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Clara Bow

THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (2024)

“Clara Bow” is the sixteenth and final track on the standard edition of Taylor’s eleventh studio album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT (2024). Co-written by Taylor and Aaron Dessner, the song is named after the famous actress who rose to fame in the silent film era, eventually becoming the first “It Girl.” Taylor said it is a commentary on what she has seen in the industry over time.

Background

Taylor developed her eleventh studio album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, “for about two years” after finishing her previous album Midnights (2022). She reflected on the creation of the album as a “lifeline” for her, as it took place amidst media reports on her personal life and her relationships with Joe Alwyn, Matty Healy, and Travis Kelce:

«TORTURED POETS is an album that I think, more than any of my albums that I’ve ever made, I needed to make it. It was really a lifeline for me, just the things I was going through, and the things I was writing about. It kind of reminded me of why songwriting is something that actually gets me through my life. And I’ve never had an album where I needed songwriting more than I’d needed it on TORTURED POETS.»

Taylor Swift

The album’s tracklist, including “Clara Bow,” was revealed shortly after. In the song, Taylor mentions legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks, who contributed the prologue to THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: a handwritten poem she wrote for Taylor. Taylor herself also penned a poem, called “In Summation,” which serves as an epilogue to the album.

Lyrical Theme

“Clara Bow” serves as Taylor’s metaphorical mirror, reflecting the harsh reality of how women in the entertainment industry are conditioned to “replace each other.” Each verse introduces a prominent woman from a different generation, all subjected to the same demand: “Promise to be dazzling,” with the unspoken understanding that their value fades as their shine dims. The song offers a chilling reminder of fame’s fleeting nature, where glamour masks the fickleness of the spotlight.

Taylor also delves into her personal fear of being replaced, a theme she explored in earlier works like “Nothing New,” which she wrote in 2012 at the young age of 22. Speaking with Amazon Music, she revealed that the song was inspired by a mix of personal experiences in the industry, conversations with executives, and the relentless pressure to compete:

«I used to sit in record labels trying to get a record deal when I was a little kid. And they’d say, ‘You know, you remind us of’ and then they’d name an artist, and then they’d kind of say something disparaging about her, ‘But you’re this, you’re so much better in this way or that way.’ And that’s how we teach women to see themselves, as like you could be the new replacement for this woman who’s done something great before you. I picked women who have done great things in the past and have been these architypes of greatness in the entertainment industry. Clara Bow was the first ‘It Girl.’ Stevie Nicks is an icon and an incredible example for anyone who wants to write songs and make music.»

Taylor Swift

Clara Bow was a legend of her time and widely considered the original “It Girl.” While her appearance was a sure-fire way to get a film off the ground, her life was troubled. Taylor uses her paradigm to set the foundation for this song.

“You look like Clara Bow in this light
Remarkable
All your life, did you know
You’d be picked like a rose”

In the second verse, Taylor shifts her focus to Stevie Nicks. She reveals she got compared to the rock legend in her early days, especially looks-wise. It is in this verse that she establishes how the practice of comparing new artists to someone older and more established has also affected her own life.

“You look like Stevie Nicks
In ’75, the hair and lips
Crowd goes wild at her fingertips
Half moonshine, a full eclipse”

In the final verse, she points a finger at herself. Over the years, there had been much speculation as to which artist Taylor thought was primed to take her spot. She does not answer the question, but the verse is a harsh reminder that no one is immune from becoming overshadowed.

“You look like Taylor Swift
In this light
We’re loving it.
You’ve got edge she never did,
The future’s bright
…Dazzling”

Reaction by Clara Bow's Family

Clara Bow died in 1965 at the age of 60. Prior to the release of TORTURED POETS, the family of actress Clara Bow said they hoped the song would encapsulate her legacy. Bow’s great-granddaughter, Nicole Sisneros, said her family was shocked and fascinated by the track. Another granddaughter of Bow, Brittany Grace Bell, said she wishes for Taylor to display Bow positively, highlighting that both women were “pioneers in their field”. After the song’s release, Bow’s family praised it, describing it as “hauntingly beautiful” and praising the lyrics, “This town is fake but you’re the real thing.” Bell additionally stated that she feels Bow would have supported Taylor had she lived to know of her. Clara Bow biographer David Stenn praised the song as well, describing the lyrics, “Beauty is a beast that roars down on all fours” as “poetry” and “profound.”

