POP SONG REVIEW: "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift

[@hamzahar8793]

"you write your fictional characters better than you write yourself" 5 years later folklore, an album consisted mostly of fictional stories, won album of the year at the grammys making it her 3rd aoty. todd voodoo is unbelievably accurate.

[@josei1624]

If you think about it. Her first really big hit? Love Story. She's always been doing it

[@cocothedino_2901]

i love todd’s predictions and comments cuz they’re never half right, they’re either word for word accurate or completely dead wrong

[@corneliastreet3559]

Also Mine!!

[@cuber3603]

I wouldn't say Folklore is entirely fictional, she clearly drew on real experiences and feelings she had and came up with stories based on those

[@rateeightx]

@@cuber3603 I mean by that grounds hardly anything is ever completely fictional, I don't know how you could get someone to make up a fake story without drawing on their own life, Or someone else's life, Or even just another story they heard.

[@abbiec2.089]

"Ariana Grande might get there some day" this is very funny as a person who just lived through 2018

[@ajgerbi]

Abbie C 2.0 / I was just thinking the same thing when he said that. I also died when he said maybe iggy will get to the number ones some day (let’s hope not)

[@ahmaddiab9480]

ZERO yeah but she's still no where near taylor swift level

[@anotherweekmusic7282]

Ahmad Diab HA!

[@micahadamson4309]

@@anotherweekmusic7282 What do you mean "HA"? Ariana is gonna need to be a lot bigger to approach Taylor's level of success.

[@joebob2311productions]

Literally came here to comment something along those lines

[@victoriangm7774]

"Like, Ariana Grande might get there someday" Wow, that was prophetic.

[@munjee2]

It's seem the Taylor swift episodes are the only ones where his predictions aren't colosally wrong

[@GarfieldiusPrime]

@@munjee2 oh shit...you might be right.

[@ahmaddiab9480]

She's not there tho. Yes she is very successful and had an amazing year, but.... she's no where near taylor swift level

[@hell6295]

Ahmad Diab yes, i agree with you! everyone is saying Ariana is as big or bigger, but Taylor’s just REALLY famous, i’m a huge fan of ariana but it’s just the truth.

[@elysemartel5761]

Toddstradamus speaks

[@WLxMusic]

Todds script writing is truly superb. it never comes off as forced or unnatural. It really does sometimes feel like the jokes are just all improvised. I mean, todd can write one mean script, i'll tell ya.

[@HoratioAccel]

He probably doesn't write a final script, just main points and ideas. He's probably ad-libbing a bit, it's just that he's so good at it his content is always quality.

[@Genevieve1023]

His brother is his writing partner.

[@Genevieve1023]

@Khuzaima Ibrahim Yes. There's a video from a few years ago where he talks about how he started. In it, he mentions writing worth his younger brother.

[@Genevieve1023]

@Khuzaima Ibrahim I can't remember exactly which one. Like I said it was years ago.

[@SunflowerSpotlight]

Genevieve CS I love it when people realize that maybe a writing partner or editor isn’t a bad idea. The more eyes, the better the shine. Just polishing out weirdly vague sentences or minor grammar issues can make a script sound so much better. Sometimes people hear a mistake and can’t place what’s wrong, but it’s flagged, and then they’re less likely to trust that narrator. It’s a huge problem with this kind of content. I get taken out of it more than most because I’m an editor, but it’s like it smacks me in the face that it’s an issue. I tend to itch for my red pen a few times in commentary or review videos, but I don;t encounter that much with Todd’s videos. As a grammar nazi made an honest helper, that’s kind of one of the biggest compliments I can give!

[@thaddeusgenhelm8979]

You know, when I heard the cha-click sound effect, my first thought wasn't a pen, or the finger snap thing, but given the theme of the song, and her carving her name into a tree, I half thought it was the sound of a switchblade. Which makes it way funnier. Annnd worrisome.

[@matthewkoch6937]

True, the "blank space" for his name could be because she's a serial killer and he's her next victim. It would work way too well with the other content in the lyrics, where she comes off as a psychotic seducer.

[@redactedredacted6656]

Are you sure she isn't singing about owning a Death Note ? It would explain John Mayer's career.

[@sameenshakya5188]

Haha

[@GamesFromSpace]

I was thinking blank space on a tombstone, and the click is a gun. Your version is far better.

[@ph89787]

River Robson Speaking of which. Someone went SJW when it was first mentioned.

[@starseer73]

Patrick Donnolley yeah cuz they were looking for white actors to play an Asian character

[@ericpeterson8732]

John did it to himself. Shite-talking his exes, saying stupid stuff, being a douchebag.

