Taylor Swift’s “Style” -lyrics meaning
"Style," a standout track from Taylor Swift's pop breakthrough album, "1989," draws a vibrant picture of a volatile relationship. In its sweeping melodies and pointed lyrics, the song uses a series of memorable images to portray a couple trapped in a cycle of attraction, heartbreak, and reconciliation.
To begin, let's consider the repeated reference to the iconic Hollywood figure, James Dean. With his "daydream look," the male protagonist is equated with this enduring symbol of rebellious youth and enigmatic charm. In American cultural memory, Dean is forever the tragic hero, dying young and leaving behind a tantalizing what-could-have-been narrative. This connection draws on and amplifies the pop culture trope of the bad boy, suggesting a dangerous allure and an inherent volatility that is mirrored in the relationship dynamics Swift describes.
Meanwhile, the female protagonist is described in terms of two powerful symbols: the "red lip classic thing" and the "good girl faith." The red lip imagery is evocative of bold femininity and classic Hollywood glamour, a nod to the timeless allure of figures like Marilyn Monroe. It's a symbol that speaks to confidence and sex appeal. The "good girl faith," on the other hand, suggests a sort of wholesome innocence and loyalty, a reference that juxtaposes and complicates the more provocative "red lip" image.
The "good girl" and "bad boy" dichotomy is a classic trope in literature, film, and music, and Swift cleverly subverts it. The push-and-pull dynamic the characters share, their irresistible attraction despite the seemingly inevitable "crashing down," is reflective of the "opposites attract" cliché, but with more depth and nuance. Swift showcases a relationship that, for all its flaws, possesses an enduring allure and resilience, much like the timeless style Swift repeatedly invokes.
In Swift's hands, the term "style" itself becomes a powerful symbol, representing both the timeless appeal of the relationship and its cyclical, repetitive nature. Like fashion, their relationship cycles through periods of popularity and abandonment, but it never truly goes "out of style."
Swift's "Style" is very much a pop song, but its use of symbols and tropes lends it a depth that takes it beyond the typical. It cleverly employs cultural and literary devices, painting a portrait of a relationship that is both specific in its details and universal in its emotional landscape. It's an example of Swift's skill in storytelling, her ability to take familiar figures and themes and make them feel fresh and deeply personal. Without invoking any one story, Swift taps into a shared cultural language, making her song resonate with a broad audience. While it's tempting to link the song's characters to real-life figures, the richness of the song lies in its ability to evoke a sense of universal recognition and emotional truth.
