Delicate (Taylor Swift song): Difference between revisions
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Other critics highlighted the song's mellower production and vulnerable sentiment, in contrast to ''Reputation''{{'s}} heavy [[electronic music|electronic]] production and themes about drama and vengeance. Zach Schonfeld of ''[[Newsweek]]'' complimented "Delicate" for offering a heartfelt atmosphere in contrast with "the bravado and [[electronic dance music|EDM]] aggression of the opening tracks".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/taylor-swift-reputation-album-review-gorgeous-ready-708853|title=Taylor Swift's 'Reputation': A Track-By-Track Review, From 'Ready For It' to 'New Year's Day'|last=Schonfeld|first=Zach|date=November 14, 2017|website=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=November 14, 2018|archive-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018064113/https://www.newsweek.com/taylor-swift-reputation-album-review-gorgeous-ready-708853|url-status=live}}</ref> In a similar vein, Troy Smith from ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' called it one of the album's better songs because "Swift keeps the mood light".<ref name="reception2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/11/taylor_swifts_reputation_remai.html|title=Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' remains stellar on new album|last=Smith|first=Troy|date=November 10, 2017|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114839/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/11/taylor_swifts_reputation_remai.html|archive-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref> For Sal Cinquemani from ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', the song's blending "scathing self-critique with effervescent pop" offers an enjoyable moment that contrasts with the album's dominant "tired, repetitive EDM tricks".<ref name="Slant">{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/taylor-swift-reputation/|title=Review: Taylor Swift, Reputation|first=Sal|last=Cinquemani|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=November 10, 2017|access-date=October 11, 2020|archive-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007203951/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/taylor-swift-reputation/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' editor Shahzaib Hussain criticized ''Reputation'' as a pretentious album with excessive lyrics about fame, but praised "Delicate" as one of the tracks that offer emotional honesty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-reputation|title=Taylor Swift – Reputation|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|first=Shahzaib|last=Hussain|date=November 21, 2017|access-date=October 11, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726103906/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-reputation|url-status=live}}</ref> On a less enthusiastic side, ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''{{'s}} Jordan Sargent wrote that even though the song is one of ''Reputation''{{'s}} most honest, it is still "unshackled" from the album's recurring themes of drama and vengeance. Sargent, however, noted that production-wise, it contains an "ethereal lusciousness" that hints at "new paths for her to travel".<ref name="Spin">{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/11/review-taylor-swift-reputation/|title=Review: In Embracing Evil on Reputation, Taylor Swift Has Never Sounded More Free|first=Jordan|last=Sargent|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=November 14, 2017|access-date=February 4, 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115225401/https://www.spin.com/2017/11/review-taylor-swift-reputation/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
Other critics highlighted the song's mellower production and vulnerable sentiment, in contrast to ''Reputation''{{'s}} heavy [[electronic music|electronic]] production and themes about drama and vengeance. Zach Schonfeld of ''[[Newsweek]]'' complimented "Delicate" for offering a heartfelt atmosphere in contrast with "the bravado and [[electronic dance music|EDM]] aggression of the opening tracks".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsweek.com/taylor-swift-reputation-album-review-gorgeous-ready-708853|title=Taylor Swift's 'Reputation': A Track-By-Track Review, From 'Ready For It' to 'New Year's Day'|last=Schonfeld|first=Zach|date=November 14, 2017|website=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=November 14, 2018|archive-date=October 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018064113/https://www.newsweek.com/taylor-swift-reputation-album-review-gorgeous-ready-708853|url-status=live}}</ref> In a similar vein, Troy Smith from ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' called it one of the album's better songs because "Swift keeps the mood light".<ref name="reception2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/11/taylor_swifts_reputation_remai.html|title=Taylor Swift's 'Reputation' remains stellar on new album|last=Smith|first=Troy|date=November 10, 2017|work=[[The Plain Dealer]]|access-date=November 10, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114839/http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/11/taylor_swifts_reputation_remai.html|archive-date=November 10, 2017}}</ref> For Sal Cinquemani from ''[[Slant Magazine]]'', the song's blending "scathing self-critique with effervescent pop" offers an enjoyable moment that contrasts with the album's dominant "tired, repetitive EDM tricks".<ref name="Slant">{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/taylor-swift-reputation/|title=Review: Taylor Swift, Reputation|first=Sal|last=Cinquemani|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=November 10, 2017|access-date=October 11, 2020|archive-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201007203951/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/taylor-swift-reputation/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' editor Shahzaib Hussain criticized ''Reputation'' as a pretentious album with excessive lyrics about fame, but praised "Delicate" as one of the tracks that offer emotional honesty.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-reputation|title=Taylor Swift – Reputation|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|first=Shahzaib|last=Hussain|date=November 21, 2017|access-date=October 11, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726103906/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-reputation|url-status=live}}</ref> On a less enthusiastic side, ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''{{'s}} Jordan Sargent wrote that even though the song is one of ''Reputation''{{'s}} most honest, it is still "unshackled" from the album's recurring themes of drama and vengeance. Sargent, however, noted that production-wise, it contains an "ethereal lusciousness" that hints at "new paths for her to travel".<ref name="Spin">{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/11/review-taylor-swift-reputation/|title=Review: In Embracing Evil on Reputation, Taylor Swift Has Never Sounded More Free|first=Jordan|last=Sargent|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=November 14, 2017|access-date=February 4, 2021|archive-date=January 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115225401/https://www.spin.com/2017/11/review-taylor-swift-reputation/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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Retrospectively, critics have considered "Delicate" one of Swift's strongest songs. ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''{{'s}} Jane Song,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs/#5-delicate-reputation|title=All 158 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked|first=Jane|last=Song|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=February 11, 2020|access-date=February 4, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413001443/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs/#5-delicate-reputation|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[NME]]''{{'s}} Hannah Mylrae,<ref name="nme"/> and ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'s}} [[Rob Sheffield]] all lauded the song's depiction of vulnerability in terms of both lyrics and music, specifically through the vocoder effects.