I haven’t written an essay in a while. I’ve been skipping a lot of anons lately, but I couldn’t pass up this one because Dress is one of my top 3 songs on rep, and I’ve never written anything in depth about it, and I feel like writing about it today.

For me, this song has probably aged better than any others from rep. I always liked it (even in my brief pre-kaylor period) and post-kaylor, of course it took on more meaning, but in the last couple of months I’ve gained new appreciation for it, partly because of its connection to my favorite rep song, DWOHT, and the softest Kaylor song, YAIL.

Much has been made about the best friend line. I especially like the idea that “I don’t want you like a best friend” is a response to KK saying to her in YAIL “You’re my best friend.” It’s cute, but also sexy. And no one can deny that the idea of them being best friends was a major part of their public relationship, it was beaten into the public’s consciousness repeatedly, especially in 2014, so the idea that this does not refer to KK is laughable. It is indubitably a sexy song (per TS’ own words), but it’s not just a song about sex. Taylor also said it’s a love song about deep and tender feelings. “My one and only, my lifeline” and “I woke up just in time, now I wake up by your side” are powerful lines about being so in love with your person, and it rivals lines in Don’t Blame Me, CIWYW, and New Year’s Day for being about a long term, all-encompassing, sustaining love.

The sexy part obviously includes the ah ha ha haaaa parts, and taking the dress off, and carving their name into her bedpost, but also in the hands shaking, pining in anticipation parts. This is so evocative and makes one think of them attending a party or public event and TS is so into this person, she cannot wait to get out of this event so this dress can be removed. But the relationship is secret, which ups the anticipation to 11, and then you get the release during the ah ha ha haaa parts. I really love this. And my favorite part is “say my name and everything just stops.” Again, this is already sexy, but then she ups it to the next level by having that moment of silence after the third “stops”. GAWD.

OH MY GOD

a companion piece to rainbow reputation (2017-2018), step into the gaylight and let it go, pt.i (january-may 2019) and step into the gaylight and let it go, pt. ii (june 2019)

July 2019

9th July

behind the scenes of yntcd: morning routine [note prominence of the lyric ‘cause shade never made anybody less gay’]

10th July

‘love is complexity, love is struggle, love is pain, love is joy, love is hope, love is equality.’ (amazon prime day concert)

Taylor’s likes

‘cause shade never made anyone less gay’ (yntcd at amazon prime day concert)

11th July

Taylor’s likes:

OMG WVERYONE ACREAMING SHADE NEEVR MADE ANYBODY LESS GAY SHDJSJDJDJDBYEA .

[selfie] Cause shade never made anybody less gay 🏳️‍🌈

“Love is complexity, love is struggle, love is pain, love is joy, love is hope, love is equality.” (also here and here)

[selfie] Too in love to think straight🌈✨

THAT WAS GREAT MY GAY LITTLE HEART IS CRYING NOW TAYLOR KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK ONCE MORE🏳️‍🌈💗

[selfie] I can’t believe i found love while we were both just at a Taylor themed dance night…