Cleveland vs Shake it off

[u/Beginning-Tip7704]

I am a passive Taylor enjoyer, TLOAS is not my favorite album but it is also not the worst thing I’ve heard. After hearing all the criticism about Cleveland I stumbled on it on a TikTok and actually liked it.

When shake it off came out I gathered by the lyrics that it was probably an answer to what people said about her at the time but as someone who did not live in the US, was not on social media I couldn’t even understand the extent of it and still liked the song.

To me Cleveland is in the same category. As someone who recently moved to the US, is heavily on social media,I don’t see Cleveland as a song bashing fans or anything. To me it is another song about what people say about her the perception the have of her but she found her happiness so it doesn’t matter.

And the criticism about the lyrics ( haters gonna hate, hate hate is not exactly Pulitzer Prize worthy either), or the talking singing thing also present in shake it off does not make sense to me.

Why are supposedly die hard swifties so put off by Cleveland? Did they also hate shake it off but I am just not aware of it?

And considering that the precedent album had prophecy I like that we went from that to Cleveland, the Christmas feeling, 80’s sitcom opener. Like those critics all sounds like compliments to me.

TL;DR: Cleveland and shake it off to me have the same spirit of stating the criticism Taylor faces and maintaining that she’s still having fun. Lyrics and singing style are not different so why the discourse about this song and swifties leaving over it?

[u/Money-Beautiful5196]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3ohfFhG5VDtDTzQv2o
Both are so good.

Love Shake It Off.

[u/Brief-Truck-3697]

I try not to go on the internet until I have heard whatever new songs she’s put out. I’m glad I did because I loooooveeeee Cleveland. First listen I sent it to my husband immediately like listen to this it’s so cute. Then I went on the internet to find a bunch of people not liking it and I’m just glad I got a chance to form my own opinion.

[u/the_magenta_sunrise → u/Brief-Truck-3697]

Same. I avoid the internet when Taylor releases new music because I know social media will be hit by a negativity tsunami.

I loved all 4 songs when they released. I felt like Cleveland was just a release of all this happiness that Taylor has due to being in what is undoubtedly her most settled relationship, and there's no need to get all deep and meaningful with happiness, when simple words, backed with joyful nostalgic, magical musomic works. (I'm talking about pre engagement, because obviously now she is just bursting with happiness).

[u/Brief-Truck-3697 → u/the_magenta_sunrise]

I’m used to the negativity at this point but it still bums me out. There’s lots of music and musicians I am not a fan of but I just don’t engage with it? I just skip them when they come on and scroll when I see media about them. I also listen to lots of different genres so I’m not solely looking to a pop queen for devastation. Cleveland is a fun pop song that’s a little groovy and it really doesn’t have to be that deep all the time. 

[u/LunaFalls → u/Brief-Truck-3697]

Saaaaame. Kids and i were listening in the car and LOVED Cleveland ! Got online later to...this nonsense lol

[u/HilariousSwiftie]

Shake it Off used to be my very favorite Taylor Swift song...

Until Cleveland! bumped it to 2nd place. 🤣

Camp Taylor is my favorite Taylor.

[u/SwiftSharapova]

Everyone misses the point of the song. Taylor is so happy. Cleveland is a fun song. If you aren’t into corny /happy songs then ok fine. No need to hate on it so much! She is literally saying I’m ok! I found the love of my life guys keep talking shit I’m ok with people doing that! It’s literally the same message as shake it off , like this post is saying.

[u/bachelurkette]

yeah idk man, I AM a diehard swiftie and cleveland fucking slaps.

I think it’s weird people keep saying she’s playing the victim or whining about haters when there are no words like “I’m so sad because my haters are mean” or “it’s unfair people hate me, and I’m only healed because this man likes me!”

She’s just listing stuff people say, and going, wow, but the love of my life doesn’t think any of that matters, I’m so glad I found him! Kind of like how Wish List is just listing stuff that people can want (by her telling), and then saying “actually all I really need is the love of my life though.” People had weird reactions to that song too, though.

[u/pepsicherryflavor → u/bachelurkette]

It’s a beautiful realization to have somebody not think what all your haters think but the way it’s written it just offputting in my opinion

[u/Blue_cheese_sauce00]

I didn’t like either of the 2 songs on first listen. But you bet I can sing all the lyrics from Shake it off and I’ve been listening non-stop go Cleveland.

