Journalist reacts to Miss Americana starring Taylor Swift with no filter 🫢

[@Jamieswiftie13]

The only reliable Taylor Swift channel, not even Taylor Nation can be trusted at this point.

[@theswiftologist]

absolute tea

[@cupcakewithouttheicing]

Taylor Nation might be the least trustworthy of all

[@edenstar196]

100%

[@lesliemcgee4759]

It’s not just the tea - it is the correct kind of tea and by a person that really thinks rationally and the tea I will drink all day! This is the only channel brings me peace - and is not a hoax🤭

[@Stella-iW123]

What's wrong with taylor nation

[@annar6534]

I had never considered how significant the way she grew up is. She was raised from 15 to be perfect and sheltered and looked after by an army of paid professionals constantly. The way she talks about feeling stuck at the age she got famous, about how she isn’t ready for grown up stuff, about how she hasn’t ever been able to be truly alone, how she used the word “tummy” when talking about her issues with her body. It all gives off the impression of a person who was never able to live a real life, I suppose that’s also why she likes Joe so much, he’s a normal grown up person who is free to do whatever he wants.

[@theswiftologist]

so so true!!!

[@cuber3603]

The word "tummy" is more commonly used by adults in Britain so it might be Joe Alwyns influence lol

[@annar6534]

@@cuber3603 not really. I’ve only ever heard an adult say that if they were talking to a kid

[@jepros]

Tummy is entirely normal

[@cuber3603]

@@annar6534 which part of the UK are u from, cuz I hear it all the time.

[@megkthrock]

I don’t know why it made me laugh so hard, but I CACKLED when you said “You don’t just write this little jingle and call it the lead single.”

[@SRC-hk3td]

SAME I absolutely died when he said me hee hee hoo hoo hoo

[@jodil7]

The ME! Commentary was hilarious 😂

[@maia_gaia]

This documentary just cements that Blondie needs to see a therapist!!!! She's constantly like "here's a deeply concerning tid bit about how my brain works.... Moving on!"

[@theswiftologist]

LMAO

[@shanegriffin6637]

Trust me there’s no way she doesn’t have a therapist.

[@drawl13]

@@shanegriffin6637 she's said she's never been to therapy and doesn't want to and it's an occasion where i really believe her because it's something she would do lol

[@anasarracena]

Exactly! The way she talked about the song Anti Hero really concerned me. Like she doesn't feel like a person sometimes. Grrrl, you live in NY. You have access to the best psychoanalysts in the country, go help yourself

[@hannahj8990]

@@drawl13 yeah I believe her on that too-I hope she’s changed that in the 3 years since that interview tho haha

[@AmIAllowedToCry013]

your hate for ME! is absolutely hilarious to me. i crack up every single fucking time. it’s so amazing to me

[@zadieellie]

I love Me! but it cracks me up too 😂

[@ersguterjule]

I hate this song with all that I have but same, I find it hilarious how he hates it on a very professional level haha

[@cedricdustin1288]

Same here, also made me laugh every time I watch that segment myself and made me thought of that hilarious statement "I want to make a better record." *cuts straight to making ME!*

[@lindabound1701]

ROFL I LOOOOOVE "ME"

[@tanishapandey__9786]

The way he predicted the anti hero lyrics when he basically said taylor was coming off as narcissistic but disguising it as altruism…

[@MarinaBird-ct5rg]

Maybe she saw this video 😭

[@Crom-b1n]

He didn't predict it, he just did the same as others that Swift is writing about.

[@isaacroot5459]

the section about her body image issues was extremely affecting and wise, so I’d like to thank him for handling that with such poise and grace

[@EchelonPandora]

I accidentally triggered myself... But tbh my whole day was like this today :(

[@Declan239]

The thing with her political awakening was that it was very overblown she had very standard democratic views and she championed women’s and gay rights at the time which was actually very common. Most celebrities had done the same thing 3 years prior and she just sort of made it more about her which is perplexing.

[@lukesouthern3640]

actually its because people have been pressuring her for not talking about trumps election and saw that as a confirmation that she was a trump supporter, also the fact that the alt right movement started using her face as a symbol of aryan race. people started assuming that she have always been a republican specially coming from country music, so she really needed to step up and say something.

[@marandam6019]

​@@lukesouthern3640YES!!!! This right here!!!!

[@Katyloveheart]

She explained that she was being told all her to be a successful pop star you don't talk about politics coz it will end your career

[@rosieraptor1093]

The scene were she’s crying with her team saying stuff like “it just gets loud” and “it feels like it’s about more than just music” always confused me so much. I’m so glad you talked about that because I was always unsure of what they were talking about specifically or what the context of that conversation was.

[@theswiftologist]

context would be soooo good there

[@KateCat420]

That's always confused me, also it feels weird that they pretend the camera just happened to be rolling in some points 😬

[@AlyLourim]

the one thing I think the director actually did well and was super interesting to see, was focusing on Taylor's need for control since a VERY VERY young age over EVERYTHING in her life (and thats obviously really heartbreaking and telling) and im shocked that that was actually allowed to stay in the documentary. I've been a swiftie for 16 years and I REALLY appreciate your channel as a swiftie SO MUCH. And especially how you as a swiftie keeps its real in the most kind and honest way - like you said critical thinking. So thank you!!!

[@rosanaconta3416]

​@@kittymaya4615👏👏

[@joeykaushik7289]

Money can buy good health.

