Patient Zero" means the first patient who contracted a disease in the case of an epidemic or pandemic. In Taylor Swift's song, it has a different meaning.
The song grew on me; I didn't like it right away, and the part in the bridge where she speaks-singing was a bit surprising. However, the rhythm is catchy, and after the bridge, it becomes "superior," with a very good ending.
The story is about a toxic relationship, and clearly, this song on "The Encore" doesn't have a very positive energy—the video gave a new meaning to the song.
Patient Zero
The video is fantastic and talks about abusive relationships, and for this reason, besides being very good, it is important for understanding the signs. Sometimes we stay in relationships with clearly narcissistic and toxic people. Anyone experiencing this kind of relationship can see themselves in Taylor's video and perhaps walk away from it. Do not live a life that isn't yours. The video is so well-made that Taylor Swift is ready to move on to another phase of her life, if she wants to.
Cleveland!
Cleveland! is the most hated song on "The Encore" and it's the one I liked the most the first time I heard it. Okay! The lyrics aren't dazzling, and I don't agree with her when she sings about all the negative things that are or were said about her—she is a gorgeous woman! Nothing more to say! Even so, even with these slightly less polished lyrics, to me, that matters the least. The rhythm and happiness are spectacular. It reminded me of "Opalite," and "Opalite" is very good.
Cleveland!
Pink Clouding
On the album "Reputation," Taylor Swift sings one of the most emblematic songs in her catalog: "Getaway Car." She talks about a man who served as a pretext to leave one relationship and enter another. Meanwhile, the man, Tom Hiddleston, had developed strong feelings for Taylor Swift.
In "Getaway Car," she makes the connection to Bonnie and Clyde, and the song ends up being a lot of fun.
"(No, nothing good starts in a getaway car)
It was the best of times, the worst of crimes
I struck a match and blew your mind
But I didn't mean it
And you didn't see it
The ties were black, the lies were white
In shades of gray in candlelight
I wanted to leave him
I needed a reason"
She touches on the same theme in the song "Midnight Rain" from the album "Midnights," and the song is of incredible beauty, with lyrics that are also very respectful:
"My boy was a montage
A slow-motion, love potion
Jumping off things in the ocean
I broke his heart 'cause he was nice..."
"Pink Clouding" is the euphoric state a person gets into without realizing that the other person doesn't feel the same way and that reality is different. It's the state of addiction felt especially when a relationship is in its early stages—everything is rose-colored. "When you looked at me, you had stars in your eyes," Alice.
In the song "Pink Clouding," she makes a mea culpa and hopes he can forgive her, wishing him a good life. I like the song; the production is very good.
Pink Clouding
Babylon
"Babylon" was an ancient and important city of Mesopotamia located on the banks of the Euphrates River, in present-day Iraq. It was the capital of the Old Babylonian Empire (18th century BC) and the Neo-Babylonian Empire (6th century BC). The city was the birthplace of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World—and the Walls of Babylon, which were also part of those wonders initially. It was a very influential city at the time.
The meaning Taylor Swift gives it in the song is about the loss of life's meaning, the loss of a romantic or family relationship due to ambition, deception, and narcissism, and when you want to return to the essentials, it's too late—the one who loved you has already left.
A very beautiful message; the song's production isn't extraordinary, but it is good
"
Babylon
It's not her best work, for me, but as I said, I like it. It's not the tragic drama painted on social media. And whoever likes it, likes it. Whoever doesn't, doesn't! That's it, everyone has their freedom... Freedom!!!
Lily Allen released a new album on 24 October last year. I was already familiar with some of her songs, such as ‘The Fear’, ‘Smile’ and ‘Fuck You’, but I hadn’t paid any attention to her personal life or her acting roles, and I didn’t even know she was married to David Harbour, the Stranger Things actor who plays Eleven’s adoptive father in the series. It’s a series I love and highly recommend. Lily Allen, who started out by posting her music on MySpace, is an artist who has made a name for herself through her performances, activism and, sadly, her substance abuse, which has led to some controversial appearances. She confessed that this album, *West End Girl*, was written in just 16 days and that she wasn’t sure whether she’d release it, as it started out as a way to let off steam – a catharsis and a form of healing – for what she was going through in her personal life regarding her divorce from David Harbour.
