Taylor Swift returns to familiar territory, love, on her second single, “…Ready for It?” from highly-anticipated sixth studio album, ‘Reputation.’

Taylor Swift made her return to the music industry in grandiose fashion with “Look What You Made Me Do.”  The single was quite polarizing because it sounded completely left of center of the pop music she issued on Grammy-winning album, 1989.  The music video, filled with Swift making fun of herself among other things, made single no. 1 better.  She’s back with single no. 2, “…Ready for It?” making a big splash in its own right.

“…Ready for It?” isn’t as off-putting as “Look What You Made Me Do” started the Reputation campaign. That isn’t to say it gets off scot free either, but it’s definitely more predictable.  Once more, the production work is a selling point, embracing an electro-pop palette.  Vocally, Swift has never been noted for her prowess per se, but she’s always fit the records she sings on.  That’s the case here.  She pulls of this rhythmic, urban-pop joint successfully, but the listener doesn’t leave wowed by it. In other words, she doesn’t change any lives.

Thematically, Taylor Swift tackles her favorite topic – boys.  Specifically, she focuses on one individual who she’s taken with.  It’s clear on the chorus, one of the best portions of the song, that Ms. Swift is particularly lustful.

“In the middle of the night, in my dreams / You should see the things we do, baby / In the middle of the night, in my dreams / I know I’m gonna be with you / So I take my time / Are you ready for it?”

What’s positive about the sex referenced on “…Ready for It?” is that it doesn’t cross the lines.  There are no dirty words, just insinuation, suggestiveness, and that golden “I” word known as innuendo.

Final Thoughts 

Each Taylor Swift song could be an essay itself, but to quote Tyler, the Creator, “I Ain’t Got Time!” Initially, “…Ready for It?” plays out better than “Look What You Made Me Do.” That said, personally, it’s still odd to hear Swift tackling urban, electro-tinged pop.  While the thinness of her voice checks off the boxes for the gimmicky nature of the style, it’s not quite a match made in heaven.  The song itself is okay – definitely catchy in regards to the chorus – but it doesn’t supplant her hits of the past.  It’s bound to be a hit, but, this isn’t ‘brand new’ either.

Taylor Swift • Reputation • Big Machine • Release: 11.10.17

Photo Credit: Big Machine