Taylor Swift’s “Reputation” Is Criminally Underrated

By AARIN ARORA

Nearing its third year anniversary, Taylor Swift’s Reputation is still criminally underrated. Despite scorching physical sales, Swift’s sixth studio LP did not receive a single major Grammy’s nomination. An overlooked album from the pop powerhouse, Reputation deserves a place as a staple in the electro-pop world.

Opening with “...Ready For It?” Swift delivers a powerful pop performance with an anthem-like chorus. More of an affirmation than a question, Swift implicitly asks if people are ready for this album (spoiler alert: they are not!). With this cheery rap-like tune, Swift defines a new era of electro-pop in her career, a very big turn from any song on her previous release 1989.

The second track on the album, “End Game,” is a love song with two features on the track! A long time friend of Swift’s — Ed Sheeran — and Future. Swift comments on her reputation and how it often precedes her. With bold lyrics such as “I swear I don’t love the drama, it loves me,” Swift makes sure this is a collaboration of hers that will go down in history.

“I Did Something Bad” has the toughest tone on the album. Establishing itself as a revenge song, Swift speaks of unworthy narcissists and playboys. With interesting instrumentals and vocals, Swift makes sure that people know she’s earned her career. “If a man talks sh*t then I owe him nothing,” Swift sings, establishing that she will not be messed with. 

Next on the track list we have a gospel-infused R&B song, “Don’t Blame Me.” Mixing electro-pop with classic soul elements, Swift says, “Don’t blame me / Love made me crazy.” Showing her impressive vocal range, Swift manages to belt out a high note in all its beauty, truly making the bridge of this song one to remember. 

Taylor has been known to make the fifth track of her albums one that is personal and very revealing. The same applies to Reputation. Swift sings of insecurity within a relationship: “Is it cool that I said all that? / Is it chill that you’re in my head? / Cause I know that it’s delicate.” As the sixth single from the album, the song established itself as a fan favorite.

Turning back to the theme of her reputation, Taylor Swift’s sixth track on this album, and the first single, is none other than the iconic “Look What You Made Me Do,” which samples Right Said Fred’s “I’m Too Sexy,” and managed to be the single that finally dethroned “Despacito” back in August of 2017. This song holds a special place in the hearts of fans because of its symbolism. Swift sings, “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now / Why? Oh- / Cause she’s dead!” This iconic line sent fans into a frenzy for obvious reasons, and went on to be said by Tiffany Haddish throughout the Reputation stadium tour.

On a much more mellow note, the seventh track, “So It Goes…,” has a much more sensitive and personal tone. Taylor sings of love in ways that she never has before. “So It Goes…” is the album’s underdog, as it was not on the tour setlist, though Taylor did perform the song once as her surprise song in Washington D.C., leaving her fans in awe. 

Next up, “Gorgeous” tells the tale of a heart-aching crush. Swift sings, “You make me so happy it turns back to sad” with tones to match throughout the song. Swift is absolutely swooning over this new person she’s met and claims, “you’ve ruined my life / by not being mine.”  Another electro-pop song with a funky bass rhythm to fall in love, this groovy song will hit you in the feels about your crush as well.

Where do I even begin with the next track, “Getaway Car,” the single that got away? Fans were absolutely crushed when they discovered that the track would not become a single despite it having such obvious merit. Swift sings about a love that seems to be doomed from the start. “I knew it from the first old fashioned we were cursed,” sings Swift. “We never had a shotgun shot in the dark.” With lyrics that read poetry, Swift establishes the perfect metaphor for a relationship that seems to be unraveling. 

Skipping ahead, the fourteenth and most promising track on this record is “Call It What You Want,” which sings of a true love that stays regardless of your reputation or of what the media says about you, and it truly brings out some of Swift’s best songwriting. With lyrics like, “All my flowers grew back as thorns / Windows boarded up after the storm / He built a fire just to keep me warm,” Swift solidifies herself as an amazing songwriter. 

The last track on this record, and truly my favorite, is “New Year’s Day,” which isn’t just a song that you can sing with your lover as you clean up after the holiday party, but is also a track that captures the coziness and comfort of a relationship. “Don’t read the last page / But I stay / When you’re lost, and I’m scared, and you’re turning away,” sings Swift. This song means something very special to Swift’s fans and you best believe that they play this song on New Year’s, as well as year-round.

As Taylor has done time and time again, she created a beautiful record with Reputation. One where she reclaimed her identity and proved herself to be the performer, singer/songwriter, and entertainer she was born to be. As Swift has said, “There will be no further explanation. There will just be reputation.”