The album is incredible!
Lily Allen has written a story through her music, as if it were a book, about what happened to her. With this album, I feel as though I’m in a bar with Lily Allen sitting opposite me, and she’s telling me her story through 14 songs. We’re best friends, and we’re going through this together…
Before I formally get into my impressions and feelings about each song, I’d like to highlight the production of this album. The music that accompanies each narrative is perfect; everyone deserves credit for managing to create such an atmosphere around the lyrics and the interpretation of the story being shared
I’m going to add some stars to highlight the songs I like best.
It begins with West End Girl:
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The first track is the introduction and gets off to a very cheerful start; she recounts how they moved to New York and how, to her, her family’s future looked bright – she had even been cast in a play in London. And this is where the whole plot of this album, of this story, begins. Her then-husband wasn’t very happy about his wife’s success, and she ended up finding that very strange.
"I walk up the stoop, I put the key in the door And then my phone started ringing so I answered the call And they were like, "Hey, you've got a lead in a play You've gotta be back in London for rehearsals in May" And then later that evening, you said how was my day I said, "I got some good news, I got the lead in a play" That's when your demeanor started to change You said that I'd have to audition, I said, "You're deranged"
And I thought I thought that that was quite strange (I found that strange) And I thought I thought that that was quite strange (so very strange)
But I ignored it Went ahead and I bought it Got a flight and I boarded I'm on my way"
Then she received the phone call that would change everything. We can’t hear what’s being said on the other side, but in Lily Allen’s voice you can sense the confusion, the bewilderment and the resignation. The production on this track is incredible; just as the song is building to a climax with the good news, she receives the phone call, and for the whole time she’s talking, the background music keeps the narrative in suspense. Brilliant!
And the second song isRuminating.
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Ruminating is an exceptional track! The beat is catchy and perfect for dancing, while the lyrics present a stark contrast; they reflect on the moment when she had to confront the message of the initial song. Ruminating signifies the act of repeatedly thinking about the same issue; it turns into an obsession, mirroring her behavior with the word in the song. The additional voice that harmonizes with her throughout the piece creates the impression of a ghost accompanying her. She is experiencing anguish.
I told you all of this has been too brutal
You told me that you felt the same, it's mutual
And then you came out with this line, so crucial
Yeah, if it has to happen, baby, do you want to know?
If it has to happen, baby, do you want to know?
If it has to happen, baby, do you want to know?
I don't know, I don't know
I don't know, I don't know
But what a line, line, line
What a fucking line, line, line
What a fucking line, line, line
What a fucking line, line, line
What a fucking line, line, line
What a fucking line
What a fucking line
Sleepwalking
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Sleepwalking is very good; she is in a state where it is difficult to understand what is happening, and he, apparently, as a manipulator, attempts to guilt-trip her by claiming that he requires others to liven up their sex life. His demands put her in a position where she has no control over her relationship or her marriage. She is sleepwalking. She ends up begging to do it with her.
She ends up begging him to do it with her.
"I know you've made me your Madonna
I wanna be your whore
Baby, it would be my honour
Please, sir, can I have some more?
I could preserve all of your fantasies
If only you could act them all out with me"
Tennis
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This song has a phenomenal intro and the rest of the track is perfect.
She says that she went to check his messages because she found strange how distant he seemed when he got home and the way he took his mobile from her hand. She discovered that, even though she’d agreed that he could have a few flings outside their marriage, she knows Madeline and he plays tennis with her. This ‘tennis’ could be code for ‘doing other things’.
"I need to be alone So I took myself to bed I got a lot of information That I can't even process So I wrote a little email And I told you what I saw And then you came up to the bedroom And you made it all my fault
But you moved the goalposts You've broken the rules I tried to accommodate But you took me for a fool
So I read your texts And now I regret it I can't get my head 'round how you've been playing tennis If it was just sex I wouldn't be jealous You won't play with me And who the fuck is Madeline?"
