Bad Blood (Taylor's Version)

In episode 133 of the Taylor Swift fan podcast "13," hosts Anna Zabo and Amy Nichols delve into the pop culture significance of Swift's hit song "Bad Blood," exploring its connection to the 1989 era and its iconic music video. They discuss its collaborative creation with Max Martin and Shellback, the speculated feud and eventual reconciliation between Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, and the song's Grammy-winning impact. Additionally, they touch on the star-studded music video, featuring celebrities like Selena Gomez and Kendrick Lamar, and its record-breaking viewership. The episode is a deep dive into the song's backstory, its role in Swift's career, and its lasting legacy in pop music history.

• "Bad Blood" is a Taylor Swift fan podcast episode.
• Hosts Anna and Amy discuss Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" song, its creation, and its cultural impact.
• They touch upon the collaboration between Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback.
• The song's iconic music video and its association with the 1989 era are highlighted.
• Ed Sheeran's opinion on the song and its potential as a lead single is mentioned.
• The backstory involving Taylor Swift and Katy Perry's relationship is explored in detail.

yay networks 13 has been my lucky number for a while like it's always a sign of good things to come for me this is 13 a Taylor Swift fan podcast breaking down every song every Easter egg every era and every Theory hosted by the biggest swifties Nick Adams Anna Zabo Amy Nichols and Lacy G.

This quote introduces the podcast and its focus on Taylor Swift's work, indicating it's a detailed and passionate analysis by fans.

• Taylor Swift's song "Bad Blood" was written in collaboration with Max Martin and Shellback.
• The hosts express their admiration for the collaboration.
• "Bad Blood" is characterized as an iconic moment in Taylor Swift's pop career.

um yes so welcome to another Anna and Amy production um we're going to be talking about the song Bad Blood Taylor's version written by Taylor Swift Max Martin and shellback yes great collaboration.

This quote introduces the main topic of the podcast episode, highlighting the creators of the song "Bad Blood."

• "Bad Blood" is deeply rooted in the 1989 era of Taylor Swift's career.
• The music video and the "girl squad" concept are emblematic of this time.
• Ed Sheeran's input on the song as a potential lead single is discussed.
• The hosts speculate on the decision-making process behind choosing singles and music videos.

and it is just so Dee rooted in 1989 era like when you we'll get into it like the music video the girl squad era just like every everything of it is just so 1989 era so Ed Sheeran heard this song when it was a demo before it was all uh detailed out.

This quote emphasizes the deep connection of "Bad Blood" to the 1989 era and its cultural relevance.

• "Bad Blood" is associated with the falling out between Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.
• The hosts have prepared a timeline detailing the friendship, conflict, and reconciliation between the two artists.
• Taylor Swift's interviews provide insight into the song's meaning and the non-romantic nature of the heartbreak it addresses.
• Katy Perry's response to speculation about the song's subject is mentioned.

okay so bad blood for I feel like the average person you know if you're not like a DieHard Swifty or even if you're just a casual Swifty whatever when you think D when you think bad blood you probably think. Katy Perry.

This quote sets the stage for the discussion on the personal conflict that inspired "Bad Blood," which many believe involves Katy Perry.

• Taylor Swift's interviews with Yahoo Live and Rolling Stone are analyzed.
• Swift's desire for friendship and the subsequent betrayal she experienced are described.
• The hosts emphasize that the song is not about a romantic relationship but a business-related conflict.
• The importance of not naming specific individuals in the song's narrative is discussed.

so she didn't like name names but she did say that it was you know about a female friend.

This quote highlights Taylor Swift's approach to addressing the inspiration behind "Bad Blood" without directly naming individuals.

• Katy Perry's tweet is seen as a confirmation of her being the subject of "Bad Blood."
• Taylor Swift's strategic avoidance of naming Katy Perry while allowing the public to speculate is discussed.
• The hosts reflect on Taylor Swift's handling of the situation and the public narrative.

so when that interview came out even though Taylor didn't say specifically Katy Perry people kind of started putting one and two together and started speculating. oh she's probably talking about Katy Perry and then when Katy Perry tweeted that it was kind of confirmation I guess you could say

This quote discusses the public's reaction to the interviews and Katy Perry's tweet, which led to widespread speculation about the song's subject.

