Mad Woman Explained

Mad Woman
Artist:Taylor Swift
Album:Folklore
Studio:Long Pond (Hudson Valley)
Label:Republic
Producer:Aaron Dessner

"Mad Woman" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). The song was written by Swift and its producer, Aaron Dessner. "Mad Woman" is a ballad that confronts gaslighting and the sexist taboo regarding women's anger.

Inspired by Swift's masters dispute with American businessman Scooter Braun in 2019, "Mad Woman" incorporates satire and a witch hunt trope, depicting an old widow scorned by her town. Critics appreciated the song's restrained feminist message, which they contrasted to that of the humor in Swift's 2019 song "The Man" and the vengeful tone of "Look What You Made Me Do" (2017). "Mad Woman" peaked at number 47 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and in the top 40 of single charts in Australia, Canada, and Singapore. In April 2023, Swift performed "Mad Woman" for the first time as a "surprise song" with Dessner on her sixth headlining concert tour, the Eras Tour.[1]

Background and release

Taylor Swift surprise-released her eighth studio album, Folklore, on July 24, 2020, through Republic Records.[2] The album eschews the upbeat pop production of Swift's previous three releases and adapts indie folk and alternative styles, brought about by collaborations with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff.[3] [4] Dessner has sole production credits on ten tracks, including "Mad Woman". Like most tracks that Dessner produced for Folklore, "Mad Woman" was developed on "melodic and emotional" piano tunes.[5] Swift described Dessner's piano and string sounds as "ominous", which prompted her to write and sing about "female rage"—a theme she thought would complement with the production. In the primer that preceded the album's release, Swift teased imageries of various tracks, with "Mad Woman" being about "a misfit widow getting gleeful revenge on the town that cast her out."[6]

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in December 2020, Swift implied that the song was inspired by the events that followed her public 2019 dispute with talent manager Scooter Braun, who purchased the masters of her back catalog after she signed a new recording contract.[7] Though Swift never explicitly name-checked Braun, in the documentary , she spoke to Dessner about "Mad Woman": "... I was thinking the most rage-provoking element of being a female is the gaslighting. There have been instances of this recently with someone who is very guilty of this in my life, and it's a person who tries to make me feel like I'm the offender by having any kind of defense. I feel like I have no right to respond, or I'm crazy, or I'm angry. How do I say why this feels so bad?"[8]

Composition and lyrics

"Mad Woman" incorporates a prominent piano, which NME Hannah Mylrea found reminiscent of the National's 2019 album I Am Easy to Find.[9] Lyrically, critics interpreted the song as Swift's critique of sexism, dealing with the social taboo regarding female anger.[10] She addresses gender double standards through lines such as, "You poke that bear til the claws come out / And you find something to wrap your noose around."[11] [12] The lyric "And women like hunting witches too" evokes imagery of a witch hunt, such as those described in Swift's 2017 track "I Did Something Bad".[13] Publications interpreted this part as Swift's response to the reactions from other women against her following the masters dispute.[14]

Entertainment Weekly commented that the song reflected the social perception of female anger: "if a woman is emotional or angry, she gets labeled as 'crazy' ", especially through the lyrics "And there's nothing like a mad woman / What a shame she went mad / No one likes a mad woman / You made her like that." The magazine also compared the message of "Mad Woman" to that of "The Man", Swift's previous single from her 2019 album Lover: "Both songs tackle the ways in which women are defined, but where 'The Man' is broad in its complaints, 'Mad Woman' is more specific. Where 'The Man' is cheeky, 'Mad Woman' is dark, cynical, and angry."[15]

Critical reception

The song was met with critical acclaim from music critics. In the Dallas Observer, Alexandra Lang complimented Swift for singing about social issues in "Mad Woman", writing: "The contrast of the softer melody with the biting lyrics illustrates the fine line that women are expected to tread with their emotions. Swift may have grown up, but she’s showing her ability to use her music to criticize systemic social issues — not just an ex-boyfriend."[16] Slant Magazine Eric Mason felt that "Mad Woman", while a good song message-wise, lacks the sophistication that other Folklore songs display.[17] Some media publications drew parallels between the song's narrative to that of Daenerys Targaryen's character arc in Game of Thrones, in which Targaryen is a powerful female character who goes "crazy" for the throne and has another female character as her greatest enemy.[18] [19] [20]

