Taylor Swift - "You're Losing Me" (From The Vault): Review
- by Peter Källman
- in Reviews
Taylor Swift released the song “You’re Losing Me” for the first time in 2022 as a CD exclusive and only to be purchased in-person at certain venues on her “the Eras Tour.” This sneak release, of course, added to the suspense for her superfans who knew that there was a new song finished just waiting to be heard. Now, the song can be heard on all streaming services as part of her latest string of “From the Vault” releases. The song was co-written and co-produced with her music mogul partner, Jack Antonoff. Along with working on other works by Taylor like “1989,” “Reputation,” and “Lover,” Jack Antonoff has also collaborated with Sia, Pink, Lana Del Rey, Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, and many more.
Someone in a comment section somewhere said, “Finally, now I can add something to my 'sad but upbeat' playlist.” I get it. This song starts out with sadness and builds into hopefulness. The track is thematically carried by a pulsating kick drum, representing a heartbeat. The heartbeat kick drum stays through the whole track and only fades away during the very last sentence when Taylor sings, “I can’t find a pulse; my heart won’t start anymore.” This, of course, symbolizes her loss of interest for a certain person in question. I think this song is a very nice example of how sounds can be used to enhance the story being told in a song. The song starts out in the beginning of a relationship and ends with, well, the end. A lot of fans think this particular story is about her rumored breakup with Joe Alwyn. Even though this song was released after the fact of her album “Midnights,” it still fits the aesthetic of marrying danceable pop beats with her singer-songwriter background. The bridge pays off in a twist, revealing some of Taylor’s vulnerabilities and insecurities, making the track feel extra authentic. The lyrics in the bridge express her longing for acknowledgment and understanding.
Fans usually love following the stories behind her songs. Simple as the results are, often resulting in gossip and rumors, it is still enticing to a lot of people. Something that is also worth talking about is her development of sound. With her latest release, she is pretty much in the pocket for pop music. So how is it that she not only is in the “pop pocket” but has consistently managed to stay there for so many years? Pop also evolves.
She started out as a country-pop sensation with her debut album “Fearless.” She used catchy melodies and relatable stories to swoon the audience. After this, she transitioned into the albums “Speak Now” and “Red.” Here she took a more active role in songwriting, moving away from the country sound.
One of the most significant shifts in her sound was with the album “1989,” where she fully embraced the pop sound. Following this, her album “Reputation” explored darker and edgier themes backed up electro-pop/R&B sounds. “Lover” had a more romantic, soft sound and reintroduced some of those older country elements. Finally, her releases “Folklore” and “Evermore” showcased some Indie folk. So her sound has swung back and forth like a pendulum. At every position of that pendulum, the different moods of her fanbase swing too. She has some fans who prefer her older sound, some who prefer her poppier sound. Personally, I think there is a time and place for each song. Safe to say, her latest release, "You’re Losing Me," is very well designed and ready to be consumed.