[@kathycoleman4648]

This was really fun to watch. I think the beat kinda suits the lyrics. It's as sparse, heartless and hallow as the "character" Swift is portraying. It also subconsciously reminds the listener of how empty the life of a real person behaving like this would be. Also, the tight beats of the verse lyrics ("Nice to. Meet you. Where you. Been.") seem equally hallow--heck, almost robotic in their pacing--further dehumanizing the narrator.

[@RenaldyCalixte]

Katryn Rosemir Really good analysis

[@cognitivedissonance8406]

Overthinking and buying into the narrative at the same time Yeah

[@mikerivera373]

This is all true, however it still doesn’t make the production particularly relistenable. Which is kind of important for a song getting played on the radio 20+ times a day for months on end. What I’m saying is that the song works a lot better as an album piece than as a hit single, and it’s a lot more enjoyable to return to years later than it was back in 2015.

[@khoavo510]

@@cognitivedissonance8406 i mean she outright states the intent of the song as potraying as an empty, hollow architype so this isn't really 'over'analysing or 'buying' into the narrative because that really IS the intent

[@phrankster909]

This song really made me respect Taylor Swift as a songwriter. This song has at least 3 hooks, which is 2 more than really necessary for a pop song. This safety-first approach is highly commendable.

[@aaravos4371]

I'd say as a lyricist shes also really good. Folklore kinda proves this imo.

[@charlottebrook8579]

😂😂😂

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

The truth is, there is no real taylor swift, it's just the result of big data profiling of target audiences and 3d printing

[@xSwordLilyx]

I know she can't show me incredible things, that's for sure.

[@ayiniseasilyamused9215]

SwordLily tbh I never watched Taylor Swift's videos for incredible things, just for some kinda nice visuals and easy listening

[@mechasentai]

mipmipmipmipmip For GOD's sake tall me where I can buy that printer!

[@Nobody-uj8oo]

I'm gonna keep this at 666 likes

[@randmiller88]

Do you mean target audiences...or Target audiences?

[@impish_snake3526]

Todd: Write fictional stories; they’ll be better! Me: *laughing in “folklore” and “evermore” *

[@yootoobnewbie]

"Swift has no competitors left" ...... And then Adele returned.

[@bullmonty764]

yootoobnewbie And then Adele retired from performing

[@thatdapperfellow]

That lasted about two months.

[@benjaminp1357]

yootoobnewbie ...thank god

[@josh44026]

@Bath House Becky did Adele divorce her husband

[@devonschindler1406]

This comment is hilarious now that Adele is releasing this November and Taylor shifted her release a week earlier.

[@BassbaitGG]

I love just about everything in this song - the lyrics, the vocal performance, the melodies, the production, the video, everything about this song works for me. Which is weird because you would have never seen me saying much about Taylor Swift before this song just suddenly changed my mind in a big way. Also is it just me or, based on the video, is Taylor Swift kind of a good actor? Like she pulls off a variety of expressions and emotions in the video. Doesn't mean she'd be any good in a movie but for a music video, she knows how to pull off selling a visual. That's obviously at least partially a result of the director, who I'm familiar with through Faith no More and AKB48.

[@airwindows]

Taylor Swift demonstrates… self awareness! "She'll be unstoppable!" 2023-Taylor Swift owns the top of the charts AND hits #1 on Todd's Best List using… self-awareness. He called it, this early :)

[@Burningbranch]

Rewatching Todd's Taylor videos in 2023 is just a gripping narrative of two forces that want to oppose each other but continously keep coming back together.

[@annray625]

“This is the year of Taylor Swift, no other pop star matters anymore.” Oh past Todd, I just went through 2023, you have no idea…

[@aboynameddelilah6839]

I always this song was ment to poke fun at how many popular parody artists make her out to be a psycho who obsesses over her exes to extreme points (see any number of Bart baker's tally swift song parodies) which makes sense when you consider her own description of how the song came to be. Or atleast that's what I thought the point of blank space was

[@Lochness19]

And it's way more entertaining that any of those.

[@cognitivedissonance8406]

It’s far less interesting if it isn’t truly introspective and self-ware

[@justink5000]

@@cognitivedissonance8406 its not if the entire rest of her discography wasn't already introspective and self-aware.

[@cognitivedissonance8406]

@@justink5000 I can’t really bring myself to see it that way but your take is just as valid, and of course the truth of what’s inside the artist’s mind and heart will never truly belong to anyone but her.

