Clara Bow (song): Difference between revisions

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| footer = The song's namesake is the actress [[Clara Bow]] (left) and the lyrics additionally reference the singer-songwriter [[Stevie Nicks]] (right).
| footer = The song's namesake is the actress [[Clara Bow]] (left) and the lyrics additionally reference the singer-songwriter [[Stevie Nicks]] (right).
}}
}}
The song is a [[guitar]]-driven [[pop rock]]<ref name="Lipshutz">{{Cite web |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift's ''The Tortured Poets Department'': All 31 Tracks Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-the-tortured-poets-department-tracks-ranked/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=}}</ref> ballad, containing Swift's commentary on women in the industry being taught to "replace each other". Swift has said that it was inspired by her conversations with record label executives, saying, "...They'd say, 'You know, you remind us of' and then they'd name an artist, and then they'd kind of say something disparaging about her, 'But you're this, you're so much better in this way or that way.' And that's how we teach women to see themselves, as like, 'You could be the new replacement for this woman who's done something great before you.'"<ref name="Brow1">{{cite news |last1=Brow |first1=Jason |title=Taylor Swift Says 'Clara Bow' is a Commentary on How Women are Taught to 'Replace' Each Other|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/taylor-swift-shares-clara-bow-song-meaning-from-ttpd/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |work=[[US Weekly]] |date=April 22, 2024}}</ref> It contains lyrical references to actress [[Clara Bow]] and singer-songwriter [[Stevie Nicks]]. Musically, it has been described as a [[pop rock]] song.<ref name="Lipshutz">{{Cite web |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift's ''The Tortured Poets Department'': All 31 Tracks Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-the-tortured-poets-department-tracks-ranked/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=}}</ref>
The song is a [[guitar]]-driven [[pop rock]]<ref name="Lipshutz">{{Cite web |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=April 19, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift's ''The Tortured Poets Department'': All 31 Tracks Ranked |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-the-tortured-poets-department-tracks-ranked/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |website=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |language=}}</ref> ballad, containing Swift's commentary on women in the industry being taught to "replace each other". Swift has said that it was inspired by her conversations with record label executives, saying, "...They'd say, 'You know, you remind us of' and then they'd name an artist, and then they'd kind of say something disparaging about her, 'But you're this, you're so much better in this way or that way.' And that's how we teach women to see themselves, as like, 'You could be the new replacement for this woman who's done something great before you.'"<ref name="Brow1">{{cite news |last1=Brow |first1=Jason |title=Taylor Swift Says 'Clara Bow' is a Commentary on How Women are Taught to 'Replace' Each Other|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/taylor-swift-shares-clara-bow-song-meaning-from-ttpd/ |access-date=April 22, 2024 |work=[[US Weekly]] |date=April 22, 2024}}</ref> It contains lyrical references to actress [[Clara Bow]] and singer-songwriter [[Stevie Nicks]].

==Reactions and reception==
==Reactions and reception==
Prior to the album release, the family of actress [[Clara Bow]], whom the track is named after, said they hoped the song would encapsulate her legacy. Bow's great-granddaughter, Nicole Sisneros, said her family was shocked and fascinated by the track. Sisneros added that Swift's team had not contacted the family prior. Another granddaughter of Bow, Brittany Grace Bell, said she wishes for Swift to display Bow positively, highlighting that Bow and Swift were "pioneers in their field".<ref name="Walsh">{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Savannah |title=Revisiting Clara Bow, the Scrutinized "It Girl" Who Inspired Taylor Swift's New Song |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/revisiting-clara-bow-the-scrutinized-it-girl-who-inspired-taylor-swifts-new-song |access-date=April 17, 2024 |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=April 12, 2024}}</ref> After the song's release, Bow's family praised it, describing it as "hauntingly beautiful" and praising the lyrics, "This town is fake but you're the real thing." Bell additionally stated that she feels Bow would've supported Swift had she lived to know of her.<ref name="Crosbie">{{cite news |last1=Crosbie |first1=Eve |title=Clara Bow's family thinks the silent-film star would have loved Taylor Swift's song about her |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/clara-bow-family-reaction-taylor-swift-song-tortured-poets-department-2024-4 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |work=Business Insider|date=April 19, 2024}}</ref>
Prior to the album release, the family of actress [[Clara Bow]], whom the track is named after, said they hoped the song would encapsulate her legacy. Bow's great-granddaughter, Nicole Sisneros, said her family was shocked and fascinated by the track. Sisneros added that Swift's team had not contacted the family prior. Another granddaughter of Bow, Brittany Grace Bell, said she wishes for Swift to display Bow positively, highlighting that Bow and Swift were "pioneers in their field".<ref name="Walsh">{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Savannah |title=Revisiting Clara Bow, the Scrutinized "It Girl" Who Inspired Taylor Swift's New Song |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/revisiting-clara-bow-the-scrutinized-it-girl-who-inspired-taylor-swifts-new-song |access-date=April 17, 2024 |work=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=April 12, 2024}}</ref> After the song's release, Bow's family praised it, describing it as "hauntingly beautiful" and praising the lyrics, "This town is fake but you're the real thing." Bell additionally stated that she feels Bow would've supported Swift had she lived to know of her.<ref name="Crosbie">{{cite news |last1=Crosbie |first1=Eve |title=Clara Bow's family thinks the silent-film star would have loved Taylor Swift's song about her |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/clara-bow-family-reaction-taylor-swift-song-tortured-poets-department-2024-4 |access-date=April 22, 2024 |work=Business Insider|date=April 19, 2024}}</ref>

