Taylor Swift Is Done With The ‘One Night Or A Wife’ Trope

Following the astronomical release of Taylor Swift’s newest album Midnights on Friday October 21st, there has been much discussion online surrounding the meaning of the songs.

As a woman who had been ridiculed about her love life for her entire career, a newer more mature Taylor has returned to set the record straight, challenging the haters by confessing ‘I’m the problem, it’s me’, and deciding to take fate into her own hands.

One theme capturing the attention of listeners and avid fans alike is Taylor’s clear disdain for the title of ‘wife’ and all that the word entails.

 

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Fans went wild online as they discussed the irony of Taylor’s past as it was presented in the media throughout her career, versus the reality of her experience which she has revealed through her songs ‘Lavender Haze’ and ‘Midnight Rain’.

Taylor is knuckling one thing down: she made her own name and she is in no rush to give it up – even if she has found the one.

Here’s what fans had to say:

I love the construction society made of Taylor Swift the ‘serial dater who can’t keep them because she always goes in too deep’ and she literally is singing about not wanting to be a wife and rejecting 1950s shit women stereotypes… people don’t know her at all

— Ines in the lavander haze 🪩🌌 (@InesNeverLied) October 22, 2022

 

it’s so funny that taylor said lavender haze is “a phrase from the 50s” and then spent the whole song talking about how she does NOT want that “1950s shit”

— fruity taylor 🍒 (@taysdamnseasn) October 23, 2022

 

Taylor takes further strides at the media’s perception of her in song ‘Anti-Hero’ as she admits ‘I’m the problem, it’s me’ which can be speculated to make fun of the criticism the songwriter has experienced for her dating history.

The Grammy award winner goes on to unveil all of the trauma that she has experienced, and how everything being played out in the public eye tainted her own self image.

 

the way she implies looking directly into the sun being less painful than looking at yourself has had me in physical pain for DAYS

— lotte ✨ (@teatimetay13) October 24, 2022

The songstress came under question for one of the lyrics in ‘Anti-Hero’ where she sings: “Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby, and I’m a monster on the hill’.”

It seems the lyric has been misunderstood by fans due to a generational barrier. The lyric is apparently actually a reference to 30 Rock, and comments on the self loathing and poor self image that she experiences.

“Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby And I’m a monster on the hill Too big to hang out” is a reference to 30 rock and a commentary on the male gaze. “sexy baby” on 30 rock refers to how predatory men can be to women who act younger or more childlike

— timmy (@parkersrodrigo) October 21, 2022

 

so taylor’s most likely saying here that she sometimes feels like everyone around her is conventionally attractive and she’s not the one men look to first. taylor swift was NOT calling babies sexy 💀

— timmy (@parkersrodrigo) October 21, 2022

 

With Taylor, there are no accidents, and she reaffirms this in her closing track ‘Mastermind’. The songs tells her real love story, and how she has decided to take the wheel instead of leaving it all up to fate.

taylor swift went from “i lived in your chess games but you changed the rules every day” to “checkmate I never lose” yep, she’s an absolute mastermind.

— mary grace (midnights version) 🕰 (@missmirrorball_) October 21, 2022

Taylor Swifts Midnights and Midnights (3AM Version) are available to listen to on all streaming platforms.

Written by Rebekah O’Reilly

Tags:

• New Music
• Taylor Swift