“Lavender Haze”

“Lavender Haze” – 9/10

“Lavender Haze” is an amazing opening to Taylor Swift’s tenth (not including her re-records) studio album. The instrumentals are fun and poppy, and the synth gives a dreamy vibe to the sweet lyrics which address how Swift feels about rumors circling her and her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn. It is reminiscent of “Delicate” from her album “Reputation,” discussing her public persona and what the media and fans expect of her. The song is about marriage and engagement rumors surrounding Swift and Alwyn’s relationship, which Swift harshly rebukes calling it “1950s sh*t.” The track’s title faced controversy from Swift’s queer audiences with the use of lavender which is historically linked with the sapphic community, but it is clear Swift is referencing slang from the 50s unrelated to lavender’s history. Swift even said herself that the phrase was inspired by the show “Mad Men.” Overall, “Lavender Haze” is a fantastic opening to this album, combining Swift’s pop sound from previous albums with her new more mature sound.