Taylor Swift’s latest album ‘The Life of a Show Girl’ has already stirred up plenty of buzz since its midnight release, with the Internet collectively crashing Spotify and fans diving into the tracks for hidden meanings.
Let’s talk about that one song, ‘Actually Romantic.’ While its title suggests a love story, the lyrics appear to tell a different tale, may be a pointed battle that fans are speculating could be aimed at Charli XCX.
Why this could be a diss track?
‘Actually Romantic’ opens with a cryptic yet pointed message that immediately stands out as more than just a sweet serenade. Swift sings about a person who has spent an unusual amount of time talking about her but not in the usual sweet way.
Lyrics like, ‘High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me. Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face,’ indicate some underlying tension with someone in Swift’s orbit.
While Swift doesn’t name names, fans believe this could be a subtle, yet sharp response to someone who’s been vocal about their opinions on her.
Many fans are pointing fingers at Charli XCX, who has had her own public experiences with Swift’s past relationships. The speculation starts from Charli’s 2024 track “Sympathy is a Knife,” where she sings, “Don’t wanna see her backstage at my boyfriend’s show.
Fingers crossed behind my back. I hope they break up real quick.” This is widely believed to reference Charli’s feelings towards Swift’s brief but highly-publicised romance with Matty Healy, frontman of The 1975 and Charli’s now-husband, George Daniel.
While this might sound like drama between two pop icons, it is important to note that both Swift and Charli XCX have previously shared public admiration for each other. However, the tension hinted in their lyrics may suggest there’s more to the story than meets the eye.
Full lyrics
I heard you call me “Boring Barbie” when the coke’s got you brave
High-fived my ex and then you said you’re glad he ghosted me
Wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face
Some people might be offended
But it’s actually sweet
All the time you’ve spent on me
It’s honestly wild
All the effort you’ve put in
It’s actually romantic
I really gotta hand it to you, ooh
No man has ever loved me like you do
Hadn’t thought of you in a long time
But you keep sending me funny valentines
And I know you think it comes off vicious
But it’s precious, adorable
Like a toy Chihuahua barking at me from a tiny purse
That’s how much it hurts
How many times has your boyfriend said
“Why are we always talking ’bout her?”
It’s actually sweet
All the time you’ve spent on me
It’s honestly wild
All the effort you’ve put in
It’s actually romantic
I really gotta hand it to you, ooh
No man has ever loved me like you do
You think I’m tacky, baby
Stop talking dirty to me
It sounded nasty, but it
Feels like you’re flirting with me
I mind my business, God’s my witness that I don’t provoke it
It’s kind of making me wet (Oh)
‘Cause it’s actually sweet
All the time you’ve spent on me
It’s honestly lovely
All the effort you’ve put in
It’s actually romantic
Really got to hand it to you, to you
No man has ever loved me like you do
It’s actually romantic (You’ve just given me so much attention; la-la-la-la)
It’s actually romantic
(It’s so) Romantic