[@justink5000]

@@cognitivedissonance8406 well, what I mean is that Taylor has always been aware of her own feelings. She has been able to word them delicately since she was a teenager. (Like in Last Kiss, Forever & Always and The Outside from that era). However as teenagers, few of us are ever really able to reflect on how our own actions affect the people around us, and she is no exception. I think the point from which Taylor started to learn this is the Red album. This is when she starts not only putting her feelings into words, but also being aware of her surroundings. (Treacherous, All Too Well, Nothing New, State of Grace). And from that moment on, this has only become better in 1989 and reputation up until Lover (Delicate, Dancing With Our Hands Tied, Cruel Summer, I Think He Knows, and of course, Style and Wildest Dreams). Her mastery has finally revealed itself in her latest two albums, folklore and evermore, which show her virtuosity in storytelling like never before (august, exile, illicit affairs, gold rush, champagne problems, coney island and basically of the songs on them). I get that Taylor Swift doesn't come off as such because she has something to herself which I believe is genuine naivite and wearing her heart on her sleeve. She is also a very emotional person, maybe even dramatic if you will. None of that makes her an insufferable brat as some people think who seem to associate that with these qualities. I also believe that her unabashed girliness is off-putting for many, which I also can't find a rational reason for why this is a bad trait. Of course, it doesn't help that the musical aspect (apart from the melody) in her songs is usually kinda low quality and doesn't match up to her brilliant lyricism at all. So I think it's false to write off Taylor Swift because of her girliness, emotionality and bad production, because you miss out on her masterful songwriting. Also, I think songs like Shake it Off, Bad Blood, etc are written do a) be danced to and b) be played on the radio to keep her relevant in stardom. Being a popstar is a business like any other. Her non-singles many times show off her songwriting skills much more.

[@little-furina]

Blank space? I'll write your name? Apples? Pen clicking Taylor Swift is Kira confirmed...

[@armslegs]

Marry me

[@williameyelash8053]

Well shit...

[@firepuppies4086]

I saw no potato chips

[@ratatouille2129]

Omg... XD

[@FeltonHM]

lmao

[@omarelk194]

I think she's going for a Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald homage, because they had a famously tempestuous relationship and were the power couple of the Roaring Twenties.

[@jamesbaxterfromax]

I would say a narcissist or a borderline woman that goes through a boyfriend every few months and can't spend a night alone is more the ticket. Zelda was at least his wife

[@BEEEELEEEE]

I totally get what he's saying about really liking it but eventually getting sick of it. That's why I'm really careful about how much I listen to a song I love.

[@kimifw58]

Yeah. That's how I felt about Katy Perry's "Firework."

[@xSwordLilyx]

+Kimi FW That song is a dumpster fire.

[@HoratioAccel]

I dunno. I think good music survives repeated listens, especially pop music

[@lookatthiscutekittyc2903]

Nah, I've listened Yesterday for weeks and the song still rocks...

[@kirbyboycoolness6734]

BEEELEEE Agreed

[@georgeandrews1394]

I thought the pen clicking was supposed to be the sound of Taylor cocking a pistol... which would have fit.

[@ecliptik8020]

George Andrews how about both at the same time

[@ActuallyNotHayden]

the "you write fictional characters better than you write yourself" and then six years later she puts out folklore

[@Bldyiii]

All I hear is “Starbucks lovers”

[@Yemmi]

bahaha same i used to think it was "star crossed lovers"

[@KillerKoifish]

Its got a long list of ex lovers

[@alisaurus4224]

Saaame. I can only hear “Those lonely Starbucks lovers,” especially because i used to work at Starbucks and saw so many awkward first dates.

[@onahi2025]

Yeah

[@spekmannetje]

i didn't even know what the real lyric is

[@SiesVE]

Kira: "I got a Blank page, baby... I just need your name."

[@macten3633]

Wow Todd, great moves. Keep it up, proud of you.

[@ConfuzzledTomato]

GONE SEXUAL

[@waywardlaser]

+Commander Levi RUCRAZEERUOUTTAURMIND

[@TheRantMaster53]

+Commander Levi - Papa bless you, Commander Levi

[@anyyoingorange]

Thats a slofoantonio quote right?

[@macten3633]

anyyoingorange No, it came from prankinvasions

[@pacificostudios]

Todd forgot to mention that as soon as Blank Space Taylor drives one guy away, another equally attractive young man pulls up to her mansion.

[@julietrc15]

Todd in 2015 saying Taylor should go the folklore route and write about other people's lives instead of her own. A visionary.

[@VoxSweden]

Reminding me there once was a day when Iggy Azalea could pose a threat.

[@kieranstark7213]

And she did... But not in a way that would make her charismatic. In fact, she even went as far as to say that people hate her for no reasons that make them nowhere near “the realest” that she is, even even went as far as to bash people like honest for defending her!!!!!!!! LET THAT SINK IN.

[@wolvesetc]

he's wrong on this one. Taylor is being tongue and cheek. She's trolling here, it's pretty clear and she has said as much. In fact, look, it couldn't be more clear in the lyrics.

[@FragmentedR_YT]

“Ariana Grande might get there someday.” If that’s the case, then someday has definitely come.