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone said that "Mad Woman" sharpens the feminist rage of "The Man" (2019).[21] The Sydney Morning Herald critic Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen opined that "Mad Woman" depicts the "feeling of expectations falling away" with Swift dropping the first-ever F-bomb "in her decade-plus career", which she interpreted as, despite the soft texture of Folklore, Swift is "developing her own steel".[22] Maura Johnston of Entertainment Weekly termed the song is an "extra hell-borne dread" with Swift's swirling vocals and an anchoring piano.[23] According to The Independent critic Roisin O'Connor, "Mad Woman" continues Swift's "vengeful streak", but unlike "Look What You Made Me Do" (2017), her anger "now doesn't sound so brittle", comparing the character to a witch from William Shakespeare's Macbeth.[24] New Statesman critic Anna Leszkiewicz defined "Mad Woman" as an "a melancholic ballad juxtaposed with lyrics that brim with ire", acknowledging the "sublimated rage of women who swallow their anger to avoid appearing 'mad' in both senses."[25]

Credits and personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[26]

Charts

Year-end chart

Chart (2020)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[28] 46

Notes and References

  1. Iasimone . Ashley . 2023-04-14 . All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed on The Eras Tour (So Far) . 2023-04-16 . Billboard . en-US . March 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230319011405/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs/ . live .
  2. News: Lucky No.7: Taylor Swift nabs 7th No.1 album with 'folklore'. Mesfin. Fekadu. The Washington Post. August 3, 2020. March 13, 2021. July 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210705233009/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/lucky-no7-taylor-swift-nabs-7th-no1-album-with-folklore/2020/08/03/88bb1638-d592-11ea-a788-2ce86ce81129_story.html. live.
  3. Web site: The Story Behind Every Song on Taylor Swift's folklore. Brady. Gerber. July 27, 2020. Vulture. February 21, 2021. July 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200728234347/https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/taylor-swift-folklore-aaron-dessner-breaks-down-every-song.html. live.
  4. Grein. Paul. August 4, 2020. Will the Grammys Classify Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' as Pop or Alternative?. May 15, 2021. Billboard.
  5. The National musician discusses charting new musical ground with the pop star as she embraces the stories and mythos of the American folk tradition. Jon. Blistein. Rolling Stone. July 24, 2020. March 30, 2021. July 29, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200729093538/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/aaron-dessner-taylor-swift-interview-folklore-1033870/. live.
  6. July 24, 2020. 'It Started With Imagery': Read Taylor Swift's Primer For 'Folklore'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724184421/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9423740/read-taylor-swift-primer-folklore. July 24, 2020. July 25, 2020. Billboard.
  7. Suskind . Alex . Taylor Swift broke all her rules with Folklore — and gave herself a much-needed escape . 30 March 2021 . . March 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210312063543/https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-entertainers-of-the-year-2020/ . live .
  8. Web site: 5 Things We Learned Watching Taylor Swift's Surprise New Folklore Documentary. Liam. Hess. Vogue. November 26, 2020. March 30, 2021. January 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210123151804/https://www.vogue.com/article/taylor-swift-folklore-documentary-5-things-we-learned. live.
  9. Web site: Taylor Swift – 'Folklore' review: pop superstar undergoes an extraordinary indie-folk makeover. Hannah. Mylrea. July 24, 2020. NME. March 30, 2021. March 27, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210327125250/https://www.nme.com/reviews/taylor-swift-folklore-album-review-2713965. live.
  10. Web site: On folklore: the long pond sessions, Taylor Swift wants us to stop reading between the lines. Sarah. Carson. i. November 26, 2020. March 30, 2021. March 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210318103036/https://inews.co.uk/culture/television/taylor-swift-folklore-long-pond-sessions-disney-plus-review-joe-alwyn-jack-antonoff-new-film-773962. live.
  11. Web site: Taylor Swift, Folklore, review: a dazzling, timeless surprise album. Sarah. Carson. July 24, 2020. i. March 30, 2021. July 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724041853/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-folklore-review-dazzling-timeless-surprise-new-eighth-album-folk-cardigan-lyrics-561733. live.
