"Clara Bow" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). The track was named after the silent-film actress Clara Bow, and its lyrics comment on the dynamics of women in the entertainment industry and Swift's fame, referencing Bow and the singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks. Produced by Swift and Aaron Dessner, "Clara Bow" is a folk-leaning pop rock and chamber pop song instrumented with minimalist, orchestralstrings.
Critics generally applauded the track for its vulnerable lyricism that depicts the pressures of fame and beauty on women. NPR picked it as one of the best songs of 2024. "Clara Bow" peaked at number 22 of the Billboard Global 200 and reached the top 25 in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United States. Swift performed "Clara Bow" live twice on the Eras Tour in 2024.[1]
Music and lyrics
The song's namesake is the actress Clara Bow (left) and the lyrics additionally reference the singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks (right).
The song is a guitar-driven chamber pop[2] and pop rock[3] ballad, containing Swift's commentary on women in the industry being taught to "replace each other". Swift has said that it was inspired by her conversations with record label executives, saying, "...They'd say, 'You know, you remind us of' and then they'd name an artist, and then they'd kind of say something disparaging about her, 'But you're this, you're so much better in this way or that way.' And that's how we teach women to see themselves, as like, 'You could be the new replacement for this woman who's done something great before you.'"[4] It contains lyrical references to actress Clara Bow, singer-songwriter Stevie Nicks, and Swift herself. Explaining her the namedrops, Swift said that she "picked women who have done great things in the past and have been these archetypes of greatness in the entertainment industry. Bow was the first ‘It’ girl. Stevie Nicks is an icon and an incredible example for anyone who wants to write songs and make music."[5] The song also illustrates Swift's fear of being replaced by another person in the entertainment industry.[6]
Reactions and reception
Prior to the album release, the family of actress Clara Bow, whom the track is named after, said they hoped the song would encapsulate her legacy. Bow's great-granddaughter, Nicole Sisneros, said her family was shocked and fascinated by the track. Sisneros added that Swift's team had not contacted the family prior. Another granddaughter of Bow, Brittany Grace Bell, said she wishes for Swift to display Bow positively, highlighting that Bow and Swift were "pioneers in their field".[7] After the song's release, Bow's family praised it, describing it as "hauntingly beautiful" and praising the lyrics, "This town is fake but you're the real thing." Bell additionally stated that she feels Bow would've supported Swift had she lived to know of her.[8] Clara Bow biographer David Stenn also praised Swift's song, describing the lyrics "beauty is a beast that roars down on all fours" as "poetry" and "profound."[9]
In a positive review, Maria Sherman of The Associated Press said "Clara Bow" is one of the greatest album closing tracks from Swift. Reviewing the song's ending, Sherman interprets it as Swift's self-criticism and awareness.[10] Samantha Olsen of Cosmopolitan placed it third on her top five ranking of its parent album,[11] highlighting its emotional sentiments. Billboard's Jason Lipshutz praised the song for its production, dubbing it "careful pop rock" and highlighting its self-referential outro ("You look like Taylor Swift") and depiction of beauty.[3] Dakota West Foss from Sputnikmusic commented that "Clara Bow" ended the album "with intriguing and, more importantly, genuine self-reflection that examines the weight of her crown".[12]Beats Per Minute's John Wohlmacher similarly said "Clara Bow" is one of Swift's best songs, attributing it to its "gorgeous melody and urgent pre-chorus".[13] Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stones said the track is "an ode to a tragic 1920s movie star, which is definitely Stevie’s kind of thing."[14]NPR featured "Clara Bow" in their selection "124 Best Songs of 2024".[2]
Commercial performance
When The Tortured Poets Department was released, "Clara Bow" debuted at its peak of number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[15] In Australia, the song reached number 20 on the ARIA Singles Chart and made Swift the artist with the most entries in a single week with 29.[16][17] Elsewhere, "Clara Bow" opened and peaked at number 22 on the Billboard Global 200[18] and charted within the 25 in New Zealand (22),[19] Singapore (22),[20] and Canada (23).[21]
↑ "Top Singles (Week 16, 2024)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on May 31, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
↑ "IFPI Charts". www.ifpi.gr. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
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