But Daddy I Love Him

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"But Daddy I Love Him"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Tortured Poets Department
ReleasedApril 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
Studio
Genre
Length5:40
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lyric video
"But Daddy I Love Him" on YouTube

"But Daddy I Love Him" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Swift and Aaron Dessner wrote the track, and they produced it with Jack Antonoff. Musically, "But Daddy I Love Him" is an electronica and folk rock ballad with elements of country and rock. Its lyrics target detractors of Swift's love life. Critics generally praised the songwriting as intense yet humorous, with some picking the track as an album highlight.

Background[edit]

Swift announced The Tortured Poets Department on February 4, 2024 at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards during her acceptance speech for the Best Pop Vocal Album award. Shortly after the announcement, the album's artwork was shared on her Instagram profile. Swift's website also enabled the album to be pre-ordered in vinyl, CD, cassette and digital format.[1] "But Daddy I Love Him" appears on the album as track six.[2]

Music and lyrics[edit]

"But Daddy I Love Him" is 5 minutes and 40 seconds long. It is an electronica[3] and folk rock[4] ballad[5] with elements of country and rock.[6][7] The verses are instrumented by fingerpicked guitars, while the chorus is dynamic, described by Billboard's Jason Lipshutz as "large, open-hearted" that evoked Swift's "early country-pop anthems".[8] Meskin Fekadu from The Hollywood Reporter opined that the track could have "easily fit" on Swift's albums Fearless (2008) or Speak Now (2010).[9] Alexis Petridis of The Guardian noted that there are subtle fiddles in the mix.[10] Lyrically, the song discusses detractors who criticise Swift's love life. The title is a quote from the 1989 animated film The Little Mermaid;[11] the protagonist Ariel says the line in response to her merman father's disapproval of her human crush Prince Eric.[12]

The lyrics may be interpreted as Swift's response to criticism received for her previous romance, where she rejects the idea of seeking approval from the public and following one's inner feelings.[13] The track is viewed as the mature sister of "Love Story" from Fearless (2009) which Swift sings about her father objecting to a relationship. In "But Daddy I Love Him", the critics involves many denigrators who were disappointed with her love interest.[14] The opening verse containing the line "I just learned these people only raise you just to cage you" establishes the tension between Swift and others. The line also echoes of Swift's previous track "This Is Me Trying" where she sings: "They told me all of my cages were mental". The song's bridge reiterates the central theme of how others believe their intentions are in the interest of Swift's.[13]

The bridge and overall song can be interpreted as a message to the public and fans to consider if dating a man, who is a separate entity to her, should change their opinions of her, through the lyric "I'll tell you something about my good name, it's mine alone to disgrace".[15] The lyrics "No, I'm not coming to my senses", and "I know he's crazy, but he's the one I want" asserts her prerogative to make choices despite other's and her own negative judgement. She also extends her own judgement for those critics, with lyrics "Don't cater to all these vipers dressed in empath's clothing... God save the most judgmental creeps who say they want what's best for me". She postulates that her critics will change their stances, and will not be welcomed with the lyrics "Time, doesn't it give some perspective / And no, you can't come to the wedding".[15]

Reception[edit]

In a review for the parent album, Helen Brown of The Independent wrote "the force [Swift] brings to 'But Daddy I Love Him' is thrilling, as she lassos a few country tropes to charge her horses at online trolls."[16] Samantha Olson of Cosmopolitan ranked the song fifth in her ranking of the top five best songs from the album.[17] Lindsay Zoladz of The New York Times groups this song as part of a "project [that] remains fixed on her internal world", described as the "unexpectedly venomous" track about "the "wine moms" and "Sarahs and Hannahs in their Sunday best" who cluck their tongues at our narrator's dating decisions. (Some might speculate that these are actually shots at her own fans.)"[18]