[@aks8042]

I kNOW right! Todd got a good prediction! Finally!!

[@micahadamson4309]

Eh, I don't think she's quite near Taylor's level of success yet.

[@someoneelse4579]

Naah. She's not near the level of commercial indestructibility Taylor was at during the 1989 era. The TUN era was about as successful as Lover (more in singles, less in albums).

[@aditya_raina_]

Not Really , Taylor is still outselling her by miles .

[@sheikhhussain3145]

@@aditya_raina_ wow you are a really pathetic fan, defending her everywhere, you people are annoying as fuck, hope Taylor is paying your whiny ass

[@tutterbear98]

that thing that Todd said at the end - getting sick of songs really quickly like that, is just the way that radio works these days. Hit plays, they keep playing it over and over (people keep requesting it too) and soon everyone gets so sick of it that they have no choice but to play something new. This music life cycle makes new music feel old very fast (people complaining that a 3 week old song is too old to be on the radio) and ultimately ruins a song. Blank Space and especially Thinking out Loud (Jesus Christ, I don't even listen to the radio all that much and I'm sick of that song) are good examples. At least in Canada there's a law which says that there much be some airtime given to Canadian bands and artists, but if there's someone like the Weekend at the top, then it's even worse cause they don't have to break it up.

[@anthrax1328]

+tutterbear98 Besides the fact that I feel like that law impedes on some right(too tried to really explain much better), it's the reason shit like Justin Bieber exist, because you guys are forced to play it, and it jump-starts the careers.

[@tutterbear98]

+anthrax most of the songs that are forced to be played through that law, i find, never get past Canada, and never get all that big here either. Mia Martinez, for example, is a piece of shit that has to be played here for law (and the fact that she's actually on Canadian charts, just never very high on them). As far as I know, she's not played in America at all (thank God). (also a plus about Canadian radio is that we get, like, zero rap. No Chris Brown. No lil Wayne. It has to be a huge rap song for radios here to play it.) When you get a chance, could you explain how it impedes rights? I've never heard anything bad about that law, and I'm curious.

[@xDarkTrinityx]

+tutterbear98 This is why I can't listen to pop radio anymore...

[@digitaljanus]

+anthrax They rarely gain traction outside Canada--and often even inside Canada!--without a boost from the American music industry or another Canadian who's already made it in the US. Nobody in Canada knew who Bieber was until Usher started promoting him. Carly Rae Jepsen would have been a 3rd place Canadian Idol contestant with a forgotten EP until Bieber and Selena Gomez told their fans to check her out. The lead singer of MAGIC! had been writing and producing songs for big US pop acts for a decade before "Rude". The Weeknd got early buzz by playing Drake's annual OVO festival in Toronto. I have no idea how Drake got into the circle of American R&B and hop-hip artists, but starring in a Canadian TV series with a cult following in the US probably helped. Also, I think most Canadian hip-hop and R&B artists end up doing a lot of touring and collaborating in the US because the Canadian music industry still acts like rap music is a fad. Shawn Mendes used the Bieber route of posting songs on KZbin and got discovered by a big name producer--this is increasingly the route to discovery for a lot of budding artists--you don't necessarily have to build a reputation in Canada to gain an international following anymore.

[@digitaljanus]

+tutterbear98 Because the people who oversee the Cancon regulations and the grant system that helps support it only seem to want to fund and promote two kinds of music in English Canada*: artsy alt-rock by white college kids (i.e., the next Arcade Fire) and retro-70s hard rock by long-haired white dudes from the suburbs and rural towns (i.e., the next Nickelback but less terrible). While some good bands come out of those genres, they're mostly safe and boring. No politically angry punk bands, no balls-to-the-wall metal, no hip-hop, no native bands, no pop. Some of the most creative music coming out of Canada right now is from electronic artists like Deadmau5, Caribou, and Grimes, but they don't get a lot of respect from the Canadian music industry. *French Canada is a completely different music scene that I know next to nothing about. Maybe a Quebec resident could explain it better.

[@WaffleDuck5191]

This is interesting to watch after “Anti-Hero” has come out. It’s also an introspective song where she admits she’s the problem. It makes perfect sense she wrote Anti-hero. Shows show he’s evolved. And her love life isn’t the main focus anymore.

[@Seth9809]

When I first heard Anti-Hero, I was very confused. On the one hand, it made a lot of sense, as her past behavior did indicate she was bi-polar or sometimes depressed or something. At the same time, I was confused because she said that "Blank Space" was a fake version of her, but then "Anti-Hero" was real?

[@colmryan9289]

When Blank Space came out, there was still a level of denial in it. However, by now with Anti-Hero, there is no denial left: she’s fully accepted that this is the genuine version of her.

