Warning: The following post is both inflammatory and extremely biased. [Also, it's meant to be silly, so take that stick out of your butt hole, you prude.]
Hi, there.
Hi, there.
My name is Kate. I have a problem with sappy lyrics.
I'm not talking about sappy as in breakfast waffles with syrup. I'm talking sappier than Boston, Massachusetts on the day of the Great Molasses Flood of 1919.
Don't think I'm serious?
Yeah, that's right.
Buuut anyway.
There are just some songs that I cannot stand because the lyrics make me want to yank out my eardrums with fishhooks.
Of course, this is all a matter of personal taste. So really, my opinions should be thrown into the wind like a caped villain into a jet turbine.
But is that going to stop me from ranting?
HELL. NO.
My squishy, unfortunate target today is Taylor Swift, specifically her song "You Belong With Me."
I wanted to start with her song "Love Story," otherwise known as "Romeo and Juliet," because it's pretty sickening. However, that one is so over critiqued it would be like walking into a piñata party that ended weeks ago. The only thing left is a broken piñata whose guts had been spilled and eaten, leaving only papery remains.
So, anyway.
"You Belong With Me" doesn't quite qualify as sappy, but it does sing "sentimental vomit" at the same decibel as Adele.
Let us start with the first verse.
"You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset
She's going off about something that you said
'Cause she doesn't get your humor like I do."
Why are you stalking their cellphone calls? More importantly, how?
I dare say that sounds a mite bit stalkish. And by "a mite bit," I mean:
Yikes.
And since when is his girlfriend not liking his humor a bad thing?
You like his jokes?
If you think about the age group you're singing about, probably high school, boy's usually joke about three things:
1.) Sex
2.) Sex
3.) Wieners
So, either you must be very perverse or you're a dude, because, let's face it, high school boys don't really have a sense of humor at all.
Second verse:
"I'm in the room, it's a typical Tuesday night
I'm listening to the kind of music she doesn't like
And she'll never know your story like I do."
Whatever, girl. The only reason you know anything about him is because you stalk him on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, 9gag, Memebase, and Fanfiction.net.
And, what makes your musical taste better than hers?
Just because she doesn't like it doesn't mean she's suddenly unworthy, you silly, self-involved creeper.
Refrain time!
"But she wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts
She's Cheer Captain and I'm on the bleachers
Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find
That what you're looking for has been here the whole time.
"If you could see that I'm the one who understands you
Been here all along, so why can't you see?
You, you belong with me, you belong with me."
Oh. My. Gosh.
I don't even know where to begin.
Firstly, really? Short skirts, cheer captain? Are you going trifle with dumb things like that?
I can see why short skirts could be a problem. It gives off the wrong vibe.
But cheer captain? Really?!
What about being a cheer captain makes her lower than you? At least she does something with herself, rather than sit on her fat fanny and eat popcorn like you.
*a-HEM*
You could at least point out some real flaws, like she cheats on him, or she is a practicing Satanist.
But, no. You pick her clothes and her hobby.
Nice. Real mature.
Secondly, how do you know what he's looking for?
You: Because I know him. We're soul mates. He sat with me once in an art class my Freshman year and he told me about the time he got a papercut. I know him.
Yep. That's love, right there. Plain and simple.
Just because you have a history and you know a lot about each other does not mean that you're meant to be together.
Otherwise, we'd all be dating our siblings.
Thirdly, "I'm the one who understands you."
You make him sound like some emo kid or exchange student.
Hate to break it to you, honey. [Not really.] You're not the only one. If you were, I doubt he'd be ignoring you like this.
Next verse.
"Walking the streets with you and your worn-out jeans
I can't help thinking this is how it ought to be
Laughing on a park bench, thinking to myself
Hey, isn't this easy?"
What is with you and clothes, woman? Sheesh. Why can't you just leave it at "you?"
Unless, of course, you're subtly hinting at the fact that you would like to be in those pants.
And what's easy?
Laughing? Sitting on a bench? Murdering hobos? Getting into his pants?
Vagueness leaves room for interpretation, madam.
Not to mention, when we don't know what the hell you're talking about, the sweetness of the song is kinda negated.
Next verse!
"And you've got a smile that could light up this whole town
I haven't seen it in a while since she brought you down
You say you're fine, I know you better than that
Hey, what ya doing with a girl like that?"
How do you know it's the girlfriend making him sad? I feel like that's a little presumptive, my dear.
I don't see your facts or proof to back up this claim. It wouldn't kill you to write a verse about how she's bringing him down, would it? It's easy.
She's got a knife she wants to plunge in your chest.
I haven't seen her change her underwear in days.
You say she's great, but I see the ligature marks on your neck.
Hey, what are you doing with a girl like that?
[Shut up. I'm not a poet.]
See? Simple.
Moving on:
"Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time how could you not know?
Baby, you belong with me, you belong with me."
Holy. Crap.
Absolutely terrifying. Maybe the reason, he's been down this whole time is because you're stalking his house and he hasn't been able to get any sleep for the past three months.
Lawdy.
Next:
Oh, I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
Absolutely terrifying. Maybe the reason, he's been down this whole time is because you're stalking his house and he hasn't been able to get any sleep for the past three months.
Lawdy.
Next:
Oh, I remember you driving to my house in the middle of the night
I'm the one who makes you laugh when you know you're 'bout to cry
And I know your favorite songs and you tell me 'bout your dreams
Think I know where you belong, think I know it's with me
You were five. You had a sleep overs until you were seven.
Brief, young friendship does not an undying, mutual love make.
NEXT:
Standing by and waiting at your back door
All this time, how could you not know?
Baby, you belong with me, you belong with me
You belong with me
Have you ever thought just maybe
You belong with me?
You belong with me
Oh, my word, lady. Leave him alone. Jeez Louise. Let the poor boy make his own decisions. He's not a child.
Put down the chloroform and back away slowly.
Good Golly.
Is it any wonder that this woman has no boyfriend? She scares them all away by cross examining them and analyzing all their actions and emotions. And then stalking all their ex's and analyzing them too.
She's like a terrifying homicide investigator of creepy, obsessive love. Like if Bones or Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda had a baby with any of the Twilight books.
Here's some advice, Taylor Swift. Rather than write songs about being a jealous stalker, go do a crossword. That should jump start the more logical side of your brain, which will then put down your screaming libido.
Maybe then you'll be able to write better lyrics.
Welp, that's about all I can say about this song. Until next time.
Peace off.
totally agree!!
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