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Jan 2025
2h 27m

Snake Storytimes: Heartbreak Is The Nati...

The Snakes & Studio71
About this episode

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This week, we’re taking on Rob Sheffield’s Heartbreak is the National Anthem—a book that claims to capture Taylor Swift’s impact on pop music but left us wondering… who was this even for? We dive into Sheffield’s overly personal (and often baffling) writing style, his lack of critical analysis, and the way his close access to Taylor might have muddied the waters of journalistic integrity. Along the way, we explore Taylor’s songwriting, the myths surrounding her high school days, her emotional connection with fans, and the cultural reset of 1989. From Easter eggs to gendered language and the nuances of her influence, we unpack what makes Taylor’s legacy so rich—and why this book doesn’t quite do it justice. Let’s just say we’ve got notes.


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