[@mikanchan322]

​@@colmryan9289exactly! I think its fantastic. Blank Space is her exaggerating and parodying the traits, saying "this is what other people say I am". Anti Hero still has a bit of a satirical tone, but this time shes admitting and accepting it: "maybe this really is who I am". I love it.

[@basicindiebro]

I am not backseat diagnosing her because I don’t believe in that but Anti-Hero is exactly how my BPD makes me feel and for that reason it’s my favorite of her songs. She has evolved so much as a songwriter and I absolutely adore the line “and life will lose all its meaning for the last time” because that’s exactly what my fear of abandonment makes me feel. It’s amazing that a billionaire woman can be so relatable to me and to so many others.

[@mikanchan322]

@@basicindiebro BPD or not, I think her fear of abandonment is a returning theme in her music so it makes total sense that all of us with abandonment fears relate to it!

[@brokenscart7989]

Todd in the Shadows rocks

[@zebedeezing4181]

He prefers piano music not rock

[@kieranstark7213]

He means as in “Todd is great”.

[@atmatey]

TitS FTW!!!!!

[@HSMiyamoto]

There should be a rule for music reviewers: Never let over playing of a pop song influence the review. It isn't the songwriter's fault if a song gets hourly rotation.

[@djspuddzz8116]

This review pretty much mirrors my thoughts on this song. I remember being taken aback by this song and its sharp lyrics and prepared to give it a place in my heart. Then, eventually, I got sick of hearing it and took it out of my playlist because I was skipping it at the first note almost every time. But it is great for a one-time listen here and there and I still like it a lot. Also, great song choice in the outro.

[@natebailey4456]

2015: Taylor swift is unstoppable! 2019: you need to calm down

[@sofia_with_an_f]

It's 2020. _Folklore_

[@jules6631]

@@sofia_with_an_f It's 2021. Evermore.

[@sofia_with_an_f]

@@jules6631 Except Evermore is _also_ 2020 😂 Istg that woman...

[@jules6631]

@@sofia_with_an_f ik but i can't say its 2020 anymore ;-; cant wait for the album re-releases either

[@larala21mil]

2021: Red (Taylor's version)

[@WellandJoyceArtist]

It would make sense if it's fictional. You said at the start that in videos she only is dressed up that way when she's playing "fictional Taylor". She's dressed that way in this video which could be implying she is fictional Taylor.

[@xSwordLilyx]

ThatGuy Joey But she really is a maneater. She has new boyfriends constantly. It has to be based in sort of reality. It makes sense. A lot of young women serial date without taking time in between to reflect on what went wrong and what role they played in it and make the same mistakes over and over until they become aware of themselves. Which doesn't always happen.

[@elizzzzzzzza]

SwordLily Wow that's really sexist. Men also do the same thing. It's stupid to exclude them but instead you highlighted young women. You thought you did something but all you did was describe young people. Rarely ever do people self reflect at that age. That is the most human thing to do and you made it a women issue to shame them. Young men and women dating a lot is normal. Especially when you are famous and every relationship you are in is under immense scrutiny and pressure. Just because no one wants to date you and or you're unhappy with yourself doesn't give you the right to make untrue assumptions about people to make yourself feel better. I mean just listen to Lover. She obviously does self reflect. This entire comment just comes across as malicious and hateful which I will bet $1,000,000 was the mood you were in when you wrote it. Maybe you should be the one to self reflect, hypocrite.

[@Claudia-ty5yr]

@@xSwordLilyx she's had 8 boyfriends in 30 years, that's pretty average tbh. and please, taylor swift was born self-aware. listen to holy ground and tell me that she's not making fun of herself in that song. she spends the entire first verse talking about how the relationship went too fast and they didn't even have a conversation before going ahead with it. i wasn't surprised by blank space and i don't think people who actually kept up with her were. she's made making fun of herself a part of her brand since 2008.

[@khoavo510]

@@xSwordLilyx a man is a casanova, a womanizer, a chick magnet when he dates plenty. A woman is a maneater when she does the same thing. Like give both genders a chance to date and meet ppl, what's the harm in trying to see whether you are compatible with many types of ppl, see what you like

[@normannorman4652]

@@xSwordLilyx shes only dated 9 men in her life an shes been with the same guy for 5 years comment did not age well

[@CadetRedShirt]

That ending monologue had me laughing. It was so on point.

[@HectorGonzalez-qx9nk]

Taylor Swift: Oh my God, look at that face! Filthy Frank: If you're feeling suicidal, you've come to the right place.

[@megatennepster3833]

(Knocks the chair away)Fuck you I hate all of you!

[@jimmyl27]

Love that meme

[@SemiIocon]

The guy in the music video looks like he is computer animated.

