Taylor Swift has yet another interview in a major magazine – earlier today, I already covered some early excerpts from her Rolling Stone piece too, and now here she is in Esquire. You would think that Esquire speaking to Swifty would be 10 kinds of wrong, considering that Esquire’s target audience is probably “men in their 30s or 40s, who listen to jazz or classic rock.” Basically, the Esquire audience would probably want nothing to do with Swifty’s sparkle-pony routine in any way, shape or form. But the piece is actually half-decent, mostly because Swifty and the interviewer have a decent rapport, and there are some good quotes that come out of it. You can read the full piece here, but I’m including the whole thing anyway (it’s short and breezy):
ESQUIRE: How’s it feel to be named a Woman We Love?
TAYLOR SWIFT: That made me so happy when I heard that. That’s awesome.
ESQ: We should celebrate by talking about your new album (Red, out October 22).
TS: It’s a sonic departure from what I did on my last album. So I’m so excited that people really embraced the sound of the first single [“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”].
ESQ: That title’s a bit long, don’t you think?
TS: We had lots and lots of discussions about what to call this song. For me, from the time I wrote it, it was always “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.”
ESQ: It certainly seems more final and authoritative this way.
TS: It’s very final, it’s very aggressive, and it’s not subtle.
ESQ: And you didn’t use parentheses, which I appreciate.
TS: People don’t know what to say when there are parentheses.
ESQ: This was your first time topping the Billboard Hot 100, right?
TS: Yeah, to have that happen was a serious jumping-up-and-down-screaming moment for me. I didn’t want to peak at 18.
ESQ: Are you worried about peaking at 22?
TS: I’m always worried about everything. Like spiders. Right now, I’m worried about that.
ESQ: Do you worry what you’ll do when you run out of breakups to write about?
TS: This is breaking news, but there are a few happy songs on this album. I do explore the emotion every once in a while. I’d like to think you don’t stop being creative once you get happy. My ultimate goal is to end up being happy. Most of the time.
ESQ: I’m not your typical fan, but I do like this first song. It’s catchy.
TS: Yay! We brainwashed you!
ESQ: What about you? Do you ever read Esquire?
TS: Yeah. You guys are really cool and slick. Sharp, even.
ESQ: Do you like peaty, smoky Scotch? We’re doing something on that this month.
TS: I don’t drink much alcohol. If it doesn’t taste like candy or sparkles, I usually don’t drink it.
ESQ: Few things taste less like candy and sparkles.
TS: Wine sometimes, because it makes me feel classy, but not Scotch. Not yet.
ESQ: Do you think this interview will get more stylish men to come to your shows?
TS: I would love that. I love the suspenders and plaid pants and whatever. Hair that’s combed.
ESQ: That sounds about right. Do you ever get tired of being sweet?
TS: When I am talking to people who I feel don’t like me or are mean, I get really shy and I kind of curl up personality-wise.
ESQ: And you can always write a song.
TS: Yeah, run and hide, cower for a second, process, then write a song about it.
ESQ: Which is a pretty great “I win.”
TS: It’s a fun move to pull. I like it.
ESQ: Do you ever warn boyfriends that they could end up in a song?
TS: No. If they stick around, then great, they’re kind of like signing a release form.
ESQ: Seems fair to me.
“If it doesn’t taste like candy or sparkles, I usually don’t drink it.” What do sparkles taste like? I imagine they taste gritty. Right? And Swifty made me laugh with this – “I’m always worried about everything. Like spiders. Right now, I’m worried about that.” That’s just a funny way to answer the question, I think. As for this – “If they stick around, then great, they’re kind of like signing a release form”… oh, Swifty. Girl, you wrong.
And I seriously can’t believe Esquire made Swifty one of their “Women We Love”. Esquire is desperately trying to skew younger, but this is not the way to do it.
Photos courtesy of Esquire, WENN.
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