Clara Bow (song) explained

Clara Bow
Artist:Taylor Swift
Album:The Tortured Poets Department
Studio:Long Pond (New York)
Genre:Pop rock
Label:Republic
Producer:
  • Taylor Swift
  • Aaron Dessner

"Clara Bow" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). The track was named after the silent-film actress Clara Bow. Swift and Aaron Dessner wrote and produced the track, which was inspired by Swift's conversations with record label executives. A folk-leaning pop rock track, it comments on Swift's fame.

Critics, as well as Bow's family, applauded the track for Swift's vulnerability, lyricism, and depiction of fame and beauty. The song peaked at number 22 of the Billboard Global 200 and reached the top 25 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States. On June 30, 2024, Swift performed "Clara Bow" as part of a mashup with her song "The Lucky One" (2012) at the Dublin stop of her Eras Tour (2023–2024).[1]

Music and lyrics

The song is a guitar-driven pop rock[2] ballad, containing Swift's commentary on women in the industry being taught to "replace each other". Swift has said that it was inspired by her conversations with record label executives, saying, "...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.'"[3] It contains lyrical references to actress Clara Bow and singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. Explaining her the namedrops, Swift said that she "picked women who have done great things in the past and have been these archetypes of greatness in the entertainment industry. 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."[4] The song also illustrates Swift's fear of being replaced by another person in the entertainment industry.[5]

Reactions and reception

Prior to the album release, the family of actress Clara Bow, whom the track is named after, 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. Sisneros added that Swift's team had not contacted the family prior. Another granddaughter of Bow, Brittany Grace Bell, said she wishes for Swift to display Bow positively, highlighting that Bow and Swift were "pioneers in their field".[6] 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've supported Swift had she lived to know of her.[7] Clara Bow biographer David Stenn also praised Swift's song, describing the lyrics "beauty is a beast that roars down on all fours" as "poetry" and "profound."[8]

In a positive review, Maria Sherman of The Associated Press said "Clara Bow" is one of the greatest album closing tracks from Swift. Reviewing the song's ending, Sherman interprets it as Swift's self-criticism and awareness.[9] Samantha Olsen of Cosmopolitan placed it third on her top five ranking of its parent album,[10] highlighting its emotional sentiments. Billboard 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.[2] 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".[11] Beats Per Minute's John Wohlmacher similarly said "Clara Bow" is one of Swift's best songs, attributing it to its "gorgeous melody and urgent pre-chorus".[12] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stones said the track is "an ode to a tragic 1920s movie star, which is definitely Stevie’s kind of thing."[13]

Commercial performance

When The Tortured Poets Department was released, "Clara Bow" debuted at its peak of number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100. In Australia, the song reached number 20 on the ARIA Singles Chart and made Swift the artist with the most entries in a single week with 29.[14] Elsewhere, "Clara Bow" opened and peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Global 200 and charted within the 25 in New Zealand (22), Singapore (22), and Canada (23).

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 20
France (SNEP)[16] 191
Greece International (IFPI)[17] 48
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[18] 22
Singapore (RIAS)[19] 22
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[20] 78
Swiss Streaming (Schweizer Hitparade)[21] 60
UK Streaming (OCC)[22] 26

