Speaking as a conservative, this isn't a conservative song. It's an introspective human story - it resonates with everyone despite most not knowing why. It's art. Not a taylor swift fan, but a fan of this song.

The line "My covert narcissism disguised as altruism" is a line everyone needs to read and ask themselves if it applies. Altruism is a convenient, hollow replacement for humility.

I love that no matter who the writer/singer is, Michael actually tries to understand the lyrics. And does it with respect.

„Not thinking less of herself, just thinking of herself less.“ Good ol‘ C.S. Lewis :)

Her music when she was young was about wanting marriage and kids. I think she is basically admitting she chose fame and fortune over what she truly wanted.

In her recent documentary, she admits to having an eating disorder and was too thin for a while, and that her body dysmorphia still sometimes gets to her when she sees images and pictures of herself even though she was in the process of recovering. After she put on more weight the media started pointing out that she gained weight. I think that seen refers to her battle with body image and her eating disorder. It's terrible and sad that they are calling her fat phobic for being honest about her insecurities, if anything its the opposite of fat phobic.

This isn't a Conservative vs. Liberal song... it's a song about introspection and self-awareness.

I appreciate your video Michael. Candace Owen's just bashed it and said that Taylor, in her interview about the song, was saying nothing but mumbo jumbo. And she laughed and thought the lyrics were completely stupid and empty. I like your unbiased analysis and understanding of the song and video.

Michael Knowles watching Taylor Swift is not something I expected to see but really like

What I took away from the song is that Taylor realized that being a celebrity has caught up with her. Is it based? Not really Is it insightful? Yes Good review Michael

Finally someone who actually listens to the whole song instead of pulling lines and then criticizing them when they are meant to tell a story. Her songs tell stories. You cannot just pull a random line and go “well that’s terrible”. There’s always a deeper meaning. This song is all about insecurities.

I know she’s not conservative, but I love Taylor swifts music. Also the way she treats her fans, there’s almost nobody else who is so giving. She used to throw “secret sessions” where she would invite like 100 fans to each house she had and play the album for them before it was released, give them cookies. It was a whole thing. Thank you for not crapping all over her.

This is about a woman who has had every element of her life scrutinized since her teen years and is trying to be a real person for a while.

“Pierced through the heart, but never killed.” That’s QUALITY songwriting. She’s BEGGING to be irredeemably in love.

I'm a metalhead, and I mean like brutal, dark, death metal kind of metalhead, but Taylor Swift was always one of the few mainstream artists I've always liked. Her lyrics are very good at telling a story while still being catchy.

“Did you hear my narcissism I disguise as altruism like some kind of Congressman “ Holy crap. That’s such a clever line!

Candace could take some music review notes from Michael. 😏😅

My favorite line of this song is "did you hear my covert narcissism, I disguise as altruism, like some kind of congressman" while wearing a "vote for me, for everything" button. So much packed into that lyric! covert: not openly acknowledged. narcissism: excessive admiration of oneself. altruism: selfless concern for others. Quite the juxtaposition in her lyric here - absolutely love that she then makes analogy to that being like a "congressman". Great line.

I love how starkly different Candace Owens and Michael Knowles’ opinions are about this song. It truly is artistic if it speaks so uniquely to individuals 🤔

The fat scene shouldn't be shunned away from it's an important look at her mental health. It wasn't shaming . It was about the fact that she got called fat for a LOOOOOOONG time. Till she skin and boned.

The “fat” scene is about her struggle with an eating disorder that she’s talked about in the past and if you really listen to the lyrics she has clearly dealt with narcissistic relationships and trauma. A survivor of narcissism will often question if they were the problem all along.

“Covert Narcissism covered as altruism.” The only line that absolutely describes how Democratic politicians behave

I wouldn't say it's "conservative" necessarily as a song. It's just very self-aware. People of all political alignments can benefit from talk therapy and becoming self-aware of their flaws. You can't become a better person if you aren't aware of your own flaws. This goes for absolutely everybody. .

