In my opinion, this is by far one of her most important songs. It pervades every fiber of my being. Those lyrics are both powerful and honest. Every day in our society, we see this, we have it happen to us, and we do it to other women. It breaks my heart and pisses me off.
I always felt it was not just about Scooter and Scott but also about Kanye and Kim. Specificly about how they framed her in 2016 which brought her to a really dark place. Especially the: "And women like hunting witches too, doing your dirtiest work for you." With Kim filming and posting the edited video.
Kanye is just so sick in the head- he began the whole thing, then got mad at her, because he got backlash for doing it, and vowed to get even with her, and the entire thing will continue forever.
I remember during the one year anniversary of folklore someone did a ranking of the songs (I think on buzzfeed?) and they ranked mad woman last and said that it lacked staying power. I think about that a lot. I can't imagine not feeling this song deep in my gut every single time.
This is probably one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs. I don't typically think of how this song relates to her life, but just kind of commentary on society. Like the "women like hunting witches too, doing your dirtiest work for you" is very apparent in society. It kind of speaks to the internalized misogyny that women have.
Agree! Especially when she says ‘she should be mad, she should be scathing like me, but no one likes a mad woman’. The fear of being the next target is exactly how they get women to pull each other down.
She made big machine… he knew exactly what Taylor’s swift could be. I really believe Scott believed taylor was done and threw her away like trash all in the name of business. Seeing taylor succeed after big machine is like seeing her start all over again and it’s beautiful to watch
I love this song so much, it can be applied to men as well. I relate to it so much, I’ve been gaslit, I remember the face of pure unadulterated rage and hatred when I said “you want me to be crazy? I’ll show you crazy” when he realizes that I’m still 100% sane and not shattered beyond repair like he wanted I just laugh in his face saying “this is the result you desperately want, to have your plans backfire” lol
It’s differently about her music I feel her pain and anger 😢 I can’t imagine creating something and then when asked to own it coz I made it then not only told no but it being sold to someone else. I would be feeling everything all at once! I love how she just just write a song on how she feels 😍 sometimes I don’t have the words or don’t know how to say how something or a situation makes me feel let alone write a song She is truely a genius 😍
This exactly. Also, everyone should know by now that it isn't a good idea to cross Taylor, because when she really hates somebody...... Well, lets just say "Vigilante Shit" is about situations that really happened. The sad part is that the lyric about her not starting shit is also real. She has run into some really skeezy people in this industry, I'm not sure her parents really helped her put personal boundaries in place to handle things, like not dating 32 year old men when you are only 19, and things like that, or helped her in other ways they might have, water under the bridge, however, what she has learned is how to use her power now. While I think she certainly think she could benefit from therapy, who the hell do you trust if you're Taylor? If you're approaching a billion dollars, with her history, how do you know who wants to be around you to help you, or for your money or access to what you have? I wouldn't trust anyone. That said, I love both songs. When you have time, please react to "Closure". It is along the same lines. I think it is full of rage, myself, a big f-u song, but also full of hurt.
I too find the lyrical link between Mad Woman and Vigilante Shit very telling. I think Taylor may have had the goods on ole Scooter and was willing to share it with Yael. IDK but certainly an interesting thought. Remember from Mastermind that she's always been cryptic and Machiavellian. And she's not one to be messed with. Her memory's long and her daggers sharp. And isn't she just a therapist's dream come true? Her mind. What a labyrinth of mystery.
THANK YOU for discussing the line between actual gaslighting and suicide. I'm not saying my ex was the only reason for my last suicide attempt (9 years ago and I've fought like hell to get to the amazing place I am now), but her gaslighting was def a major force behind where I ended up. I can still hear verbatim the last phone convo before that attempt occurred. And I know both the play and movie that drove the term gaslighting. And that phone call was the last "gaslighting" straw the most def pushed me over an edge I had standing on for a hot minute (and she knew it).
Also, transmen tend to get labeled similarly to cis-women. Or, in my experience at least. As a transman my ex most certainly attacked me in very similar ways to what I experienced when I presented as female. I was "horomonal" or acting like "a chick". I look back on some of those experiences and am just floored by how she (and a couple other exes) treated me as a transgender man.