[@hannahj8990]

This is the BEST analysis of Miss Americana I’ve seen. I was a pretty casual fan when it came out and I won’t lie, it DID succeed in boosting my impression of her at the time! In retrospect I think it has aged quite poorly and I do see it now as more of a promotional tool than a documentary. I agree that the most compelling parts are where she speaks to her experience with fame-I’d rather get my political commentary from experts (which she is not). But she IS an expert on being a massive pop star. If we get another documentary from her, I hope it’s about the re recording process or another aspect of her work, so that it can be correctly billed as covering a specific topic, and not as a “candid peak behind the curtain!” I don’t mind her being curatorial about her public image at all, but it’s quite obvious that this is what she’s doing in Miss Americana. I definitely prefer something like folklore Long Pond, which serves a specific promotional purpose, and adds some compelling insight into her thoughts on some of the songs, but doesn’t try to be something it isn’t!

[@theswiftologist]

so true Hannah!!

[@brunetteXer]

so true, her political naivety is cringey.

[@carolinemcgovern4488]

I hope that we do get a documentry about the rerecordings (prehaps as a tie in with the last one she puts out to tie it all in a little bow

[@cheeesybread5594]

I love that all of your criticisms of the doc are super constructive. Your journalism experience REALLY shines in this video, and it was extremely interesting to watch and think about the questions you raised.

[@theswiftologist]

such a nice compliment, thank you Lucy!

[@mgenburn5339]

Your channel is a GOLD MINE. Nobody’s talking about TSwift like you are- you can tell ur a journalist, this vid is so much more nuanced than like any other video on this topic😭

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much for watching!!

[@ailbheoreilly4816]

Here, here! 😊

[@bip5395]

Actually many people talk about TS like that. Guess what: they are being eaten alive by Swifties for being haters.

[@sarahandah9045]

Honestly, after finding your channel I can’t listen to anyone else’s Taylor content because it seems like all anyone else does is praise her, and I love how you’re never afraid to call her out on her shit when needed! Even if I don’t always agree on what songs or moments are good/bad I respect the real and thoughtful analysis. And just noticed - congrats on 10k!! 👏🏻👏🏻

[@theswiftologist]

thank you Sarah!! love reading your comments

[@KK-pj1us]

I really want to thank you tho. Before discovering this channel I never thought of Taylor in a logical and objective way as you do; you gave me another prospective that made me realize a lot of things, even things that are wrong with the fandom per se, like the excessive dehumanization and worshiping for a person who in the end is a human being that has flaws like us. You’re the first fan that made me think “oh wait, he really said that?” watching your video ‘cause I didn’t even seen the possibility that a fan could ever criticize her in that way. So yeah, thank you for this change of prospective, it helped me to watch her and love her in another light, a more truthful, and accurate one

[@theswiftologist]

thank you sm for watching with an open mind!!

[@ebrub39]

I totally relate to this!!

[@jane_edits13.]

same!!!

[@mattilynbryant1351]

Taylor discussing her eating disorder and her recovery has truly made it so much easier for me to choose my own recovery on a day to day basis. Taylor relinquishing control and still being stunning, happy, and seemingly confident has made it seem like maybe that’s doable for me too

[@martaboldu]

I’m so happy I found your channel. I’ve been a taylor swift fan since I was 15 til now that I’m 28, and it feels good to know that there’s a portion of the swifties that are adults and have an adult mindset. I enjoy your critical videos so much even when I don’t agree with sth, they make me think! I love to hear a thoughtful and critical analysis on pop culture. I’ve seen you’ve had some backlash on twitter by Miley Cyrus stans, and I’m not usually one to comment, but I hope they don’t stop you from posting videos like this. ❤️‍🩹

[@martaboldu]

Not being american made the political part of the doc even more cringe and uninteresting

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much marta! I really appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback with me

[@sherlockrosary]

I’ve found this blessed channel just two days ago (and have consumed so much of the content that I should frankly be ashamed), and the number of jokes I’ve seen mentioning this Twitter incident has given the event in question unfettered access to my petty, mental noggin-it lives rent free!!! 😅 I’m not on Twitter or any social media because it stresses me out, but I AM a Miley stan- I can’t imagine Zach doing or saying anything TRULY deserving of provoking their ire SO violently, that the event has become a longstanding gag on the channel?!?! The sheer number of jokes has peaked my morbid curiosity: what horrors unfolded to fuel so many references?! What did these muppets do or say to our Swiftologist?! I want to be in on the joke!! 😤

[@Breerox108]

I don't think that Taylor was ready for a documentary, as she isn't yet at a place of examining the harder to look at aspects of herself and her career. I do hope that we get another one some day, but I'm totally fine if it's not for some time.

[@takemetothelakes13]

The only scene in Miss Americana that proves how fast Taylor can come up with something is when she and Jack Antonoff are writing the Getaway Car bridge.

[@biceismyfavorite]

Idk, that seemed somewhat rehearsed to me

[@donttagmeinyourreply1304]

@@biceismyfavoriteno that’s arguably one of the most authentic parts of the documentary

[@mollymay7760]

you could even argue that joel little was ruthlessly replaced by aaron dessner, who, as we see in long pond sessions, did creatively challenge her... just proves ur point babe

[@theswiftologist]

time reveals all.....

[@HandlePan]

‘Strategic vulnerability’ OOOOFT….. correct.

