Swift’s new single a ‘cringe-worthy mess’?
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After weeks of hints on social media, Taylor Swift’s long-awaited single has dropped.
Source: AP
TAYLOR Swift released the first single from her new album, 1989, this week, but it’s not hitting many high notes with critics.
The pop song, Shake It Off, was unveiled along with its music video during her Yahoo! live stream on Monday.
After plenty of Twitter hype using the hashtag #TaylorSwiftYahooLiveStream, the clip has already earned nearly 9 million YouTube views, and swiftly counting.
While dedicated Swizzle fans are praising the first look at her fifth studio album, not everyone is psyched about it, with some industry critics even labelling it a “cringe-worthy mess” and “inherently offensive”. Some are convinced she’s simply confused.
Here’s a roundup of what some critics had to say about Shake It Off.
8 annoying things about Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off’ music video http://t.co/23VwZYZAnF pic.twitter.com/D7EipeH3FN
— HitFix (@HitFix) August 19, 2014
Congratulations Taylor Swift, you’ve done it. You’re a one-woman boyband: http://t.co/qSnYflph6w pic.twitter.com/7gkEMQjbBQ
— Noisey (@NoiseyMusic) August 19, 2014
Is Taylor Swift’s new video “Shake It Off” racist? http://t.co/G7EL08nGTh
— Consequence of Sound (@coslive) August 19, 2014
Taylor Swift’s new music video is a cringe-worthy mess http://t.co/cYfT3KRBHw pic.twitter.com/3dr8PGAQ2O
— Jezebel (@Jezebel) August 18, 2014
haven’t watched the taylor swift video and I don’t need to watch it to tell you that it’s inherently offensive and ultimately harmful
— EARL (@earlxsweat) August 19, 2014
Why Taylor Swift’s thinkpiece-baiting video for “Shake It Off” is predictable and ultimately boring. http://t.co/CgozWvZHiz
— The FADER (@thefader) August 19, 2014
Uhhh…is Taylor Swift confused? That song is RIDICULOUS and the video leaves me speechless.
— Sar (@CinderellaGeek) August 20, 2014
::listens to Big Freedia once:: pic.twitter.com/5QGdLTJJAW
— Craig Jenkins (@CraigSJ) August 18, 2014
The music video is a bizarre mashup of hip-hop, rapping, ballet, a spot of cheerleading and what looks like an attempt at twerking, (cover your eyes, Miley). “You can tell a lot about a person by how they dance,” Swift said when debuting the video. No kidding.
Yet, Swifties are applauding their idol for her incredibly honest lyrics throughout the song. She promises to shake off the “players who are gonna play” and “the haters who are going to hate,” chirping: “I go on too many dates, but I can’t make ‘em stay, that’s what people say.”
Listen to the full song here:
One thing is obvious, Shake It Off is the 24-year-old’s official departure from her earlier image. Country songstress Tay-Tay is no more. This is the new pop superstar, Ms. Swift.
She even referred to the new album as her “first documented, official pop album” when announcing it during the live-stream.
Given that Swift’s last album, 2012’s Red, was criticised for having too much pop influence, we can’t help but think that this might have been some pre-emptive damage control.
1989, which Swift has been working on for two years, drops on October 27.
What do you think of Shake It Off? Hit or miss? Share with us below.
Taylor Swift is shaking off her old image with her latest single.
Source: Getty Images