Madeline
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The song starts like we’re hearing and watching a duel from a Western film. I’m not condoning violence or the use of firearms, but I do understand why she uses them—in the sense that she feels betrayed by him and by Madeline, because she is someone she knows. The agreement that she had with her husband was that the person hás to be a stranger. In this song, she shares the messages that Madeline sent to explain herself and feel better about what she’d done.
"How long has it been going on? Is it just sex or is there emotion? He told me it would stay in hotel rooms, never be out in the open Why would I trust anything that comes out of his mouth? Oh, why would I trust anything that comes out of his mouth?
We had an arrangement Be discreet and don't be blatant There had to be payment It had to be with strangers But you're not a stranger, Madeline"
Relapse
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Lily Allen went through a difficult period due to her addictions and has been sober for five years. She used to take drugs and drink alcohol. The album is, in its entirety, a revelation of the trauma she experienced when she realized her husband was cheating on her with a friend and that she had lost the happy life she had. It is possible that she was sober while she was with him. All these events in her life may lead to a feeling that she will be unable to control. No Relapse Please!
"If I relapse
I know I stand to lose it all
Can you bring me back
When I'm climbing up the walls?
If I relapse (relapse, relapse)
I know I stand to lose it all
Can you bring me back (bring me back)
When I'm climbing
Climbing up the walls?
(I, I need a drink, a drink)
(I, I need a drink)
(I, I need a drink, a drink)
(I, I need a drink, a drink)
(I need a, I need a, I need a, I need a)
(I need a, I need a, I need a, I need a)
(I, I need more than one)"
Pussy palace
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‘Pussy Palace’ is the track that sets the tone for the album. Some say the melody is inspired by the soundtrack of Stranger Things because her ex-husband, David Harbourg, plays one of the leading roles. Pussy Palace, as the name suggests, is about discovering her husband’s infidelity and how the place where he lived – rather than being a place of retreat – was, in fact, a place where he would meet his mistresses for sex. And she recounts what she discovers.
"I found a shoebox full of handwritten letters
From brokenhearted women wishing you could have been better
Sheets pulled off the bed, they're strewn all on the floor
Long black hair, probably from the night before
Duane Reade bag with the handles tied
Sex toys, butt plugs, lube inside
Hundreds of Trojans, you're so fucking broken
How'd I get caught up in your double life?"
4chan Stan
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I admit I had to look up what the title meant. And from what I’ve seen, 4chan is a site where people can post anything anonymously. The situation she finds herself in makes her suspicious, and she comes across a receipt from the supermarket for a bag bought on 24 May – a day when she wasn’t with him. She wants to know who os it? The link to the site may stem from the fact that it’s not very well known, that it’s very secretive, with users who might not be entirely trustworthy because they hide behind pseudonyms. He wants to keep this affair anonymous. That could be one of the reasons for the song’s title…
"I went through your bedside drawer You know I've never been inclined to have to do that before Never been in Bergdorf's But you took someone shopping there in May, twenty-four
You bought her a handbag, it wasn't cheap I was in London, probably asleep Did you go to Montauk for the weekend? And was there an encore? Did it pay dividends? Is that why
Why won't you tell me what her name is? This is outrageous What, is she famous? Say that it's over Do you mean a hiatus? Why won't you tell me?"
Nonmonogamummy
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I love Nonmonogamummy; the pace is really entertaining, especially with the introduction of Specialist Moss. It’s about how she accepts that she can be a non-monogamous mom because of the circumstances, but it’s something that weighs heavily on her.
"I don't want to fuck with anyone else
I know that's all you want to do
I'm so committed that I'd lose myself
Because I don't want to lose you
I changed my immigration status
For you to treat me like a stranger
Why do I feel like such a failure?
