We interrogate a soggy similarity between recent music videos from Harry Styles and Taylor Swift.
Besides the practical conundrums (how many pianos were harmed in the making of these videos?!
), they leave a lot of water to tread through.
Credit: Taylor Swift/YouTube; Harry Styles/YouTube
Theres the inevitable fan speculation.
(Its long been suggested1989sOut of the Woods and Style are also about the former boy bander.)
I mean, sure, itspossible.
Ive loved Harry Styles from afar for seven years.
I can understand finding him an endlessly compelling subject for songwriting.
And theres ample lyrical fodder to make the case here.
Swift is using her soggy piano to say something very different from Harry.
Bad break-ups, grand romances, music industry feuds: anything and everything is fodder for her songwriting.
For years, weve understood her songwriting as a form of therapy for her.
Shes not writing about Harry; shes literally telling us her songwriting is her port in a storm.
Folkloreisalready being praisedas her most reflective and introspective album, and Cardigan helps make that case.
Because what if the subject of the song isnt an ex-lover in the literal sense at all?
What if its the music industry and fame itself, fickle with its favoritism, coming back to her?
In contrast, Styles wet piano is an extended metaphor that lasts the length of the video.
As he sings about self-loathing over a former relationship he knows he messed up, the water levels rise.
Hes forced to go under as he admits, I get the feeling youll never need me again.
The song, the music, the water, the emotions theyre all too much for him.
In the end, he cant do anything but give in and go under.
Water is a potent metaphor.
Its cleansing, dangerous, a powerful force of nature, and a source of life.
Who wouldnt welcome their piano overflowing with it?