[@ElizabethNicoleSchwartz]

I definitely agree with you that this documentary really just feels surface level in a lot of ways. It's very structured and within exactly what Taylor wants to say without having really any nuanced conversations where there should be. I don't hate it, but I felt like I really learned nothing new from it and I've only watched it once in full for that reason.

[@greenonionbabey]

Thank youuu for being critical of Taylor/celebrities in general "getting political" !! I have been saying for years that activism is not for everyone and trying to force every public figure into an activist position is a waste of time/energy, and very unfair to people who just don't have the interest or personal capacity to do that kind of work (+ it often sidelines less "famous" people who are actually out there doing the work and should be platformed). There are only a handful of celebrities who I genuinely would consider activists who add to the conversation, and all of them have gotten into it by choice, often before they ever became a well known public figure. Taylor is a musician and celebrity first and foremost, and while I do think her speaking out has had some positive effects (the rush of people registering to vote in 2018 for example) I don't think she's the person people should be turning to as a political source because that's just not the kind of work she does. And I do cringe a bit every time I remember that scene of her crying about "coming out" as a democrat thru a single instagram post.... like I empathize but at the same time girl.... it's giving "some people have war in their countries"

[@Cucumberstopickles]

I agree no one should be forced but if everyone in your camp and your own parents are telling you not to and you want to must be extremely frustrating. But she also got a lot of hate for not speaking up. People were accusing her of being a W supremacist. When certain states started attacking rights of so many different groups she felt compelled to speak up. I feel she came off genuine especially as I can relate to that level of emotion when we see what is happening in politics these days.

[@lukesouthern3640]

i agree people shouldnt pressure celebrities into coming forward politically but i dont think we should think theres a problem with a celebrity claiming their position if they want to, that doesnt mean they become a source for all things political but its good to know if an artist you enjoy stand where you stand. art and politics have always been tied together since always and artists have been criticized for being political (even if superficially).

[@takemetothelakes13]

i honestly think it's terrifying for the population of America to have Taylor speak up about politics. Do you really want your president voted on by people who only voted because Taylor Swift told them to?

[@Crom-b1n]

@@takemetothelakes13 Yes. Everyone should vote, and if Taylor Swift is using her platform to make that happen, then good on her.

[@cgggg5988]

It comes across so disingenuous

[@Elix90]

My only real takeaways from this doc are that she is aware of her eating disorder, and actively working on that, and also that she still identifies as a christian. It's s throwaway line, but kind of huge for me, I keep forgetting that religion has s huge impact in her life, and american culture in general. Also, I will always remember "I just have to make a better record". Says a lot about who she is. And then she went and made Lover, oh well. Over all it's not a good documentary, but it did help endear her to me, so it worked as a marketing tool.

[@jordanbdailey]

Your analysis is literally spot on. What I find interesting is the fact that she’s speaking about politics from this view of someone who has just discovered it’s impact. As someone who is close in age with her, those are discussions that occur in our late teens/early twenties. It definitely shows her clear immaturity, which you pointed out.

[@eunicemonroy]

I think the reason ME! was her version of a better album just that it was contrary to Reputation. Since Reputation didn't get Grammys she thought the contrary was better.

[@thvlvtrpe6767]

yes!! so excited, missed your commentary. remember to take this week and relax cause next week well.. (Friday to Tuesday) will be chaotic and I hope we'll get reactions to both the album and the music videos. im looking forward to it so much since you have a critical and honest review in comparison to the other swiftie reactions. 10k will be here in no time. thank you Zach for this

[@theswiftologist]

aw thanks Lucas!!

[@rosieraptor1093]

“Me-ee-eee-eee ooo-oo-Ooh” “This. Man. Lied. To. Her. Multiple times.” 😂

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

Late to the party for this video, but a clip from this documentary is trending. What really gets me is that you were so right that Taylor wasn't even in her best era at this point. Lover didn't win a Grammy. Folklore did.

[@leonarda886]

came back to this video post midnights and your “they can’t make any difference in a political arena without being a little narcissistic and calling attention to themselves” statement regarding her democrat coming-out coinciding with her anti-hero lyric “did you hear my covert narcissism i disguise as altruism?” is crazy…. the genius you are like truly not a single person knows her better than you do i fear.

[@phoenixfritzinger9185]

Like some kind of congresswoman

[@lizisblonde]

I always love your takes. I think that you always give an honest and objective opinion of Taylor while also being a fan.

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much liz!

[@anjali21397]

Your reaction to ME😂😂 To me miss americana feels like a Taylor swift fanfiction with surface level truths. Idk why being calculative & strategic is taken to be negative. She is all that & should totally own it. I really wanted to see her in business woman mode & being the mastermind. But alas we'll probably never get a proper TS documentary. Can't wait for midnights & your reaction to it💜💜

[@smoothcashewbutter8820]

Omg exactly. I hate when other swifties say she's not calculative when she's a business women. This is a hard industry, you need to be calculative on some level to be able to succeed. Also, what you said about Miss Americana being Taylor fanfiction... I somehow agree. I think it felt kind of staged at times, very managed by her and not by the director herself, which is not good. As you said, there are some truths that are said, but then she's moves one fast from that to the next thing. That goes against the very nature of a documentary... you're supposed to dive dive in uncomfortable themes, if you're not willing to fo that on a documentary that it's about you, then doing it it's just self-indulgent. But well, I like that we get to see her perspective on a lot of things, I just wish they hadn't only touched on those topics superficially.

