AP Taylor Swift

"What if I told you none of it was accidental?" This week, you’re getting six show-and-tell songs instead of three! In this episode, we explore the concept of parallel songs in Taylor Swift's discography, focusing on thematic and lyrical connections between pairs of songs. We discuss the similarities between the carefree hangout vibes of “22” and the more mature perspective of letting loose in “Bejeweled”; the contrasting views of ...

"Nice to meet you, where you been? I could show you incredible things..." In this deep dive episode, we dissect one of Taylor Swift's most iconic satirical masterpieces. From the enchanted references that bookend her career to the Shakespeare allusions hidden in plain sight, we explore how "Blank Space" operates as both brilliant satire and surprisingly authentic commentary on complex womanhood. Join us as we unpack the magic, madn...

From medieval England to modern pop music, some things never change - women fighting for agency, authority, and the right to write their own stories. In this milestone 100th episode, we go full literary nerd and explore the surprising connections between Geoffrey Chaucer's iconic Wife of Bath from The Canterbury Tales and Taylor Swift's empowering anthems. By looking at Blank Space, New Romantics, and The Man, we examine how both t...

In this preview of our paid subscriber bonus episode, we’re diving deeper into The Canterbury Tales. Imagine Love Island but it's 1390, everyone's going on a religious road trip, and instead of coupling up, they're having a storytelling competition. That's The Canterbury Tales. Join us as we go a little deeper into Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, exploring how this 14th-century masterpiece was the original "common people's...

"All the wine moms are still holding out…" This week, we're deep diving into "But Daddy I Love Him" from The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Join us as we unpack the unreliable narrator, explore the Southern Gothic imagery, and analyze how Taylor uses biblical references and small-town dynamics to tell a story about agency, choice, and breaking free from societal expectations. From the Sarahs and Hannahs clutching their pearls to...

"You're on the phone with your girlfriend, she's upset..." Welcome to Season 3 of AP Taylor Swift! What happens when we can't trust the person telling the story? In this week's Show & Tell episode, we explore the concept of unreliable narrators through three Taylor Swift songs that demonstrate how perspective shapes truth. From teenage crush confessions to post-breakup rants to defiant love declarations, we examine how Taylor u...

"Are you ready for it?" In this episode, we dive into how Taylor masterfully uses questions not to seek answers, but to create dramatic effect, elicit emotional responses, and tell compelling stories. From the vulnerable yet cutting interrogation of "Is It Over Now?" to the confident invitation of "...Ready For It?" to the courtroom-style cross-examination of "Question...?", we explore three distinct types of rhetorical questions a...

"That's a lie." In this deep dive episode, we dissect "Tim McGraw" line by line, exploring how a teenage Taylor Swift crafted a deceptively complex narrative about young love, heartbreak, and the bittersweet nature of memory. From Chevy trucks and Georgia stars to little black dresses and faded blue jeans, we unpack the country iconography and examine how the meaning of key phrases shifts dramatically when we understand that the fu...

“And baby, that’s show business for you!❤️‍🔥” Taylor Swift just announced TS12, "The Life of a Showgirl," on the New Heights Podcast, releasing October 3rd! Join us for an emergency bonus episode as we break down the album announcement, analyze the track list through our literary lens, and discuss what this new era means for Taylor's artistic evolution. From Shakespearean references in "The Fate of Ophelia" to the millennial energ...

"I love you, ain't that the worst thing you ever heard?" This week, we're diving deep into Taylor's ultimate summer anthem and Eras Tour favorite: "Cruel Summer" (Lover 2019). We unpack whether this song is about a problematic love interest or the speaker's own internal struggle with anxious attachment and self-imposed drama. The track brilliantly captures the gap between our cool, collected external personas and the chaotic though...

"Freedom felt like summer then on the coast." What happens when we explore Taylor Swift's music through the lens of summer? In this episode, we explore how summer functions both as a setting and a symbol in Taylor's songwriting. From the cruel intensity of forbidden love to nostalgic August romances and the catastrophic blues of heartbreak, we explore how Taylor uses summer to capture everything from youthful freedom to emotional d...

July 31st is Harry Potter’s birthday, so why not celebrate with a repeat of our favorite Harry Potter Holiday Special episode!? This week, let your inner Swifties and Potterhead unite as we discuss the crossovers between Harry Potter and Taylor Swift’s lyrics. Jenn imagines “Look What You Made Me Do” as Snape’s song to Voldermort. Jodi makes the case that “Lover” perfectly captures Lavender Brown’s feelings toward Ron. And Maansi e...

“You set up a paint set in the kitchen and you’re talking to me” What happens when we view Taylor Swift’s music through the lens of other female artists, particularly painters? In this Summer favorite repeat, we explore the work of three iconic women in art and connect their paintings to Taylor Swift’s songs. From the intimacy of motherhood in Mary Cassatt’s work, to the surrealism of Remedios Varo, to the medieval renderings of Hi...

"Don't blame me, love made me crazy. If it doesn't, you ain't doing it right." This week, we're deep diving into "Don't Blame Me" from the reputation album. We explore the song's gospel influences, religious imagery, and transformation themes as we analyze Taylor's most unhinged declaration of love. From poison ivy to daisies, from halos to falling from grace, join us as we unpack this intoxicating Taylor Swift tale of desire, addi...

“I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me.”  In this episode, we're diving into one of literature's most enduring classics: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. From Victor's scientific ambition to the creature's desperate search for companionship, we explore how Taylor's lyrics illuminate the Gothic themes of isolation, creation, and the consequences of playing God. Join us as we examine "Don't Blame Me," "Look What You Made Me Do," and ...

"It was rare, I was there, I remember it." As part of our summer vacation series, we're re-airing one of our most requested episodes! This was the song we'd wanted to analyze since day one: "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)." This isn't just any song analysis—it's a literary deep dive worthy of Taylor's most devastating masterpiece. We're each bringing you a different academic lens to understand what makes this 10-minute epic the s...

“It isn’t love, it isn’t hate, it’s just indifference.” A little petty, a little philosophical, and exactly the right kind of opener for Lover. In this Deep Dive, we look at “I Forgot That You Existed,” a deceptively breezy track that becomes more interesting the longer you sit with it. We unpack the tonal misreadings this song often gets, the power of the shrug as both emotional and poetic posture, and why this opening song may be...

"I haven't decided yet, but I'mgonnagetyouback." From ancient Greek epics to Mean Girls, revenge has evolved dramatically in literature, and Taylor Swift's discography is no exception. This week on AP Taylor Swift, we explore how Taylor serves revenge with a smile, examining the sweet saccharine fantasy of "Speak Now," the cutting indifference of "I Forgot That You Existed," and the delicious ambiguity of "I'm Gonna Get You Back." ...

“I can go anywhere I want, just not home” This week on AP Taylor Swift, we take on “my tears ricochet,” the gut-wrenching Track 5 from “Folklore”. From its funeral imagery to what it means for a tear to “ricochet,” we explore themes of grief, regret, and power dynamics. Whether this song is about romantic heartbreak, a friendship gone sour, or even a toxic job, we explore why this song resonates so deeply with so many, and what it ...