Background

“Actually Romantic” is a song by Taylor Swift, featured on her 12th studio effort, “The Life of a Showgirl”. The track is produced by herself, Max Martin, and Shellback. The sound is reminiscent of late 1990s and early 2000s female pop-rock from the likes of Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne. But the drama is as current and as spicy as mid-2020s.

The sound is reminiscent of late 1990s and early 2000s female pop-rock from the likes of Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne. But the drama is as current and as spicy as mid-2020s.

A few days prior to the album’s release, the lyrics leaked all over X/Twitter. Many assumed it was fake, and some hoped all the beef was fiction. But it was actually real.

Is Actually Romantic a Knife?

There is widespread acceptance that “Actually Romantic” is about Charli XCX. In isolation, some of the lyrics in “Sympathy is a Knife” could come off as hurtful. To wish the end of a relationship, not wanting to see a person backstage, and being the source of Charli’s insecurities don’t exactly scream hospitality. However, in the song, Charli does contextualize her lack of control over these emotions.

I think that none of us are privy to the real details, so art is fair game. I have some discomfort over “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar and how brutal he was to Drake, but I do appreciate the brilliance.

Charli felt a certain way in “Sympathy is a Knife”, and so did Taylor in “Actually Romantic”. I can only imagine Taylor opening her doors and letting Charli be an opener for the Reputation Stadium Tour. Fast forward to a few years later, they both end up in the same circle again, and all that remains is an unwelcoming atmosphere.

It Sounded Nasty

Taylor is no stranger to pettiness and vengeance. “Better than Revenge” and “Bad Blood” immediately come to mind. The tracks were also about other women. Whoever said she only comes after the men in her life is clueless! But “Actually Romantic” has to be her most vicious and scathing.

I hope the subject matter has no drug addiction problems, because attributing the other’s bravery to just coke is savage. The comparison to a chihuahua is literally belittling but, at the same time, funny. And being reminded by your boyfriend that life doesn’t revolve around a person not in the relationship must be cutting.

God’s My Witness That I Don’t Provoke It

The energy the song gives is like “Obsessed” by Mariah Carey. There are better ways to channel one’s envy and insecurity, but some people, myself included at times, simply direct the attention at people not wanting to be included in the narrative.

As Taylor proclaims, the obsession is actually romantic. She even insinuates it’s sexual. And going from being unbothered to saying she gets wet from the constant scrutiny was not something I expected from this Boring Barbie.

Conclusion

Many people believe Taylor is tacky, but why bother consuming her music if she and her fans are simply minding their business? No man will say that they’ve loved this better than anything they’ve heard before, but the song is actually… good, and it’s a bop!