Many fans have been struggling with these issues ever since Taylor Swift decided to re-record her older albums, but now that Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is almost here, they can no longer be avoided thanks to “Better Than Revenge,” The song is undeniably catchy and, at the same time, includes elements that some find misogynistic.
So, for Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), will Taylor Swift alter the words to “Better Than Revenge”? We won’t *actually* know until the album is out on July 7, but until then, here’s everything you need to know about the contentious lyrics in question, what the fans think of them, and what Taylor has previously said (and done) to handle songs that might not age well.
Why are the lyrics of “Better Than Revenge” of Speak Now Album so controversial?
As the song’s title suggests, “Better Than Revenge” is essentially a song about retribution. It was shown on Speak Now in 2010 and is deliciously nasty and vindictive, yet it also clearly has disturbing undertones. In the song, Taylor Swift addresses a rival who has been stealing her boyfriend. She warns the rival that while she may have “won” the boyfriend’s heart, she shouldn’t relax too soon because she has also incited Taylor Swift’s wrath, who does nothing “better than revenge.”
Due to lyrics like this, the song has received criticism over the years for being inappropriate and misogynistic:
She’s not a saint and she’s not what you think/ She’s an actress, whoaShe’s better known for the things that she doesOn the mattress, whoa
Who is the subject of Taylor Swift’s song “Better Than Revenge”?
The most popular explanation regarding the background of the song is that it is about the actress Camilla Belle, who dated Joe Jonas just after Taylor. The relationship timeframes provide credence to the idea that a 19-year-old Taylor would have thought Camilla “stole” Joe from her:
- Joe and Taylor begin dating in July 2008.
- The Jonas Brothers begin filming the “Lovebug” music video on September 18, 2008, and Camilla also appears in it.
- Joe and Taylor split up in October 2008 after an infamously brief phone call that Taylor was openly resentful of.
- In addition, in October 2008, Joe and Camilla start their seven-month relationship.
Although Swift has not explicitly confirmed the inspiration behind the song, the lyrics suggest feelings of betrayal and anger towards someone who supposedly interfered in her previous relationship.
Do fans want changes in the lyrics of “Better Than Revenge”?
There are a lot of people on both sides of the issue who have been arguing for years about this. How Taylor should handle the situation. Whether or not that will require changing the lyrics to “Better Than Revenge (Taylor’s Version)”.
Many of Taylor’s followers also identify as feminists and find the song’s lyrics to be problematic on an intellectual level, but they are totally fine with the fact that it causes them to enter “full feminism on pause mode” and don’t want her to change it.
Of course, there are also a lot of supporters who simply want Taylor to be left alone so that she can use the music whenever she pleases.
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