  12. Web site: Has Taylor Swift just dropped the perfect album?. John. Smith. Glamour. July 24, 2020. March 30, 2021. January 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121155810/https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/taylor-swift-new-album-folklore-review-2020. live.
  13. Let's Break Down Taylor Swift's Tender New Album Folklore. Raisa. Bruner. Time. July 24, 2020. March 30, 2021. July 31, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200731135229/https://time.com/5871159/taylor-swift-folklore-explained/. live.
  14. Web site: All The Hidden Meanings Behind Taylor Swift's 'Mad Woman' Lyrics. Kelsey. Stiegman. Seventeen. July 24, 2020. March 30, 2021. March 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210321004248/https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/music/a33415661/taylor-swift-folklore-mad-woman-lyrics/. live.
  15. Taylor Swift's 'Mad Woman' picks up where 'The Man' left off. Lauren. Huff. Entertainment Weekly. July 24, 2020. March 30, 2021. December 9, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201209164331/https://ew.com/music/taylor-swift-mad-woman/. live.
  16. Web site: The Songs from Taylor Swift's folklore, Ranked. August 6, 2020. Dallas Observer. Alexandra. Lang. March 30, 2021. March 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210328085300/https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/all-16-songs-on-taylor-swifts-album-folklore-ranked-11933018. live.
  17. Web site: Every Song on Taylor Swift's Folklore Ranked. Slant Magazine. Eric. Mason. September 12, 2020. March 30, 2021. January 29, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210129052225/https://www.slantmagazine.com/lists/every-song-on-taylor-swift-folklore-ranked/. live.
  18. Web site: Taylor Swift's 'Mad Woman' Is About Daenerys Targaryen. Cosmopolitan. Leah Marilla. Thomas. July 24, 2020. March 30, 2021. December 27, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201227112351/https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/music/a33415222/taylor-swift-mad-woman-daenerys-targaryen/. live.
  19. Web site: Fans Are Convinced This New Taylor Swift Song Is About Daenerys Targaryen. 2021-06-12. Elite Daily. July 28, 2020 . June 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210612102702/https://www.elitedaily.com/p/is-taylor-swifts-mad-woman-about-daenerys-targaryen-this-theory-is-a-lot-30091171. live.
  20. Web site: I'm Convinced Taylor Swift's Song 'Mad Woman' Is Actually About Daenerys Targaryen. live. 2021-06-12. Yahoo! News. July 24, 2020 . Delish. June 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210612103022/https://news.yahoo.com/m-convinced-taylor-swift-song-191100391.html.
  21. Sheffield. Rob. 2020-07-24. Taylor Swift Leaves Her Comfort Zones Behind on the Head-Spinning, Heartbreaking 'Folklore'. 2021-06-08. Rolling Stone.
  22. Web site: Nguyen. Giselle Au-Nhien. 2020-07-24. Taylor Swift's new album is a fever dream you won't want to wake up from. 2021-06-08. The Sydney Morning Herald. July 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724073328/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/taylor-swift-s-new-album-is-a-fever-dream-you-won-t-want-to-wake-up-from-20200724-p55f4s.html. live.
  23. Web site: Taylor Swift forges her own path on the confident 'Folklore'. 2021-06-08. EW.com. July 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724213311/https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/taylor-swift-folklore-review/. live.
  24. Web site: 2020-07-25. Taylor Swift's eighth album Folklore is exquisite, piano-based poetry – review. 2021-06-08. The Independent. July 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200724070730/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-folklore-review-lyrics-album-stream-jack-antonoff-aaron-dessner-a9635496.html. live.
  25. News: Leiszkiewicz. Anna. Folklore reveals a more introspective side to Taylor Swift. live. June 6, 2021. New Statesman. June 10, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210610113412/https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/music-theatre/2020/07/folklore-taylor-swift-new-album-review-lyrics-cardigan.
  26. Folklore. Taylor Swift. 2020. booklet. Republic Records. B003271102.
  27. Web site: RIAS International Top Charts Week 31. Recording Industry Association (Singapore). https://web.archive.org/web/20200805124940/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/. August 5, 2020.
  28. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020. Billboard. January 2, 2013. December 4, 2020. January 11, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111060621/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/hot-rock-songs. live.

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