A softer, more contemplative album than ‘Prioritise Pleasure', ‘A Complicated Woman’, seems to be a response to her previous collection of songs. Rather than focusing on the present, it reflects on what happened within that album and takes a more passive and introspective stance.
Taylor begins ‘A Complicated Woman’ with her well known spoken word style. ‘I Do And I Don't Care’ is the contradictory name of the opener, exploring the confusion of conforming to society as a woman, whilst speaking out against these expectations. This soft, slow beginning sets the premise of the album; questions arising such as “If I'm so empowered why am I such a coward?” and “If I'm so strong why am I so broken?”. Taylor explores both the conflicts and the empowerment that comes with being an ‘outspoken’ woman in society.
Whilst the opening track is about confusion, the soaring strings and Taylor's powerful voice in ‘Focus Is Power' brings empowerment to the fore. Taylor hypes up the women listening with lines such as “I deserve to be here”, reflecting on the expectations of womanhood, whilst simultaneously rejecting them and crawling “back up like an animal” when she falls. Taylor backs up her rejection of these expectations with her own strength and self-belief.
The music continues to swell, becoming one of the danciest tunes of the album, as Taylor continues to spurn gender roles in ‘Mother’, already a favourite following its performances on recent tours. Taylor commands attention, stating, “I recommend listening” - a simple sentence yet one of the most important in the album, as it subverts the belief that men take precedence over women that often causes women to be unheard, summarizing the whole premise of ‘A Complicated Woman’.
The album explores many facets of female sexuality, including the perseverance needed to push against patriarchal societal norms or beliefs and the sense of being ‘claimed’ by others, as well as feeling fundamentally broken as a woman. ‘Lies’ explores consent and how many women often feel like it's “easier” or safer to just say yes and that they're “fine”. Taylor includes herself in this passive and “lazy” way of dealing with the situation, begging the listener to not just listen but to “fucking hear me”. It shows her pure passion, a bold statement in the current fight for female bodily autonomy. It links directly to her next song ‘69’ which contrasts by focusing purely on female desire and pleasure.
In the final two songs, ‘What Now’ and ‘The Deep Blue’ Taylor accepts her achievements, whilst acknowledging her fear of the future as she can “feel [herself] turning [her] hopes and dreams into a memory”, expressing that she's already achieved them. Though this album is similar in style to ‘Prioritise Pleasure’, it feels like the end of a chapter. It will be interesting to see where Self Esteem takes us next!
Ultimately, ‘A Complicated Woman’ ebbs and flows with honest relatability - well worth a deeper listen.