[@theswiftologist]

she has definitely owned it post this doc and I'd love to see her talk more freely about being a smart, strategic business woman!

[@appletree6898]

I can't see how that group discussion about speaking out politically was anything other than staged, considering how much she wants to control narratives. I don't think she would have allowed a camera if there was any doubt about the outcome. But I could be wrong.

[@Cucumberstopickles]

She definitely doesn’t deny being savvy and calculating but she doesn’t refer to them in a negative light. It’s how she made it so far in a corrupt industry. I understand this is called a documentary but I was never under the impression it was anything other than a promotional puff piece. I learned quite a bit as a fan, I enjoyed seeing her writing process and behind the scenes of her tour and her personal thoughts on different stages of her life that were difficult. The difference from my opinion is that we need to hold a part of ourselves to ourselves. I am a private person, I wasn’t always. I don’t feel that Taylor owes fans anything more on her personal struggles with ED. She admitted to it and admitted that she lied and she overcame it and touched on some of the smaller things she does to not go into that headspace again. She has seen what the media and public has said about her for years. It can cause PTSD with the level of scrutiny. I liked that it focused on the music and with her confessing to ED and speaking up about politics. It’s personal and hard to share so I didn’t think it wasn’t enough info. I didn’t think that was the actual point of the documentary, but I’m not sure how it was advertised. If it was advertised as revealing tons of unanswered questions and a deep dive into her personal life then I can understand why so many in the comments were disappointed it the documentary.

[@candacetirado2514]

Well done ❤️ 👏 while i don’t *always* but mostly agree with you, i always appreciate your thought provoking takes, and “Me!” Is a hate crime.

[@Beach_flower]

I am SO HAPPY to have found you!!! This is the content I’ve been dying for!!!! Love you, off to binge your entire channel now!!!!

[@charlottehollihan4985]

I really appreciate this video and I think this analysis is the best and most honest one I have seen of the Miss America documentary. I felt very disconnected to Taylor during the Lover Era ( in contrast to loving Reputation ) and I couldn’t quite put my finger on why until watching this. You’ve perfectly summarised the manufactured nature of her approach at that time as she tried to re establish her place in the public sphere. So glad she’s back and seems to have grounded since. I’m rambling but I loved this analysis !!

[@ididitoutofspite986]

I became a fan during rep era and I was soo disappointed when the cursed Me! single dropped. Lover has a few bops but I can't vibe with it. Then there's rep, which I keep returning to. Arguably that is her pop magnum opus.

[@themindfullone]

I’ve been enjoying your podcast and channel while waiting for Midnights! I listen during my commutes and y’all be having me CRACKING UP the way you drag her 😂 I appreciate that you guys praise her when it’s due, but also critique her when necessary. It’s very balanced. Thanks for your content!

[@theswiftologist]

aw thank you for listening!!

[@RichterOvertime]

The people I know would probably laugh at me if they knew I was watching this LOL, but you are clearly a well-articulated and very intelligent person and the content you produce is surprisingly very deeply insightful given the subject matter. Your vids are making me feel invested in the story of a corporate pop star I only know from songs I hear playing in Kroger isles, I am impressed by how you pace your content. Keep up the great work, and don't be scared to branch out to more topics, you have a lot of potential as a personality on the platform.

[@theswiftologist]

Thank you so much for this comment, I really appreciate it 🫡

[@holaeedu]

the whole part of this video discussing me! had me laughing my ass off, because honestly, I was so mad when that song dropped, I remember been waiting for it, then listening to it and then being angry about not being able to recover those 3 minutes of my life. I was pissed.

[@sigyn27]

Your analysis was far more interesting than the documentary. For me the highlight of Miss Americana was her singing Clean and the speech she gave before. As to her political coming out, I think it was quite a big deal precisely because she had kept her views a secret for such a long time, allowing all kinds of rumours and theories to grow. On the other hand, it is really bizarre that the public expects pop stars to be open about who they vote for, and when they are not it becomes something everyone speculates about.

[@annedubouch1137]

I smiled when I first saw the name of your channel, but it is so good and comforting to have someone like you working on that kind of myth and help people stay critical. In an age where feelings and emotions have become the dominant things which drive people in their everyday life, we really need that.

[@Human-lg8hb]

45:07 I fully agree. Musicians and these influencers that aren’t involved in politics, shouldn’t talk about politics. Young people look up to them and get influenced, ‘well if she’s voting for this then this must be the right choice’. It is so scary how influential these people actually are.

[@rileerosetta]

thank you for this KING!!!! i watched this documentary again recently after a couple years, and i remembered when it came out i thought it was a huge slay. so i expected to feel that way again and was surprised when i was actually cringing thru half of it thinking “wow this is not the serve she thought it was.” since then i’ve been wondering what yours and madeline’s thoughts were on it. so i very much enjoyed this 10/10

[@theswiftologist]

thank you for watching!!!

[@ericagreene1579]

I feel like she has more than a good girl complex, she also has perfectionism and a real ambition.

[@jillsarah7356]

You make a lot of great points here, specially about the Director not digging deep enough at several points. But as somebody with both a journalism and marketing/publicity background, they weren’t being dramatic to be nervous about her getting political. I’m thrilled that she did and she made a HUGE impact in getting people (esp young people) to register to vote.

