As for the haters, many say she’s a “symbol of capitalism, privilege, self-absorption” with a catalogue of contrived tearjerkers. But Heartbreak is the National Anthem does unlock much of Swift’s magnetic mythology, especially her strong belief in seeking out greater self-understanding. From her distinctive career “eras” to her bold project reissuing her master recordings, Swift telegraphs creative autonomy, confessional storytelling and constant desire to “revise the self”.
Many other artists might refuse to look back, but Swift embraces the challenge, seeing it as a way to reclaim her younger self and remind us of the power of the self-knowledge gained.
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Sheffield also loves to spin a good theory (no conspiracies, rest assured) and there’s plenty indulged in here. One is a far-fetched take on Swift’s use of the word “nice”, while another is that the singer releases deliberate red herrings as lead singles. The first samples of albums, like Look What You Made Me Do from Reputation and Me! from Lover, intentionally don’t reflect the album themes and are instead used to rib her celebrity image and challenge our expectations of her.
With a breathless pace and a panoptic view of Swift’s life, lore and legacy, Heartbreak is the National Anthem proves Swift is a pioneering musician and cultural lightning rod. The paradox of Swift – her ability to trade confessions so openly while remaining such an elusive public figure – makes her one divisive yet incredibly influential musician sharing stories that allure and enchant many.
If you’re a fan, you won’t be able to put this book down. If you’re a sceptic, you might just come away a born-again Swiftie.
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