Gorgeous
Single (Europe) | reputation (2017)
Background
Taylor released her fifth studio album, 1989, in October 2014. Its synth-pop production transformed her sound and image from country-oriented to mainstream pop. The album was a massive commercial success, selling over five million copies in the U.S. within one year, and spawning three Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles. The BBC asserted that the success of 1989 solidified Taylor’s status as a global pop star.
In 2016, when Taylor was at the peak of overexposure, some of her rivals in the industry (including Scooter Braun, Kanye West and Justin Bieber) succeded in launching a worldwide hate campaign against her. As a result, Taylor disappeared from public view for an entire year and thought about quitting music for good. She became increasingly reticent on social media, having previously maintained an active presence with a large following, and avoided interactions with the press. She conceived her sixth studio album, reputation, as an answer to the media commotion surrounding her celebrity.
Lyrical Theme
Taylor started working on “Gorgeous” soon after the 2016 MET Gala. She first wrote the chorus on guitar while drunk. The lyrics seem to mock the perception that most of Taylor’s discography is comprised of lighthearted, simple songs about boys. She finished the rest of the song on piano in September while working in Nashville.
Fans have speculated the song is about Taylor’s boyfriend, British actor Joe Alwyn. During the Rhode Island “reputation Secret Session“, she told fans that this song and all the other positive love songs on the album are about him. She wanted her fans to clarify this in online discussions and also liked multiple posts on Tumblr about this subject as further confirmation.
It was also revealed that the baby’s voice featured on the song is from James Reynolds, daughter of actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Taylor told fans at the secret sessions that she was at the beach with Blake and Ryan, playing them “Gorgeous” on guitar. Afterward, James kept saying “gorgeous” over and over again, so Taylor recorded a voice memo of it.
Critical Reception
Commercial Performance
Lyrics
[Intro: James Reynolds]:
Gorgeous
[Verse 1]
You should take it as a compliment
That I got drunk and made fun of the way you talk
You should think about the consequence
Of your magnetic field being a little too strong
And I got a boyfriend, he’s older than us
He’s in the club doing, I don’t know what
You’re so cool, it makes me hate you so much (I hate you so much)
[Pre-chorus 1]
Whisky on ice, Sunset and Vine
You’ve ruined my life, by not being mine
[Chorus]
You’re so gorgeous
I can’t say anything to your face
‘Cause look at your face (Gorgeous)
And I’m so furious
At you for making me feel this way
But what can I say?
You’re gorgeous
[Verse 2]
You should take it as a compliment
That I’m talking to everyone here but you (But you, but you)
And you should think about the consequence
Of you touching my hand in a darkened room (Dark room, dark room)
If you got a girlfriend, I’m jealous of her
But if you’re single that’s honestly worse
‘Cause you’re so gorgeous it actually hurts (Honey, it hurts)
[Pre-chorus 2]
Ocean blue eyes looking in mine
I feel like I might sink and drown and die
[Chorus]
You’re so gorgeous
I can’t say anything to your face
‘Cause look at your face (Gorgeous)
And I’m so furious
At you for making me feel this way
But what can I say?
You’re gorgeous
[Bridge]
You make me so happy it turns back to sad
There’s nothing I hate more than what I can’t have
You are so gorgeous it makes me so mad
You make me so happy it turns back to sad
There’s nothing I hate more than what I can’t have
Guess I’ll just stumble on home to my cats, alone
Unless you wanna come along? (Oh)
[Chorus]
You’re so gorgeous
I can’t say anything to your face (To your face)
‘Cause look at your face (Gorgeous)
And I’m so furious (I’m so furious)
At you for making me feel this way (Feel this way)
But what can I say? (I say)
You’re gorgeous
[Outro]
You make me so happy it turns back to sad
There’s nothing I hate more than what I can’t have
You are so gorgeous it makes me so mad
You’re gorgeous
You make me so happy it turns back to sad (It turns back to sad)
There’s nothing I hate more than what I can’t have (What I can’t have)
You are so gorgeous it makes me so mad
You’re gorgeous
| Album | reputation | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | October 20, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2016 | |||
| Genre | Electro Pop | |||
| Length | 3:29 | |||
| Label | Big Machine Records | |||
| Songwriters | Taylor Swift Max Martin Shellback | |||
| Producers | Max Martin Shellback | |||
REPUTATION CHRONOLOGY | ||||
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