• Taylor Swift values the portrayal of friendship loss in her music.
• She emphasizes the emotional impact of losing a friend, which can be as significant as a romantic breakup.
• Swift's non-confrontational nature and her desire to avoid conflict are mentioned.

it's not a song about heartbreak it's it's about the loss of friendship she said so I don't need. oh she say so I don't necessarily care who people think it's about I just needed to divert them away from the easiest Target listen to the song It Doesn't point to any one person or any one situation.

This quote conveys Taylor Swift's stance on the song "Bad Blood" and its thematic focus on the pain of losing a friendship, rather than a romantic relationship.

• Katy Perry attended a Kanye West concert in October 2016 and recorded herself during a controversial line in Kanye's song.
• This act was seen as further intensifying the existing tension between Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.
• The line in question from Kanye's song was a point of contention between Taylor Swift and Kanye West.

"Katy Perry was actually at a Kanye West concert... and she recorded herself dancing and singing during that line in the song famous."

This quote describes Katy Perry's actions at the concert, which were perceived as provocative given her and Taylor Swift's strained relationship, especially since it related to a dispute between Taylor Swift and Kanye West.

• Katy Perry released a fragrance called "Mad Love" in 2016.
• The name of the fragrance could be interpreted as a subtle dig in the ongoing feud with Taylor Swift.

"And also in 2016, Katy Perry had a fragrance called mad love."

The quote mentions the release of Perry's fragrance, which may have been a play on words relating to her and Taylor Swift's tumultuous relationship.

• In May 2017, Katy Perry discussed her album "Witness" in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
• She was asked if the album contained a response to Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood."
• Perry stated that the album was empowering and not about any one person in particular.
• She emphasized the importance of unity among women and the consequences of actions.

"The record is very empowered but she said there is no one thing that's calling out any one person."

This quote clarifies that Katy Perry's album "Witness" was not targeting anyone specifically, despite public speculation about a response to Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood."

• Katy Perry appeared on "Late Night with James Corden" for a "Carpool Karaoke" segment in 2017.
• She addressed the feud with Taylor Swift and confirmed the issue stemmed from a dispute over backup dancers.
• Perry expressed her desire to end the feud and mentioned the concept of karma.

"Honestly, it's really like she started it. It's time for her to finish it."

This quote from Katy Perry during the "Carpool Karaoke" segment indicates her perspective on the origin of the feud with Taylor Swift and her willingness to conclude it.

• Taylor Swift made her entire music catalog available on Spotify the same day Katy Perry's album "Witness" was released.
• The timing was seen by many as a petty move in the ongoing feud between the two artists.

"Taylor made her entire catalog available on Spotify the same day that Katy Perry's witness album came out."

The quote highlights the strategic timing of Taylor Swift's decision to release her music on Spotify, coinciding with Katy Perry's album launch, which many interpreted as a spiteful action.

• Taylor Swift's song "Look What You Made Me Do" from her "Reputation" album contained potential references to Katy Perry.
• Fans speculated that certain lyrics and music video scenes alluded to Perry.
• The song was part of a broader narrative involving Taylor Swift's public disputes.

"There were references in look what you made me do that fans speculated pointed to Katy Perry."

This quote indicates that fans believed Taylor Swift's song contained hidden messages or references aimed at Katy Perry, contributing to the narrative of their feud.

• In 2018, Katy Perry sent Taylor Swift an actual olive branch, symbolizing a gesture of peace.
• Taylor Swift acknowledged the gesture publicly, indicating a reconciliation between the two artists.
• Katy Perry later discussed their improved relationship on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, attributing the past issues to a misunderstanding.

"Katy Perry sent Taylor an olive branch a literal Olive Branch... This means so much to me."

This quote from Taylor Swift acknowledges the receipt of an olive branch from Katy Perry, which was a public display of their mending relationship.

