theswiftiesofoz

folklore as an old storybook

@taylorswift @taylornation

part 1 | part 2

For years I asked, pleaded for a chance to own my work. Instead I was given an opportunity to sign back up to Big Machine Records and ‘earn’ one album back at a time, one for every new one I turned in. I walked away because I knew once I signed that contract, Scott Borchetta would sell the label, thereby selling me and my future. I had to make the excruciating choice to leave behind my past. Music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums. 

Some fun facts about today’s news: I learned about Scooter Braun’s purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world. All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years. 

Like when Kim Kardashian orchestrated an illegally recorded snippet of a phone call to be leaked and then Scooter got his two clients together to bully me online about it. (See photo) Or when his client, Kanye West, organized a revenge porn music video which strips my body naked. Now Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.

This is my worst case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept. And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it. 

When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever. 

Thankfully, I am now signed to a label that believes I should own anything I create. Thankfully, I left my past in Scott’s hands and not my future. And hopefully, young artists or kids with musical dreams will read this and learn about how to better protect themselves in a negotiation. You deserve to own the art you make.

I will always be proud of my past work. But for a healthier option, Lover will be out August 23. 

Sad and grossed out,

💔

Paul McCartney released a song called “Who Cares’ in 2018 from his album Egypt Station.  McCartney told the BBC “I was actually thinking about Taylor Swift and her relationship to her young fans and how it’s sort of a sisterly thing.”  Key lyrics in the song are “No need to hide the love you’ve got inside” and “Did you ever get lost in the heart of a crowd”.  The scene that takes us inside the kaleidoscope heart has a Beatles vibe, with hysterical fans, 1960’s fashion and dancing and a band that is littered with hearts. There are hearts on the cymbals (heart symbol!) and even a heart shaped guitar!  

In her interview for Time 100 (which you can find on YouTube) Taylor talks about Paul McCartney as a role model in her life. “I look at Paul McCartney and I see how he’s had just this amazing career. He’s created just unparalleled art and you know, probably been faced with more pressure than most people. And he’s always been known to be kind to people, respectful, and also really selfless as a performer. I really like it when you go and see a show and you want to hear those songs that you loved like you want to hear all that old, iconic, classic stuff, and I like it when a performer knows that and will give that to their fans.” Taylor added “I also like his new music too, he’s still got it, really love Paul McCartney.“

And if we needed more…Taylor served us something in August 2018 when she penned a piece for Harpers Bazaar US on Pattie Boyd, who was married to Beatle George Harrison. Taylor says "There are definitely moments when it’s like this cloud of an idea comes and just lands in front of your face, and you reach up and grab it.” (hmm, sounds like a scene from ME!).

In conclusion, Paul McCartney, Pattie Boyd and The Beatles have been a big influence on Taylor and she has shared that intentionally with the world. I think the kaleidoscope heart scene indicates either a duet with Taylor & Paul McCartney on TS7, perhaps heart related due to the insane amount of hearts in that scene! Or perhaps they wrote a song together for TS7. And here’s a long-shot, but what if Taylor has recorded a version of All You Need is Love (Lennon-McCartney, 1967). It could all just be a nod to McCartney’s ‘Who Cares’ but my fingers a crossed for so much more.

Twitter @theDanaofOz

Instagram @theswiftiesofoz

@taylorswift

So we’ve all noticed that Taylor changed an old vlog’s name from I Love You Guys. to I hope it’s gonna make you notice. And at the end of the video the word Home appears on the screen. HERES MY THEORY: at first I thought this was saying TS7 is in fact called home, which was a pretty popular theory and one that I was on board with. But then I decided to do a little digging. The song playing during this video is Use Somebody by Kings of Leon. Here’s the lyrics:

Notice the SEVENTH lyric has the word LOVERS. And what’s the 13th line? I hope it’s gonna make you notice. This makes me think TS7 is called Lover or Lovers. I think Taylor titled the video I hope it’s gonna make you notice because the hint is the song that’s playing. Also to be noted, Kings of Leon was formed in Nashville in 1999, ten years after Taylor was born.

Side note, this is another instance where 7 and 13 have been brought up, making me think the album will be announced/a countdown will begin on 7/13, it will last for 13 days, and the album will come out on 7/26.