"While not explicitly referencing Swift (or really a "diss track," at that), the song captures Charli XCX expressing her anxiety towards an unnamed woman, singing "This one girl taps my insecurities" and later "Don't want to see her backstage at my boyfriend's show/ Fingers crossed behind my back, I hope they break up quick." The latter line particularly signals a reference to Swift: Charli's now-husband is The 1975's George Daniel, and Swift and 1975 singer Matty Healy were rumored to be dating back in 2023."
"Now, on "Actually Romantic," Swift has responded: "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" go the first lines of the song, likely referencing Charli and Healy's friendship with "high-fived my ex." Swift continues, singing "You wrote me a song saying it makes you sick to see my face/ Some people might be offended/ But it's actually sweet.""
The Life of a Showgirl includes the track "Actually Romantic," in which Taylor Swift appears to respond to Charli XCX. Charli released an acclaimed album last year featuring "Sympathy is a knife," with lines about an unnamed woman and backstage comments that suggested a reference to Swift. Swift's lyrics call out being labeled "Boring Barbie," mention "High-fived my ex," and quote a song that "makes you sick to see my face," then turn the attention into a chorus echoing Charli's "Everything is romantic." Swift also sings the explicit line "It's kind of making me wet." Charli opened for Swift on the 2018 Reputation Tour and later reflected on that experience in a Pitchfork interview.
Read at Consequence
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