Deciphering Taylor Swift’s ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ Music Video

By: Olivia Estrada - 7 years ago

Taylor Swift’s video for “Look What You Made Me Do” is now out. It’s a lot. The old us can’t come to the phone right now because we are busy replaying it.

She didn’t let any details escape her and if the lyrics of the song itself were hard to unpack, this video just doubles up on all the issues. Taylor is savage right now and it’s a show that we’ll sure be watching for the next few weeks. I wonder how much she’ll be making from all of this.

So let’s step back, and analyze the important scenes in this four minute and 16 second revenge extravaganza.

It’s very clear, Taylor is coming out of the grave since she got buried from the #KimExposedTaylorParty. In her dress from the “Out of the Woods” music video, she buries another version of herself wearing her 2014 MET Gala dress and makeup. No points for subtlety here. Spot also how one of the gravestones bears the name Nils Sjoberg, the pen name Taylor took on for co-writing “This Is What You Came For” with Calvin Harris.

Oh, so clever taking the lyrics literally by correcting a “tilted stage.” As the song first came out, Vulture pointed how it’s a reference to how Kanye West prefers a titled stage for the set design of his tours.

Yes, Taylor, we see those snake rings. You are taking the symbol as your own. Oh, you have lots of bling now. Good.

We see the $1 dollar bill you won in your sexual assualt case. Celebrate your victory! But why are you in the tub? Wait, why are you covered in jewelry? Why is this the scene as you sing about “the perfect crime.” Is it because Kim Kardashian was tied in the tub during her Paris robbery? What? NO! Fine, it’s a reference to an old quote you made about ending up alone in a bathtub.

The snakes once again, real live ones this time are serving hot tea as you sit on your throne. I got it in the first 10 seconds of this video, Taylor.

A car crash! What could this mean? Are you talking about how it was all an accident and all a wreck and yet you still had time to entertain the media? What’s up with the leopard print, the bangs, and the pink lipstick? Kinda looks like your one-time friend Katy Perry to me. Glamour, however, points out that the Grammy award and the choice of a Maserati looks back at how Red got a snub at the 2014 Grammy’s for Album of the Year.

The proverbial bird cage. You felt trapped, you felt like you weren’t in control. But some feel you just copied that from Miley Cyrus’ “Can’t Be Tamed” video.

Why are you now robbing a vault? Oh, yeah. We’re talking about that open letter to Apple Music. Got it!

Why are you suddenly in a studded biker jacket, reminicent of Lady Gaga’s outfit in “Telephone”? Hello, hello baby, is this why you can’t come to the phone right now?

Now here comes your reference to your glamorous squads. You don’t care though as you’re their leader.

New scene: This reminds me of the mansion in “Blank Space.” And I thought you were insane in that one. How I miss the good old days. Nevermind that you look like Queen Bey in “Formation.” I’m fixated at the fact that those “I <3 TS” shrits are on sale right now. *eye roll* We also know how this is in reference to Tom’s shirt when you were together and how eight back-up dancers mean eight exes.

What a beautiful climax, it defintely seems like reference to a religious painting, but with a T instead of a cross. And, yes I spotted another sweater that’s part of your merch. We also see all your former selves that you are dissing. Elle also made a list of all the outfits we see from your previous music videos to your tours. From your shirt in “We Are Never Getting Back Together” to the Red tour sequined jacket, do you mean to tell us you never throw outfits, kinda like you never throw out old grudges?

And of course, the finale where you pit former Taylors side by side and make fun of them the way everyone else has made fun of you. Included here is apparently a persona of Kim Kardashian, collecting receipts. I want to say this is powerful, I want to say this how people should own up to who they are. But really, it just all feels like you’re petty.

Screengrabs from YouTube

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