Ever since Taylor Swift launched “Reputation” in 2017, followers have been attempting to unpack precisely who and what the songs are about. “Reputation” arrived throughout a very drama-filled second in Swift’s life; most notoriously, she was within the thick of her notorious feud with Kanye West and his then-wife Kim Kardashian, and it definitely looks as if “Reputation” was her official assertion on all that. There was additionally so much happening in Swift’s life within the love division, and the album additionally appears to hint the whirlwind early days of her romance with Joe Alwyn, whom she started relationship in 2017 and cut up from in April 2023. Her relationships with Tom Hiddleston and Calvin Harris could have additionally gotten a number of particular mentions, and that is simply the tip of the iceberg. With “Reputation,” Swift had so much to say — and he or she definitely didn’t maintain again.
It isn’t clear when precisely “Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” is coming, however some followers suppose that it’s going to arrive earlier than the top of Swift’s Eras Tour in 2024. Definitely the rerelease will spark renewed curiosity in who the songs on the album are about, however in reality, fascination with Swift’s most intense and vengeful album has by no means actually pale. Forward, be taught extra about all of the theories about who the songs on “Reputation” could be about.
— Further reporting by Monica Sisavat
5 Songs From Taylor Swift’s Fame That You Will not Be Capable of Get Out of Your Head
1. “. . . Ready For It?” — Joe Alwyn
Whereas many followers initially thought this observe was about her ex Harry Types, Swift appeared to make it clear that it is about Alwyn when she dropped hidden references to the actor in her music video. Not solely did she embrace his title in Chinese language characters on one of many partitions within the video, however she additionally included a quote that reads, “I Love You in Secret,” which positively looks as if a nod to their personal relationship.
2. “End Game” — Joe Alwyn
“End Game” appears to be all about eager to be with somebody eternally. Over time, Swift went to nice lengths to maintain her relationship with Alwyn extremely personal, and he or she additionally opened up about eager to be with Alwyn for the remainder of her life on many different songs on future albums, making it appear to be this music is certainly in regards to the actor.
3. “I Did Something Bad” — Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Calvin Harris, and Tom Hiddleston
If there’s one factor Swift is aware of how you can do, it is poke enjoyable of herself. After getting referred to as “shady” and “a snake” all through 2017, the singer determined to be simply that by enjoying the last word villain on this music. Strains like, “If a man talks sh*t, then I owe him nothing. I don’t regret it one bit, ’cause he had it coming,” appear to reference Harris’s Twitter outburst following their cut up, whereas others like, “I never trust a playboy, but they love me. So I fly him all around the world,” appear to allude to her whirlwind romance with Hiddleston. And at last there is a dig at Kardashian and West and the way they “exposed” her on Snapchat as she sings, “They’re burning all the witches, even if you aren’t one. They got their pitchforks and proof. Their receipts and reasons.”
4. “Don’t Blame Me” — Joe Alwyn
This appears to be a tongue-in-cheek love music about Alwyn. Though she admits she’s been “breakin’ hearts a long time, and toyin’ with them older guys,” she provides that one thing “happened for the first time” in “their darkest little paradise.” Shortly after her publicized romances with Harris and Hiddleston ended and her repute got here crumbling down, Swift ran away with Alwyn to remain out of the general public eye. With this music, Swift appears to say that this one was the true deal.
5. “Delicate” — Joe Alwyn
From the start of the music, Swift reveals that the connection she is referencing started after her notorious feud with West as she sings, “My reputation’s never been worse, so you must like me for me.” She additionally talks in regards to the man sporting “dark jeans and Nikes” and getting misplaced in that “color blue.” On one event when the pair was leaving her residence in NYC in 2017, they have been noticed sporting matching Nike sneakers. To not point out, Alwyn’s eyes are positively very blue.
6. “Look What You Made Me Do” — Kanye West and Kim Kardashian
This observe is one hundred pc about her feud with West and Kardashian. Along with making references to West’s floating stage from his 2016 Saint Pablo Tour, Swift addresses the couple’s “perfect crime” of publishing a Snapchat video of her telephone name with West and principally warns that karma will quickly get them. Truthfully, she wasn’t fallacious.
