I’ve been thinking about “No Surprises” a lot recently, mostly in terms of songwriting. I have a tendency to write really tight rhymes, and I admire musicians who can let the form rest a bit before bringing it back around. The verse of “No Surprises” is a great example of lyrics and melody compelling enough to hold attention despite the lack of rhyme scheme:
A heart that's full up like a landfill
A job that slowly kills you
Bruises that won't heal
You look so tired, unhappy
Bring down the government
They don't, they don't speak for us
Madison Cunningham does a great job with the song. There are a few other covers floating around, which is rather bold of alternative artists as a collective, but the only other good one I can think of is the Regina Spektor version. It’s not on Spotify, so I’ll link it here:
I won’t lie, I chose this playlist so I could talk about Phoebe Bridgers and Taylor Swift. Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021) came out yesterday and it’s brimming with gems, like the ten minute long version of “All Too Well” featuring new scathing details about the end of Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal’s relationship. She released a short film to accompany the song featuring Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink. There are a lot of straight-ahead shots of the scenes the lyrics are describing, gratuitous imagery that almost feels too personal to watch.
With the rise of the visual album, including scenes of dialogue in the middle of music videos has come into vogue. The Regrettes’ “Monday” features a short Olivia Rodrigo monologue and Kacey Musgrave’s “Simple Times” is an homage to Mean Girls (2004). This video includes a horribly mundane little fight in the kitchen, a red flag, a misunderstanding. It’s devastating.
My personal favorite track on the album is “Nothing New (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)(Taylor’s Version)(From the Vault).” Phoebe got a whole verse, whereas most of the other features did backing vocals. Despite it’s annoyingly long title, it’s a simple, sweet song with devastating lyrics:
How can a person know everything at eighteen
But nothing at twenty-two?
And will you still want me when I'm nothing new?
The Phoebe Bridgers-Taylor Swift pairing on this playlist is “Killer” and “seven.” It’s been impossible to avoid the culturally pervasive tidal wave that is Taylor Swift since Fearless (2008), and Phoebe Bridgers is no exception. Her songwriting is directly inspired by Taylor’s, especially in the vignettes they both write so well.
“seven” is one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs ever; her collaboration with Aaron Desner of The National has ushered in a new era of her sound that feels more true and real. folklore (2020) is an exploration of childhood and magic and the woods. She’s getting back to her roots, and I love it:
Please picture me
In the trees
I hit my peak at seven feet
In the swing
Over the creek
I was too scared to jump in
But I, I was high in the sky
With Pennsylvania under me
Are there still beautiful things?