Yes it is totally universal because again, hearing you explain and express your thoughts, I can relate to a t to this song. I've been bullied for a long time, sexualy abused for a while when I was at a young age and now I do not take shit from anybody......and what's the reaction from ppl??? They say I'm crazy !!! I'm not crazy, I'm just not taking it anymore. Big difference.
I’ve loved this so since I first heard it, this time I’m watching this right after finishing The Crown and it’s giving Princess Diana vibes. P.S.I was able to get tickets ❤
Wow this happened to me the other day! And I appreciate your breakdown of both the song and the emotion behind it ❤ it’s so important to have language for things that occur. ❤
I’m really glad you did a video on Mad Woman, it’s one of my hardcore favorite Taylor songs. To me this song is all about gaslighting and reactive abuse, including the systemic gaslighting women deal with everyday. Her horrible experience with Scott Borchetta is a perfect example of how men screw women over and expect them to take it with a smile…or else. We’re under scrutiny with every move we make, every word we say. Speaking our truth, enforcing our boundaries, these things aren’t really accepted by the mainstream culture. Taylor drops a lot of truth bombs in her lyrics, it’s one of the things I love most about her. She’s a warrior.
I love your videos! One request, can you balance the sound between the inset video and your video. The music is so loud, but your voice is so quiet. Keep turning up and down so I can hear you without getting blown away when the music comes back in.
15:09 makes so much sense. Also TS has a song called "Shake it off"... I've seen animals shake like that after something scared the shit out of them, and its like their whole bodies are on vibrate for a few minutes before they can calm down. Anyone else ever notice they go numb when they're in a rage? I wonder if its bc our brain is getting us ready for a physical fight and those who don't feel the blows can't be affected by them. Makes all the sense in the world to me.
My cannons all firing at your yacht lyric also has actually has another very direct reference as well as the scooter one as back when they were friends Justin Beiber Punk'd Taylor by inviting her round to his house, getting her to set off some 'special' fireworks into the ocean & making her think she burned down a nearby yacht with a wedding currently happening. Then the supposed wedding party got to shore in lifeboats & she seemed terrified & hella upset.
@@mendwithmere no problem!! It very possibly is a reference to both. The cannon firing being the justin side & the aiming 'at your yacht' being the scooter side.
Great song, great analysis. You're so right (again). Just look at the way women are portrayed in the media, and not just in the tabloids. The second they raise their voice they are basically labeled as hysterical. Whether it's politicians or athletes, or indeed musicians. That double standard is horrible, i feel. A Dutch politician who was accused of being 'irritated' in a debate replied: 'If you think this is me being irritated, you should see me when I really am. Believe me, you'll know the difference' . It's just tactics to belittle an opponent, of course.
I agree- I think part of the reason it’s not as popular as some others because, IMO, you need to be a woman for this song to really punch you in the gut. Not that there aren’t any men who, “get it”, they are definitely out there. I just think this song is much more likely to understand what she’s saying.
Omg, yaass!! I wholeheartedly believe that Epiphany is her most underrated song. It's almost as if it doesn't even exist. Which is a travesty in light of all the fervent yet gentle emotions that this song imbues. When I see comment feeds that go viral asking about things to list Taylor's songs for this-or-that, it's NEVER (or very rarely) listed. But Epiphany is so ethereal & necessary. It's hauntingly beautiful, & gut wrenchingly honest. It's written about such a specific topic at a horrid time in our world, honoring workers & the lives lost. Yet there are parts of the song that almost anyone can relate to. She is saying, "I'm here with you, fighting alongside you. You're not alone in this pain." It's a beautiful craftsmanship of specificity & broadness intertwined. She has done this without the intricate verbiage she displays in her other works. Even though that's one of the major things that makes Taylor's art unique, this song simply does not need that in order to portray its message. It is a simple yet intricate ballad, that breaks my heart but brings me comfort at the same time. I believe this song is an intrinsic track, & I wonder if she herself even realizes its lyrics should be framed. Only Taylor can do these things. Please, react to Epiphany.💜🙏🏼💜
I think this song is so underrated. It's my favorite Taylor song. She managed to translate the way they try to discredit women by calling them crazy.
