Virgin EMI (label)
20 October 2017 (released)
21 October 2017
After the travails of previous Reputation singles ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ and ‘Ready For It?’, Taylor Swift is ready for, lust, longing, and levity, on ‘Gorgeous’.
The third single from the forthcoming LP finds Swift, in the club, enjoying the whiskey, and falling hard for a new man. Problem is that the protagonist already has a beau attached, and besides the object of desire is to gorgeous for words.
Swift sings:
“I can't say anything to your face
'Cause look at your face
And I'm so furious
At you for making me feel this way
But what can I say?
You're gorgeous”
Although seeing the songstress fall head over heels for a flame is nothing new, unlike past work the track makes it clear that the alcohol induced storyteller is in lust and looking for an upgrade on her current boy. What’s more, it’s all the newbee’s fault.
The singer Pines:
“If you've got a girlfriend, I'm jealous of her
But if you're single that's honestly worse
'Cause you're so gorgeous it actually hurts”
On first listen the song could easily come off melodramatic, needy, and a tad over the top. All of that is true, but things begin to get interesting when you take it with a pinch of salt. In their review of the song music magazine Billboard posit the theory that 'Gorgeous' is a "slapstick romantic comedy", and they certainly have a point.
Tunes like ‘Blank Space’ and ‘Ready For It?’, prove that Taylor is game for a knowing laugh, and ’Gorgeous’ seems no different.
Here we find the protagonist, all but drawling at the prospect of jumping into a new relationship, blaming the guy for her predicament, and letting her heart runaway with her head. If you read the press that might sound familiar.
Swift is all too well aware of media perception and she’s again sending it up. If the listener is still unconvinced as to whether the tongue is in the cheek, the hit maker’s disappointed reference to her two cats should be a clue.
One of Swift’s strongest assets is her ability to make her tales feel real. That’s why so many fans clamour to discover who each new song is about. ‘Gorgeous’, said to be about current boyfriend, Joe Alwyn is no exception.
Reputation’s offerings have sought to play into a perception about the artist. Predecessor, ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ took on the all-powerful villainous role to perfection,while ‘Ready For It?’ Contained illusions to, stealing hearts, secret love, and the ever-present spotlight.
The writer is pulling off a neat trick of keeping it real, while simultaneously utilising the art of caricature.
As for the composition, it feels like it’s been ripped straight from the heart of the last album 1989. The 80s influenced offering sounds like nothing you’ll hear on pop radio. In that sense it’s another win for the production pair of Max Martin and shellback.
Unfortunately, for the masterminds behind the smash hit ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’, while things are melodically solid, they’re not as compelling as the previous Reputation offerings.
All in all, ‘Gorgeous’ rewards those who choose not to take it as the gospel truth. It’s an over-the-top track about infatuation. But then again isn’t that the very essence of the word?