[@evelynwright329]

Being open politically is a VERY new thing for celebrities. Back in the Golden Age of Hollywood, all those 50s-60s actors had to keep a Family Friendly, God Fearing face even if that wasn’t them. Sure there were “wild” ones but even they tried to keep their heads down during anything too publicly talked about. A lot of those who did speak out about things like women’s rights or integration had their careers snuffed out and out right protested. Kill Jane Fonda patches are STILL on bikers jackets and vests and on bumper stickers. Old fashioned marketing and pr teams are still scared of reactions like that and pressure their clients into just staying silent.

[@gracefoltz3780]

Been going through your videos and binging them bc i just discovered you - but can I just say that I love your content. I have been a Swiftie since i heard tear drops on my guitar for the first time at 8 years old BUT i am not the Swiftie that agrees with everything she’s ever done and thinks she’s god. I love how you demonstrate that you can love a singer / songwriter but still be critical over their work / behavior / personal life. Love miss swift but she’s not perfect and your takes are so incredibly refreshing. Thank you!!

[@Starbuck-dr7yl]

Way to slayyyy! Excellent! As always. For me, I’m a new Swiftie. When this came out, I think I watched it that summer but before folklore. I knew nothing about Taylor, only the media-spun narratives which weren’t that positive. I had never listed to a Taylor album before. So from a beginners perspective, this doc introduced her to me a day I saw her in a different light than what the media spins. And it made me see her a bit more human. Do I think it was actually good for a beginner. Now, I don’t need or want to this foundation, I want the in depth questions just like you were talking about. Let’s get to the root of this, how did this come about, really delve deep. Which we didn’t get in this doc. But from a beginner, I think it served its purpose, to introduce her and to present her in a positive way without overloading it with too much. Now, I want the inside workings of her psyche. But then it would have been too much for normal people but wasn’t enough for the fans that already know her. Can’t wait for Midnights!!!!! What’s the 3am chaotic announcement????

[@Cucumberstopickles]

Same I was a newer fan when I watched it but I never expected it was going to be a deep dive into the most personal aspects of her life. I assumed it was intended as a promotional puff piece. I’m a private person and I think Taylor has a million and one more reasons to be private and hold what she considers sacred close to her. I never expected her to get that personal with the world. I appreciated her talk about ED and how she keeps from falling back into that headspace and her speaking out on politics. I didn’t expect it so was pleasantly surprised.

[@jordanschumacher1493]

I love hearing you analyze these things while also being a fan! I agree that having a bit more info on the eating disorder portion of this doc would have been nice. I have an eating disorder and have been in active good recovery for a year and half now but it took me 4 years of suffering and hospitals and interventions to get there. I'm not saying she needed to elaborate because I understand it's a very personal journey to go through but I think a little more insight to how she got to a better space with it could have been nice.

[@avataraang.]

09:54 I'm sorry but I absolutely died when you began roasting ME! 😭💀

[@JaviAlonso]

I've been binging your videos for a few days now and I just want to congratulate you for your incredible analytical skills and your vocabulary. It's so entertaining and illuminating watching you dissect all these pop culture artifacts; this video was especially brilliant 💙 Congrats!

[@meghansullivan6812]

Big agree!! Love ur description

[@bluestrangler0447]

Honestly I never thought of the song Miss Americana as a political statement, I just thought it was a love song that touched on her insecurities and fear for the world. Personally I still enjoy looking at the song through that lens as it's my favorite Lover song. This shed a lot of light on T Swift and her life and I think was so well made and you articulated your points very very well

[@camiladaya6502]

Me! Is your fav lover song?

[@bluestrangler0447]

No, Miss Americana is

[@hey-zel]

You and Sebas G Mouret are the only swiftie channels I feel like aren’t afraid to talk about your honest opinions on Taylor and it’s refreshing honestly. Actually starting to get into Taylor’s music because of you two

[@holaeedu]

"grown up stuff, you're 29 years old, man, you're grown up" I can't lol 😂😂😂

[@cluny1277]

your analysis beginning at 40:50 is so piercing and wise. pop stars indeed are our COURT JESTERS! and not our rulers …

[@theswiftologist]

they need to....JUST DANCE.

[@forestlorde]

i always had a problem with this documentary from the first time i watched it when i came out, especially being a longtime fan and it was awesome to kind of hear all my critiques talked about in an eloquent way. awesome video!

[@theswiftologist]

thank you for watching and I'm glad it resonated with you!

[@ravenswood118]

I wouldn't call myself a Swiftie per se, but I found this really interesting from a pop culture perspective! I laughed the other day cause I saw a video of you saying "you know those people who like, say they liked folklore, maybe liked a couple of songs from her over the course of her long career..." because that's basically me. Anyway, this was really nuanced and cool, I appreciated you giving credit where it was due but criticizing where it was called for. Fandoms are so insane and it's so nice to see people seeing their fav with a more sober perspective.

[@graceannefentress2657]

This has really helped me see this doc and Taylor in a new light. While I love her, its hard for me to accept that it’s okay to be critical of her as well. Thank you !

