We don’t endorse hotel room mayhem, Taylor Nation 😉
(Source: Universal Studios)
Chill, it’s a joke. I’ve made no secret that I don’t endorse the film Fifty Shades Darker, as you’ve probably already read. The song “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” by Zayn and Taylor Swift doesn’t really break any new (holy) ground musically. The music video, however – which no doubt was directly influenced by the atmosphere of the film – ended having its own momentum. I was curious what direction (seriously no pun intended) it was going to go.
Zayn plays himself – or a version of himself, arriving at a hotel that has obviously forgot to pay the bill to the electric power company. Fortunately he has the flashes of the paparazzi to guide his way in. By the time he gets into the elevator I half expected him to bring out his cellphone to light the way. And yes, I’m being half sarcastic and half funny because most of the video is in half darkness, but it’s not really a bad video.
Taylor coalesces out of the dark, dressed in lingerie but donning a coat which accomplishes two things that a vampy femme dreams of: she’s both classy and sexy. She hints at the lingerie but never quite takes the coat off all the way. Taylor plays both the seduced and the seductress, keeping an even playing field with Zayn’s brooding. Actually I breathed a sight of relief at that, as I kinda dreaded any power game that would emulate the movie. It’s not that I’m being a prude, it’s just that I’d rather Taylor not take the submissive nor the bitch role. There’s no extended story, it’s just two lovers and some light hotel room trashing. Let’s just go to the video, shall we?
The following post may be for mature audiences only, Taylor Nation.
Here at the Swift Agency, just a guy who could use a new calendar from the Taylor Swift store, we’re usually all in to support Taylor Swift’s music. However, in case I haven’t make it abundantly clear, I do tend to voice my opinion on the things I’d rather not endorse. The Sparkly Dressed has attached her name before to things like diet soda and cosmetics. She’s been known to write songs like “Today Was A Fairytale”, “Sweeter Than Fiction” and “Safe in Sound” for movies of different genres. Yes, I know there’s more. These are just examples 🙂 And then, there’s Fifty Shades Darker.
For the record, I don’t have a problem with consenting adults engaging into BDSM roleplay or live the lifestyle out loud. Yes, that’s what Fifty Shades Darker is about. “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” which is the single by Zayn and Taylor, is in that movie’s soundtrack. Show of hands, how many people here expected I’d be explaining BDSM in a Taylor Swift blog? I assure you I’m as surprised as you are. At the same time, I don’t want to dance around the subject. So, here we go. Ahem. I got this. I think.
You probably know the idea of roleplay from dressing up at comic convention or playing video games in which you play as a character such as a wizard or knight. But BDSM (which stands for Bondage Domination Sado-Masochism) is when adults roleplay with the illusion of control. In other words, they pretend in the bedroom for the sake of fun (as in sex, but sometimes more than that) to a degree that one person gives up their freedom (temporarily and with safety measures and limits) to the other. Not the best explanation, but the important thing is this happens between consenting adults. There’s a reason I keep highlighting that word. The problem I have with 50 Shades Of Grey and the books and movies that followed it, is that consent is sometimes not given or the character who has the privilege of taking the domination role (Christian Grey) often abuses it. Abuse is not romantic. Any relationship, even one with a BDSM theme, requires trust and abuse is not part of that equation.
From the outside looking in, it just looks like a movie with some erotic sex, but it’s problematic. So, sound the alarm? Well, you’d be too late. It’s hard to find something that is not problematic. The soda industry and the cosmetics industry have been known to take decisions that were not always health-conscious. I know it sounds like I’m trying to be apologetic of Taylor’s choices. I am not. I am saying that even if Taylor’s name is attached to the PR machine for this movie through its soundtrack, you can choose to watch something else.
I didn’t start drinking Diet Coke when the soda promoted Taylor Swift’s 1989 Tour, yet I went to a concert. I am not subscribing to Apple Music because of Taylor’s ads and I can enjoy the ads. I didn’t see One Man just because “Sweeter than Fiction” was in the soundtrack. I did however went to see Valentine’s Day because Taylor was in it. I did love her performance, but I wouldn’t recommend that movie. The music industry is another facet of entertainment, so movies and music are often sold together. You can’t really turn off your mind as a fan when it comes to the media. So, rather than making an exception because it’s Taylor Swift, remember than following your favorite artist doesn’t mean you need to consume every products that are associated to her brand. Instead, I would advise you use the same criteria to choose something regardless of who endorses it.
That also means you could just get the song and forget about the movie, while we’re at it. I know most people will go with that one and I could just lead off with that and leave out everything else. I just tend to go further than most people and overanalyze everything (bet you haven’t noticed that).
In other words, use your mind. Form your own opinion. Right or wrong, it’s yours to make.
Next up, I get blocked by Taylor Nation. Or perhaps they’ll let me go with a warning again. 😉
