#pen click

I was listening to older episodes of the Switched on Pop podcast (as you do) -- it’s a neat look at how songs are constructed, particularly songs that match lyrical meaning with musical intent. I enjoy music, and I don’t know much about music theory but I know enough to get what they’re saying (they say it very clearly).

In the episode I was listening to -- from March 2015 -- they were discussing the @taylorswift​ song “Blank Space” and how it includes musical blank spaces, as well as interesting “unfinished” sounds to reflect the “unfinished” relationships Taylor is singing about.

But then they asked: in the chorus, Taylor sings “I’ve got a blank space baby [cl-click] . . . and I’ll write your name.” What’s the click? Their suggestions ranged from a door closing to a gun being cocked.

But I think they’re missing the incredibly obvious: it’s a pen click. It seems like the obvious choice -- click the pen open so she can write the name. So I recorded one, and now we can all simulate Taylor by singing with pen effect.