New Taylor Swift song hailed as a ‘sapphic tale of enemies to lovers’ and a queer anthem for the ages
Taylor Swift in the Cardigan video.(Instagram)
Taylor Swift, gay icon, has released her surprise new album folklore, and fans are absolutely convinced “Betty” is a queer anthem for the ages.
Swift’s eighth studio album was released July 23, and to say fans are already obsessed would be an understatement.
But one song in particular is capturing the hearts of queer people everywhere. On “Betty”, Swift sings from the perspective of a teenager who is in love and wants to kiss her lover on the porch.
The song opens: “Betty, I won’t make assumptions/About why you switched your homeroom but/I think it’s ’cause of me.”
Later in the song, she sings: “Yeah, I showed up at your party/Will you have me?/Will you love me?/ Will you kiss me on the porch/In front of all your stupid friends?”
In short, Taylor Swift has come to take the hearts of queer people everywhere – and we’re fine with that, if we’re being honest.
Taylor Swift drops gay anthem ‘Betty’.
Queer Swifties reacted, eh –swiftly – to the song’s unabashed queer leanings on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/silentdreamers_/status/1286526997758455808
https://twitter.com/loventhunders/status/1286527995717484549
https://twitter.com/ChammoutHassan/status/1286528364174598144
taylor swift writing betty pic.twitter.com/NBV0XPNtlE
— ? (@villaneveanti) July 24, 2020
betty is about taylor swift riding on a skateboard passing the house of the girl she’s in love with at the age of 17 that’s it that’s the song— 𝔥𝔞𝔫 (@alyciasgoid) July 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/estupidadelsur/status/1286532038309314565
https://twitter.com/parttimepeach/status/1286544852369448963
the B in LGBT stands for Betty by Taylor Swift (2020)— ashley (@demonicowgirl) July 24, 2020
Swift announced yesterday that she was set to surprise release her eighth studio album following a lockdown gestation period.
Writing on Instagram, the “Shake It Off” singer said: “Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen. And that thing is my eighth studio album, folklore.
“Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.
“I wrote and recorded this music in isolation but got to collaborate with some musical heroes of mine,” she said, and revealed that she had worked with Bon Iver, Aaron Dessner, William Bowery and Jack Antonoff on the album.
“Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed.
“My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world.
“That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with. Love you guys so much.”
In a later Instagram post, Swift said her imagination began to “run wild” in lockdown, and said folklore is the result.
She said the album is “a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness”.
“Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory. I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder and whimsy they deserve.
“Now it’s up to you to pass them down.”
