ME! is the sixteenth track and lead single of Taylor Swift's seventh album Lover. It was released on April 26, 2019. It features Brendon Urie from Panic at the Disco!
Meaning and Background
"As soon I thought of the chorus melody, and we were working on what it was going to be, I was like, 'This is definitely a duet because it feels like you would want both sides. It's about individuality and confidence in a relationship, like 'You're irreplaceable. I'm irreplaceable. Let's not be insecure about this.'"
- Taylor about ME![1]
Trivia
- The line "Hey kids, spelling is fun!" was removed from the song four months after release.
- Taylor and Brendon talked about the line during a livestream: "We wanted it to be something playful, we didn't want it to take itself too seriously at all. We didn't want anybody to be like 'Oh this is a very serious love song."
- The line "I know that I went psycho on the phone" was originally "I know I said some bullshit on the phone" and the line "I promise that you'll never find another like me" was originally "I tell you that you'll never find another like me".
Music Video
The video was released on April 26, 2019. It was directed by Dave Meyers.
Storyline
The video starts with a snake resolving into butterflies (symbolizing the end of reputation and start of her new album). Taylor and Brendon are then seen arguing in French, saying the following:
- Brendon
- Taylor
- Brendon
- Taylor
- Brendon
- Taylor
Taylor leaves the room and enters a hallway, looking sad. She then starts smiling and walks the hall, singing the first verse. Entering the lobby, a cloud formed like a snake tries to swallow her, but turns into dust. When she leaves the house, she's wearing a pastel suit. She dances with her backup dancers on the streets, also wearing pastel suits and holding bags. Meanwhile, Brendon is still in the room looking annoyed. He jumps out of the window while holding an umbrella. He lands next to Taylor, who's wearing a pink dress sitting on a rooftop. The dress turns into a pink waterfall. Brendon offers her flowers and a ring, but Taylor doesn't want them. He then gives her a kitten, which she happily accepts. Brendon opens his heart, revealed to be a kaleidoscope. Taylor and Brendon are then seen dancing on a heart-shaped stage with an angelband behind them. Fans are cheering and screaming for them. The scene then cuts to Taylor and Brendon wearing marching band uniforms with hundreds of pink-clothes back-up dancers. The video cuts to the sky where they are dancing on a floating window. Back on the streets, Brendon summons paint and Taylor also wears a dress melting into paint. Brendon holds an umbrella to protect them from the falling paint. The video ends with them leaving together.
Trivia
- Taylor met her third cat, Benjamin Button, as a kitten on set. She adopted him after finding out he didn't have a home yet.
- The video broke the record for most viewed Vevo video in 24 hours at the time.
- Fans could already find the album title in the video before it was officially confirmed.
- The video includes hints at a few other of Taylor's songs:
- Taylor tells Brandon "I can't talk to you when you're like this." This is a lyric from False God.
- Brendon tells Taylor "You need to calm down", a reference to Taylor's next single You Need to Calm Down.
- The scene where Brendon opens his heart and it's revealed to be a kaleidoscope, is a reference to the line "kaleidoscope of loud heartbeats under coats" from Welcome to New York.
- There's a picture of The Chicks in the video, a hint at their collab with Taylor for Soon You'll Get Better.
Lyrics
[Intro: Taylor Swift] |
Awards & Nominations
| Year | Organization | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | BreakTudo Awards | Boom Clip of the Year | Nominated |
| MTV Europe Music Awards | Best Video | Won | |
| MTV Video Music Awards | Best Collaboration | Nominated | |
| Best Visuel Effects | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Nominated | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards Japan | Best Female Video – International | Won | |
| People's Choice Awards | Music Video of the Year | Nominated | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Song by a Female Artist | Nominated | |
| Choice Pop Song | Nominated | ||
| 2020 | ASCAP Pop Music Awards | ASCAP Pop Award | Won |
| BMI Pop Awards | BMI Award | Won | |
| Dance Magazine Awards | Best Music Video | Won | |
| Hito Music Awards | Best Western Song | Won | |
| iHeartRadio Music Awards | Best Music Video | Nominated | |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Collaboration | Nominated |
Videos
References
- ↑ 10 Things We Learned From Taylor Swift And Brendon Urie's Instagram Live (buzzfeed.com) - https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanschocket2/10-things-we-learned-from-taylor-swift-and-brendon-uries/