[@Ninjaverse45]

The Blank Space Effect: liking something that you listen or watch forever until you hate it forever but then return to it and realize that it is only good if you watch or listen in spades

[@idab9958]

Toddstradamus said, "Taylor, you write your fictional characters way better than you write yourself" and then Folklore happened. Coincidence? I think not

[@bennitori4]

hurray! massive re-upload in progress!

[@gazcan1]

+bennitori4 Nostalgia Critic is doing the same. Whats up with the League of Super Critics channel?

[@RENTnerd87]

+gazcan1 I think they've pretty much given up on that channel, check out the Channel Awesome KZbin page instead

[@samuelyoung1529]

+gazcan1 I'm pretty sure that channel was run by Blip. When Blip shut down, so did the channel.

[@Ericis323]

+gazcan1 i think it's gonna desolve

[@anthrax1328]

+Samuel Young So why did Blip shout down, I'm a little out of the loop, did they just get bought out by Vimeo?

[@jamiejusthappenedtobehere2434]

It's nice going back and discovering reviews of songs you actually like.

[@HazeMotes]

That little riff Taylor does with her voice when she sings "I've got a blank space babe" sounds exactly like a line from a 90's song that I cannot place. What is it?

[@kgill8485]

Haze Motes It's Kiss Me by Sixpence None the Richer

[@HazeMotes]

K Gill Yes! Thank you! That was bugging me for almost three years.

[@jackstrawful]

@@HazeMotes It was bugging me for almost three seconds - the time it took to read your comment, realize I knew what you meant but couldn't place it either, then click 'view replies' to see that K Gill had provided the answer to both of us. 😄

[@DISCOFEVER19]

i love this song. it has such a pretty melody to it and the lyrics are really good.

[@nritsch]

1. This is definitely my favorite Taylor song 2. I love Joseph Kahn as a music video director

[@tegantalks9612]

“Taylor Swift is the only pop star that matters” is a comment that has aged surprisingly well.

[@yotamshitrit6820]

Gotta admit the metaphor at the end was really clever

[@Alchemeleon]

It's cool to see this review so many years later because I never actually followed pop music while it was happening and then started doing live sound for all these cover bands a few years ago and started actually listening to the lyrics to all these songs for the first time (hey, it's where the money is....) and I too was so impressed with the self awareness of Blank Space. I think it's Taylor's best song honestly. It reads as just a really sincere self-analysis and almost self-parody at the same time. And it's obnoxiously catchy.

[@unwritten_zephyr]

To me Taylor plays up an over exaggerated version of herself in this video. Honestly, would have loved to see Taylor pursue a whole album with a persona like this in mind. Bowie made a legacy out of it, hell Kanye did it on Yeezus. She has the talent to pull it off, I just don’t know if someone as big as her could do something so out there.

[@justink5000]

you're looking for reputation

[@catiseith]

I'm really happy of seeing this review in your channel, Todd! One of your best!

[@TSFboi]

I don't know why Reputation failed, Blank Space clearly shows Taylor can be terrifying and genuinely intimidating if she leans into the right stuff.

[@Claudia-ty5yr]

i wouldn't really call the best selling album since 2017 a fail. specially when it was accompanied by a number one single which broke youtube records and the highest grossing tour in north american history.

[@aaravos4371]

i actually like reputation. It is WAY Over hated.

[@kitchensinkchronicles3272]

i truly think reputation deserved better

[@lukewhite9237]

Reputation didn’t fail though. It being released after 1989 diminished its apparent success. It’s like thriller and smooth criminal

[@coltoncoldiron1827]

It was a good music video but then she had to say, "It was a joke".

[@rubberwoody]

"it was a prank bro"

[@aaravos4371]

no, the music video was always a joke. Todd gets it but doesnt get it as he himself says every time one of her videos is like this is cuz shes playing a character.

[@catsinwonderland7473]

It is a joke. Deal with it.

[@ellaredacted6146]

I totally agree, those lyrics were really surprising.

[@sameenshakya5188]

I know right

[@aaravos4371]

I mean as someone who also listens to her albums not just singles, (ik this is late btw) shes always had good lyrics.

[@normannorman4652]

@@aaravos4371 exactly

[@catieecasciole1980]

You...you are killing me! I'm am laughing so hard I'm crying!! Love your videos Todd. Keep up the good work!

[@petercahill6696]

0:58 Well, Arianna is getting closer, and is still having success. Honestly, thank God Iggy's kind of gone.

[@lanaazzo3601]

Peter Cahill Well it’s 2019 and I can’t go a day without hearing multiple Ariana songs on the radio or new Ari gossip and I’m getting really sick of it.

[@annehburn3129]

Well Ariana Grande is here and bigger than ever now.