• Katy Perry and Taylor Swift publicly reconciled, as evidenced by social media posts and public appearances.
• Perry was featured in Taylor Swift's music video for "You Need to Calm Down."
• Both artists used their platforms to set an example of forgiveness and moving forward.

"Katy Perry talked about their reconciliation on Instagram... Peace at Last written in the frosting and captioned it feels so good."

The quote refers to Katy Perry's Instagram post that celebrated the reconciliation with Taylor Swift, emphasizing the positive outcome of their previously strained relationship.

• Taylor Swift and Katy Perry had a publicized feud that was resolved through communication and understanding.
• Taylor discussed in Rolling Stone how she and Katy had miscommunications in the past, not specifically with each other, and related it to their zodiac signs.
• Katy Perry's acceptance of a gift from Taylor for her daughter symbolized the end of their feud.
• Katy Perry attending Taylor Swift's tour and singing "Bad Blood" represented full-circle reconciliation.
• The resolution before the release of "Taylor's Version" prevented the reignition of past drama.
• The importance of forgiveness and addressing misunderstandings in both personal and professional contexts is highlighted.

"Taylor talked about it in Rolling Stone which is very very full circle because this was also her first like Rolling Stone feature."

This quote references Taylor Swift's interview in Rolling Stone, which was significant as it was her first feature in the magazine and it played a role in addressing past conflicts.

"Katy Perry had her daughter with Orlando Bloom and Taylor sent her a gift it was the pastel pink silk blanket um."

The gift from Taylor to Katy symbolizes the mending of their relationship and the personal growth both have experienced.

"Katy Perry went to the AAS tour. yes M. yeah. she was singing Bad Blood."

Katy Perry attending Taylor Swift's tour and engaging with the song "Bad Blood" is a symbolic gesture showing that their past issues have been resolved.

"Both said it was a misunderstanding we both talked it out. everything's good."

This quote emphasizes the power of communication in resolving conflicts and misunderstandings between individuals.

• "Bad Blood" was a significant success, winning awards and breaking viewership records.
• The song and its music video symbolize overcoming betrayal and conflict.
• The music video featured numerous celebrities and had a strong cultural impact with its themes and visuals.
• The collaboration with Kendrick Lamar and the involvement of many celebrities added to the song's reach and acclaim.

"Bad Blood was nominated for best pop Duo group performance and won best music video at the 58th annual Grammy Awards in 2016."

This quote highlights the critical acclaim and success of "Bad Blood" at the Grammy Awards.

"The music video for Bad Blood received eight nominations and won two video of the Year and best collaboration."

The accolades received by the "Bad Blood" music video at the MTV Music Awards underline its cultural impact and popularity.

"It has 1.6 billion views on YouTube... it broke the record um in its first day 20.1 million views and it unseed Nicki Minaj's Anaconda."

The quote provides statistics that demonstrate the massive viewership and record-breaking success of the "Bad Blood" music video.

• The "Bad Blood" music video featured a star-studded cast with unique and memorable character names.
• Each celebrity's character name in the video was reflective of their persona or a playful take on their real name or traits.
• The discussion of what their own fighter names would be adds a personal and humorous touch to the conversation.

"Taylor herself her name is catastrophe which I think is great cuz it's like cat."

This quote explains the pun involved in Taylor Swift's character name in the music video, linking to her known affection for cats.

"Selena's character's name was arson."

The character names were creatively chosen to fit the video's theme of powerful and edgy personas.

"Cara deling mother chucker I wonder if they got to choose their own I think they did."

The speculation about whether celebrities chose their own character names suggests a level of personal involvement in the video's creative process.

• The speakers ponder whether Taylor Swift looks back on her past work, such as "Bad Blood," with any embarrassment or regret.
• They discuss how relationships and friendships can change over time, which might affect how one views past collaborations.
• The conversation touches on the evolution of an artist and the natural process of reflecting on one's earlier career phases.

"Do you think Taylor ever has moments like that like especially as she's like revisiting her old work as she reclaims it all do you think there's anything that she's like. oh my God why did I do that"

This quote questions whether artists like Taylor Swift experience regret or embarrassment when looking back on their previous work, especially during the process of re-recording older albums.

