Taylor Swift just released a new song and music video entitled “Shake it off”. I just saw it and was surprised…though I’m not yet sure if it’s for the better or worse.
Taylor Swift’s music has been a staple of the Dueling Pianos scene with at least one request coming in with almost every show. While she quickly found herself in the spot light, and subsequently kept herself there, one thing never changed: a good-girl country singer. Her songs and videos dealt with high school problems, written from the heart (when she was writing her own music…though I do not know who is credited for “Shake it Off”). But Taylor Swift’s new song also brings a new girl to the public eye.
Taylor, Gwen Stefani called…
She wants her pom poms back. Taylor’s new video displays her as a Ballerina, a 90’s booty dancer, a street thug, a Lady Gaga Look alike, an underwear advertisement model, a Cheer leader, and a hipster fronting a Bruno Mars style band. None of which even remotely resembling her country roots. Forbes even caught the Skrillex glasses!
And the song comes complete with a Gwen Stefani style break a la “Hollaback Girl” with Taylor’s signature boy-bashing lyrics. At least something stayed the same…but it’s still Bananas…B A N A N A S!
But who is the New Taylor Swift?
What we have here is a classic coming of age switch in an artist’s image. Miley Cyrus did it, why can’t Taylor? On the heels of Pharrell’s “Happy”, Taylor released a similarly catchy song with a video showing people “being themselves” dancing. Whether you are just “Happy” or happy when you “Shake It Off”, these two songs have been created from the same feel-good, sunshine and rainbows Kool Aid.
But there’s a difference: Taylor is in between the legs of 90’s booty dancers.
Is Taylor the New Miley?
No. I’m sure Taylor is going to get destroyed by parents and her adoring high school virgins (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but the video isn’t that bad. At the very least, she’s always fully clothed and dancing appropriately, she can hire dancers to do everything else. All I see here is a girl making a fun video and showing a really silly side of her personality…as opposed to videos like Taylor Swift’s not so uplifting “I Knew You Were Trouble”. And obviously, this is no “Wrecking Ball”.
It’s definitely a little more edgy and is going to elicit a reaction from concerned viewers, but I doubt her current fans are going to return from summer break sporting cut-off jean shorts and gold chains.
Taylor is just encouraging people to be themselves and have fun doing it. She’s channeling different styles and cultures in this video showing acceptance and respect for the differences. It’s obvious that she doesn’t fit in with any of the trends (falling with the ballerinas, having poor/silly dance moves in all scenes, not keeping up with the cool finger guy), but she’s showing her audience that she’s OK with it. She see’s it, appreciates it, but still finishes with herself in an all black wardrobe stripped of the extraneous cultural influences/stereotypes. She’s dancing with the “normal” people that likely represent her typical fan base.
Taylor under the Booty Dancers
So back off Taylor Swift Nay-Shakers
Taylor is still a good girl, but she’s found a way to get some more attention. And how does this relate to Felix and Fingers? It doesn’t, but we’ll definitely have to play this song at every Mitzvah or family friendly event for the next 12 months. If you want to hear us play it…that starts by filling out a form here!
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