Live Performance

“Clara Bow” received its first live performance on June 30, 2024, during one of Taylor’s show on “The Eras Tour” (2023-2024). She mashed it up with “The Lucky One” (2012). Legendary singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks attended the concert that night. She is mentioned in the lyrics to “Clara Bow” and also contributed a poem to THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. Before playing the song, Taylor said:

«The reason I want to play this tonight is because a friend of mine is here who is watching the show who has really been one of the reasons why I, or any female artist, get to do what we get to do. She’s built the way for us. And she’s mentored so many artists that, you don’t even know she’s doing it, she’s just become friends with so many female artists just to be a guiding hand. I can’t tell you how rare that is. She’s a hero of mine and also someone that I could tell her any secret and she’d never tell anybody. She’s really helped me through so much over the years. I’m talking about Stevie Nicks. So I’m going to play 'Clara Bow' for the first time for her!»

Taylor Swift

Afterwards, Taylor played “You’re On Your Own, Kid” (2022) on piano. It is Stevie Nicks’ favorite Taylor song because it helped her grieve the death of her close friend Christine McVie. On August 1, 2024, Taylor paired “Clara Bow” with “mirrorball” (2020) in Warsaw.

Critical Reception

Critics applauded the track for Taylor’s vulnerability, lyricism, and depiction of fame and beauty. Maria Sherman of The Associated Press said “Clara Bow” is one of the greatest album closing tracks from Taylor. Samantha Olsen of Cosmopolitan placed it third on her top five ranking of its parent album, highlighting its emotional sentiments. Billboard‘s Jason Lipshutz praised the song for its production, dubbing it “careful pop rock” and highlighting its self-referential outro (“You look like Taylor Swift”) and depiction of beauty. Dakota West Foss from Sputnikmusic commented that “Clara Bow” ended the album “with intriguing and, more importantly, genuine self-reflection that examines the weight of her crown”. Beats Per Minute‘s John Wohlmacher similarly said “Clara Bow” is one of Taylor’s best songs, attributing it to its “gorgeous melody and urgent pre-chorus”.

Commercial Performance

When THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT was released, “Clara Bow” debuted at its peak of No. 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In Australia, the song reached No. 20 on the ARIA Singles Chart and made Taylor the artist with the most entries in a single week with 29. Elsewhere, “Clara Bow” opened and peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard Global 200 and charted within the 25 in New Zealand (22), Singapore (22), and Canada (23).

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
“You look like Clara Bow in this light
Remarkable
All your life, did you know
You’d be picked like a rose”

[Pre-Chorus 1]
“I’m not trying to exaggerate
But I think I might die if it happened
Die if it happened to me
No one in my small town thought
I’d see the lights of Manhattan”

[Chorus 1]
“This town is fake but
You’re the real thing
Breath of fresh air through smoke rings
Take the glory, give everything
Promise to be dazzling”

[Verse 2]
“You look like Stevie Nicks
In ’75, the hair and lips
Crowd goes wild at her fingertips
Half moonshine, a full еclipse”

[Pre-Chorus 2]
“I’m not trying to exaggeratе
But I think I might die if I made it,
Die if I made it
No one in my small town
Thought I’d meet these suits in L.A.
They all wanna say…”

[Chorus 2]
“This town is fake but
You’re the real thing
Breath of fresh air through smoke rings
Take the glory, give everything
Promise to be dazzling”

[Chorus 3]
“The crown is stained but you’re the real queen
Flesh and blood amongst war machines
You’re the new god we’re worshipping
Promise to be…dazzling”

[Bridge]
Beauty is a beast that roars
Down on all fours
Demanding “more”
Only when your girlish glow
Flickers just so
Do they let you know
It’s hell on earth to be heavenly
Them’s the breaks
They don’t come gently

[Outro]
“You look like Taylor Swift
In this light
We’re loving it.
You’ve got edge she never did,
The future’s bright
…Dazzling.”