A life with you looked good on paper
I've been trying to be open
I just want to meet your needs
And for some reason
I revert to people pleasing
I'll be your Nonmonogamummy
I'm just trying to be open"
Just Enough
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‘Just Enough’ is exactly what the title suggests. She believed in the love in this relationship and gave everything she could, only to realize that her husband had cheated on her. It is even possible that he had fallen in love with his mistress. The words suggest, once again, a willingness on her part to be submissive in order to avoid reaching a point of no return. It would indeed be very problematic if her then-husband were to get his mistress pregnant, and not her. I think these thoughts (in hindsight) are what anyone would have, because deep down it could happen to any of us.
"Did you fall in love With someone who isn't me? Why are we here talking about vasectomies? Did you get someone pregnant, someone who isn't me? Did you take her to the clinic? Did you hold her hand? Is she having your baby?
But you You give me just enough Hope to hold on to... nothing Yeah, you You give me just enough Hope to hold on to... don't you?'
Dallas Major
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Dallas Major is great fun; it’s about her return to dating apps. She says quite clearly that she hates this new reality – this new version of herself – and invents a surname so that nobody will recognize her: Dallas Major.
"My name is Dallas Major and I'm coming out to play
Looking for someone to have fun with while my husband works away
I'm almost nearly forty and just shy of five-foot-two
I'm a mum to teenage children, does that sound like fun to you?
'Cause I hate it here
I hate it here
I hate it here
I hate it, I hate it
So I go by Dallas Major, but that's not really my name
You know, I used to be quite famous, that was way back in the day
Yes, I'm here for validation and I probably should explain
How my marriage has been opened since my husband went astray"
Beg For Me
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I love Beg for Me is a really interesting song. Once again, she reveals her vulnerability in the face of events. She’d like him to fight for her, to beg her to come back. The rhythm doesn’t quite fit the message, but it’s so good.
"I feel embarrassed, I feel ashamed
You're so indifferent and that's insane
Where's all your empathy for, for all my pain?
My friends all tell me you are deranged
I wanna feel held, I wanna be told I'm special and I'm unusual
I want your desire, I wanna be spoiled, I wanna be told I'm beautiful
Why won't you beg, beg, beg for me?
Why won't you beg, won't you beg for me?
Oh-oh
Why won't you beg, beg, beg for me?
Why won't you, why won't you beg for me?
Oh-oh"
Let You W/In
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Let You W/in’ is a very personal and very feminine song. She sings about how she explained the breakup to her children, who had lived with David as their stepfather. There’s a heartache she can’t contain; she’s been betrayed, and there’s no way she’s going to let him win by saying the breakup was a mutual decision! I’ll post the full lyrics here. It’s phenomenal!
"I've become invisible
Stuck here in my palace
I'm so fucking miserable
In my rabbit hole, yeah I'm Alice
And I'm expected to be nice
Picking up the pieces
What is it you sacrifice?
I'm protecting you from your secrets
Don't tell the children
The truth would be brutal
Your reputation's unstained
God knows how long you've been
Getting away with it
I've already let you in
All I can do is sing
So why should I let you win?
I will not absorb your shame
It was you who put me through this
I could tell myself you'll change
Do it all again
Be deluded
Never get your sympathy
I don't think you're able
But I can walk out with my dignity
If I lay my truth on the table
Lie to the children, the ending was mutual
I'll shoulder all of the pain
I'm sick of carrying
Suffering for your sins
I've already let you in
So why should I let you win?
You've taken everything"
Fruityloop
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‘Fruityloop’ is a brilliant track! It’s my favorite on the album. Once again, the production is incredible and the lyrics are fantastic. The track is the perfect way to round off the album and the narrative.
