"Bad Blood" Rhetorical Analysis

         It’s incredible how the message of the same exact words can change based on the way the words are spoken. Taylor Swift’s song “Bad Blood” and Ryan Adam’s cover of “Bad Blood” are a perfect example of how they way something is said can completely change the meaning of the words being said.

         In Taylor Swift’s version of “Bad Blood”, the way she is singing is very aggressive. She is making it crystal clear that she was incredibly hurt or betrayed by someone close to her. Ryan Adams does not sing the song like her at all…. He sings in a very reminiscent way. He sings in a way that portrays him being genuinely sad about whatever situation took place.  Taylor doesn’t seem regretful or sad about the past, she just seems incredibly mad. She sounds like someone who is out for revenge. When Taylor sings, “it’s so sad to think about the good times” she does not seem like she is sad at all. The words she says sound completely ironic the way she is singing them. Ryan on the other hand does sound like he thinks “it’s so sad to think about the good times.” He sings those words in a way that give the image of him actually being upset by thinking about the old times he had with that person who hurt him.

        Both artists effectively communicate a certain point. The artists are able to do this because of the tones they use that contribute to an overall attitude. Taylor clearly communicates that she is mad about what happened and is out for revenge. Ryan clearly communicates that he is sad about the past. Even though Taylor and Ryan sing the exact same words, their tone creates completely different meanings between the two.