Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift’s newest single, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” has topped both the iTunes and Billboard Hot 100 charts since it debuted Aug. 13. Swift’s latest anthem tells the story of a girl who finally puts an end to a relationship stuck in the perpetual break-up-make-up cycle. Despite this being a relatively tame song for Swift – especially when compared to previous no-holds-barred hits such as “Dear John” and “Better than Revenge” – the media still ponder this thought: Who did Taylor write this song about?
And the country songstress’ hits aren’t the only ones seemingly directed at a particular person. I constantly find myself rolling my eyes at Katy Perry’s newest hits, moaning, “Enough already, Katy Perry! We get it! Russell Brand is a jerk!” Both Swift and Perry have, in recent years, developed a knack for getting revenge on heartbreakers through song, and I’m not the only one who seems to be shaking her head in disagreement. Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch blog has actually named the pair “the mean girls of music.” It definitely poses the question: How far is too far?
Personally, I love both Perry and Swift. Both write very flirty, bubbly songs that are fun to listen to and relatable to their audiences. Girls like songs they can connect with, and both these artists use their songs as open windows between their personal struggles and the fans searching for solace in music. But I think they have definitely crossed a line with their current chart-toppers.
It is one thing to write about heartache or disappointment in love. It’s a widespread theme to which dozens of girls can relate. But making blatant references to relationships and naming specific people is entering into the territory of cruel and unusual punishment. While we would all love to hang the people who break our hearts out to dry, we don’t because we know there is a level of decency that needs to be maintained. There are two sides to every story and there is only so far we can go to condemn the people who hurt our feelings. Once or twice we might slip up and take a turn toward the dramatic, but we’re always aware of the line and how far we can push it before we know we’ve gone too far.
But Katy Perry’s condemnation of Russell Brand, and Taylor Swift’s string of vengeful attacks on her past men -- from John Mayer to Joe Jonas -- cross the line from an outlet for sorrow and pain to public humiliation and shame on a global scale. When we think about it, does that really seem very fair? We don’t even get to hear the side of these so-called ladykillers.
I am by no means criticizing the quality of Swift or Perry’s music, nor am I saying I won’t continue to listen. I will continue to holler their lyrics out car windows and dance to their melodies in my bathroom. But maybe these artists need to pull back their claws. I mean, think of it this way: if the roles were reversed and they were given the chance, what would their exes say about them?