I’m glad that you did a video properly reacting to the song. Candace owens did a video about this song last week and totally took the lyrics out of context only reading like 3 or 4 different words while making fun of it trying to act like she knew what she was talking about when she didn’t.

“If she wrote this?” She writes every one of her songs.

Great review, Michael. I'm neither a fan of Taylor Swift nor a hater of her work. Some of her songs are really fun or hit close to home, and some seem preachy or deliberately commercial. This song feels so personal yet universal. Very impressed by her thought process and skill at expressing it. I hope it's truthful.

She has a talent for saying so much in so few words. Some lines have a novel's worth of meaning.

7:45 "She does have problems that she has made for herself...and the solution to that is not to think less of herself, but rather to think of herself less." Great advice! My mind was blown.

Michael missed the blessed part of that lyric: Did you hear my covert narcisism I might disguise as altruism *like some kind of congressman*

Not gonna lie, I clicked this to watch in hopes of Michael Knowles roasting Taylor Swift with facts but than I started listening and I actually think I like this song... Great reaction as always, Michael!!!

When I first heard the "covert narcissism" line, I was shocked! And the fact that she gets so specific, as to say "like some kind of congressman." INCREDIBLE song! I'm a pretty hardcore conservative & I've been a Swiftie for the past 13 years. We're the same age, so her music has sort of guided me through life! ❤️ her!

Taylor writes all her music. This album is a deep self introspection into her insecurities - hence the lead single is called AntiHero. She is an incredible artist.

I just love michael he tries to watch with complete understanding and explains every situation trying to look at from every angle he doesn't judge a book by its cover❤❤❤❤❤

Taylor is at the age when young men start to get more conservative.

It's interesting how she portrays herself as child-like in the video, and then her "anti-hero" alter-ego comes off as having the confidence of someone older, but instead of helping guide her in a positive way, the anti-hero takes her down self-destructive paths.

I literally added the song to my library, just from the Narcissism disguised as Altruism lyric. That is a beautiful line. Wow.

These lyrics made me reflect a lot about how Taylor sometimes holds too many grudges against people who hurt her. I think that's what she refers to with the ghosts in the room. She has a hard time forgiving and that results in her lyrics sometimes being too "finger-pointing". Anti-hero is refreshing

I love this new song - very catchy. I still need to listen to the rest of the album. You can like or dislike her but she’s a genius songwriter with great marketing skills.

Thank you for actually watching the entire video and giving a fair unbiased answer. Also please tell Candace that the sexy baby comment is a 30 rock reference.

I'm not sure that "pierced through the heart but never killed" is meant in the sense of Cupid. An alternate explanation is that the previous lyrics were about her inability to live a quiet life due to her fame. Ex when she attended her old friend's wedding the paparazzi made a scene at the church. There was also a rumored case of her crashing a Kennedy family wedding and drawing attention away from the bride and groom due to her celebrity status (she was dating Connor Kennedy at the time, who was invited, but it seems there was a misunderstanding about whether she could come?). She feels she has to watch everything she says and does because of the disproportionate impact she has compared to normal people. If she has a feud with someone, her fans might send them death threats. If she has a music video set in Africa, she'll be accused of promoting colonialism. If she thanks her fans for a great year, some crazy SJW journalist will accuse her of being insensitive to the fact that some people had a terrible year because it was Trump's first year in office. She's also written about how her celebrity status could affect her romantic relationships on Peace from Folklore. Because it's not just that she's a celebrity, but she's a celebrity who's made her love life everyone's business through her songwriting. Maybe there's a part of her that wishes that Kim Kardashian/Kanye West and the various media critics had successfully canceled her so that she could live that quiet life. There is a part of her that had doubts about whether she made the right choice choosing fame (which she wrote about in her song The Lucky One). But even if her career had never recovered (which it did), she would still be famous. So I think "The Monster" may be a reference to her celebrity status, which has taken damage in the past, but never destroyed. Back to whether it could be about Cupid. She actually has been in a relationship with the same guy for 6 years now. So presumably if she stuck with him so long, he's probably a good guy. But it's not impossible she has doubts about whether he's "The One".