Revision as of 23:09, 23 April 2024

"Clara Bow"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Tortured Poets Department
ReleasedApril 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
GenrePop rock
Length3:36
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Aaron Dessner
Lyric video
"Clara Bow" on YouTube

"Clara Bow" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on April 19 through Republic Records as the closing track from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024).[1] Named after silent-film actress Clara Bow, and co-written by long-time collaborator Aaron Dessner, it was inspired by Swift's conversations with record label executives. A folk-leaning pop rock track, it comments on Swift's fame. Critics, as well as Bow's family, applauded the track for Swift's vulnerability, lyricism, and depiction of fame and beauty.

Music and lyrics

Portrait of Clara Bow
A black and white side shoot of Stevie Nicks
The song's namesake is the actress Clara Bow (left) and the lyrics additionally reference the singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks (right).

The song is a guitar-driven pop rock[2] ballad, containing Swift's commentary on women in the industry being taught to "replace each other". Swift has said that it was inspired by her conversations with record label executives, saying, "...They'd say, 'You know, you remind us of' and then they'd name an artist, and then they'd kind of say something disparaging about her, 'But you're this, you're so much better in this way or that way.' And that's how we teach women to see themselves, as like, 'You could be the new replacement for this woman who's done something great before you.'"[3] It contains lyrical references to actress Clara Bow and singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks.

Reactions and reception

Prior to the album release, the family of actress Clara Bow, whom the track is named after, said they hoped the song would encapsulate her legacy. Bow's great-granddaughter, Nicole Sisneros, said her family was shocked and fascinated by the track. Sisneros added that Swift's team had not contacted the family prior. Another granddaughter of Bow, Brittany Grace Bell, said she wishes for Swift to display Bow positively, highlighting that Bow and Swift were "pioneers in their field".[4] After the song's release, Bow's family praised it, describing it as "hauntingly beautiful" and praising the lyrics, "This town is fake but you're the real thing." Bell additionally stated that she feels Bow would've supported Swift had she lived to know of her.[5]

In a positive review, Maria Sherman of The Associated Press said "Clara Bow" is one of the greatest album closing tracks from Swift. Reviewing the song's ending, Sherman interprets it as Swift's self-criticism and awareness.[6] Samantha Olsen of Cosmopolitan placed it third on her top five ranking of its parent album,[7] highlighting its emotional sentiments. Billboard's Jason Lipshutz praised the song for its production, dubbing it "careful pop rock" and highlighting it's self-referential outro ("You look like Taylor Swift") and depiction of beauty.[2] Dakota West Foss from Sputnikmusic commented that "Clara Bow" ended the album "with intriguing and, more importantly, genuine self-reflection that examines the weight of her crown".[8]

References

  1. ^ Dailey, Hannah (April 16, 2024). "Everything We Know About Taylor Swift's New Album 'The Tortured Poets Department' So Far". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Lipshutz, Jason (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: All 31 Tracks Ranked". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Brow, Jason (April 22, 2024). "Taylor Swift Says 'Clara Bow' is a Commentary on How Women are Taught to 'Replace' Each Other". US Weekly. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Walsh, Savannah (April 12, 2024). "Revisiting Clara Bow, the Scrutinized "It Girl" Who Inspired Taylor Swift's New Song". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  5. ^ Crosbie, Eve (April 19, 2024). "Clara Bow's family thinks the silent-film star would have loved Taylor Swift's song about her". Business Insider. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Sherman, Maria (April 19, 2024). "Music Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is great sad pop, meditative theater". Associated Press. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  7. ^ Olson, Samantha (April 20, 2024). "The 5 Best Songs From Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, Ranked". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  8. ^ Foss, Dakota West (April 22, 2024). "The Tortured Poets Department (Anthology) by Taylor Swift Review". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
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