This past summer, American Eagle released an ad featuring blonde bombshell Sydney Sweeney, who defines and describes the concept of heredity, before a large text reads, “Sydney Sweeney has good jeans.” Immediately, many questions followed the release of the advertisement about the intended meaning of this ad, and the entire situation left a bad taste in many people’s mouths. The company has since put out a statement on Instagram claiming that the ad “is and always was about the jeans” and that “great jeans look good on everyone.” However, this post has done nothing to revive the public’s positive view on the brand and has instead opened the public’s eyes to a larger trend of pop culture dog whistling. In the context of this controversy, the conversation of eugenic subliminal messaging has recently come back into light. Now, months later, this conversation has regained its fire through the release of a new suspect case: “The Life of a Showgirl.”
On Oct. 3, Taylor Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” was released on all streaming platforms. Swift had said on Travis and Jason Kelce’s podcast that she was “bringing the best ideas [she’s] ever had.” For months, Swifties have anxiously awaited the drop from the master lyricist, who claimed that she had created “the perfect album.” Upon its release, the critics were talking, the Swifties were singing, and some like me have set out to analyze some of her lyrics through a political lens. I believe that this album marks a stark switch in Taylor Swift’s brand to be more aligned with right-wing beliefs, and the loss of relatability as she becomes a capitalist. I want you to set aside your thoughts on Taylor Swift as an artist — whether you think she is a modern Shakespeare or akin to nails on a chalkboard — and form your own critical opinions as we analyze the messages found in this new controversial project.
The first example is the song “CANCELLED!” which stands to be an anthem for those tired of the woke and politically correct agenda that is forced onto everyone. While the line “good thing I like my friends cancelled,” could bear a more shallow meaning, I find it more plausible that a 35-year-old woman in the limelight would know more about the reasons behind the act of “cancelling” someone. Recent criticism of woke culture may stem from a societal lack of empathy, which invites the acceptance of otherwise intolerable behaviors.
This isn’t all though, as other people online claim that there are also subtler dog whistles throughout her new album in songs “Opalite” and “Wi$h Li$t”. I’ve heard claims of lyrics like, “I’m not a bad bitch and this isn’t savage” and “you were in it for real, she was on her phone…sleepless in the onyx night, now the sky is opalite” alluding to Travis Kelce’s past dating history of predominantly black women. Other lyrics mentioning “freedom” and “[pledging] allegiance” describe right-leaning imagery that has not been seen in her previous work.
Some come to Taylor’s defense and cite her past democratic statements as proof that these lyrics have no deeper meaning. However, I will justify my critical analysis by pointing to how Swift has yet to comment or raise awareness on the current ICE raids across the country or the inhumane violence happening in Palestine. Though this is not her brand or role in the political landscape, she has been known for speaking out on sexual assault awareness and LGBTQ rights for years. Did her passion for politics go away, or is she silent on the grounds that her left-leaning audience won’t like what she has to say?
Despite the controversy surrounding her album, Taylor said in an interview for Variety magazine that “[If] you’re saying my name or my album title, you’re helping.” In my opinion, this is a very odd thing for someone with a net worth of over two billion dollars to be saying, as if she is in shortage of fame or money. At this stage in her career, she should be taking creative risks and stretching the limits of her abilities, not aligning herself with an ever-greedy mindset.
Throughout her career, her relatability on love, life and introspection have kept her as the most influential icon of pop music. This seems to be the first album that has die-hard fans severely underwhelmed. The difference in lifestyles and mindsets between the everyday listener and the multi-billionaire have become too jarring to ignore. Taylor’s branding is no longer working for us.
Defenders of Taylor will say that people are sensitive now, and in my opinion, “too sensitive” is just another phrase for “too thoughtful.” Criticism and discussion are the backbone of progress, and without them, reform is out of the question. With the release of this album, Taylor Swift has become a martyr of political commentary, or — even more simply — of class disparity. Do celebrities owe us their political opinions? I would insist that yes, in a world where politics now directly concerns the lives and health of people without a platform to spread awareness, that it is a celebrity’s duty. At the very least, the celebrity shouldn’t be offended when their silence is not rewarded with praise.
Featured image from @taylorswift on instagram
She said the word freedom? What a fascist!
great satire!