Reviewed by Ramona Prioleau

Directed by Taylor Swift and Drew Kirsch, the music video for Swift’s single “You Need to Calm Down” features Swift and many of her friends as they go about their life at a colorful trailer park. The video mirrors the song’s message to those who would choose to attack or belittle others for their sexuality — namely, that those people need to calm the hell down. It’s a beautifully colored video with stunning pops of pastels and neon, and the many celebrity cameos ensure that there’s always something onscreen for viewers to love.

While the music video is noble in its intention, the execution of its ideas leaves a little bit to be desired. The black-and-white manner in which the protesters are depicted is a bit short-sighted, and some have read Swift’s video as fairly performative.

Either way though, like “Bad Blood” before it, the real fun of “You Need to Calm Down” comes with the celebrity cameos. The list is endless—Giuseppe Giofrè, Dexter Mayfield, Hannah Hart, Laverne Cox, singer Chester Lockhart, Todrick Hall, Hayley Kiyoko, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Justin Mikita, Ciara, Queer Eye’s Fab Five, Adam Rippon, Adam Lambert, Ellen DeGeneres, Billy Porter, RuPaul, Katy Perry and Ryan Reynolds all make appearances—and watching and re-watching the video to see where your favorites pop up is one of the reasons the video made such waves.

“You Need to Calm Down” also marks the beginning of the next stage of Taylor’s career, one dominated by the vibrant primary colors and the lighter feeling found on the entire “Lover” album. The “You Need to Calm Down” music video marks a distinct departure from the “Reputation” era then, and it’s worth a watch to see that change. M

September 2019