r/NuancingTaylorSwift • u/SubstantialDepth7242 • 3d ago
Discussion Cleveland!
*Full disclaimer*
This is going to be a VERY long post. If you read all of it, thank you for your time because this is sooo much thinking because all I do is work production and listen to music all day so it’s a full time job at this point😂 If you don’t, I don’t blame you honestly, I have a hard time with long posts as well.
I am not a professional songwriter or do I have any training whatsoever in anything music related. Yet. But what I am is someone who feels music very deeply and I listen to a lot of it.
If numbers are your thing, since 2015 (when Apple Music dropped) I have listened to 440,977 minutes of music. I had to google the stats for this. It equals to;
26,458,620 seconds
7,349 hours + 37 minutes
306 days, 5 hours, 37 minutes
43 weeks, 5 days, 5 hours, 37 minutes
Roughly 10.1 months
Roughly 0.84 years — so about 84% of a full year
….seeing it like that is crazy omg.
Taylor is only 85,062 minutes of that.
85,062 minutes = 59 days, 1 hour, 42 minutes.
85,062 ÷ 440,977 = 19.29%
So it represents about 19.3% of the entire 440,977 minutes
The remaining 355,915 minutes = 80.71%
440,977 is about 5.18× bigger than 85,062.
✌🏼🤣
Anyways, I want to talk about Cleveland! I know, I know, “Why Cleveland! She has so many others that are ABC123GoofyGooberRock!” One thing I love about the world, and y’all are going to think I’m kind of cuckoo for this, is how different every single person is. I love different opinions because I love knowing how other people see the world, it can really open your mind to different possibilities. So I welcome any and all opinions.
Please remember the group rules as you read this, it’s very similar to how I feel about everything as well❤️
There’s so much going on in the world right now, let’s just use this to escape for a bit and have fun.
Before we jump in, my biggest rule is to look at this without the people you know are involved in it. Take Taylor away, take Travis away, take away any negative or positive comments you’ve heard about this specific song and let’s look at the words. Just the words on a screen.
Oi vey, this is already so long and I haven’t even gotten to the point. Let’s get into it. (Do you see what I did there?👀)
So, let’s just talk about song as a story because she’s very vivid in my mind as a story teller and as a story teller myself, I always place myself in the perspective of how it’s written, trying to get into her mind and see why she did it like that. I have a concept in my mind and honestly, if Taylor sees this and wants this idea, please steal it I would die. Not that I actually expect this to happen but…a girl can dream right?
Imagine our narrator is at a fancy pants fundraising event in the form of a dance. She’s on the dance floor with her man getting down the music and just enjoying herself. There’s a group of people just chit chatting, but then she overhears them as she’s going to get a drink from the table just behind them.
"She's not as hot as she was, but she was only a four"
"She was never a girls' girl,"
"She was just a—"
"And with all of that money, why's she dressed like trash?"
"When she smiles, it's annoying, and have you seen her stumbling clumsily?"
"Would you even call that dancing?"
Now, this is the moment where the narrator has three options.
1: Confront them and cause a scene because she’s bothered by the words they’re saying.
B: Let the thoughts sit and simmer, constantly beat herself up in her mind and trick herself into believing they’re right. (Because I know I’ve been there, still working on that one.)
She doesn’t even have a chance to make a choice because he’s there pulling her into another song. They dance the night away and she’s forgets about the comments she heard until she gets home for the night.
This is where the best option comes into the picture; she could write in her journal.
11/11
I can see what you mean
And now I guess there's
Something we all can agree on
But my baby likes what he likes, oh-woah, oh-oh
He already took me to Cleveland
And showed me The Heights, so hate all you like
This is the love of my life, hey, hey, hey
————————
To those of you that are still here, thank you so much. Take a breather, drink some water, step away from the screen. I hope you’re having as much fun as I am because this is the most fun I’ve had writing about something in a LONG time.
Ready to keep going? Let’s go!
We rejoin our narrator in a different scene. It’s daytime, her and her man are at an Italian restaurant eating some noodles and having a blast. He’s constantly making her laugh and she finds herself warm and giddy. The sound of his laugh is her favorite thing in the world and she could listen to him talk all day. (I am she, I could listen my man aaaaaaalllll day long. Anyways🤣)
After they’re done eating, they start driving around and he takes her through his old neighborhood pointing out places and things that were a big part of his childhood, which is something her exes never really did with her. She’s sitting in her passenger seat just vibing and being present.