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "But Daddy I Love Him"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100)[19] 80
Australia (ARIA)[20] 7
Belgium (Billboard)[21] 24
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)[22] 66
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 7
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 48
Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] 23
France (SNEP)[26] 79
Global 200 (Billboard)[27] 7
Greece International (IFPI)[28] 18
India (IMI)[29] 18
Lithuania (AGATA)[30] 56
Luxembourg (Billboard)[31] 19
Malaysia (Billboard)[32] 22
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[33] 8
Norway (VG-lista)[34] 35
Philippines (Billboard)[35] 11
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[36] 80
Portugal (AFP)[37] 20
Singapore (RIAS)[38] 9
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[39] 49
South Africa (Billboard)[40] 23
South Korea Download (Circle)[41] 167
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] 61
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 29
UK (Billboard)[44] 9
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[45] 71
UK Streaming (OCC)[46] 11
US Billboard Hot 100[47] 7

References[edit]

  1. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (April 18, 2024). "Taylor Swift Announces New Album 'The Tortured Poets Department' During Grammys Acceptance Speech". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  2. ^ Garcia, Thania (April 24, 2024). "Taylor Swift Shares Tracklist for 'The Tortured Poets Department,' Featuring Post Malone and Florence + Machine". Variety. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Taylor Swift Strikes Out Looking on The Tortured Poets Department". Paste. April 19, 2024. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  4. ^ Wood, Mikael (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift turns heel, owning her chaos and messiness on The Tortured Poets Department". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Savage, Mark (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift Tortured Poets Department review: Album finds star vulnerable but vicious". BBC. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Webb, Lauren (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department". Clash. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  7. ^ Kornhaber, Spencer (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift Is Having Quality-Control Issues". The Atlantic. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  8. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: All 31 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (April 19, 2024). "Review: On Tortured Poets, Taylor Swift Continues to Spill Her Own Tea (and the Flavor Is Mostly English Breakfast)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Petridis, Alexis (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department review – fame, fans and former flames in the line of fire". The Guardian. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Willman, Chris (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift Renews Her Vows With Heartbreak in Audacious, Transfixing Tortured Poets Department: Album Review". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Siwak, Miranda (April 19, 2024). "Does Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department Song 'But Daddy I Love Him' Shade Her Fans?". Us Weekly. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Nicolaou, Elena (April 19, 2024). "'But Daddy I Love Him' lyrics: Does Taylor Swift's song reference The Little Mermaid?". Today.com. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  14. ^ Thorp, Clare (April 20, 2024). "'But Daddy I Love Him': Taylor Swift takes aim at critics with new track". BBC. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  15. ^ a b "What is Taylor Swift's 'but daddy I love him' about?". Capital. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Brown, Helen (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department review: Irresistible, country-hued tales of relationships past and present". The Independent. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  17. ^ Olson, Samantha (April 20, 2024). "The 5 Best Songs From Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, Ranked". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  18. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (April 19, 2024). "On 'The Tortured Poets Department,' Taylor Swift Could Use an Editor". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Taylor Swift – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Taylor Swift. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  20. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  21. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Belgium Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  22. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  23. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  24. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 202417 into search. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  25. ^ "Track Top-40 Uge 17, 2024". Hitlisten. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  26. ^ "Top Singles (Week 16, 2024)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  27. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  28. ^ "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  29. ^ "IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 29th April 2024 | Week 17 of 52". IMIcharts. Archived from the original on April 29, 2024.
  30. ^ "2024 16-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. April 26, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  31. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  32. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  33. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. April 29, 2024. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  34. ^ "Singel 2024 uke 17". VG-lista. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie" (Select week 19.04.2024–25.04.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  37. ^ "Taylor Swift – But Daddy I Love Him". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  38. ^ "RIAS Top Charts Week 17 (19 - 25 Apr 2024)". RIAS. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  39. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 202417 into search. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  40. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (South Africa Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  41. ^ "Download Chart – Week 16 of 2024". Circle Chart (in Korean). Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  42. ^ "Taylor Swift – But Daddy I Love Him" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  43. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 17". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  44. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (U.K. Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  45. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  46. ^ "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  47. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
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