Trust me #73
I Can Do It With A Broken Heart by Taylor Swift
Rather weirdly, I got into Swift through my old 7-a-side football friend Craig who manages Mogwai's Rock Action label! Craig has superb taste in pop music and highlighted We Are Never Getting Back Together on his social channels many years ago. 1989 was my eldest daughter Zoe's first album!
Like many other fans of pop music, I've fallen for Taylor Swift. What an incredible artist, songwriter, performer and role model Swift is.
Now, my youngest daughter Rosie (age 9) is a proud Swiftie and I love when she tells me that what she was up to at playtime and lunchtime at school - "Me and my friends were talking about Taylor Swift's albums."
I recently walked behind Rosie and her friend on the way to our local coffee shop and listened in to one of their conversations. I wanted to join in! Swift is inspiring young kids to buy and discuss albums. Incredible!
As a family, we debated about trying for tickets to see Taylor play Murrayfield. I did log on, but there were only 600 quid tickets left. Pretty much on the stage! But 4 tickets would be 2,400! Going on holiday over a one-off night out (no matter how good that night out might be) won over.
Now, with Taylor's run of Murrayfield gigs coming up this weekend. I kind of wish we'd just bought the tickets ... although we'd be paying for them for quite some time!
Recently, Rosie introduced me to new song I Can Do It With A Broken Heart and we have been playing it pretty constantly in the house and in the car.
Somehow this incredible slice of pop perfection didn't make the 'normal' version of Taylor Swift's latest album (her 11th) The Tortured Poets Department. For most artists, this would be a lead single. However, Swift is so prolific that I Can Do It With A Broken Heart is tucked in on the Anthology version which contains 31 songs and over 2-hours of music. Taylor has now released a remarkable 274 songs in her career. Incredible!
Starting slow and then kicking in with what feels like two sets of choruses, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart deserves a doctorate in pop music. There are count-in's, clever lyrics, hooks galore and shimmering synths and beats that work so well with Swift's melodies.
A video has been released with professionally shot tour footage and the lyrics at the bottom. It works perfectly as Swift sings of having to go on tour post break-up with a broken heart.
A short first verse has Taylor reflecting on what her fans are thinking - she's having the time of her life, touring the world, playing sold out shows, making millions ... but the kiss off line is I can show you lies and then a 1, 2, 3 , 4 count into the pre-chorus.
The pre-chorus builds beautifully, it is classic Swift, a nice use of swearing, tumbling flowing melodies and Taylor pouring her heart out.
Cause I'm a real tough kid
I can handle my shit
They said - 'babe you gotta fake it 'til you make it' and I did
Lights, camera, bitch smile
Even when you wanna die
He said he'd love me all his life
But that life was too short
Breaking down I hit the floor
All the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting - MORE
I was grinnin' like I'm winnin'
I was hittin' my marks
'Cause I can do it with a broken heart
Shimmering synths and beats kick in for the chorus proper. Be warned - this is SUPER CATCHY AND COOL!
I'm so depressed I act like it's my birthday, every day
I'm so obsessed with him but he avoids me, like the plague
I cry a lot but I am so productive, it's an art
You know you're good when you can even do it, with a broken heart
BOOM! All delivered in precisely 1-minute 36 seconds. So good that it's time to do it all again. Another short verse has Swift still searching for her ex's belongings to ensure she didn't imagine the whole relationship.
COUNTDOWN
That stunning pre-chorus
COUNTDOWN
BOOM
The super catchy chorus again (honestly - how good is this?!!)
Swift is in the zone and isn't quite ready to finish, the beats keep going, the synths still bubble and shimmer as Taylor realise how good she is at doing it in spite of everything. There is humour but also exceptional honesty as she declares;
I'm miserable
And nobody even knows
Before another beautiful kiss off ah, try and come for my job
WOW! Pop perfection.
Taylor Swift plays Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on June 7th, 8th and 9th. She is a pop superstar. Enjoy if you're catching here in Scotland or elsewhere.
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