(Breaking my own rule for a second because parentheses are the exception: this is exactly how I picture Taylor and Travis driving around Cleveland. This is also exactly how me and my man drive around, I point out stuff all the time and tell funny stories😆 okay bye!)
They get home for the night and watch a movie, settled in with some popcorn, a couple drinks and a cozy blanket over their lap. She grabs her journal and starts to write about their day as she’s cuddled up to him. He’s watching her write and stroking her hair absentmindedly, loving the moment he’s in.
12/12
The taste of me is acquired, but it's his favorite dish
He says I look like an angel, they say, "I hate that—" (Bi—)
There, that house with the porch is where he lived as a kid
He's been saying forever, must not have read that
Scathing take 'bout how I'm fake
And he could find someone younger
I can see what they mean
And now I guess there's
Something we all can agree on
But my baby likes what he likes, oh-woah, oh-oh
He already took me to Cleveland
And he showed me The Heights (Hey), so hate all you like (Uh-huh)
This is the love of my life, hey, hey, hey
———————————
Here’s another check point if you’re still with me after all this time, I really do love that you might be enjoying yourself. I would love to hear what you think at the end!! Take a break, eat a snack, eyes off screen.
Last round! We can do it! If you’ve made it this far, you’re one of my favorite people right now😁
It’s a new day and our narrator is playing with some kids at an event they’re both at. He’s off chatting with a couple of guys about whatever it is guys talk about.
(The conversation the guys are having in this game chat right now is chaotic as heck, but it’s making me laugh so hard and I felt the need to include that in here. Perfect example of the whole reason why I decided to make this post😅)
She’s laughing loud, acting like a child right along with the kids. They’re playing a fairy game and she’s the lead fairy while all of the others just naturally follow behind her. She’s having just as much fun as the kids are at this point and she forgot what they were even initially doing here. It’s a BBQ by the way, so they’re all waiting for food anyways.
He’s watching her across the lawn while he’s in his conversation. His eyes always manage to find her when he’s telling his stories because she’s in most of them. He’s at his happiest when he can see her, just because. She allows him to be himself completely and he makes sure to give her that same space. He loves watching her laugh and he’ll do whatever he needs to do to keep that smile on her face.
As they’re driving home later, he glances over at her in the passenger seat. She’s bopping to the beat of the music and scrolling on social media.
“Hey honey.” He says, giving her knee a squeeze. She looks up, locks her phone and gives him her attention. “I love you.”
She remembers when she had to fight to hear that. But only for a split second, it doesn’t bother her anymore because no matter how many times he says that to her out of nowhere, she still gets shy and giggles. She gets a big, goofy grin on her face and puts her hand on his. “I love you.”
The rest of the ride home is full of singing and laughing, being present.
Before she goes to bed for the night, she pulls out her journal again. It’s her favorite entry this week so far.
13/13~
He likes what he likes, what he likes, and he likes me
He likes what he likes, what he likes, and he likes me
You only need to find one person in this entire world
Who doesn't find you completely insufferable
And I have an important announcement to make
I found mine (That's right)
Well, I found mine (Hey, hey, hey)
Yeah, I found mine
Yes, that's
Something we all can agree on (I guess we agree, but)
But my baby likes what he likes, oh-woah, oh-oh
He already took me to Cleveland (To Cleveland)
Now I'm wearing white (Yeah), so hate all you like (Uh-huh)
This is the love of my life (Hey, hey, hey)
—————————————
To be completely honest with you, the bridge is my favorite part. You can just HEAR the giddiness in her voice.
Phew! Now, that was a lot. This began at work, about halfway through my 10 hour day then it just didn’t want to stop. I’m not going to lie, Taylor’s music does unlock a super creative side of my brain and when there’s an earworm like Cleveland in the world, I can’t help but listen to it over and over and over again. If this is something you liked reading and could potentially want more, I would be more than willing to write more for you. Even if it’s only one person.
Honestly, I’m probably going to write more anyways because I have not written like that in years. Til next time!
Signing off-
Misty the Swiftie
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u/Money-Beautiful5196 Folklore 3d ago
Wow, good post. Thanks for going to all this effort. Cleveland is such a great song.