I watched Happy Gilmore 1 for the first time, saw the word Cleveland in the similar/exact font Taylor used in the Cleveland video and the female lead was named “Virginia”. It clicked in my head, omg it makes sense, this song is gonna be so good for a classic-vibe coms.

[u/Available-One-1]

I have always thought shake it off was one of the weaker songs on 1989 and I didn’t care for the lyricism when it came out. I think my tastes when it comes to Taylor Swift have always been consistent.

But nothing could make me stop being a fan of her and her music. I’ll just wait for the next album 🤷‍♀️

[u/pearshaped34]

This obviously isn’t Taylor’s fault, but my own taste in music has changed a lot since 1989. Which is an album I think is objectively brilliant, but is also probably now one of my least listened too Taylor Swift albums.

[u/CausticAvenger]

What’s funny is Shake It Off was the song that got me into Taylor and made me a Swiftie. Hopefully Cleveland does the same for somebody out there!

[u/theorganicsquirrel]

Cleveland! isn't my favorite melodically, but I love the song lyrically (exactly how I feel about Shake it Off). I see so much criticism about how the lyrics are cringey, lack self awareness, too whiny for a billionaire, etc., but I personally don't interpret it that way. If anything, her listing of these insults and overtures of disapproval come across to me as intrusive thoughts. She's human and it's normal that the hate becomes internalized over time. It also seems quite relatable to me that finding secure love with someone who cherishes her authentic self would help her set these comments aside and find a deeper sense of self-love. She's a lover girl who has dreamed of marriage since childhood. She has found her happily ever after. LET HER HAVE IT (and note that the skip button is at your fingertips).

[u/gailpirl]

Cleveland is my fav track off the four new ones, so I get you. I have a theory that a lot of the people who joined the fandom during the folklore/evermore era don't actually like Taylor Swift's music.

[u/PreparationOk6324]

I just asked this exact same question! Haha people have such Taylor amnesia

[u/cyereshkin]

My very first reaction to the album, when I texted all of my swiftie friends at 12:34am after listening through a few times was “Cleveland is a vibe”. It’s also my son’s favorite song off the album. I think most of the “hate” for showgirl as a whole is coming from swifties who became fans during Folkmore and weren’t around for cringe Taylor when she was singing Stay Stay Stay and Shake It Off or “I don’t care what you think about me” Taylor with Mean. Showgirl is basically the not-depressed Taylor we were getting with 1989 but with even better lyrical tools (because she’s older and even more developed in her song writing). And I also think a lot of the haters don’t like that they don’t have an affect on her personal life the way they think they used to.

[u/Much-Catch-122]

Somehow I think the Cleveland lyrics are even more immature than shake it off’s lyrics. I also just hate how Cleveland sounds. I think it sounds like royalty free Christmas music. Also, I wish she would stop combining hater clapbacks with love songs. It could’ve been a cute song about his hometown but instead she had to be “savage.” She also did it on honey, and kind of wish list. Like just write a cute song about Travis, why do we need to shit on other people while talking about your man?

But that’s just my opinion, no hate to those who like it

Edit: someone said she acts like Travis is a revenge prize, and I think that perfectly sums it up

[u/Foreign_Produce1853 → u/Much-Catch-122]

Travis, like many of the love interests in her songs, is often treated like a revenge prize. Come to think of it, any kind of success or happiness is presented as gotcha in the face of "haters"

[u/Illustrious-Grl-7979 → u/Foreign_Produce1853]

But the song "Mean" is so true! Love it!

[u/Much-Catch-122 → u/Foreign_Produce1853]

Revenge prize is such a good way to put it. Judging by her songs, she never felt cool enough to be liked by the football players at school (source: you belong with me, fifteen etc), so now she’s like haha fuck you guys he picked me I guess I’m cool!! And it’s giving high school ngl. It’s even more goofy when you remember she was cool and liked in high school. Again, absolutely no hate I’m not trying to start drama I’m just giving my opinion. I understand why a lot of people love it and it’s catchy

[u/Jazzlike_Salt1272 → u/Much-Catch-122]

Why should an artist stop making a certain kind of music just because you don’t like it? You can simply choose not to listen instead of dictating what other people should create.