[@RyanStorey1231]

Something that is important to remember about Taylor "coming out as a democrat" is that this was probably a necessary PR move at the time. I do think it was a necessary PR move to placate growing concerns that Taylor was a closet republican. People don't remember, but because she had never spoken out about anything politically, there had been closet republican rumors festering for years. The Alt-Right even thought that she was on their side and declared her their "Aryan princess" or some shit. Another thing is that Taylor has a lot of gay fans. They absolutely love her. It would have been quite a shame if she didn't love them back. And the longer she didn't say anything, well... So everything she did during the Lover era: "You Need to Calm Down", devoting a huge chunk of her documentary on "getting political", the Instagram post. All of that was a bit performative, but ultimately probably necessary. Now that she's made her point and made it known to the world that she's pro LGBTQ and NOT a conservative, I think she's opted to step back from being publicly political as she's realized that it's not her skillset and do activism in more quiet ways. A good example being casting a trans man as her love interest in the Lavender Haze video and not making a thing out of it. I think that kind of stuff is ultimately more effective than going on a press tour humblebragging about how woke you are like a lot of celebrities do.

[@GraphicallyAlex]

It is so controlling that in your mind she isn’t allowed to be a conservative if she was one. Very toxic mindset. You can be conservative and pro gay, you can be a liberal and homophobic. You don’t have to view everything as so black and white. It’s very childish. I think she chose to come out as a democrat even tho she is likely dead center because she knew the Republican side would be more accepting, rather than people like you lmao. This comment of yours makes me sick, both as a gay person and a conservative, and as a person that is upset that Taylor felt so much pressure to be what you want her to be. It’s all very sad.

[@RyanStorey1231]

@@GraphicallyAlex While I agree that liberals are capable of being homophobic or racist, I do not agree that you can be pro LGBTQ while voting for conservative politicians who actively campaign on making our lives worse. Ron DeSantis is running for president right now and he's waging all-out war on gay and transgender people in Florida. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[@cathyantil2259]

​@@GraphicallyAlex ❤

[@lherz13]

@9:50 Now I will always hear this song with your voice saying "me-hee-hee, hoo-hoo-hoo" 💀

[@blenhardt1245]

I do love Taylor even though I don't often agree with her political views, but your comment where her writing "ME!" was like her "unraveling the DaVinci Code" had me dying!! Lol!

[@antoniettasimona7581]

first off, happy midnights release week 🌚!!! secondly, i loved this video, you have such good insights as always. you even got my mom to tune in which is not an easy feat!!! i love how you talk about her "good girl" complex and as somebody who recovering from that same complex, i think it'd be really cool to explore how taylor conducted/conducts her career differently than her contemporaries because of internal and external forces willing her to be "good"

[@theswiftologist]

omg honoured!

[@TheGrandOFF]

Thank you, Zach! An excellent video. I think that the documentary did exactly what it was meant to do when it came out. In the depths of the Trump era everything was more black & white and Taylor coming with those blatant declarations helped shift her image in the public eye. She was back to being America’s sweetheart after this and it laid the foundation for a much more favorable general view of her. And she had a free hand to create the opus magnum of Folkevermore. I believe that art in service of a political agenda never ages well. Listening to Lover I get allergic to crypto-political messaging in Miss Americana or “united we stand” piece in DBATC, these parts do sound extremely dated and naive now. But all in all, this doc is part of her lore and served well to advance her as a mastermind business woman that she is.

[@theswiftologist]

thanks for sharing your perspective!! totally agree the political stuff doesn't age well, artistically

[@mattilynbryant1351]

“Did you hear my covert narcissism my disguise is Altruism like some kind if congressman”

[@adambrigue5977]

I like that the very beginning where Taylor is on the window seal looking like the old innocent Taylor, concludes with the first half of the doc/kimye drama. because the same innocent girl on the window ledge is explaining how she couldn't ever come back from the hate. She has gone into the root of who she is and shown you how lies effect someone who always wanted a good reputation. I feel like subtext is here aswell, you may not hear every detail about why or when or who, but like Taylor's music, you can very quickly understand how how life was with just a few sentences. Even songs like Call it what you want really help understand her mind.

[@jamiemcq1520]

I remember you saying ages ago your target for this year was 10k and looks like you’ll be there in no time ❤️ this content is like morphine I stg

[@causeimnachoprincess]

Take a shot every time Zach says "Me hee hee hoo hoo hoo." You will be drunk in about a couple minutes.

[@mdrowe726]

Unpopular opinion: I found that that scene where she’s deliberating on whether or not to use her voice to speak out in support of basic human rights to be kind of insulting. It was a very glaring display of privilege from her. Many people have no choice but to speak up because their lives and welfare are affected. So yeah, watching a woman who has 5 mansions deliberate on speaking out fell flat for me. I don’t think there will ever come a day when I’m not wary of her “activism”.

[@stev6963]

I really appreciate how he isn’t afraid to criticize his idol. It’s so refreshing.

[@gumsguey]

Wowow, thanks for helping me be more critical of this doc!! I really appreciate your balance of loving her and being mindful of the image she portrays.

[@MisterAPH]

I strongly disagree with what you said that her political endorsement at the time was just a small localized event. I think what you failed to consider is that before the endorsement, there had been quite a lot of talk about Taylor being a closet white supremacist -- something that some white supremacists genuinely believed too. That's why when she made her endorsement, it was all over the news. And personally, it was a topic I definitely wanted the documentary to cover.

[@danielle.jarli_22]

I really enjoyed the narration of this video and really speak truths without filter. I love that there's love and respect for Taylor as an artist but to also call bs when necessary. I enjoyed the documentary as a time filler but not shocking or enlightening as it's quite controlled and generic for a fan grabbing document. I honestly couldn't sit and watch the full documentary in 1 sitting and was multitasking as it got me a bit glazing. Still watch it just because she is great but it is not compelling like it was hyped to be which is why I love you points about asking her to get deeper which did not happen. Love your videos so much!!

