POP SONG REVIEW: "ME!" by Taylor Swift ft. Brendon Urie of Panic! At the Disco

Li'l Benjamin is freakin' adorable.

Grace

I'm actually really impressed you made such a great video on what is arguably one of Taylor Swift's least interesting singles. That LWYMMD video was how I found you to begin with, and so the callback just felt good, the jokes were fantastic, and you said everything that I wanted to be said about the song, from the reason the whole "spelling is fun" thing doesn't work, to explaining how it is close to working in a purposefully obnoxious way, to describing Brendons surprising lack of presence despite being a pretty interesting artist with a distinct voice, and even bringing in a Megan Trainor comparison which I'd been thinking about from the beginning of the episode. If these last few videos are giving a pattern, it looks like pop music may be starting to get interesting to talk about again. Love your work, and this is probably one of my favorite new videos.

Nowhere Girl

As much as I love a bunch of Taylor's earlier albums, couldn't agree with Todd more on this one. Keeping my fingers crossed that it's just a mediocre single on a good album, but it's not a good omen...

Georgie Rowe

And once again, Amydog cameo on a Taylor Swift review. :D

Rodrigo V. Perez

I do feel like the song is a bit about individuality.

Callen

Todd's awkward mentions of Michael Jackson needs to be a running gag. Featuring Brendon Urie of Panic! At The Disco.

I really wanted to like this song since I've been a fan of Swift since I was a teen and I was relieved that her whole "Dark Taylor" schtick is over since it seemed so put on. I also really like Brendon Urie, I think he has a great voice. But no, this song is just kind of nothing. The only part I liked about the whole thing was the videos she posted of the cat from the video since she ended up adopting him, and that's just because ragdolls are adorable.

Carla Viz

Yeah well she's in her thirties now, our teenage-obsessed culture can't have her being as big as she was at 22. (But honestly- the song is awful. Taylor is awful).

Ella Phillips

I'm the ghost of future's past here to tell you that he wasn't mean. Necessarily. But he was real critical.

Well, I like the song more than any Swift single since Style, but I don’t think I’ll ever voluntarily listen to her again. Urie was definitely a weak point, I really think his inclusion was a mistake (particularly on a song called ME!), which is a bummer because I really like PatD. I liked the video, Taylor looks great, and it’s fun without irritating the piss out of me à la Shake It Off.

Matthew Abbott

Hey, Todd. Got a new job. They fucked up and lost my checking account information... twice... so I probably won't be able to pay in time for the video to be uploaded. Feel free to take my name off the credits before uploading to YT this time.

Jordan Cline

Not sure if it’s the same joke on Nickelodeon but I first remember the “Me in Team” joke from the Rocket Power episode Reggie and the Net.

A lot of people forget that "Bad" wasn't even the leadoff single to its titular album; "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was. It hit #1 too, something "Smooth Criminal" failed to achieve. It's eerily similar to Thriller's leadoff single actually being "The Girl Is Mine" instead of "Billie Jean", with the former out-charting the title track.

Jacqueline Sailer

I'm probably one of your few Swiftie viewers, so I definitely disagree with you one some points you've made about Taylor Swift over the years (i.e. I don't think Reputation sucks, although I will agree it is her weakest album). But I think you echoed some thoughts and opinions on this song that a lot of her fanbase is feeling, as least from what I see on r/TaylorSwift. She and her team clearly thought this would make a splash. But instead of a momentous splash, it was a tiny, little "plop" in the vast ocean of dreary trap pop. Being the Swiftie that I am, I hardly ever listen to this song. I'm still excited for what the next album could be, but ME! just feels like a footnote to something that isn't even out yet. (EDIT: also, solidarity with Virginia Beach tonight)

Kim P.

OH NO! Not the credits song!

Vasyl Kerimov

same except it was the bit about mistaking taylor swift for meghan trainor. oof.

Shiny Skunk

I actually did a little poll (that only fifteen other people or so answered so take it with a grain of salt) where I asked them what was worse between the spelling is fun bridge and the shake it off rap, and spelling is fun unanimously which is not a good sign. It’s one thing to be lame but it’s a whole nother thing to be tacky.

Man I know pop is dying but come on man, this is almost leaving the charts.

Josh Spicer

Wait. Did Todd say "one of me" and "fun of me" is a... good rhyme?

Clay Ammentorp

"The Adam Levine-ification of Brendon Urie" is a phrase that hurt me straight to the core of my being but I can't disagree.

Kelsey Gardner

I really hope pop is still alive 😅

I was intrigued when the song first came out, listened to it, then promptly forgot about it right after...

POP IS DEAD!

I was going to go to bed, Todd... ah, screw it, it's a Friday night.

Owen W

Todd, I didn't watch this yet, but I'm really worried that you're going to be mean to Brendon and I like him more than I like your videos.

Karen Wilson