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Smith . Katie Louise . June 30, 2024 . Every Surprise Song Performed on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour So Far . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240701112020/https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/taylor-swift/eras-tour-surprise-songs-setlist/ . July 1, 2024 . July 1, 2024 . Capital FM.
  2. Lipshutz . Jason . April 19, 2024 . Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department: All 31 Tracks Ranked . April 22, 2024 . . April 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420200628/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-the-tortured-poets-department-tracks-ranked/ . live .
  3. News: Brow . Jason . Taylor Swift Says 'Clara Bow' is a Commentary on How Women are Taught to 'Replace' Each Other . April 22, 2024 . . April 22, 2024 . April 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422161742/https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/taylor-swift-shares-clara-bow-song-meaning-from-ttpd/ . live .
  4. Lampen . Claire . Craighead . Olivia . Tortured Poets Department: All the Lyrics, Conspiracies, and Easter Eggs . 20 July 2024 . The Cut . 22 April 2024.
  5. News: McRedmond . Finn . Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department track by track review – A manifesto for all the believers who will try at love one more time . 13 August 2024 . The Irish Times . 19 April 2024.
  6. News: Walsh . Savannah . Revisiting Clara Bow, the Scrutinized "It Girl" Who Inspired Taylor Swift's New Song . April 17, 2024 . . April 12, 2024 . April 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422014727/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/revisiting-clara-bow-the-scrutinized-it-girl-who-inspired-taylor-swifts-new-song . live .
  7. News: Crosbie . Eve . Clara Bow's family thinks the silent-film star would have loved Taylor Swift's song about her . April 22, 2024 . Business Insider . April 19, 2024 . April 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422152444/https://www.businessinsider.com/clara-bow-family-reaction-taylor-swift-song-tortured-poets-department-2024-4 . live .
  8. News: Mazza . Julia . April 19, 2024 . Clara Bow Expert Unpacks Taylor Swift's 'Profound' Allegory . live . The Daily Beast . May 9, 2024 . May 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508142703/https://www.thedailybeast.com/clara-bow-expert-unpacks-taylor-swifts-profound-allegory .
  9. News: Sherman . Maria . Music Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is great sad pop, meditative theater . 19 April 2024 . Associated Press . 19 April 2024 . April 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240422093825/https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-review-b24d2275df5cf78ffa9069c61b9825ec . live .
  10. News: Olson . Samantha . 20 April 2024 . The 5 Best Songs From Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department, Ranked . April 20, 2024 . . April 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240420122433/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/g60547848/taylor-swift-the-tortured-poets-department-best-songs/ . live .
  11. Web site: The Tortured Poets Department (Anthology) by Taylor Swift Review. Sputnikmusic. Foss. Dakota West. April 22, 2024. April 23, 2024. May 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509104454/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/88490/Taylor-Swift-The-Tortured-Poets-Department-Anthology/. live.
  12. Web site: Wohlmacher . John . Album review: Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department . Beats Per Minute . 14 May 2024 . 23 April 2024.
  13. News: Sheffield . Rob . Come for the torture, stay for the poetry: This might be Taylor Swift's most personal album yet . 7 August 2024 . Rolling Stones.
  14. News: Gbogbo . Mawunyo . April 29, 2024 . Taylor Swift's New Album The Tortured Poets Department Smashes Chart Records in the US, UK and Australia . 2024-05-10 . . en-AU . May 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510010807/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-29/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-charts-uk-billboard-aria/103779382 . live .
  15. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 29, 2024. April 26, 2024. May 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509103914/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2024-04-29. live.
  16. Web site: Top Singles (Week 16, 2024). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. April 29, 2024. May 31, 2021. https://archive.today/20210531082745/https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?categorie=Top%20Singles. live.
  17. Web site: IFPI Charts . May 1, 2024 . www.ifpi.gr . May 1, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240501120745/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html . live .
  18. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. April 29, 2024. April 26, 2024. April 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426045359/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=5799. live.
  19. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 17 (19 - 25 Apr 2024). RIAS. April 30, 2024. April 30, 2024. https://archive.today/20240430081031/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/%231562208279186-bc1c8f89-4b1c.
  20. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 17. Sverigetopplistan. April 26, 2024. April 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426122136/https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41/?dspy=2024&dspp=17. live.
  21. Web site: Streaming Top 100. Schweizer Hitparade. May 15, 2024.
  22. Web site: Official Streaming Chart Top 100. Official Charts Company. April 26, 2024. May 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509095655/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/streaming-chart/20240426/7510/. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Clara Bow (song)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.