On this installment of what we’re listening to, Opinions Editor Cherlynn Low dives into new releases from Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande, and explores what music means to us when songs are consumed extra like books and journal entries.
Cherlynn Low, Deputy Editor, Opinions
April 19 ought to have been declared a worldwide vacation. It was, in any case, the discharge day of Taylor Swift’s extremely anticipated album, The Tortured Poets Division (TTPD). How might we be anticipated to work on this most hyped of Fridays, when there have been lyrics to overanalyze and melodies to emo-walk to?
Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Division
I’ll admit: I hate myself a bit for the eagerness with which I hit play on albums like TTPD and Ariana Grande’s Everlasting Sunshine (ES). Each musicians had lately left long-term relationships and obtained along with new beaus, amid rabid press protection and relentless hypothesis on Reddit. I often want to listen to from the individuals concerned as a substitute of studying tabloid articles based mostly on what “mates near” mentioned, and for Swift and Grande, songs are often as shut as we’ll get to major sources.
I noticed these albums as alternatives to get their takes on what went down. Granted, it’s at all times smart to take their phrases with beneficiant helpings of salt, the identical approach therapists are likely to do not forget that their sufferers’ retelling of tales might be skewed or unreliable.
Each Grande and Swift have made their lives the topic of their music for years, and so they usually have an air of defensiveness. Titles like “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Sure, and?” make me assume of people that blame others or don’t care in regards to the penalties of their actions. Even songs like Swift’s “Anti-Hero” from her final album and Grande’s “Thank U, Subsequent” appear at first look to be about taking accountability, however actually proceed the theme of dodging actual accountability.
I’m undecided if music has at all times been rooted in scrutinizing the artist’s life, nevertheless it definitely appears to have develop into extra widespread lately. The extent of curiosity and evaluation round issues so simple as phrase alternative or order has most likely by no means been as excessive, both. It’s additionally price contemplating that these two much-hyped albums had been launched inside two months of one another. Granted, Swift’s new music has solely been out for about 40 hours, and there are 31 complete songs spanning a full 65 minutes and eight seconds, so I might want to take heed to it a couple of extra occasions for all of it to sink in.
Grande’s album, which dropped final month, was scrutinized by followers and critics alike. It was launched shortly after her divorce from Dalton Gomez and her budding relationship (reportedly) with fellow Depraved solid member Ethan Slater.
After I first performed by means of ES, I used to be largely underwhelmed and aggravated. There was, as anticipated, no accountability for what her actions did to the mom of a new child and quite a lot of romanticizing of her newest man. However even on simply my second listening, I knew I had a couple of favourite tracks. Different Engadget workers members agree with me: ES is a stable album with fairly a couple of bangers.
Ariana Grande – Everlasting Sunshine
I’ll not endorse Grande’s conduct — and nobody requested me to — however rattling, I can’t assist liking her music. And it’s most likely as a result of I’m hooked on the melodies and manufacturing, not the lyrical content material.
Swift, alternatively, appears extra of an aspiring wordsmith. A lot has been mentioned about her lyrical talents, and I’ve no need to retread these waters. I’ll simply say that as an occasional aspiring poet myself, I’ve to admire the laissez faire method of rhyming “division” with “condo.”
I’m extra intrigued by what appears to me just like the precedence of a tune’s phrases over its tune and sound. Like Billboard states, TTPD’s title alone “calls much more consideration to her lyricism than ordinary.”
Swift’s music has at all times felt like journal entries meant for the general public, chock-full of inside references, Easter eggs and thinly veiled digs at former lovers. Her earlier works had been due to this fact extremely relatable for scores of youngsters around the globe. However as her success ballooned, so has she grown out of contact with the common particular person, and her songs have consequently develop into extra like glimpses right into a life that mere mortals can solely dream about. Whereas her items proceed to really feel like blogs or Tumblr posts, Swift controls the narrative by rigorously orchestrating not simply synths, guitars and lyrics, but additionally pap walks and delicately timed public appearances.
Not like Grande, who has largely averted showing with Slater at high-profile occasions and likewise hasn’t hidden as many Easter eggs in her songs, Swift has not been afraid to point out off and present up for her new companion. She’s not publicity-averse; she appears to anticipate and nearly courts it.
With the overall technique round TTPD, like asserting it on the Grammy’s and gradual teases of lyrics and canopy artwork, it definitely looks like nowadays, the billionaire with a non-public jet drawback is extra centered on her fantasy and monetary worth than the artwork of songwriting.
Swift shocked everybody at 2AM on April 19 by releasing an entire 15 extra songs alongside the preliminary 16 individuals had been anticipating for TTPD. This meant that anybody who pre-ordered the unique album would miss out on mainly a complete second album price of tracks and have to spend extra. The Swift staff additionally made a number of variations of the bodily album out there, like collectors’ editions — all blatant money grabs designed to maximise income.
Grande is responsible of this too, making so many various iterations of “Sure, and?” when that single was launched in what appeared like an try to position the tune on the high of streaming charts. ES additionally has completely different variations of canopy artwork for followers to spend their hard-earned cash on.
Right here’s the factor. Do I care deeply about both of those albums? Nope. Did I eagerly take heed to them, hoping to glean perception on their seemingly messy and chaotic relationships? Sure. However regardless of Swift’s advertising and marketing and positioning herself as a poet — and TTPD providing extra of a have a look at her fling with Matty Healy from The 1975 — I spotted I simply didn’t fairly like her album musically. In actual fact, my favourite Swift songs like “Wildest Desires” and “Delicate” are stunning symphonies of atmospheric synths and instrumentation.
Perhaps I’m simply studying that I care extra about music than lyrics. Or perhaps I believe good songs are a mixture of the 2 and will converse for themselves with out having to depend on hype, gossip and advertising and marketing techniques. To be honest, that’s true of all artwork, whether or not it’s movie, pictures or poetry. And whereas the irony of my being sucked into taking part in TTPD and ES because of the promise of studying about their lives isn’t misplaced on me, I assume I simply want I might take heed to music (and skim books and watch films) with out having to fret or be so involved in regards to the creator’s selections and actions. However in 2024 (and past), that appears now not possible.
