Folklore/Betty speech, April 28th:
I thought you know, it's been a long time that I've been writing, like, painfully autobiographical songs about my own self and my own feelings. Obviously folklore has my feelings completely bled in through it, but I created these characters for the very first time, and really just decided to, like, try creating characters who could feel these things.. sort of by proxy. Some of my favorite characters were this teenage love triangle. Where like.. you know.. over the summer, and specifically during the month of August, this teenage boy named James, really screws things up with the love of his life.. and her name is Betty!
Lol, it's probably the one she did in the Calvins. She had to cut her comments off on that one.
Iconic. Moment of appreciation for this shoot.
i know taylor doesn’t brag much but i need her to brag about this. please.
Her singing "So tell me to run / Or dare to sit and watch what we'll become / And drink my husband's wine"
to "You don't need to save me / But would you run away with me?" / Yes"
Don’t let go🥹
@ 1975 concert dec 2014
Taylor is known to pay attention to the smallest details to send the right message. Is it possible that the message she wants to send our way completely went over our heads?
Let’s talk about the END GAME video. She laid out multiple tells about an unspoken truth for people to assume, but what if she also gave us the end of her game of hide and go seek with her most precious easter egg, her truth.
Both eyes on her.
There’s an undeniable theme that Reputation exhumes: A love so dark yet pure that she cannot resist but to bask in.
Now, let’s digest the two scenes so we could better understand how relevant this is to the narrative so far.
There are two things the two subjects in the back has in common:
Being a figure of darkness; both are observed as being covered in black. Why is this relevant? Darkness is a tool for concealment. The absence of light provides an unbeatable cover for the truth. Calculated movements, unnoticed touches, stolen glances and hidden truth all dwell in the dark shadows of night. This affair is a secret.
Here are lyrics to support this:
“Our secret moments in a crowded room
They got no idea about me and you(…)
Everyone thinks that they know us
But they know nothing about—…”
“Something happened for the first time
In the darkest little paradise”
They are both looking at her. Regardless of ones reason or intention to stare, one thing is undeniable, there is an underlying need; an unspoken wanting. Her lover wants her as much as she does. The whole album makes us aware of how intense the attraction Taylor feels for her lover and the silent gaze proves that the attraction is mutual.
Generally, cats are perceived as fluffy, adorable, silly and sometimes grumpy animals. But that isn’t what Taylor wants us to see. She specifically chosen a BLACK CAT to stand in as her lover in the dark.
A simple google search will give you an idea of a Black Cat’s Reputation: Superstition, prejudice, bringer of good or bad luck.
Superstition - a widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences. of an action or event, or a practice based on such a belief.
Prejudice - preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.
Given these definitions, we arrive to an understanding that their affair is hidden because of people’s unjustified beliefs and preconceived opinions about their love.
But, what’s beautiful is that the black cat also symbolizes that Taylor is aware that choosing to be with her lover can either help her reach the pinnacle of success or cause her to lose her balance and succumb to her downfall. Good luck or bad luck.
And she still took the risk.
See you in the dark
She hid her in plain sight,
She used a cat to make us wonder.
Now we see her in the light,
We see that she is indeed her lover.
Come here, dressed in black now
Scratches down her back now
All eyes on you, my magician
All eyes on me,
Your illusionist.
P. S. The black cat’s eyes are green.
Keep Swifties away from our precious Karlie.
I’m sending her so much love right now. They better be nice to her istg 😭
Throwback to those times when Taylor would openly mention Karlie in her music video bts interview, and what inspired her 😭🥹
T: My friend Karlie, when she walks the runway, you can tell she grew up doing ballet. Like, there's something so incredibly disciplined about them.
Then down to this moment for Lover performance - AMAs November 24/25th 2019 - days after she released Lover remix on November 13th (the day they officially met/bonded) with the snowglobe and lyrics saying "The girl in my story has always been you"
I hope this 31st year brings you new growth, new challenges, and much more love. I hope you take some time for yourself to reflect, rest, relax and reset. Then take a little more time to celebrate with people who make you feel whole and loved for who you are. 🥳🎉
Happy 31st, girlie 💛☀️
I also woke up to rewatching and finding new layers. Last night I thought it was pretty boring. Among other things, I’m intrigued by the idea that this coder girl seemed to be the villain. Her jailer. But then we find she’s the mastermind back in the van directing the escape.
That’s an interesting thought! She wasn’t the villain in the video but you mean all the years people suddenly came to this conclusion and hung on to it, and all the while she’s in the shadows (van) helping guide Taylor through it all. I think the use of ‘coder girl’ is very loud.