[@hannahh.3695]

Like always a refreshingly insightful review of the documentary! Thanks for putting in all this work, love the long videos!

[@theswiftologist]

thanks for watching Hannah!!

[@zuzannakielar]

Honestly I love your analitical videos, they always give me so much context ( especially as someone who is not from USA ) and a better understanding of not only who Taylor Swift is as a person, but also the circumstances that led to her becoming who she is now. You're doing great work ❤️

[@jeanmarieh6912]

I applaud you for your critical analysis. And thank you for the laugh in the beginning when you said "I've only seen it four times". You are hilarious and I really enjoy your videos

[@LieslHeston]

Bestie when I saw that this episode was longer than the secret session video I grabbed my popcorn and buckled in for the RIDE

[@theswiftologist]

HAHAHAHA

[@aggudayo]

I watched Miss Americana the day before this video was uploaded and searched your channel for a reaction. And here you come today😍 Keep slaying queennnn!!

[@theswiftologist]

happy to provide soldier

[@paprikamuffin]

I disagree about the take on Taylor's decision to publicly denounce conservatism. Was she late to the party? Yes. Is You Need to Calm Down a sub par song with a bungled message? Also yes. However, 2018 the political climate was EXTREMELY scary. Trump had won and the rise of the alt right was very real. The right was being enabled to become further radicalized, and the mid terms were a time the left was pushing people to go out and vote blue. I appreciate her speaking out because it made (at least me) feel like someone with a lot of social power was on our side, trying to do good.

[@holaeedu]

I absolutely agree: taylor was the director of this whole thing, lana was like... the camera woman?

[@rightwhereyouleftme__]

I have something to admit... Miss Americana is my comfort movie and I watch it ALL THE TIME. I can recite most of it. I completely see all it's flaws and how it's a puff piece that barely scratches the surface of her actual life, but I don't care. I love watching all the clips compiled together of older footage. The only parts I often skip is all the political stuff because I do really roll my eyes. And even tho I find Joe SO bland I still love the cute little montage and seeing her sing to him on the living room floor! What can I say, it's just iconic, imagine Taylor Swift serenading you on the floor with a song she wrote about you?! Sliving. I really hope we get another documentary focused on the re-recording process at some point, and ONLY that. Like doesn't delve into her personal life much at all because it's very clear she isn't interested in sharing it in a very deep or authentic way, which is of course her right. She let's us in with the songs she writes and that's enough for me.

[@theswiftologist]

and that is your right to make it your comfort movie!!! I also find the interesting clips very comforting

[@jaxg80]

My comfort movie too! I love the footage also and hope she does a deeper dive, at some point...when she is ready! I don't dig on the political view, not that I don't agree with certain things,...just feel we should keep politics and religion out. However, I understand she has a huge following of LGBTQ folks and she loves her fans and wants to stick up for them. She is damned if she does and damned if she doesn't, ya know?

[@Cucumberstopickles]

@@jaxg80I had this same thought! Damned if you do damned if you don’t. People were accusing her of supporting White Supremacy. If everyone in you’re a young woman and your camp and your own parents are telling you not to talk politics when you want to, I can imagine how frustrating that can be. Now hitting 30 yr old and feeling more confident in her beliefs and alot of regret for not speaking out can cause people to feel emotional. Todays politics make me feel extremely emotional as a woman with a young daughter I feel genuine fear. She also has stalkers and wound dressing everywhere she goes and the anger she must have felt can cause tears. Some people rolled their eyes at her reaction but I totally understood why she was so passionate about this.

[@layna8052]

I am a year late to your channel but I am so impressed with you. I love that you give an unbiased opinion because most people either won't say anything even slightly negative about her or just hate her for no reason.

[@jepros]

I remember Lana said she wanted the doco to be a fly on the wall thing, she and Taylor agreed they wouldn't specifically film everything, they'd just pick up the cameras quickly whenever something happened (like the political argument with her dad for example).

[@larasweeney9407]

The whole segment on " MeHeeHee Hoohooo HoooHooo" - had me crying, laughing, clapping, popping champagne . This is critical theory at its height. Let us use the best of Taylor's work to critique the rest. Starting with ME!

[@aleshabarnett1]

I love your brutal honesty. ❤

[@theswiftologist]

thanks Alesha ❤

[@carleighcombs4158]

42:53 she was afraid she was going to lose her southern audience. I’ve lost family members due to the fact I’m a southern democrat. It’s polarizing to people here unfortunately

[@WilderHeart13]

Sorry to leave a comment on an older video but I’m really grateful for such a balanced review of Miss Americana. I feel like in the years since this came out, the scene with her crying in front of her team saying she wants to be on the right side of history has been held up by a lot of swifties as, like, the moment Taylor named herself as a saint who was going to save us all from every evil. Every time she does something to prove that her politics don’t directly reflect theirs, they repost it like it’s evidence of some great betrayal or lie, when in reality it probably should have gone unaired to begin with. It’s just really refreshing to have someone speaking to the shortcomings of this doc as well as pointing out its shining moments.