I think this music video is really showing how she has become an idol to so many that it really brought in this alter ego that she uses to deal with pain she hasn't had the time to grow and learn from hence why she gets older but not wiser. And I think her looking out of the coffin is her taking a step back from how involved she was in her fans lives and how her fans have become like her children but she sees issues there that she feels responsible for by becoming like a god and definitely an idol in their lives. And I think because of this she has become so big that her career can't die no matter how many times she thinks something will cause it to die off.

I’m 5’3”. I used to weigh only 105. I’ve also weighed up to 196. It doesn’t matter what a person weighs, they may always not like how they look or feel.

“My covert narcissism I disguise as altruism” literally society right now especially with celebrities and social media influencers. wow I’m actually surprised 🔥

When I first heard this song on the radio, I instantly recognized her voice but the genius of the lyrics still caught me by pleasant surprise. Taylor Swift has always been a brilliant songwriter and artist. She’s worked incredibly hard even as so many people sought to undermine her. As she grows older and wiser I can only assume that her music will get that much more amazing.

This song is Taylor’s best one yet. I see it as a song about being honest with yourself and your past mistakes. Taking responsibility for your bad choices. You can’t expect people to love you when you don’t love yourself. The line “ I stare directly at the Sun but never in the mirror” is the one that I think packs the biggest punch.

It’s a great and honest song. I really like that line too and the button [vote for me] “did you see my narcissism half disguised as altruism, tale as old as time.” Incredible writing

I have to admit that this is actually a good song and this is from somebody who isn't the biggest Taylor Swift fan.

I agree with Knowles assessment of the song. The lyrics are good, the music is modern pop so it has no emotion, flavor, or style at all. I think this idea of narcissism disguised as altruism applies not only to people on the left. I know many people on the right, particularly in churches, that give money, and do other charitable stuff in their communities that is not for being altruistic, but making themselves look better. I think an important takeaway is to take a good look at your own life and root out all of the narcissistic and self centered things you do and either change why you do them or remove them altogether.

It may be more complex than TS calling herself a narcissist (and is beautifully proving her point as so many people continue to get off on that concept). If you notice, she placed the (narcissistic) “vote for me, for everything” pin over her wound to the heart. It seems she’s speaking on her experience of having a kind of alter ego inevitably created by fame - dealing with the trauma of constant public scrutiny and being misunderstood (on an extreme level that not all artists have gone through). Overtime you can find yourself starting to believe some of it (gaslighting) especially when it’s so fragmented (tiny pieces here and there being close to truth, it can get hard to decipher what is real and what’s misconstrued). Even in her death, her funeral is torn apart as she lay dead, in a casket… still, she’s the problem, “everybody agreesssss” (emphasizing a snake hissing which may be a reference to her being bullied then disappeared for a year). There is something quite dark at the end of the comical skit that wasn’t so funny. She is mortified and then sings the chorus with a serious tone. Its not a “poor me” song at all. Just an interesting introspective piece. It ends with her different selves hanging out together, drinking a bottle, sitting back and just accepting it all (and watching everyone trip over her music😂) That’s my perception anyway.

She’s a GENIUS writer. This album is very dark self analysis and it’s good but it’s a lot.

Jordan Peterson has said many times that his most unhappy clients were often women who prioritized their career over family before realizing it was too late. I feel for her, she got wrapped up in the lie and now has to suffer the consequences. Hopefully this will mean we get to see a different Taylor going forward. She’s obviously talented when she isn’t performing as an ideologue.

Idk if the quote “don’t think less of yourself. Think of yourself less!” Is from someone else or if Knowles just came up with it but I love it.

I like some of her songs but when they get involved in politics it gets so cringe

Petition to have Michael listen to folklore and evermore

I think she has gone through some therapy, causing her to look at herself more deeply. Her music has always been very personal for her. Wow, I look forward to more work from her!

You have one of the deepest and most beautiful hearts I've ever had the pleasure to come to know, Michael. You think enough to care, but not without thought. You feel enough to think, because in my eyes I genuinely believe you care. One of my favourite people to ever live, that I've ever had any awareness of to any degree.