"You're just a little boy looking for his mummy
Things have gotten complicated what with all the fame and money
Playing with his toys, he just wants attention
He can't really do attachment, scared he's gonna be abandoned
And finally I see (I see)
It's not me (me, me), it's you
It's what you've always done, it's what you'll do
Forever till you die, it's true
It's not me, it's you
And there was nothing I could do
You're stuck inside your fruity loop
Me, me, me, me, me, me
Me, me, me, me, me, me
I'm just a little girl looking for her daddy
Thought that we could break the cycle, thought that I could keep you happy
It is what it is, you're a mess, I'm a bitch
Wish I could fix all your shit, but all your shit's yours to fix
'Cause it's not me (me, me), it's you
It's what you've always done, it's what you'll do
Forever till you die it's true
It's not me (me, me), it's you
And there was nothing I could do, you're stuck inside your fruity loop
There was nothing I could do, you're stuck inside your fruity loop"
Interview on CBS Morning. Very interesting!
I may have waited a long time to write this message, but my adoration for this album hasn’t changed. It’s an album by a mature, honest, vulnerable woman. It’s probably one of the best albums ever made. There aren’t any dance tracks (I dance to ‘Fruityloop’ and ‘Beg For Me’), there aren’t any hits… Hello… it’s the story of a wounded woman!
Lily Allen is on tour and I’d love to go and see her. Come to Portugal, please!
On 3 October, Taylor Swift released The Life of a Showgirl, and I waited until my lunch break to listen to the album with my daughter at home. I loved the first song but was a little resistant to the rest of the album, knowing that my first impression would not be the most important one. Getting into a new work, unless it's what you idealise, requires more than one listen. I confess that my expectations were very high because of the choice of producers Max Martin and Shellback, producers she worked with on the iconic 1989 and Reputation. The Life of a Showgirl grew on me, there were some songs that didn't dazzle me, we are a long way from Blank Space, Shake it Off or New Romantics, not to mention all the other pop hits she made with them. It even seemed that the sound resembled that of Jack Antonoff. I resisted my first impression and took refuge in listening to it again, but this time alone, with all the time in the world and with the acoustics that this album deserves. With everything in place, I gave the album a second chance and this time, a world of musicality opened up to me. The internet was almost entirely divided, and many had dismissed the album as one of the worst she had ever released. On my second listen, I was more dazzled, and the song that drew me into this universe was The Life of a Showgirl. This song is epic, with Sabrina Carpenter giving a fantastic performance. The theme, the lyrics, the combination of voices, the music finally managed to get me excited about a sketch of the project. There were already three with Opalite in the mix. By the time I went to see the video for The Fate of Ophelia at the cinema, I had made peace with the album, so much so that when I heard it was the clean version, I was a little sad! Who doesn't like to hear that she has a bigger ‘Dick’ than the men who cheated on her or that a lot of wood makes her open her hips. I liked Taylor's explanations of all the songs and the videos with the lyrics. By then, I was hooked on the album and Figure Father was growing on me. And out of nowhere, what was a lukewarm album became an exquisite piece with complex universes to discover in each song. The most interesting thing is that, even though I love the first single, when I put the album on, I listen to it all the way through. And this is a sign that, contrary to what many say, it is a surprising and cohesive album.
I've been trying to finish this message for some time. I'm going to mark the songs with stars to emphasise my choice.
The Fate of Ophelia
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The Fate of Ophelia
Taylor Swift starts off strong with The Fate of Ophelia. It is very well produced, with the drums and bass creating a space that made me smile at the beginning of the song. The story is about the character Ophelia from Shakespeare's Hamlet. In the play, Ophelia dies after having her heart broken, and in the song, Taylor says that her relationship with Travis Kelce saves her from this terrible fate. The lyrics are a hymn to life and happiness - and the metaphor created with Ophelia's death contrasts with the moment Taylor finds herself in. She had already rewritten the ending of one of Shakespeare's plays with Love Story from her album Fearless, which was the hit that made her known to millions of people. And if the beat is contagious and Taylor's voice is on point, the video helped make this song even more iconic. It's the best video, after All Too Well 10-minute version, which remains my favourite. The execution is perfect, with several paintings that display an unusual aesthetic beauty and are full of symbolism, beginning with a reproduction of Ophelia's painting and continuing to evolve throughout the story with allusions to the evolution of art, featuring characters linked to mythology, painting, dance and music since the Romantic period, with references to various artists: Ophelia by Friedrich Wilhelm Theodor Heyser; the sirens of Ulysses by Homer; Marilyn Monroe; the group The Ronettes; Busby Berkeley and his water dance; cabaret dancers such as the Moulin Rouge in Paris, to the atmosphere of George Michael's video Flawless.