[@miche8868]

it's been 3 years and i still love this song

[@drengskap]

So she gets involved with a guy who struts around with a trio of Dobermans, wearing a fucking CAPE like some sort of übermensch vampire edgelord, and it doesn't work out? That's just awful.

[@daisy-cm2tf]

Todd finally likes a song...oh wait more mins left to video

[@JayBee3237]

'Boys only want love if it's torture' - always thought that was actually a really good lyric and maybe more true to life than I'd like to think.

[@fermintenava5911]

The success of "50 Shades of Grey" suggests otherwise 😉

[@JayBee3237]

@@fermintenava5911 Really? Did not see that coming. Guess I'll have to see for myself.

[@Random1nations]

THE WAY HE PREDICTED FOLKLORE

[@brittneypeoples223]

for some reason, I feel like Todd may be really hot lol

[@xSwordLilyx]

Brittney Peoples Well his hair shadow is nice

[@yepmcyeppington]

You can google his face. It's not what you think at all.

[@queenofdoge2593]

Oh, boy, do I wish this was a song about self criticism. But I really believe this was a song soaked in sarcasm. It’s a big reason why I love this song but considering this is Taylor Swift, I hate it at the same time because she NEEDS some self awareness...

[@aaravos4371]

blank space was meant to be overdramatized and the archer her newest song is blank space but if it were true and how a normal human would act. The Archer is blank Space played straight and thats why I love it.

[@taylorswift5851]

Idc

[@normannorman4652]

she doesn't need to be self aware she has been with 9 guys in her life that's not a lot. Shes been in a relationship with the same guy for 5 years. The media slut shames her for no reason.

[@taliemeritus5090]

The fact that the sarcasm goes over everyone's heads STILL is astounding to me. Yall dense.

[@srishtiuppal974]

Exactly!!

[@wolvesetc]

no doubt. exactly. she is hitting the listener over the head with a big cartoonish bat with sarcastic being written in the sky by a fucking clown and people are still like OMG, I new it! Taylor, good on you.

[@ellieminnow]

I'm glad you figured it out by the end because I spent the whole video yelling "dude, it's satire" driving in my car. It's a good song, you know it is.

[@sudevsen]

"My God,she'll be unstoppable" *years later* "Hey hi,I'm the problem it's me"

[@KaraLinkonisart]

I love you Todd. Your videos are a highlight in my life.

[@bunnychu15]

"but I've got a blank space baby and I'll write your name" Did anyone else think of the meme where she says those lyrics and Ryuk from Death Note pops up, grinning? Be very thankful Taylor Swift never got ahold of a Death Note btw.

[@marikroyals7111]

Elyse Walker She might get one yet if she keeps it up.

[@lithepear9129]

Everyone focusing on the Ariana prediction but ignores his prediction that UpTown Funk was going to be a smash hit

[@zamplify]

The innocent days when we didn't know if Ariana Grande or Iggy Azelea was going to be bigger.

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

Todd, One hit wonderland request: 4 non-blondes. I'm curious whatever happened to that lead singer that I had a secret crush on when I was 11.

[@Tenebyss]

he said his hatred for what's up is so grand he can't review it. called it worst song of the 90s

[@LouisWritingSomethingCrazy]

I'll give him one of the worst. I'd have to say the "Barbie Girl" song is worse. But yeah, I don't blame him. I look back at that song now and cringe just a little. How about "Flagpole Sitta" by Harvey Danger?

[@JennaLeigh]

John Doe super late reply, but the singer of 4 Non Blondes is named Linda Perry. she is a very successful songwriter, having written with Pink, Beyonce, and several other artists. she's married to Sarah Gilbert, who played Darlene on Roseanne and is on Big Bang Theory. :)

[@kev_whatev]

For my money, this is the best pop song of the century so far

[@caitlinkr]

That or style which came from the same album

[@kaedeakamatsu4143]

Love Taylor but Blinding Lights, Uptown Funk, Run Away With Me and Shut Up And Dance With Me Exist. It’s not even Taylor’s best song

[@user36able]

anyone else bingeing Taylor's career via Todd?

[@florinivan6907]

Its funny how if you had a Taylor Swift project you could just watch Todds reviews and references and pretty much know all you need to know about it.

[@kaedeakamatsu4143]

@@florinivan6907 kinda… but not really. Especially since Todd does have some sort of bias against Taylor Swift and doesn’t make corrections when he gets facts about her wrong

[@gabriellealessandra8181]

Why would the tabloids be true? lmao they claimed she was a serial-dating psychopath, of course it's not true, it's ridiculous. I love Blank Space, having learnt to appreciate the lyricism and clever production.

