I normally don’t do music video reviews, but this one really caught my eye and so I thought I’d take a stab at it. Taylor Swift is at the peak of her career, and it’s hard to go a day without seeing her on a magazine cover or hearing her on the radio. Her personal life is an apparently messy open book, but she’s taken those relationships and turned them into multiple platinum-selling, grammy-winning albums, so it’s a little hard to feel too bad for her. Her latest album, RED has already topped all the charts, and its newest single, 22, is the epitome of pop fun.
Does anyone rock the glasses better?
The first thing that visually makes the video so interesting is the use of the square crop on the frame. The framing definitely takes advantage of all the close ups of Taylor and somehow manages to feel intimate in midst of all the craziness in the video. The rounded corners on the square frame definitely make what would be an otherwise harsh crop into something that is reminiscent of “Instagram”. The muted tonal filter over the video also gives it that “Instagram” look but manages to be subtle enough that it doesn’t feel gimmicky. All the cinematography and editing choices, including faster cuts, close ups, slow motion, soft lighting, and softer color palette all make this video more of a fun conversation than anything else. Famed music video director Anthony Mandler’s influence is obvious, but I give him kudos for making this music video as fun and light-hearted as the song it brings to life.
The video itself showcases Taylor and her real-life friends (including Gossip Girl’s Jessica Sozhr) in a variety of locations, in a variety of outfits, having their own brand of 22-year old fun. Taylor rocks a number of different looks, from a bowler hat, to “hipster glasses”, to high-waisted shorts, to a pair of sparkling cat ears. Perhaps the best of all is her hair. After years of the curls that defined her, the bangs and straight hair look gorgeous on her. In the midst of all these wardrobe change is what seems like a girl’s night out; eating cake in the kitchen, lounging on the beach, dancing in the yard, and partying at night. It’s refreshing to see her take a break from the plot-driven, exaggerated videos to something thats fun, full of spunk, and actually embodies the spirit of the song instead of trying to act it out literally. It’s hard not to have a smile on your face when singing along.
Twenty-two
As for the song, I think it’s one of the best off the RED album. Taylor has obviously hit the point of no return in terms of the country to pop transition, but she has handled it with grace. Bringing on more writers to help her out was a great decision and it definitely shows in 22. The chorus is insanely catchy and for once, the song isn’t about her boy-troubles. The lyrics are simple, conversational, easy to learn, and most importantly, recognize the fun in youth. With all the flak she gets in the media, it’s easy to forget she’s just a 22 (23?) year old girl. As embarrassing as it is to admit as a 20-year old guy, I love this song and I guarantee this will climb the charts in not time. With a great video to boot, it’s hard not to fall in love with Taylor Swift.
Cinescape Score: * * * * 1/2 (4.5/5)
The Cinescape 