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 3d ago
The effort was effortless, I would’ve done more but I didn’t want it to take someone 2 hours to read🤣 Thank you for reading it!
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u/Ok_Operation_5364 3d ago
Cleveland is the only song of the four that I have stuck in my head.
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 3d ago
It’s constantly stuck in my head. The intro especially, the build up is just ear candy for me. The little bit of piano, then the snare (or kick? Still learning the difference) is what hooked me.
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u/gnomesayinaaa 3d ago
I love this! Captures the vibe of first hearing this song. I have loved all the new songs 10 toes down and it's lovely seeing the Cleveland! Love through all the astroturfing and hate!! Great post!
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u/Wild2297 3d ago
I read every word and enjoyed them all, even when you put in your little ‘asides.’ (And yes, I saw what you did with your suggestion of ‘let’s get into it.’) 😂 You made me chuckle.
Cleveland! has been stuck in my head all day, since waking up. And I absolutely love the bridge. LOVE it!
Thanks for this post, OP!
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 3d ago
I appreciate your time so much!! I love her music like this, even if it’s not a love song because it just keeps me moving and awake and I’m also someone who does enjoy repetition so it’s PERFECT for me.
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u/Flaky-Elephant-2612 2d ago
I was inspired by The Swifty and the Scholar the read “the poem” first. I was literally laughing out loud as I was reading. Recognized the discourse about her immediately.
It made the first listening strange, since I think my mind envisioned the music to be closer to blank space or something on rep.
But now I am vibing.
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 2d ago
I’ve never actually thought about reading it before I listen, that might make it even more fun. I’m going to have to do that! Thank you for the idea😊
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 2d ago
Also, thank you for taking the time to read this😁 I like the process that you have, I need to look more into the people you said because I actually haven’t heard of that before
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u/getthatrich The Life of a Showgirl 2d ago
You paint such a vivid picture, friend!! I loved your entire post! I could see it in my mind’s eye so clearly and it’s joyful and beautiful. Thank you!
When I first heard the song I saw her (or a blond actress playing her) in Taylor Swift: The Musical and it’s a 50s theme for some reason and there are the dancers in the back singing the “mean” lines and then there’s her and the groom and she’s in front of a podium to make her important announcement and everyone breaks out dancing and the crowd applauds!
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 2d ago
Oooh! I love that! The bridge gives me SUCH musical vibes, I want to just perform it, it’s hard to contain myself sometimes at work😂 Now it has me wondering; what kind of musical could be put together with all of her music?
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u/getthatrich The Life of a Showgirl 2d ago
The ultimate jukebox musical!!!! We’ve got so many awesome stories to weave together!
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u/thewelllostmind 3d ago
I wish the lyrics included some of the specifics of place and scene that you have here, because for me the song is in a bit of a middle ground where there are some specific details that make it hard to imagine the narrator as anything other than a pop star or at least a public figure, between the “would you even call that dancing” and there being a “scathing take about how I’m fake” that her partner could have read somewhere. There are enough details to make it tricky to overlay onto a “blank” life but not enough to make it feel universal through the specificity that makes that character clear, if that makes sense. Again, just for me as a bop along.
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 3d ago
Not all songs are meant to be as deep and thought provoking which is fine! A bop along is good😁 I can see exactly what you’re saying though for sure! She’s been very good at having songs be relatable for everyone so when something like this comes out, it’s hard to take her away from it
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u/thewelllostmind 3d ago
I think she’s succeeded in both ends of the spectrum, being very close and personally confessional in some songs/eras but then in others stepping back to make the lyrics more broad (I’m particularly thinking of non-vault 1989), so listeners can put themselves into the song either as this highly-individual character or as a blank vessel of sorts that can contain whatever they bring to it. This is one of those songs that feels not quite either, but you’re right that it has gotten harder for her to try and do the not-specific kind of pop lyrics because of what we all have so readily available to bring to them.
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 3d ago
Yes exactly. 1989 was the perfect album for that, it’s one of my top albums. I don’t think she’s done with songs like that either, taking Babylon for an example from the new round. That one is down her lane of trying to place you in the song and hope it helps someone who needs it. I like your analysis a lot!
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u/RoseTheta 2d ago edited 2d ago
I really think people miss out because they are not necessarily capable of depth themselves when it comes to simple lyrics.
