Pop singer Taylor Swift says that her upcoming song “Only the Young” was a response to her disappointment that Republicans took important seats in her home state of Tennessee in the 2018 midterm elections. She hopes her new music will encourage young people to fight for left-wing causes.
“Only the Young” will be released along with the Netflix documentary “Miss Americana,” on Jan. 31.
Swift told Variety recently about her new song and her political activism, which involved getting behind certain Democratic candidates in Tennessee.
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“When you’re saying that certain people can be kicked out of a restaurant because of who they love or how they identify, & these are actual policies that certain politicians vocally stand behind, & they disguise them as family values, that is sinister” https://t.co/yFDkSwnf4q
— Variety (@Variety) January 22, 2020
Swift Criticizes Conservative Politicians
Swift also criticized conservative politicians during the interview, describing their beliefs as “sinister” and “so dark.” The singer specifically criticized GOP politicians for their position on policies like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
“When you’re saying that certain people can be kicked out of a restaurant because of who they love or how they identify, and these are actual policies that certain politicians vocally stand behind, and they disguise them as family values, that is sinister. So, so dark,” the singer said.
‘I was really upset about Tennessee going the way that it did’
Swift said she wrote “Only the Young” because she was upset after the 2018 elections.
“I was really upset about Tennessee going the way that it did, obviously. And so I just wanted to write a song about it,” Swift told Variety. “I didn’t know where it would end up. But I did think that it would be better for it to come out at a time that it could maybe hopefully stoke some fires politically and maybe engage younger people to form their own views, break away from the pack, and not feel like they need to vote exactly the same way that people in their town are voting.”
Variety reported that Swift’s new song is played during the ending credits of the Netflix documentary.
“You did all that you could do / The game was rigged, the ref got tricked / The wrong ones think they’re right / We were outnumbered — this time,” reads the song lyrics, referencing the 2018 midterms.
Not everyone shares her sentiments.
Policies that have made America more prosperous for more people of more backgrounds than ever before in the history of America?
Try again, girlfriend.
Taylor Swift Hopes Her New Music Can ‘Stoke Fires Politically’ Against ‘Sinister’ Republican Policies https://t.co/4e8FlN4XjM
— Jill Warren (@JillWar628) January 22, 2020
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Conservatives Have a Voice, Too
Swift said “Only the Young” probably won’t be released as a single.
“I don’t see it as a single,” Swift said. “I just see it as a song that goes with this film. I don’t see it as a ‘let’s go make a music video and try to see what this does at radio’ single.”
For many years, Swift did not talk about her political beliefs. Now she uses her large platform to support the Democratic party and to bash conservatives.
Well, conservatives can use their voices, too–and not buy any more music or anything else from Taylor Swift.