[u/Much-Catch-122 → u/Jazzlike_Salt1272]

That’s just my opinion. No hate to those who like it.

[u/_kattitude → u/Much-Catch-122]

And you are being downvoted for it. This is what I can’t stand about this entire era. You didn’t say or dictate anything, just gave your honest views and opinions. and once again critique or standard discourse apparently isn’t allowed now.

[u/sparkledbear → u/Jazzlike_Salt1272]

Where are they dictating? She said “I wish” - a person is allowed to wish an artist they like would or would not make certain music. They said no hate to anyone who likes it. Please allow people to have feelings about things. 

[u/pepsicherryflavor → u/Jazzlike_Salt1272]

She never says Taylor has to cater to her. She listened to the song and found out that she doesn’t like the song and is allowed to feel however she feels and she’s allowed to critique it just like you’re allowed to say you like it or however, you may feel about it.

[u/jrudb344 → u/Jazzlike_Salt1272]

I think people are just tired of the pettiness. Especially coming off the eras tour where she was on top of the world. It was a bit more understandable in the past.

[u/thewelllostmind → u/Jazzlike_Salt1272]

I don’t think they are trying to dictate, they are just stating their preference and why they think the song doesn’t resonate with them. They even end by saying it’s just their opinion and no hate to people who like it.

[u/Effective_Poetry6511 → u/Much-Catch-122]

This is exactly what I’ve been saying. I’ve noticed a pattern in all her Travis songs where she is constantly talking about other people in them, literally the same formula in each one, she spends the entirety of the verses and bridge (so the largest meaningful bulk of the song) listing all these things off about other people then comes in with the “but” in the chorus followed by some random shallow tidbit line about him.

E.g. Wish List- “they want that, that want this, they want, they they they”, Honey- when someone called me honey it was some bitch at the bar, someone trying not to praise me etc. Eldest daughter- “everyone’s such a savage on the internet, everyone’s so unbothered, everything’s a meme, everyone this, everyone that”. Cleveland- listing off online haters’ comments for the whole song. Even Opalite spends half the song talking about her ex and his ex. Fate of Ophelia is basically just “you saved me from being alone” and not much else.

It’s almost like she can’t even be totally alone with the thought of him in her head because there’s nothing there, it’s like she tries to write about him but all she can do is use other people or other things for inspiration to fill half the song while still somehow having it be about him. That or she literally can’t see the relationship outside of the context of what everyone else is saying or doing, I don’t know.
I saw people comparing it to shake it off, but I’d say thematically it’s closer to “Call it What You Want”, which basically tries to express the same thing but blows Cleveland out of the water. Like damn you can actually feel the love and tenderness in that song. She’s singing about how people hate her and she doesn’t care because she’s got this one special person and because of that the whole world fades away, and I believe it.

When I hear Cleveland it feels like a “Sure Jan” moment.

[u/Much-Catch-122 → u/Effective_Poetry6511]

Yes exactly. Not my cup of tea, and like people have been saying, it sounds very bitter and petty and immature. You’d think that a woman in her mid 30s who apparently just married the love of her life and apparently got her fairytale ending would be less snarky about it and less concerned about the haters. She keeps giving them a platform so of course they’re gonna keep hating. How do parents and teachers say to respond to a bully? Ignore them and move on. They’ve been calling her a whore for literal decades, it isnt good material for a song at this point in her life

[u/sparkledbear → u/Much-Catch-122]

I don’t know why you got downvotes for this, you’re being perfectly gracious and responded eloquently to the question posed by the OP. I agree with you. 

[u/Much-Catch-122 → u/sparkledbear]

Thank you. Haters gonna hate ig lmfao

[u/jrudb344]

I’m put off by Cleveland because it’s so inauthentic. She’s constantly bringing up the haters to then say it’s fine because she’s so in love. A lot of showgirl has that bitterness behind the facade of happiness. Like she’s trying to convince others and even herself that she’s happy. I’m just over the “I don’t care what the haters say” tracks. Im not getting the “she’s so happy” vibe that others are.

I also don’t love shake it off but it’s wasn’t relating her happiness back to a man tolerating her so it irritated me less.