You look like my next mistake meaning

Source: Blank Space

Speaker: Taylor Swift

You look like my next mistake.

Context

This line is from the song "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift, from the album 1989 (2014).

When this song replaced Taylor's "Shake It Off" in the number one slot, she made Billboard history by dethroning herself. Pretty sweet, for a song that's kind of a joke.

Well, maybe it's not a joke joke, but Taylor is definitely making fun of her reputation as the high-maintenance serial dater. When she sings the line, "You look like my next mistake," she's poking fun at the media's perception that she traipses from one doomed relationship to another.

If the song itself doesn't make it clear that Taylor is kidding around with this one, then the over-the-top music video sure does.

Where you've heard it

We figure there's a very good chance that you saw one of your friends or frenemies post this one. Seriously, just search it on Tumblr to see how many people posted a variation of this line. It's out of control. The haters gonna hate, but Taylor seems to have struck a nerve with this line. She's not the only one who's taken the first step into a relationship, knowing it was doomed.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

What could possibly be pretentious about making fun of yourself in front of the whole world?

Relationships in “Blank Space,” “All of Me,” and Romeo and Juliet

Taylor Swift’s Blank Space and John Legend’s All of Me intertwine with Romeo and Juliet because of the different types of relationships that go on throughout the play. In All of Me, Legend professes his love for a woman and is very sincere. He makes it evident that he has found true love. While Romeo conversely conveys behavior that makes it seem as though he is disingenuous, it prevents him from putting his heart into the game of love. In Blank Space, Swift talks about how she bounces from guy to guy and has trouble securing long term relationships. Romeo is similar to the country pop star in that aspect, as he too is unable to remain attached to one girl for a long time. In addition, Swift and Romeo’s inability to maintain successful long term relationships comes with scrutiny from both friends and the media. It is clear that both individuals want to find true love, but unlike Taylor Swift, it is difficult to conclude what Romeo’s true intentions are.

While good relationships are quite hard to comeby, John Legend appears to have mastered true love. He wrote a song to epitomize what a loving relationship is, meanwhile Romeo was still in love with Rosaline the same day he met Juliet. In the song, Legend writes: “Give your all to me, I’ll give my all to you, You’re my end and my beginning, Even when I lose, I’m winning,” implying that both people in a relationship should love each other equally, and that each person should work just as hard to please the other. Legend poured his heart and soul into the lyrics of this song, proclaiming his strong feelings for his wife. He is committed to this relationship and is willing to do whatever it takes to make it successful. On the other hand, once Romeo finally meets Juliet, he convinces himself that this too is true love. In his own way, Romeo shows that he truly cares about Juliet, because while not vocalized, Romeo indicates that he would like to get married to his beloved so that they can stay together forever. In previous scenes of this love story, it seems as though Romeo fell head over heels for any girl that he encountered, but in this scene, that image that he portrayed changed. Juliet suddenly made him alter his ways. “What satisfaction canst thou have tonight? Th’ exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.” (2.2.133–134) Romeo tries to exhibit that his obsession for Juliet is different than the love he had for Rosaline. Now Romeo is ready and able to have a mature and serious relationship, despite the fact that it may be based purely off of looks. He is not just a young boy falling in love at first sight, it is more than that. Once again, completely contrary to Romeo, John sings “even when you’re crying you’re beautiful too.” Legend is judging his wife on what’s inside, not on her looks. This is the first time Romeo has ever admitted that looks may contribute to how his heart feels.

Ah, Juliet, if the measure of thy joy,
Be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more,
To blazon it, then sweeten with thy breath,
This neighbor air, and let rich music’s tongue,
Unfold the imagined happiness that both,
Receive in either by this dear encounter. (2.6.24–29)

Romeo is really set to go through with the marriage and secure his relationship with Juliet. Even though their families are enemies, Romeo believes he loves Juliet enough to get married. As John sings “You’re my downfall, you’re my muse, I can’t stop singing, it’s ringing in my head for you.” The artist can’t stop thinking about his wife and she is taking up all of his thoughts. She is his entire world. This is what happens in a healthy relationship. It should not be a revolving door of women as has been Romeo’s past. Meeting Juliet is the first time we see Romeo thinking like a grown man.

Taylor Swift, like Romeo, is much more comfortable playing the field than playing house. Swift’s dating past is very checkered. It ranges from a few months to brief flames. She continues to find difficulty in dating a guy for an extended period of time. “Oh my God, look at that face, you look like my next mistake,” She already knows, by looking at him, that this relationship will not end well. Again, like Romeo, her interest in the opposite gender is based on looks, not on character. Taylor is someone who keeps finding herself in tough situations where love doesn’t last. For Romeo, he is still young, therefore, the decisions that he made, while questionable, are understandable. During the argument between Tybalt and Mercutio, Romeo is trying to be the bigger person and break it up. Unfortunately, he is too late and Mercutio gets killed. This leads to to Romeo losing his temper, attacking Tybalt, and killing him.

Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain!
Away to heaven, respective lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. —
Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again,
That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul,
Is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company.
Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. (3.1.127–134)

This is evidence that Romeo is still very immature and not ready to be a husband. He can’t control his emotions and doesn’t recognize his mistakes until after they have occurred. As Taylor sings “Boys only want love if it’s torture.” After killing Tybalt, Romeo torments Juliet emotionally. She is so conflicted, and does not know whether to side with her dead cousin or her new husband. After Romeo’s banishment, Juliet continues to be tortured inside her head and heart.

Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?
Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name
When I, thy three-hours wife, have mangled it?
But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin?
That villain cousin would have killed my husband. (3.2.106–111)

At least Taylor’s “mistake” only left a scar, not a dead body.

Romeo could have learned quite a bit from both artists. The qualities of a good relationship from John Legend and what not to do in love from Taylor Swift. Though Juliet brought out the best in Romeo when she was with him, it just wasn’t enough. The relationship was too new to deal with all the obstacles that were thrown their way which brought on their tragic end. You get the feeling from John Legend’s music that he and his wife will grow old together. Taylor Swift is still looking for true love. Regardless of how it comes across, everyone is looking for love, it just depends if you’re lucky enough to find it.

Works Cited

“All of Me Lyrics.” Genius, 14 Nov. 2017, genius.com/John-legend-all-of-me-lyrics. Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.

“Blank Space Lyrics.” Genius, 14 Nov. 2017, genius.com/Taylor-swift-blank-space-lyrics. Accessed 14 Nov. 2017.

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Edited by Barbara A. Mowat and Paul Werstine, Updated ed., New York, NY, Simon and Schuster, 2011.

Abstract

The main idea of Romeo and Juliet is usually love and love at first sight. My thoughts were to think of a song or artist that centers their songs around those such topics. Taylor Swift is the ideal one. All her songs are based on previous relationships that usually went awald or there were some little kinks that ruined it from fully functioning. I thought it related perfectly to the play and the way Romeo and Juliet’s relationship worked out. First, I started looking at the entire 1989 album before the two of us agreed that just choosing one song would be more effective. I initially had a problem with comparing the lyrics of the songs and scenes in the play too literally. Once that issue was resolved, I needed to find a song that contrasted the song of choice, Blank Space. The song that symbolized a good relationship was All of Me by John Legend. I found that there were better examples of Romeo looking like he was going to treat Juliet right then there were examples of him being bad. This came as a surprise to me as I was expecting there to be more negative situations. It is all important because it helps me to really understand the intense complexity of Romeo and Juliet.

What is the theme of blank space?

What is the meaning of blank space?

When did the song blank space come out?