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Originally posted by JakeKills
Similes are meant to be used sparingly because they compare something to an entirely unrelated and irrelevant thing, which then temporarily distracts the audience. Taylor throws so many similes at listeners in "Red" that it completely distracts them from the fact that nothing is being said.
When you listen to Enchanted, you're left thinking about meeting someone incredible. When you listen to We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, you know that the relationship is completely done. When you listen to Red, you wonder what the song was even about because all you remember is "maserati" "crossword puzzle" "blue" "dark gray" and "red."
What does "loving him was red" mean? There's no context for any of the similes or metaphors in the song, so the song falls flat on its face and it ultimately doesn't say much of anything. One of the worst written songs of Taylor's career, aside from it's brilliant bridge (which is fortunately enough to redeem some of the song's shortcomings).
It's a 6/10.
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But the chorus is all metaphors.
Oh, and the meaning is strongly implied. Red is the color of love and passion.
I also don't think the emphasis on rhetorical figures of speech is a bad concept. In more than one way, her "random" comparisons are more meaningful and
precise than more direct descriptions would be. I'd say the weakest thing about the song isn't the use of metaphors and similes, but the quality of them. Some of them are good, but some of them
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Losing him was blue like I've never known
Missing him was dark gray, all alone
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are really weak.
I do think the meaning of the song is pretty well encapsulated by her words. The boy brought a fiery, fast-paced passion out in her, and the relationship fell apart really quickly. She jumped into it headfirst and in love before realizing that it was a dead end, and the majority of the song is about trying to forget him, but always remembering that burning passion that she had for a time.
I think this is the most peculiar line in the whole song:
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Forgetting him was like trying to know somebody you've never met
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It's a very strange line. Comparing the task of forgetting someone to attempting to know somebody that you've never met is just very strange.