You guys may not remember that but years ago(before Trump I guess) Taylor was kind of considered as a conservative sweetheart on line. There were also gossips that she was lurking on 4chan. She was definitely apolitical for many years. So I don't know maybe she's based after all ;d Anyway, loved that you used 'I knew you were trouble' in your outro song!

Back in Taylor's 1989 Era, she wrote a song called Blank Space in which she embodies the man chasing user narcissist persona that the media had created of her, and turns the media criticism of her into a huge hit. In Anti Hero she's doing it again. Taylor is one of the most generous celebrities in America and never reveals her altruism. The recipients of her largesse do, though. But her haters, mostly on the far right, have claimed that her altruism is narcissism in disguise. If one knows narcissists at all, it is that they lack the insight to know they are narcissists. Anti Hero is Taylor doing what she does best; turning a person's hate speech into a weapon against the perp. You didn't get that, and that's because narcissists don't get sarcasm.

Not everything must be analyzed within a framework of either liberal or conservative idealism. This Man is analyzing but obviously isn't self aware himself. He can't just keep the conservative terms out of the examination. Pretty shallow.

If she becomes the female Tom Macdonald, that wil be the ultimate character arc. I teared up during this.

My daughter and I always bought Taylor Swift's new albums and listened together and discussed them. But when Taylor started putting in all the harsh curse words, we lost that thing we used to do. But I do like Taylor Swift's music up until the last few albums which I haven't heard in entirety.

Every self-aware millennial can relate. In my late 20’s look back feeling the same way.

She did write it. She writes most of her music.

Narcissism disguised as altruism - weird she'd admit to exactly what she's about.

“I will let her finish” 😂😂😂

I will be turning 20 next week and I can feel myself getting older but definitely wiser. And the thought of that comforts me and gives me joy. There’s a lot of people who were my age and focused on the wrong things while never maturing and it eventually came back to haunt them in the future through depression, anxiety, and anger. Your take on ATI HERO was amazing !

This song came on at work and I turned it up to hear the lyrics. I commented to a coworker that this is one of the most interspective pop songs I’ve heard in years. I think she wrote this well.

I’m a lib but I like 30% of what you say

Taylor Swift is amazing and so talented! She writes all her own stuff and always has. I think she's one of the most talented songwriters of our generation, and she really is insightful.

She’s no conservative. She’s just becoming slightly self-aware

I love this insightful reaction. Other songs on this album seem to indicate that Taylor's view of marriage may be that its dated and "1950s shit". I don't subscribe to TSwift politics but I find her to be an amazingly talented storyteller and artist.

I really liked some of her early songs, I was just already in a serious relationship, so I didn't and still don't relate much, but totally with you on the lyrics. I always felt she was really good there. Not that she's a bad singer, her voice is pretty, she just gets manipulated so dang much you can't really get her actual voice most times. There was one where a channel I was watching that isolated the vocal of a song she was doing and you could hear immediately when they turned on the filters or whatever. She doesn't need them. Wish you could interview her. Love you much

a staunch conservative here who watches the michael knowles show everyday and also loves taylors music! (this video was made for me!) when i listen to her music i just try to focus on the music and not so much the politics but i still do roll my eyes sometimes. i don’t think we’ll ever get taylor back to our side though, she’s been virtue signaling so long. she had that tweet after roe v wade, and now she’s got a trans man as the love interest in one of her upcoming music videos. as much as that bothers me, i will still listen to taylor when i want to sing or dance, and michael for political commentary, great insight, a good laugh and an example of how to live my life as a catholic conservative, and the kind of men to search for. :) p.s the cat sanctuary scene made me laugh just as hard!

That line about staring directly at the sun but never in the mirror is so good.

Michael I'd love to see you and Candace talk about this song. You have completely different views on it!

