As one of the most successful female artists of the twenty-first century, Taylor Swift is known for her twelve studio albums, eleven Grammy wins, and her metaphorical storytelling lyrics. Fans are often united with their love for classics such as As Too Well, You Belong With Me, and Shake It Off. 

Not so unified is the opinion on Swift’s sixth album reputation released in 2017 after a one year hiatus from the public eye. Even more controversial is the lead single Look What You Made Me Do. Some argue that the themes were petty and the lyrics were shallow while others praised Swift for her exploration of urban genres and resilient songwriting. 

Reputation is a 15 song album consisting of themes of conflict, resilience, discovery, and finding love throughout it all. Reputation diverges from Taylor Swift’s previous album synth pop genre and incorporates EDM, trap, and R & B elements to give the album a heavy electro pop feel. 

The first six songs are fast paced with thumping bass lines and heavy incorporations of electropop giving them a brash, unapologetic feel. 

My personal favorite three songs of the six are Ready for It, Don’t Blame Me, and Delicate. 

Ready for It uses a combination of Hollywood crime imagery and common romance themes in her lyrics to describe her love life, both present and past. In the lyrics of Don’t Blame Me, Taylor Swift  compares her love for her partner to being addicting and uses drugs as a metaphor for her lover. 

The fifth song, Delicate takes a twist to the traditional “fifth track”. Instead of being a sad song with a slower tempo, Delicate features a strong bass with hopeful lyricism. Delicate covers the uncertainty of love in times of difficulties and Swift’s lover’s perception of her despite rumors and her reputation. 

 The sixth song is probably the most well known song on the album. Look What You Made Me Do references Taylor Swift’s past celebrity feuds and highlights personal change. Some argue it was unoriginal and the revengeful element seemed petty. 

My personal opinion: Look What You Made Me Do serves as an empowering ballad about asserting yourself and personal growth. 

Despite the differing views on the controversial song, it is undeniable that Look What You Made Me Do has a catchy tune and served as a turning point in Taylor Swift’s musical career. 

The last nine songs on Reputation are less known than the first six and did not achieve as high ranks on the Billboard Charts. 

Despite being less popular, these songs are just as well made as their more popular counterparts. With similar beats and themes, these songs should not be overlooked. 

Dancing With Our Hands Tied describes a relationship that was doomed to end from the start. A song that deserves the hype is Call It What You Want. In the song, Swift describes the media’s sudden negative perception of her in 2016 and later apathy towards the public’s view of her because her lover’s view of her was positive. 

The overall reception of Reputation was good, although if you compared it to prior albums such as 1989 and Fearless, it was not as popular. It also only generated two awards from award shows with no Grammy nominations in major categories. 

Whatever the opinion on Reputation is, it can be agreed that it served as a pathway for Taylor Swift branching out into different styles and genres. From Reputation, Swift’s popularity exploded. The album redefined her artistry and helped solidify her as an female icon of the 21st century.