[@Lindy98]

I appreciate you, Zach (or is it Zack?) I'm 72 and this is all new to me. I'm too old to blindly worship anyone, so I love hearing from someone who, while he loves Taylor, is not oblivious to the fact that she's human.

[@hcrsongbird74]

Love you to bits and I am not delusional about Taylor, or anyone. We are all imperfect humans with idiosyncrasies, issues, problems, the ability to thoroughly annoy... we are all a mess walking. But... I feel like no matter what subjects she decided to dig more deeply into, you would have had a problem. Taylor knows that the narratives others push about her are in the hundreds, and barely any of them are within an acceptable range of accuracy. Even mine, even yours. Taylor has shown the world what some of us have always known: we can all have narcissistic traits and behaviors (in fact most of us will have several instances in our lifetimes of behaving this way) and not be actual narcissists. Her on-again, off-again narcissistic traits are what keep her sane when most would have fallen off the face of the earth. She believes in herself, and that is catchy to her fans.

[@ninahdau]

This is the best Miss Americana analysis, point, period, THE END!!!! Love your channel and analysis, I love blondie so much but I am also critical of her decisions (or lack thereof). I love this, keep it up!!

[@KpopLover1013]

So, I watched the Miss Americana documentary the other day for the first time, and I have to say, watching this video also got me wondering a lot more about those missed opportunities they could've explored by delving deeper into the meaty parts of her life that don't usually see the light of day. It also struck me as coincidental and interesting how Anti-Hero literally puts these two statements that you made on blast that you made here: 44:52 "And this is why the popstar-politic conversation is so complicated because it's like they can't make any difference in a political arena without being a little bit narcissistic and calling attention to themselves and making it about them---- And I think that because Taylor is so calculated, and she has excerted a lot of control over her career and her image and everything she does is very purposeful, people perceive her interventions and political matters as pretty pointedly calculated to benefit her. Not as altruistic or good-intended statements." I know that narcissism and altruism go hand in hand and it's pretty much a given that both would be discussed in one sitting but it was so cool hearing you bring those points up and then referring to the song as if she addressed it directly 😂

[@littlechatspodcast]

the new angle, editing, everything is on point ! ✨👌🏻

[@theswiftologist]

Yay, thank you!

[@SUZSMITH]

I am a songwriter, used to be a singer and my publisher always used to tell me that it didn’t matter - my audience would always be a 13 to 14 year old kid. That’s pop music for you.

[@jojo_r4bbit]

I think the reason why I absolutely loved the documentary it's because I only know her because of what media perceive her to be so watching the film really opened my mind that she's not the soulless bad person they want her to be

[@alltoowell13]

I’ve found this video from your tiktok video about reviewing the lover era. I’ve liked Taylor for years but I’m critical about her work and what she does and it’s refreshing to see someone else that has the same viewpoints

[@Shriyaliiii13]

just wanted to appreciate you for a sec here because you've been feeding us with the content rather generously this past month and that's so freaking commendable !!! ❤desperately and patiently waiting for 2016 episode as well I know you and Madeline will smash itttt🙈🙈🙈

[@theswiftologist]

thank you so much!! it's coming soon, for sure

[@A_O_Leary]

This makes me appreciate even more the arrested development Britney Spears must have been kept in since she started so young on the MIckey Mouse club and lived in rural Louisiana. I also think of the "I'm glad my Mom died book" and how adults will keep their meal ticket/child/client restricted in order to keep their audience.

[@madamjubilee2229]

WOAH. the way she handles the press now.. someone's definitely been watching your reviews!!

[@cuber3603]

Loving the roasting of "Me" in this video, I laughed so hard.

[@enas7547]

Unpopular opinion: I totally understand why Taylor clapped back at kanye in her speech because as a woman i can see how traumatizing it must have been to be portrayed naked in a bed with a man who called her a bitch not to mention it is the same guy who verbally assaulted her not only once but twice. She wasn't being petty and had every right to be angry yet it might have been better to do it a different time when she has thought about it and not waste such an award speech on him.

[@theswiftologist]

Grammy speech was way way before the famous music video came out

[@intheskatepark]

hi! i’m not into speculation about mental health either, but with eating disorders, it often can take years for a person’s weight to go back to normal, sort of like an underweight - slightly above normal weight - back down to normal weight and this can last a very long time, even years! which can explain why a person’s weight may seem to go back down again. i hope this explains something!

[@PoisonedApathy]

Yeah, I agree. Her body was probably holding on to weight after an extended period of malnourishment, and now her hormones have probably regulated and that's why she's dropped a bit of weight. I don't think it's been as dramatic as people have put. She looks super healthy to me now.

[@intheskatepark]

@@PoisonedApathy yeah, agreed! she looks really good now, she looks so happy and healthy

[@lfior]

Thiss

[@theswiftologist]

oooh great context here!

[@michellemasse5523]

This is the best review of Miss Americana. I love that you look at things from all sides 👏🏻

[@Chris-uq5vl]

i can’t, my stomach hurts from laughing so much at the ME! writing process segment 😭

[@ericagreene1579]

You are so right about it not just being a kanye thing. People didn't like the perfect image she was portraying. And it seems to always happen to female superstars, people turn on them in the height of their success. You are so right about her personal life control. And that cut in the acceptance speech. She definitely contributing to it, this documentary definitely feeds into this, honestly kind of victim complex she has. Which doesn't mean she hasn't been legitimately victimised by other people but also she has done things that were dumb and vindictive.