Taylor Swift says the 'most important message' behind upbeat new single Me! is to show she's now 'heading in a different direction musically'
Taylor Swift has revealed that her new single Me! is a 'palette cleanser' for her fans after her most recent album, Reputation.
In an interview with Independent on Friday, the 29-year-old singer said the most important message she wanted fans to take from the song was that she's now 'heading in a different direction musically'.
'It’s just fun to sing about being in a good mood for a change,' said the Shake It Off hitmaker.
A change of pace: Taylor Swift has revealed that her new single Me! is a 'palette cleanser' for her fans after her most recent album, Reputation
The Grammy winner told the website: 'I wanted [fans] to see that I’m heading in a different direction musically than they’ve seen in the past few years.'
'This song was to change expectations and be a bit of a palette cleanser before they hear more of this new project.'
'Plus, the chorus just makes me happy and lifts my mood when I sing it. I never want to be presumptuous, but I hoped it might do the same for someone who’s having a s***ty day.'
Feel good: 'It’s just fun to sing about being in a good mood for a change,' said the Shake It Off hitmaker
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens: The Grammy winner told the website: 'I wanted [fans] to see that I’m heading in a different direction musically than they’ve seen in the past few years'
The songstress also indicated that Me! was a reaction against a lot of the anger she had been seeing out in the world and on social media.
'I wanted to put out something that, by nature of it being so buoyant, was actually the opposite of what culture is doing right now.'
'Will it work? I don’t really care. It’s just fun to sing about being in a good mood for a change.'
The bright and upbeat music video for the song appears to begin with a metaphor for Swift's shift in tone that draws on the artist's own life.
Me! opens with a snake -representing the pop star's long-running feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian- that literally explodes into dozens of colorful butterflies.
Sssssubtle: The bright and upbeat music video for the song appears to begin with a metaphor for Swift's shift in tone that draws on the artist's own life
Metaphor: Me! opens with a snake -representing the pop star's long-running feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian- that literally explodes into dozens of colorful butterflies
And the Pennsylvania born beauty continued the butterfly theme on Tuesday, when she emerged onstage at the live season finale of The Voice on NBC with giant butterfly wings behind her.
She then proceeded to belt out her latest tune, Me!
The pop diva shimmered in a pink dress with a fringe skirt and silver vertical stripes as she descended a staircase.
Taylor had her blonde hair up in a ponytail and accessorized with Brumani pink ombré ear crawler earrings for her performance.
Slitherin': The snake motif was a big part of Taylor's Reputation tour [seen here in May 2018]
Season finale: Taylor Swift performed her new single Me! on Tuesday during the season 16 finale of The Voice in Los Angeles
She did a shoulder shimmy and was backed by a crew of dancers before being joined by Brendon Urie, 32, lead singer of Panic! At The Disco who features on the single.
Brendon wore a ruffled red shirt and matching pants along with a maroon coat.
Taylor released Me! on April 26 as the lead single for her upcoming seventh studio album.
The music video for Me! premiered the same day on YouTube with a live broadcast following a live chat with Taylor.
Live performance: The 29-year-old pop star performed live during the two-hour finale with her blonde hair up in a ponytail and accessorized with Brumani pink ombré ear crawler earrings
Teaming up: Brendon Urie joined Taylor as they performed Me! together
Big wings: Taylor had giant butterfly wings behind her as she started her performance
New song: The singer released Me! last month as the lead single for her upcoming seventh studio album
Taylor and Brendon also performed Me! earlier this month at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas.
Me! in its second week of release reached the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Taylor signed a new multi-album deal in November with Universal Music Group with future releases under the Republic Records imprint.
Popular tune: Me! in its second week of release reached the number two spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart
Together again: Taylor and Brendon also performed Me! earlier this month at the 2019 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas
Music video: Brendon and Taylor also star in the Me! music video that was released April 26 the same day as the single
Me! was her first release with Republic Records ahead of her highly anticipated seventh studio album.
Taylor released her sixth studio album Reputation in November 2017.
She embarked on the Reputation Stadium Tour in 2018 in support of the album and it grossed $345.7 million.
New deal: Me! was Taylor's first release with Republic Records and the lead single from her upcoming seventh studio album