Elizabeth Taylor
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Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor is a very interesting song. She was very important for women's emancipation, she was an icon/diva of pop culture and she was an activist in the LGBT community, being one of the most fervent activists when AIDS was at its peak and helping Reagan to finally talk about the disease - which he had long ignored. She was a great friend of Michael Jackson, especially when he was in trouble with the law. She was also, and this is where the connection with Taylor Swift's song comes in, married seven times. Her most famous marriage, in every sense of the word, was to Richard Burton, whom she married twice. In the song, Taylor asks if it is worth investing in her relationship and finally marrying her current boyfriend, who has already proposed to her. Will it last forever? She asks those who have had great difficulty maintaining their relationships, whether because of her, the actions of her husbands, or the weight of fame. She is afraid it will not last, but she wants to do everything she can to achieve her happy ending.
Opalite
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Opalite
Opalite is a very happy, danceable song full of good energy. The lyrics are about Travis Kelce who, like her, according to Taylor, had not yet had the relationship that gave him butterflies in her stomach or sparks like the one they have today. They were meant to find each other, and the fact that the heavens are sending good vibes is mainly due to their mutual desire for a lasting relationship. Opalite is a metaphor that applies to all new relationships: the sky is blue, synonymous with luck and eternity.
Father figure
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Father Figure
Father Figure has a very special place in my heart, and that's because George Michael was credited as the songwriter. There is an interpolation of the lyrics from his song of the same name. The two songs have nothing in common... Or do they? Father Figure is about her Masters and how she was deceived by the man she considered a father: Scott Borcheta. There were other artists who tried to reclaim their Masters, the best known being George Michael, who lost his case against Sony. It was at that time that he released what I consider to be his best album, Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1. He did not advertise the album and did not appear on the cover or in the videos he made himself. The most emblematic of all was Freedom 90. The lyrics of the song are revealing of how she felt when the deal was made behind her back. "Loyalty is not what it used to be".
Eldest Daughter
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Eldest Daugther
I can't understand why some people don't like this song. Eldest Daughter is a song that makes me cry... Taylor explains that it's about the contrast between the persona that exists for the public and the true essence of the person. She is an older sister and to the people she loves she is a whole person, sincere and who will never abandon them. This album has many musical references, and this song reminds me of the guitar chords in Radiohead's High and Dry in the chorus.
Ruin the Friendhip
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ruin the Friendship
Ruin the Friendship is a song with an extraordinary ending. We all dance along to the first part with its infectious, upbeat rhythm and the theme that is so evident in the song. The surprise in the song with the finitude of her friend destroys me... I think we have all experienced a situation like this, whether in love or with family members. When what is described in the song happens, it is obvious that we are left with that doubt - We should have loved and cherished that person more while they were here. She is right!
Actually Romantic
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Actually Romantic
The first time I heard Actually Romantic, I didn't like it very much because I'm not a big fan of diss tracks — I avoid listening to ThanK you aIMee from the album TTPD, so there's your proof — but... BUT, I ended up loving it because the music is spectacular and the lyrics are full of humour. I don't think it's just because of Charli XCX's song Sympathy is a Knife, but if it is, that's fine. Sympathy is a Knife is my favourite Brat song, so I listened to it over and over again and always heard rumours that the lyrics were about Taylor Swift. In fact, some passages seem to refer to her: ‘Don't wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend's show. Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick’.
