Music

Everyone Has Feelings About That ‘Gay’ Line In Taylor Swift’s New Song

People are pretty split on what that one line about 'shade' and being 'gay' means, if anything.

by Jared Richards  14 June 2019
Taylor Swift gay

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Taylor Swift’s new single, ‘You Need To Calm Down‘, is here — and fans, obviously, are freaking out.

The song, the second single off pending seventh album Lover, is markedly different from the Kidz Bop-leaning ‘Me!’, which was perhaps the furthest thing she could have done to distance the new era from the Reputation aesthetic. Short and sweet, ‘You Need To Calm Down’ is classic Swift areas set to a less-than-classic Swift bouncing beat.

It’s a call for trolls and fans alike to stop chill the fuck out about rumours and hater, filled with reference to Twitter, snakes and ongoing stan wars. Earlier this week, she sent cookies to Katy Perry, and the two celebrated the end of a long-standing feud.

Most of the reaction, however, has centred on one line. At one point, she says, “You just need to take several seats and then try to restore the peace/And control your urges to scream about all the people you hate/‘Cause shade never made anybody less gay.”.

In April, Swift donated US $113,000 to the LGBTIQ advocacy group the Tennessee Equality Project, which is currently fighting several anti-gay bills. The line’s likely a reference to that, though fans are wondering whether it’s a roundabout comment on her own long-rumoured sexuality. In the lyric video, the word ‘Glad’ is spelt ‘GLAAD’, like the LGBTIQ foundation, and the single artwork includes a pride flag in the background.  Some stans are calling it a gay anthem; others are very, very confused.

Either way, they’re freaking out. Here are the wildest, weirdest and most excited reactions to ‘You Need To Calm Down’.

Lover is out in August, and will feature 18 tracks. Watch the lyric video for ‘You Need To Calm Down’ below.