Officially Stefny

I wish I had been able to do this when I first heard the album this morning, but alas I was at work. Welcome to my first track-by-track album review of my girl Taylor Swift’s new album Lover!

So let me preface this by saying two things:

1. I’m broke as a JOKE and could not afford to go to Target to buy the 4 copies of the album but I’m a bad adult and I’m struggling with whether or not I should just go charge it to my credit card.
2. As you can tell from the last statement, I’m a huge Swiftie. I will do my best not to let my fan status sway my opinions.

Track 1: I Forgot You Existed

So first of all, I love the title. “In my feelings more than Drake” is the best lyric of all time. Fight me. These lyrics are shaaaady and it’s great. I like the way some of the lyrics are spoken. Overall, it’s cute and catchy. Cute opening track.

Track 2: Cruel Summer

SYNTHHHHH. I really wanted this to be a cover of Bananarama but oh well. Has Taylor ever released a cover on an album? She’s really into being drunk on this album again. What instrument/artifact is being used as the percussion?

Track 3: Lover

I really like this song but I don’t think it fits here. It’s so ethereal. Also can we talk about the video and how beautiful it is? I really like the “There’s a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear” line. I also really like the instrumentation in this song… simple guitar and soft drums for the verse and adding a bit of piano for the chorus. It’s not over-produced. And the violin plucking in the bridge.

Track 4: The Man

SYNTH AGAIN. I love that she brought this element from 1989 back. Also as a woman I can identify with the lyrics to this song. I want to listen to this and “The Man” by the Killers next to each other and compare Brandon’s ego-driven lyrics with these. She also uses some form of the word “bitch” twice in rapid succession and I feel like that’s a big leap for her.

Track 5: Archer

I’ve loved this song a lot since the first time I heard it. Again with the synth and etherealness. I also feel like this song has some of the best lyrics of the whole record. Who doesn’t love a good Humpty Dumpty reference (cough Monkees)?

Track 6: I Think He Knows

Interesting opening with the snapping. I feel it. This feels very much like a playground jump rope song, doesn’t it? “He’s so obsessed with me and boy I understand.” BIG MOOD TAYLOR. I’ve always wanted indigo eyes…

Track 7: Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince

I loooooove the music in this song. The high school emo in me really loves these lyrics. My high school experience was not great but my boyfriend when I was 16 was my first love and boyyyyyy I can see me singing this song to him then. Does the chanting part in the bridge remind anyone else of “Leave (Get Out)” by JoJo? LOL.

Track 8: Paper Rings

This song is SO CUTE. “I like shiny things but I’d marry you with paper rings!” SLAY ME, TAY. Did she say something about dirty dreams? Also my best friend said this song reminds her of her and her boyfriend and seriously how cute is that? I want to say that it reminds me of my boyfriend and me too but I can’t steal that from her! But we also started out as friends and also because I love him and it’s adorable.

Track 9: Cornelia Street

That’s just so fun to say isn’t it? “Cornelia Street.” Alsooooooo another song about Taylor drankin’. I’ve also noticed she slows down and strips down a lot of songs during the pre-chorus and then ramps them back up for the chorus proper. It’s only the for first instance in this song but it’s still a common thing. Something about the way she says “barefoot in the kitchen” sounds exactly like Patrick Stump and that’s confusing to me. I wonder if I walked Cornelia Street when I was in NYC two years ago at this time?…

Track 10: Death By A Thousand Cuts

Text I sent my Swiftie group chat earlier: “Tell me why the beginning of death by a thousand cuts sounds like a Christmas song”

She mentioned getting drunk again… Taylor, do you need an intervention? Is this the only song where she uses “my baby?” I think she said it enough on Rep to last a lifetime.

Track 11: London Boy

LOL omg the voice at the beginning is Idris Elba. I forgot that was a thing that was happening. This song is like the happy version of “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad” by Brand New. I think she name drops every single thing about London in this song. It’s cute.

Track 12: Soon You’ll Get Better (feat. Dixie Chicks)

Initial thought: Was her hair long enough to get caught up in coat buttons at the point in which this song is referencing? THE DIXIE CHICKS ARE HARDLY IN THIS, WHY EVEN ADVERTISE IT AS A COLLAB? Ultimately this is the most depressing song in the history of forever. I honestly don’t know how she even recorded it. I would never be able to get through it.

Track 13: False God

Woah there, jazz sax. This album harkens back to a lot of 1989, not only with the synth but also the constant NYC references. Dude I am living for this jazz sax. As a former saxophone player, I condone this choice. Boy the lyrics to this chorus are DIRTYYYYY GIIIIIIRL.

Track 14: You Need To Calm Down

Do I even need to say it? SYNTH. The driving synth reminds me a lot of “Style.” I’ve loved this song since the first time I heard it when I was camping in Colorado. A lot of people thought it was cheesy but I think “snakes and stones never broke my bones” is lyrical genius. There’s also been a lot of comparison between this song and “Heartbeats” and honestly I get it. Also, I would like to point out, that the FIRST TIME I heard the line “Can you just not step on his gown?” my immediate thought was Billy Porter and GIRL if he didn’t end up in the video.

Track 15: Afterglow

I’ll be honest, nothing about this really jumps out at me. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but I just don’t feel like there’s anything that warrants commentary. Lyrically and musically it’s just there. I guess I can relate to the lyrics though from one time in the past my boyfriend and I had a blow out fight about something.

Track 16: ME! (feat. Brendon Urie)

What can be said about this song that hasn’t already been said? When the video premiered this is NOT what I was anticipating the song to sound like. I really like the marching band style because I was in marching band and I guess it’s part of my DNA. I think it’s by far one of her weaker songs, even though I LOVE Brendon. His voice is gorgeous and perfect for the song, but it’s just pretty weak overall. I do, however, think it’s HILARIOUS they took the “Hey kids, spelling is fun!” part out of the album version. Sure it was corny and roundly ridiculed, but after this much time I’m used to it and it just sounds wrong without it. Plus, I’m a huge advocate of correct spelling. Also, “You can’t spell ‘awesome’ without ‘me’” is pure gold.

Track 17: It’s Nice To Have A Friend

I like the steel drums a whole lot. The story behind this song is cute and all but like… can’t relate. My best guy friend from elementary school up and ditched all his friends for the worst girl from our town so…

Track 18: Daylight

I think lyrically and sonically this song is the most reminiscent of Reputation. Why has she been in a 20-year dark night? Has she been depressed and lonely since she was 9? I love the reference in “I once believed love would be burning red.” Great closer.

I wanna be defined by the things that I love
Not the things I hate
Not the things I’m afraid of, I’m afraid of
Or the things that haunt me in the middle of the night
I, I just think that
You are what you love

Taylor Swift