We are talking about Matty Healy, the singer of The 1975 and now husband of Charli, the band's drummer. Charli talks about her insecurities, but she knows - she was certainly there when this whole romance started and ended, that Taylor Swift cried over the loss of her relationship with Matty throughout the album TTPD. Anyone who listens to Peter, loml, knows how much she suffered... A lack of compassion, of sensitivity - everything can be perceived in Charli's attitude. Taylor Swift chose to respond with a fun song, full of sensuality, the ending with ‘La-la-la-la, romantic’ is divine.
Wi$h Li$t
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Wi$h Li$t
Wi$h Li$t is really a song about a Wi$h Li$t, about what everyone wants, and now she just wants her boyfriend. What you hear on the internet about Taylor wanting to get married and have children who look like Travis is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read. She just wants to emphasise the person she has chosen to marry and have children with. She has everything, but she wants to be happy with someone else. Are you mad!?
Wood
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Wood
Well Wood is another song that, for me, is a masterpiece. It begins by saying that she no longer needs to knock on wood to find the person she wants to live with. "The prophecy" has been broken and she has someone with whom she can live fully. The lyrics are very entertaining and allude to Travis Kelce's most intimate side. We, good women... with many wish lists, simply say: ‘Good for you!’
CANCELLED!
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CANCELLED!
CANCELLED! could be about many people. It's not my favourite, the intro is a bit slow, but as the song progresses, the production starts to build, creating an intoxicating atmosphere when the violins come in. Some say it's the most similar to the album Reputation, and I can see why, because she was cancelled and came back with this album produced by the same producers. In the context of the lyrics, which are the most important thing, she emphasises that friends who were with her at the time of her cancellation and who are now victims of it can always count on her. She does not turn her back on those who helped her during the darkest period of her career. I cannot specify who she is talking about, but we will always have the beginning of Gorgeous and the iconic cover of the album Folklore.
Honey
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Honey
Honey is a cheerful, upbeat and well-produced song. It is about a word that can be said in a negative, derogatory way that can hurt, but when said with love, it becomes special.
The life of a Showgirl
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The Life of a showgirl ( com Sabrina Carpenter)
The Life of a Showgirl featuring Sabrina Carpenter is epic. I love everything about it! The atmosphere really alludes to the title, and Sabrina's performance is perfect. It's obvious that The Eras Tour is the backdrop. There are no superlatives to describe how much I love this song.
Here is my interpretation of Taylor Swift's new album and how an album that started out as misunderstood became one of my favourite albums of the year.
Listen and enjoy, because it's a gift that Taylor gave us during her tour. She went from being super sad with TTPD to sharing her moments of happiness with us. I don't know if there are any artists as generous as her.
I took advantage of the holiday in Portugal to go and see "It Ends With Us" at the cinema.
What made me want to go see the film was, I must confess, the controversy surrounding it: a controversy that I am not interested in developing here. When I decided to go see the movie I asked my daughter if she wanted to go with me, and she said yes, we knew it was about domestic violence. Some excerpts from the director's interviews appeared on social media, and I was very positively impressed by his speech.
That said, controversies aside, this film must be seen. It is very well written and performed. The story focuses on Lily Bloom's vision and until the end we live what she experiences. The shock, her and the world's discovery that she is a victim of domestic violence is very well done, very well written, absolutely respectful. I won't say anything more so as not to give clues to the argument.
Go watch it, it is worth it! Blake Lively is extraordinary and Justin Baldoni is breathtaking - a perfect combination to touch on such a difficult topic.
I share with you an interview of Blake Lively, where she speaks about the movie and the complexity of making such an impactful character, and violence against women.
Billie Eilish released her new album on May 17, 2024. It was highly anticipated by her fans and me, as I fell in love with her first album - "When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" which is a masterpiece!
Her brother Finneas, who is also her producer, manages to convey a deep essence in everything he creates with her, and since he was also the producer of "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT," my expectations were high.
I want to highlight that Billie Eilish won another Grammy with the song from the movie "Barbie": "What Was I Made For?", which made me cry at the end of the film. It was a wonderful movie, by the way.
With all these factors in mind, the first time I listened to "HIT ME HARD AND SOFT" was while waiting for the train with my headphones on, and it was a very interesting experience. Did I like it or not? I'm going to tell you all about it here.
