How “Mirrorball” by Taylor Swift Comments on Society

The song “Mirrorball” by Taylor Swift uses a disco ball as a metaphorical symbol to represent one’s feeling in a relationship or situation. Swift does an excellent job of leaving this symbol up to interpretation for the listener. By doing this, Swift is able to successfully make the song relatable for many listeners, as they can use their interpretation of this message in their personal life. The two messages that Swift hoped to push through her song are that mirrorballs reflect light, and often one might not be recognized for their efforts.

In the song, the mirrorball is meant to physically and metaphorically reflect light. When a literal mirrorball is placed in the middle of a dance floor, it reflects the light of the room; to illuminate the room and improve the overall appearance of the room. When Swift uses the mirrorball analogy in her song, she is referring to people who feel as though they are “reflecting the light of other people.” This comments on society and roles in relationships where people feel as though they are only there to make the other person look good. People feel as though their only role in the relationship is to give that other person attention, without being treated the same way. Additionally, Swift sings about the idea that mirrorballs are broken into a million pieces: “And when I break, it’s in a million pieces.” This idea again shows that those who are mirrorballs are “broken.” It shows how they can make other people look good and feel good about themselves, even if they emotionally break themselves in the process. In Taylor Swift’s Documentary, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, she adds to the analogy by saying (in reference to mirrorballs) that “every time they break, it entertains us.” These details comment how often in society those who are broken are also used for entertainment. In the context of the media, people are often exploited solely for the purpose of entertainment for others. Swift uses this powerful message to comment on this harmful pattern of exploitation in the media, while also creating a relatable message for fans who might feel as though they are being emotionally manipulated in relationships.

Another main concept that can be taken away from this song is that mirrorballs are people who feel as though they aren’t recognized for their efforts. Arguably, the most powerful lyrics in the song are “I’m still a believer, but I don’t know why / I’ve never been a natural / All I do is try, try, try.” These lyrics have gained quite a popularity on social media, as many people find them relatable. These lyrics essentially relate to people who feel as though they have never been a “natural” at anything. They feel as though nothing comes easy to them, and they always have to put in extra effort. In life, it is very common to come across people who always seem naturally better at something, while others might feel like nothing comes easy. These lyrics also comment on society. Naturally in society, people are placed on pedestals for their abilities. However, this lyric sheds a light on how it feels to watch others be placed on this pedestal while feeling like your efforts aren’t being recognized enough. It’s hard to not be recognized for the effort you put in, even if the result is not as impressive. This connects to Swift’s comments on relationships as well. When giving other people “light” like a mirrorball would, it’s difficult to not be recognized for your own emotions as well, and overall not being treated equally to that person.

To conclude, Taylor Swift’s song “mirrorball” does an excellent job of commenting on aspects of society that aren’t talked about enough. Swift shines a light on how it feels to not be in the spotlight and to not be recognized for your efforts. The symbol of the mirrorball has so many layers, giving listeners the ability to interpret the song in many ways.