r/NuancingTaylorSwift • u/Sampleswift • 10h ago
Discussion Anyone else really like Patient Zero?
Anyone else really like Patient Zero?
I really like Patient Zero. I think it has many callbacks to songs like “Is It Over Now” (with the infidelity scene ("And when you saw another woman coming out of his place
I bet he kissed the rain off your face" and the relationship falling apart because of it) and “All Too Well 10 Minute Version” (especially with the “And you thought it's 'cause he loves you/But it's 'cause he loves how everybody else loves him (Uh-huh). I know it seems like he shines so bright/But he's bathing in your reflected light” section) which seems to be a great callback to “A never-needy ever-lovely jewel, whose shine reflects on you”.
The partying with someone who may know about the devil on his shoulder may refer to “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve where “And I damn sure never would've danced with the devil”. In both cases, Taylor has gone through a traumatic relationship experience, and is advising someone else (Dakota’s character? The public? One of Taylor’s friends) not to go through something similar. This theme would reoccur later in the lines “Take it from someone who said all of this to his face/Someone who knows she's more than just the chase/Someone who had him and walked away.”.
Taylor Swift is great at alluding to previous sections of her discography to make it more of a unified whole. While some people have criticized this as “Star Wars Callbacks” (like how Star Wars calls back to itself often), I like how Taylor self-references or at least makes it easy to cross-reference her discography. A unified whole is a good idea. The music video is top-notch, and all the death and murder imagery seems to call back to "No Body No Crime" or "My Tears Ricochet". The choreography is also one of the best for the music videos. There are also the piano and acoustic versions, both of which (hot take) are better than the original version.
5
u/asseeste 10h ago
It’s not my favourite song from the encore, but I really love the production. The music video made me appreciate it more!
5
4
u/Vectors2_Final 10h ago
I love it, but as soon as that acoustic hit iTunes I let it rip. Didn't wanna wait for streaming 😅
3
u/Economy_Safety5738 8h ago
IG is FULL of posts loving Patient Zero - speaking so loudly to the enormous number of women who have dated narcissists or known someone who has (or their therapists). This seems to be in fact one of TS's most important somgs/actually most important songs in terms of social impact.
2
2
1
1
1
-5
u/ummkay_ultra 10h ago
I think it's one of her worst songs, honestly.
2
u/ecwasocat 9h ago
What don’t you like about it?
-1
u/ummkay_ultra 9h ago
It's lazy, it's overly simple musically and lyrically. It sounds very rushed and not well thought out. It's extremely repetitive even for a pop song, take a look at the sheet music for a simple illustration. It's kind of just the same note over and over. Some of the lyrics are so clunky, like "when the toxins take their hold" like what? That's just bad writing.
"The devil on his shoulder under his halo"
A devil on one shoulder implies an angel on the other. That's a very old trope we all know very well, the halo part is unnecessary and just there to make things rhyme. Again, it's bad writing.
"Kissed the rain off your face" is trying too hard to sound poetic but it isn't, it comes off as pretentious. She should have just said "tears off your face." This is pretty common throughout the lyrics.
The talking part, come on....
I could go on like this, there's no point. I can't stand this song.
2
u/Code-Coffee-995 JE SUIS CALME! 1h ago
Upvoted because this is a nuanced opinion of the song, you shouldn't be downvoted for having an opinion
1
u/ummkay_ultra 1h ago
Agreed lol. I own some of her albums on vinyl, I was streaming reputation in my car earlier today...I just think this song is extremely overhyped.
1
u/ecwasocat 8h ago
Oof fair enough. On the other hand, do you have a favorite Taylor song that you feel the opposite way about?
2
u/ummkay_ultra 4h ago
She has tons of good songs. I mean, it's Taylor Swift.
1
u/ecwasocat 4h ago
That’s not really what I asked, but yes her overall discography is quite excellent. Interesting to hear different perspectives
9
u/Money-Beautiful5196 Folklore 10h ago
Yes, I really like it as well. It’s such a good song and I really like the music video as well.