I'll use stars to emphasize my favorites.
SKINNY ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's a very well-done introduction to the album. The music is very beautiful, the atmosphere is calm, and Billie Eilish's interpretation is perfect. She falls in love with a friend and feels that she is old enough to live this love, despite it being hidden. The title refers to his weight problems, the reference to her body is a constant in his work. All because she's thinner when she's in love. Who never? The end of the song with the violins is extraordinary.
SKINNY
LUNCH ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
OMG, the lyrics and the rhythm are incredible! I love it, she released "LUNCH" as the first single from the album, and it's a very bold and courageous choice because of the lyrics. I think she was very smart to do it now, it's a way of saying, with me, there are no speculations, because I like women, and I would like to "eat" this woman and invite her to go home. She chose to do this at just 23 years old. Her album is at the top of the charts all over the world. The lyrics speak for themselves, the production is an invitation to dance in every nightclub. I imagine people shouting these lyrics. It's divine!
LUNCH
CHIHIRO ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first thing to point out here is that I was lucky enough to hear "CHIHIRO" with my headphones on because the sound is epic. The production is giant, and Billie Eilish's performance is phenomenal. There's nothing to point out, for me, it's one of the best songs on the album. The sound is intoxicating from start to finish. There is a first part and a second part in which everything is perfect, and the end is apotheosis. "CHIHIRO" is a movie she was inspired by; I've never seen it, but this song made me want to see it, for a better understanding. She released the video, but I'm going to share how I heard it the first time.
CHIHIRO
BIRDS OF A FEATHER ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first time I heard it was after my little death in "CHIHIRO", but it grew on me a lot. Every part of this song is very well produced. It's extraordinary! The beginning elevates us to the delicacy of the gods.
Once again, the sound invites you to dance. The lyrics are about a love that will last forever. The end is once again intoxicating.
BIRDS OF THE FEATHER
WINDFLOWER ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
One of the most beautiful songs on the album. She seems to be regretting having had a relationship with her ex-boyfriend because he was the ex-boyfriend of one of her friends. In the middle of this threesome, she only thought about her female friend. When she sings "Until July," it's breathtaking. It's a very well-produced ballad. You can feel the emotion in Billie Eilish's interpretation. The end is very beautiful.
WINDFLOWER
THE GREATEST ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's a song with two parts that reminds me of the song "Happier Than Ever". The first part is slow and transitions into a very engaging rock sound. The allusion to her relationship is notable, highlighting the fact that she gave everything to make the relationship work, but did not receive the same in return
THE GREATEST
L AMOUR DE MA VIE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
It's about the duplicity of relationships, one day a person is everything we wanted, and the greatest love of our lives, and the other day, when there is a breakup, this person soon moves on to a new relationship - making these words a bunch of nonsenses. She says that the supposed "Love of her life" forgot her very quickly. The question remains - if she was the love of his life, why was it so easy to forget her? The ending is again completely different from the beginning.
L' AMOUR DE MA VIE
DINER ⭐⭐
It's the song I like least, I don't really like the production. The theme is very interesting, she makes a satire of her "Stalkers" and turns into one. It's a very serious joke about the lives of public people.
DINER
BITTERSUITE ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The first part, the first time I heard it, didn't impress me, but when it changes to the second part, it's something else, and a song I didn't like became one of my favorites.
BITTERSUITE
BLUE ⭐⭐⭐⭐
According to my daughter, "BLUE" was a long-awaited song by Billie Eilish fans. The surprise was everything. They were ecstatic and very happy with the revelation of this song. I really liked the production. A good way to end the album.
BLUE
And we've come to the end of my reaction to Billie Eilish's new album, which is full of surprises. Her voice is delicate and very well crafted, there are moments where she shines and elevates her performance, especially in the "backing vocals". My only criticism is that it only has 10 songs, I was hoping for more. Even so, it's an album with a good chance of being the album of the year 2024. Let's see, there are so many good albums this year.