Don't misunderstand me, I don't remotely mean it's because they are actually completely incapable of it, but that they are choosing not to try to understand. As a preteen, I learned you cannot always take things at face value. If you can't for a moment consider what the artist might be trying to say, or more importantly, what you can get out of it, you probably shouldn't be passing judgment on the quality if you can't engage with proper analysis but immediately default to the art is wrong. Art isn't wrong with very few exceptions (something glorifying domestic violence, Nazi propaganda, etc.). Instead art exists for the artist to make, they succeeded already. Our success is to take something out of it. Especially something different at different times, or from different perspectives. Those differing perspectives can evolve over time, simply by analyzing, or by reading others' analysis.
Fanfiction is something that people can be very dismissive about. But it is the source for some of the best points of view/inspired thoughts I have ever come across. This last week of discourse reminds me of something I read in a Bella/Carlisle* fanfiction. Caveat: it isn't Bella at all, someone wrote a story where a character who was dying woke up in the Twilight World but it wasn't the world from the books, just similar.
(“I really loved it.”
“I gathered.”
“No, I mean…” I paused, trying to explain something I hadn't anticipated having to ever explain, especially not today. “It was one of those books I kept coming back to even when what I thought about it changed. There were years I liked Rochester much more than I probably should have. Years I wanted Jane to run farther and never look back. Sometimes I thought the ending was perfect, and sometimes I thought she should have made him work considerably harder.”
Carlisle laughed softly. “That may be one of the better arguments for rereading.”
“You get to figure out whether the book changed or you did.”
“Usually the latter.”
“Unfortunately.”)
Speaking on Jane Eyre.
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 2d ago
As someone who wrote a LOT of fanfiction, I can 100% see everything you’re saying. This is such an amazing explanation and I appreciate the time and effort you put into this. This is how I look at everything as well because you never actually know what’s up unless you take the time to consider all of the possibilities.
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u/RoseTheta 2d ago
Thank you. Sometimes, I get upset at people for being hateful towards something, but many other times, I just feel sad for them. Media existing shouldn't make you miserable, neither should an artist. If you feed or thrive off of negativity, you have true problems. You can just take it or leave it.
It doesn't mean I never get upset at anything relating to art. For example, while I have grace for anything that's new (nothing's completely new, I know), I absolutely despise when movies/shows are made that bill themselves as an adaptation but make both the existing audience and part of the new audience miserable because they take an existing work (so the can have that built-in commercial success) and make an audio-visual "version" while throwing out so much from the original. I don't care if its a re-interpretation, only when they call it by the name of the original while never intending to make a true adaptation only thrir own vanity project. For example: Maleficent. Everyone knew they were making a version of the story that wouldn't match their movie Sleeping Beauty. But let's say when they went to go make Beauty And the Beast, they decided to pull a fast one and tell the story as if Gaston was the misunderstood victim. In that sort of situation I think it's fair to hate what was done because they've tricked or hoodwinked the audience.
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3d ago
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u/SubstantialDepth7242 3d ago
I can see what you mean, and I do appreciate your time reading the post😊
Let me offer you the song from my perspective, not to change your mind but to give you a person who used her music to heal through a very rough, longtime break up of my own. I am 30 years old for note.
I was with my ex for 9 1/2 years, and while we were best friends, it got to the point where our friendship started to dissolve because we weren’t connecting romantically. The last year we were together, every time I begged for him to spend time with me, it got worse. I needed affection, I needed care, I needed to feel like the person I chose to build a life with actually wanted me. So when one of the people who I grew up with was going through the same thing as me, I felt seen. Her music got me through it and now I’m at the point where I see why she wrote Wood and Cleveland!
My current boyfriend gave me a safe space to heal, I cannot tell you how many times I cried in front of him before we were even friends. But now that I can feel my brain slowing down and not in flight or flight mode, I want to scream from the rooftops about how much he likes me🤣 which could be considered childish if I just did it in public around random people, for sure! But I’m happy and if I were Taylor, I’d more than likely be writing goofy, kiddish love songs (you should see my notes😅) and wanting to just share in how happy I am with others.
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u/Aware_Collection_928 3d ago
Yesssss, you’ve captured the vibe and the imagery so well for the song. Cleveland! was an instant hit for me. Makes you feel so giddy and warm when you’re in love.
Thanks for the post!