I don't know about Based, she certainly hasn't been, but she can grow and change, I'm just taking it with the same grain of salt that I'm taking Elon and Twatter

Michael thank you for this thoughtful analysis, perhaps Candace needs to chat with you... you stopping the video and going "woah!" haha you're a swiftie!! Taylor talks about (in her doco) being "frozen in time" from when she got famous. She said at 30 she was "nowhere near ready" for marriage and motherhood, and this was sad to hear, but at the same time, most people feel this way. Also, in the song Question...? she slightly alludes to stepping back from politics. "Caught in politics and gender-roles And you're not sure and I don't know Got swept away in the gray I just may like to have a conversation" So I feel there is hope for her, and we conservatives need to stop attacking her. She is not a lost cause, marriage, motherhood and common sense, she could come back.

i still don't know how you got marriage from "heart but never killed" 😂😂

Ive been a student of lyrics for a very long time. I LOVE that Michael actually analyzes the lyrics instead of just becoming entranced by the pop of it. There are so many songs that sound fun and are popular but when you study the lyrics the garbage that you are putting into your head is crazy

Based on the lyrics, it does appear Taylor has gotten wiser as well as older. Great commentary and explanation of her lyrics!

Michael is a swiftie and I love this.

So grateful for this review and how open you were about it! 💚 I love this song too.

I really appreciate your analysis of this song, Michael. You could have been cynical, but you displayed grace and an honest insight. Well done. ❤

What she is saying is that something is missing in her life. That something is Jesus Christ!

He’s gotta do the whole album now!

Genius. This song must have been a good cleanse for her.

How is taylor hating herself conservative PLEASE I CANT 💀💀💀

I've listened to a lot of Taylor Swift's music, and I'd say her ability to introspect is one of the most continually present parts of her music. One aspect, that I dislike, of looking to media stars as the poison apple in the story of culture is society's need to center them as responsible for their lives. In highly affluent cultures children are aimed towards all sorts of careers from a young age in order to have any chance of success. This is true from sports to stardom. This intense focus on those capable of reaching the pinnacles of success leads to an entire generation of people watching singers like Amy Winehouse destroy her life for what is essentially other people's entertainment. I remember moving as a teenager from the country to a town around the time Brittney Spear's 'Baby One More Time' was released. I doubt I ever would have come into contact with that song had I moved, but I do remember the disconnect between listening to the lyrics and wondering how a song like that was popular. Through the years, I too became enchanted with parts of the culture which have not been healthy for me. While my takes on somethings have remained constant, when I look back at the media I identified with over the years, it is clear to me that my younger self would never have found some of it worth the while to consume.

Favorite Taylor Swift song is "Betty." The lyrics and the melody are just perfect.

I hope she comes around. I like her voice so it would be nice to listen to it used in music of quality again.

DW hosts breaking down songs and lyrics is my new favorite genre

I think you missed the musical part. She doesn't sound like she used to sound. Her music has evolved a lot and it sounds good.

As a Swiftie and a Michael Knowles fan, this video was deeply satisfying to watch :)

It’s a cry of the victim of narcissistic abuse. They are gaslit into thinking they are the problem. A narcissist will NEVER admit they are a narcissist or they are the problem

I don't think Taylor Swift is Conservative at all. Pointing out issues on your own "side" is still a good thing to do even if you remain in it. Every group should step back from whatever labels they identify with and criticize the issues inside of it. Good critique of popular views and mindsets in society in general from Taylor here.

Hahahaha i love that there’s such a stark difference between Micheal’s review and candace’s (on the same song). Such stark difference between the left and the right! Love that there can be opposing views on the right and things can still be civil!

Thank you for truly sitting down to listen and interpret this song! I love Taylor's music not because its catchy but because of her lyric writing skill. She does write all her own songs. If she wasn't a singer she would be the greatest poet of our generation ❤

taylor swift and michael knowles in one video?? I never knew I needed this.

honestly never liked much of her pop stuff and i really missed her country music. but this is the best i’ve heard from her in ages. i really hope she meant this genuinely and not ironically. i hope she sees herself differently and i hope she’s growing and learning to love herself 🖤💙🤍

This song isn't about libs lmao, you have to always find a way to criticize liberals hahahaha, look in the mirror, not at the sun, sir