I'M SOWWY! :(

Wow, I suck at blogging. To be fair, I haven't had to write anything on a regular basis in over two years, and it's a lot harder to meet deadlines without the looming threat of failing a class if I don't crank out something by a certain date. That combined with the fact that my laptop was busted for at least two months has made my goal of keeping up with my blog pretty challenging. Now that I have my computer back, though, I promise I will post here more often (because I know all two of you who read this are really anxious for me to write more). I have one piece that's just about finished-it just needs a little polishing- and a few other half-written ones that I hope to have up within the next couple months at most. I'm also playing with the idea of this bigger, multi-part project, but I don't want to say too much about that until I've gotten back into the habit of writing again so I know I'll actually follow through on it. Just bear with me a little longer and I promise I'll have some new stuff up soon!

While you're waiting, enjoy this goofy music survey:

1. Put your iPod (itunes) on shuffle. 

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer. 3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS! 4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy doing this as well as the person you got this from. 

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? Live and Die 

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Love is All 

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? When You're Driving through the Moonlight 

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? Jack Daniels (Oh, good. ITunes thinks I'm an alcoholic.)

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? The Edge of Glory 

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Cruise 

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN? Tear You Apart (I SWEAR I'M NOT CRAZY. O_o) 

WHAT IS 2+2? Heart Attack (I was an English major, okay?! MATH IS HARD.) 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Mama's Broken Heart

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Ten Minutes Ago 

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Help Me (Jove in Pity)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? A Little Less Talk (And a Lot More Action) (AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) 

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Walk 

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Life is a Highway 

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Chick Habit 

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? Sky is Over 

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Clarity 

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? What the Water Gave Me

WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN? Love Interruption 

HOW WILL YOU DIE? Brokenhearted (T_T) 

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY? Cameo Lover 

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED? Drunk on You (I think this means I'm going to get married, wasted, in Vegas. DREAM BIG.) 

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST? Bad Things

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU? 48 Roses

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? Starships 

WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW? Che Gelida Manina 

Pop Song Analysis: "I Knew You Were Trouble"

When I heard the first verse of Taylor Swift’s new song, “I Knew You Were Trouble,” I was pretty impressed. True, it was about a failed relationship, which isn't exactly a new concept for her song writing, but it seemed like she had matured a bit because, for the first time, she was accepting partial blame for the failure. She takes responsibility right at the beginning of the chorus: "I knew you were trouble when you walked in, so shame on me now." Apparently, she knew she was getting into a doomed relationship, and she owns up to that. Did this song mark a change in Taylor's writing style? Is she evolving from the high school fairy tale view of the world to a blunt, more mature outlook?

Nope. She tried, I guess. She tried to write a dark(-ish)loss-of-innocence kind of song where she gets involved with a guy who she discovers at the beginning is not the relationship type, ignores that fact, and gets hurt as a result- but she still portrays herself as the heartbroken victim of the big bad boyfriend of the month. Yes, she admits that she knew he wasn't serious about her, stating that she "guess[ed] he didn't care," a quality she liked at first. But, of course, he's still the bad guy. He started it. As much she insists she knew he was trouble, as much as she pretends to blame herself, she still makes it his fault; he “got [her] in [his] sights…and when [she] fell hard, [he] took a step back without [her].” Basically what she’s saying is she got involved with this guy who wasn't looking for anything serious, she developed stronger feelings that he didn't return, and the resulting heartbreak is his fault. Ugh.

The bridge is the part that bugs me the most: "And the saddest fear starts creeping in: that you never loved me, or her, or anyone, or anything." First of all: DUH. At least to the first part: "you never loved me." Um...I thought that's what she liked about him in the first place. And I understand that it's possible for real feelings to develop from a casual relationship, and when it's one-sided it can really hurt, but the fact that she acts like it's some shocking, soul-crushing realization is annoying because she has stated several times (though not explicitly) that she knew he didn't love her. She knew he didn't care. SHE KNEW HE WAS TROUBLE, DAMMIT. How is it a fear if it's something she already knew?! Also, saying he never loved anyone or anything might be a little hyperbolic. Just because he wasn't in love with her doesn't mean he’s completely incapable of the emotion. But no, Taylor insists that this cold-hearted, soulless bastard has never loved anything. Her. His parents. That pet hamster he had when he was five years old. Ice cream.  ANYTHING.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m just as guilty of feeling resentful toward a guy for not as strongly about me as I did about him. It’s a relatable situation-a way of coping with the vulnerability that stems from rejection- and if it had been handled better, it could have been a really good topic for a song.  Instead, Taylor wrote another breakup song that slams another ex, and it’s extra obnoxious because she tries to act like this breakup song is different by making a half-assed attempt at taking partial blame that comes across as a backhanded apology.

And of course I sing along to it at the top of my lungs whenever it’s on the radio. Dammit.