[@rabidhog4912]

Thank god Todd was right when he said that Iggy Azalea might be a flash in the pan. Can’t imagine a world where she becomes the biggest artist in the world

[@Seth9809]

For only a few years right? I haven't heard anything about her for a long time.

[@rabidhog4912]

@@Seth9809 yeah

[@mzelk995]

i always thought she sounded so relatable in this song. when you first meet someone you only want them to see the good parts, and you try to be what they want. then things get more serious and you show the ugly parts. i never got the “crazy” man eater aspect. as for the “boys only want love if it’s torture” i always just thought it felt out of place and didn’t fit into how i conceptualized the song bc i never interpreted her persona in the song as crazy. i guess just “men like women who keep them on their toes”?? idk i’ve never dated men

[@thecartoonroom8469]

1:00 - Commenting after the test of time: Iggy Azalea was a dud. Ariana Grande is the biggest pop star as I type this.

[@aks8042]

A good prediction!! I'm as surprised as you are.

[@alext9215]

Todd was right: she's unstoppable

[@derekchauvinistrockwellthe4917]

Mr. Plinkett will be Taylor Swift's last mistake

[@sashizakura9124]

+Anteye I would love to see that!!

[@a.evelyn5498]

She thinks she's being intelligent by writing a 'satirical' song on she's perceived. Not self critical. You're exactly on point. It is lived reality not fiction, no joke. I wrote this first sentence when I thought you truly believed it was honest and self reflective. How did she eve get a Grammy? Pop stars today are entertainers not musicians yet they all think they're comparable to Michael Jackson or bowie. Harry Styles Signs of the Times was pretty good but only as it was a rip off of that psychedelic rock. And I wanted to scream when I typed it in on KZbin and Bowie showed up beside it. This world. These damn kids. I know every generation says it but seriously.... We will never look back at Nicki Minaj and be like wow we really got it wrong, her anaconda does.

[@LikaLaruku]

When this song came out, we were joking that she wrote it as a direct response to Bart Baker's parodies of her.

[@maugos]

Eh, I don't hate Taylor Swift's music, but I also don't really care for her either. It's kind of weird for me not hating a pop singer. lol

[@lordlacolith]

+The Generation Extreme TGX ...did you just "whatever" the letter "A"?

[@kieranstark7213]

People either defend Taylor Swift for her songs insulting the people that don’t like her like *Shake it Off* , *Mean* and *You Need to Calm Down* (so it’s not JUST about her exes that she makes the same songs about), or rightfully hate her for making those songs and yelling at us about how perfectly fine she is that way! And then there are some people that are indifferent towards them. Fair enough, eh? 😄

[@Claudia-ty5yr]

@@kieranstark7213 not sure how those songs insult anyone other than homophobes, internet trolls and that one critic she was specifically talking about in mean who said she had ruined her career by singing off-key at the grammys (the performance was pretty tragic, i'm not gonna lie, but the guy clearly didn't know how the industry works to think one bad performance at 17 was going to ruin her)

[@fluffyking94]

oh hey, Todd has hair. I never noticed before.

[@AmandaBlackGTM]

I love the sarcasm of this song all these years later.

[@ZukoPrince]

Wait- is that ones about bieber and fall out boys was news???

[@Angel_Investor_Music]

I can't be the only one who thinks the chorus is a blatant ripoff of The Stars Are Blind by Paris Hilton...

[@urahara64360]

I would love to hear your thoughts on the I prevail cover of this song

[@saidivya2622]

I love your voice and your content 😍

[@fullmetalmasify]

Really like the review and the song is pretty good (so far my favorite Taylor Swift song).

[@aspacelex]

We shoulda made a deal with T-Swizzle back then - she gets to date whoever however, and in exchange she makes "fully fictional" songs from the perspective of "invented characters" for us.

[@Youfoh]

This video really hits different in 2023…

[@janderson9413]

I don't listen to pop music. Honestly, I pretty much exclusively listen to heavy metal. With that being said, I do kinda like this song.

[@Senglishify]

I think you’re missing the fact that the whole song is supposed to be very tongue in cheek; she’s ironically playing with her public persona in a way that is nothing short it brilliant. To take the song at face value is totally missing the point.

[@caseyharrington4947]

9:07

[@laartwork]

Uh.. did you watch the whole video?

[@cli260]

12:38 man this alegory is brilliant thank you !

[@polinagonch]

Wow, despite all the criticism you gave in the end, I now really like this song. Thank you todd

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

self-aware psychopaths, they're the more dangerous kind of psychopath

[@thesophist4914]

Taylor Swift playing Slim Shady would be amazing.

[@kickassgreek]

2023 was Taylor's year and it's looking like 2024

[@nothingmuchsorry]

Please post the Mac & Devin Go To High School review.

[@theluckypoptart2945]

She said she start it as a joke. Not that it totally stayed that way