In the last year, I realized that I wasn’t the same person I was with everyone. For example; when around friends, I put up a different front than I do with my family. I noticed I tend to “alter” my personality to appeal to the people I am around and become who they want me to be in hopes of them liking me. So, when Taylor Swift’s “mirrorball” was released, I related to it on a personal note.
The song is about Taylor’s self-imposed obligation to change the way she acts to please the different people she is surrounded by. Comparing herself to a mirrorball is a metaphor that describes that she feels the need to always entertain others, just as a mirrorball does. The lyrics; “I’ll show you every version of yourself tonight”, showcase her attempt in trying to show someone exactly what they want to see.
And since Swift is a famous artist, she is aware of the fact that she has to compromise what she wants to do while also managing to please the public by doing what they want her to do. However, twisting and bending yourself just to adjust your personality to earn others’ validation could be risky since it would start feeling permanent. In the song, Taylor admits that she lost a sense of her natural self and is now stuck being a people pleaser.
When Taylor said; “I’m still on that tightrope / I’m still trying everything to get you laughing at me”, it made me realize that being a mirrorball actually dehumanizes a human being. Taylor explained how she was the only person left in the circus and was balancing herself on a tightrope, just to get others to “laugh” at her. This suggests that she would do anything – even go to extreme lengths of being a circus animal – just to entertain others and receive their attention and validation.
Takeaway:
I believe that deep down, there is a “mirrorball” inside all of us. We all crave validation from others, and that can cause us to change how people might perceive us. This is why I think that all of us are on “tightropes”. It is an ultimate balancing act that we all do to make sure we fit in with people we come across; while also trying to not get too caught up in the act that we start losing ourselves. Finding the right balance is what we’re all just trying to do. So, what do you think? Are you a mirrorball? And are you able to openly admit it as Miss Swift has?
I related to this song so much when I first heard it. I think it can be a part of human nature to want to be liked by people, but this can sometimes become such an exaggerated desire that one loses themselves in the person they are trying to become.
Reading this blog was interesting! The human need to belong and fit in will impact our own wellbeing and behavior, yet it is up to us to choose to what certain level we let that urge control us.
This blog is so insightful. I think all of us can relate to Taylor here. Even if it was just to form a connection and make friends, I remember struggling with fitting in growing up so the line “and when I break, it’s in a million pieces” stayed with me, making the mirrorball metaphor so fitting and poetic. Loved reading about this song!
I loved reading this, felt like i was reading about myself. Makes you realise that when you have various “fronts” you put up for different people, you genuinely forget which one was actually you.
I would consider myself a “mirror ball” to be quite honest. I feel like it’s something I do unconsciously with the people around me. I rarely listen to Taylor Swifts albums and music, but this song is definitely going on my playlist! I love how you included your personal experience.
I’ve never listened to this song, but I definitely relate to it. I would consider this to be a normal aspect of human beings as we tend to shape our interests depending on the people we’re with. Thank you for sharing your interpretations, I look forward to the rest of her songs!
Taylor Swift never disappoints, both Folklore and Evermore helped me go through some really hard times and I truly think they are some of the best works in the industry. I remember listening to Mirrorball and instantly relating to it. It is amazing how Taylor is able to write about real life experiences and situations with such beautiful and meaningful words.