<ref name="rs-sheffield"/> Sheffield ranked it first on his list of the best songs of 2017: "At heart, 'Delicate' is a story about a girl in her room, hearing an electro-beat that lures her to go seek some scandalous adventures in the city lights. In other words, the story of pop music."<ref name="auto1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/rob-sheffields-top-25-songs-of-2017-w514339|title=Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2017|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|date=December 20, 2017|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-date=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314165155/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/rob-sheffields-top-25-songs-of-2017-w514339|url-status=live}}</ref> He ranked "Delicate" fourth on his 2021 ranking of all the 199 songs in Swift's discography.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|date=October 26, 2021|title=All 199 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked by Rob Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/|access-date=October 26, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215023910/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/|url-status=live}}</ref> The song featured on 2018 year-end lists by ''Slant Magazine'' (9th),<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/the-25-best-singles-of-2018/P4|title=The 25 Best Singles of 2018|access-date=December 10, 2018|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=December 10, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215121656/https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/the-25-best-singles-of-2018/P4|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' (12th),<ref name="auto">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-songs-of-2018-764204/weezer-africa-weird-al-yankovic-764318/|title=50 Best Songs of 2018|access-date=December 14, 2018|date=December 14, 2018|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|archive-date=May 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524045115/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-songs-of-2018-764204/weezer-africa-weird-al-yankovic-764318/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Billboard'' (35th).<ref name="auto3">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2018/8489483/best-songs-2018-staff-picks|title=Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2018|access-date=December 11, 2018|date=December 11, 2018|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212014658/https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2018/8489483/best-songs-2018-staff-picks|url-status=live}}</ref> "Delicate" was one of the award-winning songs at the [[BMI Awards|BMI Pop Awards]] (2019),<ref>{{cite web|title=Sting, |
Retrospectively, critics have considered "Delicate" one of Swift's strongest songs. ''[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]''{{'s}} Jane Song,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs/#5-delicate-reputation|title=All 158 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked|first=Jane|last=Song|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]|date=February 11, 2020|access-date=February 4, 2021|archive-date=April 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413001443/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs/#5-delicate-reputation|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[NME]]''{{'s}} Hannah Mylrae,<ref name="nme"/> and ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'s}} [[Rob Sheffield]] all lauded the song's depiction of vulnerability in terms of both lyrics and music, specifically through the vocoder effects.<ref name="rs-sheffield"/> Sheffield ranked it first on his list of the best songs of 2017: "At heart, 'Delicate' is a story about a girl in her room, hearing an electro-beat that lures her to go seek some scandalous adventures in the city lights. In other words, the story of pop music."<ref name="auto1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/rob-sheffields-top-25-songs-of-2017-w514339|title=Rob Sheffield's Top 25 Songs of 2017|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|author-link=Rob Sheffield|date=December 20, 2017|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=December 20, 2017|archive-date=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314165155/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/rob-sheffields-top-25-songs-of-2017-w514339|url-status=live}}</ref> He ranked "Delicate" fourth on his 2021 ranking of all the 199 songs in Swift's discography.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|date=October 26, 2021|title=All 199 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked by Rob Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/|access-date=October 26, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US|archive-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215023910/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/|url-status=live}}</ref> The song featured on 2018 year-end lists by ''Slant Magazine'' (9th),<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/the-25-best-singles-of-2018/P4|title=The 25 Best Singles of 2018|access-date=December 10, 2018|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=December 10, 2018|archive-date=December 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215121656/https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/the-25-best-singles-of-2018/P4|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' (12th),<ref name="auto">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-songs-of-2018-764204/weezer-africa-weird-al-yankovic-764318/|title=50 Best Songs of 2018|access-date=December 14, 2018|date=December 14, 2018|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|archive-date=May 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524045115/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-songs-of-2018-764204/weezer-africa-weird-al-yankovic-764318/|url-status=live}}</ref> and ''Billboard'' (35th).<ref name="auto3">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2018/8489483/best-songs-2018-staff-picks|title=Billboard's 100 Best Songs of 2018|access-date=December 11, 2018|date=December 11, 2018|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=December 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212014658/https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2018/8489483/best-songs-2018-staff-picks|url-status=live}}</ref> "Delicate" was one of the award-winning songs at the [[BMI Awards|BMI Pop Awards]] (2019),<ref>{{cite web|title=Sting, Imagine Dragons and Martin Bandier Honore at BMI's 67th Annual Pop Awards|url=https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2019-bmi-pop-awards|publisher=[[Broadcast Music, Inc.]]|access-date=May 16, 2019|date=August 11, 2019|archive-date=May 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515103536/https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/2019-bmi-pop-awards|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[ASCAP Awards]] (2019 and 2020).<ref>{{cite web|title=2019 ASCAP Pop Music Awards|url=https://www.ascap.com/news-events/awards/2019/pop-awards|publisher=[[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]]|access-date=May 23, 2019|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517145855/https://www.ascap.com/news-events/awards/2019/pop-awards|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2020 ASCAP Pop Music Awards|url=http://www.ascap.com/popawards20|access-date=June 17, 2020|publisher=[[American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers]]|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617233542/https://www.ascap.com/popawards20|url-status=live}}</ref> |
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==Commercial performance== |
==Commercial performance== |
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