Is Taylor Swift's 'Actually Romantic' About Charli XCX? An Investigation

According to Swifties, The Life of a Showgirl shows Taylor Swift did not miss out on the so-called” diss track”on last summer season’s hit Charli XCX album, Brat

I put diss track in quotes, due to the fact that the 33-year-old British vocalist put out a PSA to fans that none of the album’s tunes(aside from “Von Dutch”)suit that classification. “They’re actually practically how it’s so complex being an artist, particularly a female artist, where you are pitted versus your peers and likewise anticipated to be friends with each and every single individual continuously, when if you’re not, you’re considered a bad feminist,” she stated in a TikTok video in May 2024, including, “That, to me is similar to, such an impractical expectation.”

She continued, “These tunes are sort of about how as a female, as an artist, some days you can feel on top of the world, some days you can feel incredibly insecure, other days you can feel extremely competitive. Often you can seem like actual garbage. And it’s truly psychological and it’s made complex to handle, and we’re not expected to speak about it, however these tunes do speak about it. And I’ll most likely chastised about it, however whatever, it’s truth.”

Following the release of BratSwift applauded Charli in a Vulture profile while making no reference of the track fueling fight reports, “Sympathy Is a Knife.”

Now, fans think she was conserving her ideas for The Life of a Showgirl. On October 1, the lyrics to “Actually Romantic” made their method online ahead of the album’s main release, and fans didn’t await verification before beginning to link the dots.

With all that being stated, is “Actually Romantic” about Charli XCX? Let’s talk about the correlations between their lyrics and past statements.

The title, “Actually Romantic”:

Right off the bat, the title of the track could be a reference to the Brat track, “Everything is romantic.”

Verse One & Chorus:

“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 in fact sweet/ All the time you’ve invested in me/ It’s truthfully wild/ All the effort you’ve put in/ It’s really romantic/ I truly got to commend you/ No male has actually ever liked me like you do”

In “Sympathy Is a Knife,” Charli XCX sings,”Do not wan na see her backstage at my partner’s programFingers crossed behind my back, I hope they separate fast.”

In case you’re puzzled, Taylor Swift had quick, yet extremely advertised relationship with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy throughout the summer season of 2023. At the very same time, Charli was currently in a longterm relationship with the band’s drummer, George Daniel, who is now her hubby. Charli is likewise buddies with Healy’s present future husband Gabriette, however that’s neither here nor there.

Here’s what Charli stated informed Vulture about”Sympathy Is a Knife”:” That tune has to do with me and my sensations and my stress and anxiety and the method my brain develops stories and stories in my head when I feel insecure and how I do not wish to remain in those circumstances physically when I feel insecurity.”

Verse Two:

“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 about her?”

Once again, this might reference the very first verse of SIAK:

“This one lady taps my insecurities/Don’t understand if it’s genuine or if I’m spiraling/One voice informs me that they laugh/ George states I’m simply paranoid/ Says he simply do not see it, he’s so ignorant I’m ashamed to have it, however require the compassion

Charlie attended to these lyrics straight in Vulturestating, “Sometimes I ‘d look onstage and resemble, Oh my God … I’m never ever going to play these spaces, ever. That made me feel envious. I informed Matty that. And George. They were both like, ‘Shut up. What are you speaking about?'”

For a lot more context, Swift carried out”Anti-Hero”live for the very first time throughout a surprise look at The 1975’s program in London back in January 2023 (prior to her relationship with Healy), which might be the minute Charli recommendations in her tune.

Verse Three:

You believe I’m ugly, infant?/ Stop cursing to me/ It sounded nasty however it seems like you’re flirting with me/ I mind my service, God’s my witness that I do not provoke it/ It’s type of making me damp”

While Charli XCX has actually never ever openly called Swift “ugly” as far as I’m conscious of, she did face reaction for her description of Swift’s audience after opening for the 2018 Track record trip, informing Pitchfork, “As an artist, it sort of seemed like I was getting up onstage and waving to five-year-olds.”

She later on asked forgiveness to disturb fans in a follow-up tweet.

What are the fans stating?

Unsurprisingly, fans are selecting sides. For the a lot of part, Charli XCX fans are declaring Swift “missed out on the point” of Charli’s tune, which faces her own insecurities and the sensations she forecasts onto an artist she considers as more effective than her.

Charli herself appeared to resolve this point in a remix of the track, that includes the brand-new line,”It’s a knife when you’re lastly on top …/ They wish to see you fall.” The brand-new tone of the tune recommends she’s beginning to associate with the topic of her jealousy following the success of Brat

Lots of Swifties think she’s entitled to feel some type of method about her previous openers’ switch-up. Another fan declares Charli “is worthy of every lashing” after posturing with a cutoff hand with sporting a “Charli XCX” relationship bracelet for that Vulture profile, which can be connected back to the Eras Tour of all of it …

There’s the arguments over who’s an even worse “woman’s lady,” which is a term that has actually been weaponized versus ladies for long enough, though that’s a discussion for another day. Obviously, some fans just feel captured in the center and would most likely like to be omitted from this narrative completely.

If all of this truly is what it appears like, I personally hope these 2 will ultimately work it out on the remix.