"A lot of these relationships have fallen out so I think that's probably one thing you're like you know we're not friends. anymore."

The quote reflects on how changes in personal relationships can influence one's perspective on past work and collaborations.

"It's been a while since I've seen her hang out with Haley Steinfeld or you know other people."

This statement acknowledges the dynamic nature of friendships and associations within the entertainment industry, which can shift over time.

• Fans capture their reactions during concerts, which can become memorable, especially when unexpected events occur.
• Concertgoers may not always understand what's happening in real-time, leading to confusion and concern.
• A specific incident at a Taylor Swift concert involved a security guard pushing too hard on a fan, prompting Taylor to intervene, which was both alarming and memorable for fans.

"So I remember when that happened people online were like you know talking about being at the show and just not knowing what was happening you know like was something like yes something was wrong because there was a security guard that was kind of pushing too hard on a fan but people were like like not not knowing what's going on and just hearing Taylor be like hey stop like that's got to be scary."

This quote reflects the confusion and concern fans felt when witnessing a security incident during a concert, highlighting the importance of context and clarity in such situations.

• Fans often add their own elements to concerts, such as chants, which can enhance the live experience.
• The chant from Kendrick Lamar's section of "Bad Blood" has become a fan-favorite moment during concerts.
• Some newer fans may not know the origin of certain chants or traditions, leading to misunderstandings about their source.

"I feel like you know there's some parts in the arist tour where the fans are adding stuff. and I think they're starting to add the security guard getting on to the security guard are they not. oh like as like a chant."

This quote discusses how fans contribute to the concert atmosphere by creating chants, in this case, one related to a security guard incident, demonstrating the dynamic and participatory nature of fan culture.

• Being put on the spot to recall lyrics can be challenging, even for dedicated fans.
• The fear of forgetting lyrics under pressure is a common concern among fans.
• The experience of being unable to perform a rap section on live radio illustrates the difficulty of spontaneous lyric recollection.

"My biggest fear is a finish the lyric game because even though I listen to Taylor Swift all day every day if she you know if the song is on like. yeah of course you know the lyrics and like everything but my biggest fear is just being put on the spot in a finish the lyric game and this happened on the radio on the morning show I was put on the spot for finish the lyric and to start playing bad blood."

This quote conveys the speaker's anxiety about being asked to recall lyrics on the spot, a fear that many fans can relate to, emphasizing the pressure of live performance situations.

• Taylor Swift's directorial evolution is noted, as she now directs her own music videos after initially working with directors like Joseph Kahn.
• The discussion includes a reference to the "hidden messages" in Taylor's earlier albums, where capitalized letters in the lyric booklets would spell out sentences, providing additional insights into the songs.

"He's the one who directed um this mini film of amazing video. yes he's directed a number of tailor um now she kind of directs her own which I love which love great you know she needed him in the beginning. and now she don't."

This quote acknowledges Joseph Kahn's role in directing Taylor Swift's music videos and notes her growth into directing her own work, illustrating her development as a multifaceted artist.

• The podcast hosts discuss an upcoming event called "Swifties in the Park," which is a celebration of Taylor Swift's new album.
• The event will feature a live podcast, giveaways, games, and a market for fans with small businesses to participate as vendors.
• The event is designed to be inclusive and family-friendly, encouraging a broad community of fans to come together.

"We are going to celebrate the tortured poets Department we are doing an event that we're very excited about called swifties in the park very exciting and it's going to happen April 27th."

This quote introduces the "Swifties in the Park" event, detailing its purpose and the various activities planned, showcasing the sense of community and celebration within the Taylor Swift fan base.

• The podcast hosts promote their new website and encourage listeners to subscribe and interact with them on social media.
• They express a willingness to engage with their audience, inviting questions and feedback about the podcast and the upcoming event.

"Subscribe to the podcast anywhere you usually do that follow us on social media at the 13 podcast um let us know if you have any questions about our swifties in the Park event you can also email us there's like a million ways to contact us."

This quote is a call to action for listeners to engage with the podcast through various platforms, emphasizing the hosts' desire for interaction and community involvement.