YES!❤
We're actually covering it on our third record. It's an absolutely perfect song. Love the rage,
In my opinion, this is by far one of her most important songs. It pervades every fiber of my being. Those lyrics are both powerful and honest. Every day in our society, we see this, we have it happen to us, and we do it to other women. It breaks my heart and pisses me off.
YES SAME
YOU SUPPORT AN AGGRESSOR GOD
I always felt it was not just about Scooter and Scott but also about Kanye and Kim. Specificly about how they framed her in 2016 which brought her to a really dark place.
Especially the: "And women like hunting witches too, doing your dirtiest work for you." With Kim filming and posting the edited video.
Kanye is just so sick in the head- he began the whole thing, then got mad at her, because he got backlash for doing it, and vowed to get even with her, and the entire thing will continue forever.
Agreed, this gives Kim and Kanye vibes more than anyone else. She got them good.
It’s so true too. Women will hate on other women when we should stand together. It’s unfortunate.
I remember during the one year anniversary of folklore someone did a ranking of the songs (I think on buzzfeed?) and they ranked mad woman last and said that it lacked staying power. I think about that a lot. I can't imagine not feeling this song deep in my gut every single time.
Last?!?!?! Deep in my gut too
People are very uncomfortable with angry women, lol- doncha know we are crazy?
A guy must have written that list.
This is probably one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs. I don't typically think of how this song relates to her life, but just kind of commentary on society. Like the "women like hunting witches too, doing your dirtiest work for you" is very apparent in society. It kind of speaks to the internalized misogyny that women have.
Yes it is!!
Agree! Especially when she says ‘she should be mad, she should be scathing like me, but no one likes a mad woman’. The fear of being the next target is exactly how they get women to pull each other down.
She made big machine… he knew exactly what Taylor’s swift could be. I really believe Scott believed taylor was done and threw her away like trash all in the name of business. Seeing taylor succeed after big machine is like seeing her start all over again and it’s beautiful to watch
One of my favorites songs!!! The melody, her voice, the LYRICS are amazing!!!
Yes!!
I love this song so much, it can be applied to men as well. I relate to it so much, I’ve been gaslit, I remember the face of pure unadulterated rage and hatred when I said “you want me to be crazy? I’ll show you crazy” when he realizes that I’m still 100% sane and not shattered beyond repair like he wanted I just laugh in his face saying “this is the result you desperately want, to have your plans backfire” lol
Hell yes. I need to be mindful that men also deal with this too!! Please know I’ll be better about this in the future. Thanks for sharing!❤
I've never even thought of connecting this to the Scooter Braun situation which after you explaining it it is so clear, I love your thought process.
Thank you ♥️
It’s differently about her music
I feel her pain and anger 😢
I can’t imagine creating something and then when asked to own it coz I made it then not only told no but it being sold to someone else. I would be feeling everything all at once! I love how she just just write a song on how she feels 😍 sometimes I don’t have the words or don’t know how to say how something or a situation makes me feel let alone write a song
She is truely a genius 😍
She really is❤
Mad Woman walked so Vigilante Shit could run
This exactly. Also, everyone should know by now that it isn't a good idea to cross Taylor, because when she really hates somebody...... Well, lets just say "Vigilante Shit" is about situations that really happened. The sad part is that the lyric about her not starting shit is also real. She has run into some really skeezy people in this industry, I'm not sure her parents really helped her put personal boundaries in place to handle things, like not dating 32 year old men when you are only 19, and things like that, or helped her in other ways they might have, water under the bridge, however, what she has learned is how to use her power now. While I think she certainly think she could benefit from therapy, who the hell do you trust if you're Taylor? If you're approaching a billion dollars, with her history, how do you know who wants to be around you to help you, or for your money or access to what you have? I wouldn't trust anyone. That said, I love both songs. When you have time, please react to "Closure". It is along the same lines. I think it is full of rage, myself, a big f-u song, but also full of hurt.
Thank you for sharing this! I’ll check closure out bc I never listened deeply to it, which im embarrassed to say
I love this song i feel like it's a really classy way to get back at someone!