7. “So It Goes . . .” — Joe Alwyn
Whereas there aren’t too many telling lyrics on this observe, she does speak about sporting this man “like a necklace.” In her music, “Call It What You Want,” which can also be rumored to be about Alwyn, she talks about eager to put on his preliminary on a series round her neck. Her lyrics about all their items falling proper into place might sign how she discovered love throughout certainly one of her darkest hours.
8. “Gorgeous” — Joe Alwyn
The flirty lyrics of this observe are all about Swift falling for a brand new man whereas she’s already relationship someone else. Whereas many followers initially assumed the music was about ex Hiddleston, followers who attended her personal listening classes mentioned it is about Alwyn, which might make sense provided that Swift first met Alwyn on the 2016 Met Gala when she was relationship Harris.
9. “Getaway Car” — Tom Hiddleston
This music appears to be all about Swift’s relationship with Hiddleston. First off, it seemingly addresses a failed relationship, making Alwyn an unlikely candidate. The black-tie occasion she references additionally could possibly be a nod to the Met Gala, the place she danced the evening away with Hiddleston whereas she was nonetheless relationship Harris. Swift additionally addresses their jet-setting romance in a number of of the strains, however maybe probably the most telling lyrics are when she sings, “While he was runnin’ after us, I was screamin’, ‘go, go, go!’ / But with three of us, honey, it’s a side show / And a circus ain’t a love story / And now we’re both sorry (we’re both sorry).”
10. “King Of My Heart” — Joe Alwyn
Not solely does Swift make a reference to the music title in her “. . . Ready For It?” music video, which has tons of hidden references to Alwyn, however she additionally talks about how “all the boys and their expensive cars with their Range Rovers and their Jaguars” by no means took her fairly the place he does. In line with followers on Genius, Harris drove a Vary Rover and Hiddleston drove a Jaguar. She additionally talks about wanting to maintain a love a secret for so long as she will be able to, as she and Alwyn did initially of their relationship.
11. “Dancing With Our Hands Tied” — Calvin Harris or Joe Alwyn
This might positively be one other love music about her then-under-the-radar romance with Alwyn, although there are a number of lyrics that recommend she could possibly be singing about her ex, Harris. She mentions being 25 years previous, which was her age when she first began relationship Harris in March 2015. She additionally makes a reference to an image of his face in an invisible locket. Do not forget that gold coronary heart locket Harris gifted Swift on their one-year-anniversary? To high all of it off, the entire observe has some main EDM vibes.
12. “Dress” — Joe Alwyn
Though some followers thought the observe was about her pal Ed Sheeran with lyrics like “there is an indentation in the shape of you,” there’s one telling line that makes us suppose it is about Alwyn. She provides that once they first met he had a buzz reduce and he or she had bleached hair, which was someday round Could 2016, once they reportedly met.
13. “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” — Kanye West
This searing observe is clearly a shot at West. Not solely does Swift reference their on-again, off-again friendship and that notorious telephone name about West’s “Famous” lyrics, however she even goes so far as to name out West’s falling out with longtime pal JAY-Z when she sings, “But I’m not the only friend you’ve lost lately / If only you weren’t so shady.”
14. “Call It What You Want” — Joe Alwyn
Though Swift was at all times extraordinarily personal about her relationship with Alwyn, she offers a better take a look at their romance on this observe. Essentially the most revealing lyric is when Swift sings, “I recall late November, holdin’ my breath / Slowly I said, ‘You don’t need to save me / But would you run away with me?.'” The lyric seems to be a nod to when Swift attended the screening of Alwyn’s movie “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk” in November 2016.
15. “New Year’s Day” — Joe Alwyn
Not solely does the music speak about wanting to stick with somebody “forevermore,” however the vacation additionally would possibly maintain particular significance for the lovebirds. As Swift factors out in her music, “Call It What You Want,” she requested Alwyn to run away along with her in November of 2016. Seeing that she did not return to the highlight till February 2017 for her DirecTV Now Tremendous Bowl live performance efficiency in Houston, it may be assumed that she spent the time in between then, aka December and January, hanging out with Alwyn.