I too find the lyrical link between Mad Woman and Vigilante Shit very telling. I think Taylor may have had the goods on ole Scooter and was willing to share it with Yael. IDK but certainly an interesting thought. Remember from Mastermind that she's always been cryptic and Machiavellian. And she's not one to be messed with. Her memory's long and her daggers sharp. And isn't she just a therapist's dream come true? Her mind. What a labyrinth of mystery.
I love this space! Thank you so much for hanging out with us. Love you
Thank you!! ❤ U
THANK YOU for discussing the line between actual gaslighting and suicide. I'm not saying my ex was the only reason for my last suicide attempt (9 years ago and I've fought like hell to get to the amazing place I am now), but her gaslighting was def a major force behind where I ended up. I can still hear verbatim the last phone convo before that attempt occurred. And I know both the play and movie that drove the term gaslighting. And that phone call was the last "gaslighting" straw the most def pushed me over an edge I had standing on for a hot minute (and she knew it).
Also, transmen tend to get labeled similarly to cis-women. Or, in my experience at least. As a transman my ex most certainly attacked me in very similar ways to what I experienced when I presented as female. I was "horomonal" or acting like "a chick". I look back on some of those experiences and am just floored by how she (and a couple other exes) treated me as a transgender man.
Yes it is totally universal because again, hearing you explain and express your thoughts, I can relate to a t to this song. I've been bullied for a long time, sexualy abused for a while when I was at a young age and now I do not take shit from anybody......and what's the reaction from ppl??? They say I'm crazy !!! I'm not crazy, I'm just not taking it anymore. Big difference.
I’ve loved this so since I first heard it, this time I’m watching this right after finishing The Crown and it’s giving Princess Diana vibes. P.S.I was able to get tickets ❤
Yay!!!! So glad you got some
@@mendwithmere I think tolerate it song is like Diana and charles relationship.
So good , like you said. Love this , too!
♥️♥️♥️
Still waiting for Anti-Hero :)
Ahhh I filmed but the first part is missing bc I had to stop bc my dog was barking so much. I will re record if necessary!
Thank you for your time doing this!:)
I would love for you to react to illicit affairs!!! So underrated
Looooove this song!
That would be so great
Great channel and loved reading the comments section also , it's reasuring , and reminds me that some women stand by other women. Thanks Mere.
Good Lord, I could listen to you dissect lyrics for hours on end.
I absolutely need you to react to The Archer and Out of the woods. I LOVE YOUR REACTIONS😊
Illicit affairs next, please!!!!!!❤
It’s coming!!
queen we love you 🫶🫶
Love you!
Wow this happened to me the other day! And I appreciate your breakdown of both the song and the emotion behind it ❤ it’s so important to have language for things that occur. ❤
one two three lets go beech!! been waiting for this video
😂😂😂😂
Please react to Death by a Thousand Cuts!
Mere is baaack, i can go to bed relaxed, thank you again Mere for making another awesome vid🥰
You are welcome! Many more coming!
If you have time, please react to its time to go! It’s on evermore and it’s my favorite song
I love your insights...
I’m really glad you did a video on Mad Woman, it’s one of my hardcore favorite Taylor songs. To me this song is all about gaslighting and reactive abuse, including the systemic gaslighting women deal with everyday. Her horrible experience with Scott Borchetta is a perfect example of how men screw women over and expect them to take it with a smile…or else. We’re under scrutiny with every move we make, every word we say. Speaking our truth, enforcing our boundaries, these things aren’t really accepted by the mainstream culture. Taylor drops a lot of truth bombs in her lyrics, it’s one of the things I love most about her. She’s a warrior.
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful video. I was waiting patiently for your reaction to this amazing song 🙏❤️
You are so welcome!❤
I love your videos! One request, can you balance the sound between the inset video and your video. The music is so loud, but your voice is so quiet. Keep turning up and down so I can hear you without getting blown away when the music comes back in.
You’re so pretty! You give me Chelsea Peretti vibes
I need therapy .. i am mad in love with taylor
Same
15:09 makes so much sense. Also TS has a song called "Shake it off"...
I've seen animals shake like that after something scared the shit out of them, and its like their whole bodies are on vibrate for a few minutes before they can calm down.
Anyone else ever notice they go numb when they're in a rage? I wonder if its bc our brain is getting us ready for a physical fight and those who don't feel the blows can't be affected by them. Makes all the sense in the world to me.
It's also big in A Streetcar Named Desire.
OMG. FINALLY!!!! 🥹🫶🏻
Thanks for all the information
My cannons all firing at your yacht lyric also has actually has another very direct reference as well as the scooter one as back when they were friends Justin Beiber Punk'd Taylor by inviting her round to his house, getting her to set off some 'special' fireworks into the ocean & making her think she burned down a nearby yacht with a wedding currently happening. Then the supposed wedding party got to shore in lifeboats & she seemed terrified & hella upset.
Omg!!!! I remember that now!! Thank you for reminding!
@@mendwithmere no problem!! It very possibly is a reference to both. The cannon firing being the justin side & the aiming 'at your yacht' being the scooter side.
She takes Braun down completely with "Karma". I love the rage.
I wasn't able to get tickets :( They sold out before I even left the queue.
Uggggh horrible. I’m so sorry!
I'm going to KC, MO, Night 2!! 🤯😵😱🥳😁😁
hello. i love your channel.
i have a suggestion...
listen to
Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince
Im still waiting for Coney Island Love from Colombia!💛
Those low notes are my favorite. Taylor is very easy for me to sing for that reason.
Great song, great analysis. You're so right (again). Just look at the way women are portrayed in the media, and not just in the tabloids. The second they raise their voice they are basically labeled as hysterical. Whether it's politicians or athletes, or indeed musicians. That double standard is horrible, i feel. A Dutch politician who was accused of being 'irritated' in a debate replied: 'If you think this is me being irritated, you should see me when I really am. Believe me, you'll know the difference' . It's just tactics to belittle an opponent, of course.
What happened to the vigilante shit part
It’s coming out in a day or two :)
UNDERRATED RELATABLE MASTERPIECE WBK
Every woman understands this song in a personal level
🛴 Scooter just recently announced he is "retired" 🎉
I know you did this song to tie into Vigilante Shit, but I’m over here SCREAMING over the parallels to Karma!
Can you do the song "I did something bad" if you didn't already do it please 😁😁😁😁😁😁
Omg I was gonna say you should react to vigilante shit I saw that you shared your reaction to that 12 hours ago💞💞💞
I love this song. I think its an ironic ode to women.
I agree- I think part of the reason it’s not as popular as some others because, IMO, you need to be a woman for this song to really punch you in the gut.
Not that there aren’t any men who, “get it”, they are definitely out there. I just think this song is much more likely to understand what she’s saying.
Epiphany will make you cry 😢😢 i swear to god
Omg, yaass!! I wholeheartedly believe that Epiphany is her most underrated song. It's almost as if it doesn't even exist. Which is a travesty in light of all the fervent yet gentle emotions that this song imbues. When I see comment feeds that go viral asking about things to list Taylor's songs for this-or-that, it's NEVER (or very rarely) listed. But Epiphany is so ethereal & necessary. It's hauntingly beautiful, & gut wrenchingly honest. It's written about such a specific topic at a horrid time in our world, honoring workers & the lives lost. Yet there are parts of the song that almost anyone can relate to. She is saying, "I'm here with you, fighting alongside you. You're not alone in this pain." It's a beautiful craftsmanship of specificity & broadness intertwined. She has done this without the intricate verbiage she displays in her other works. Even though that's one of the major things that makes Taylor's art unique, this song simply does not need that in order to portray its message. It is a simple yet intricate ballad, that breaks my heart but brings me comfort at the same time. I believe this song is an intrinsic track, & I wonder if she herself even realizes its lyrics should be framed. Only Taylor can do these things. Please, react to Epiphany.💜🙏🏼💜
It would be so cool if you could react to hozier songs!
Omg I love him
I think it's about Scotter, Kim and Kanye. Taylor is gonna keep fighting back for her rights and others.
Rage is always right.
Kim kardashian put on notice