“Slut!” merupakan salah satu lagu dalam track The Vault yang ada di album rekam ulang Taylor Swift, 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
Lagu ini dirilis bersama dengan keseluruhan album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) pada 27 Oktober 2023. Kendati demikian, “Slut!” sebenarnya telah diciptakan Taylor sejak sekitar tahun 2013.
Awalnya, “Slut!” bersaing dengan “Blank Space” untuk masuk ke dalam album 1989. Secara tematik, keduanya sama-sama menyinggung soal citra Taylor yang dibentuk oleh media, terutama terkait dirinya yang kerap berganti-ganti pasangan.
Namun, Taylor tak memasukkan “Slut!” sebagai salah satu track di 1989, sebab dirinya merasa lagu itu “terlalu California” untuk 1989 yang “terasa New York”.
Kendati demikian, Taylor ingin para penggemarnya mendengar lagu yang menurutnya bernuansa dreamy ini. Karena itulah, ia memasukkan lagu ini dalam track The Vault di album 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
Makna lagu “Slut!” - Taylor Swift
Lagu “Slut!” berbicara soal celaan atau slut-shaming yang dilontarkan oleh banyak media kepada Taylor sebab dirinya begitu sering berganti pasangan.
Slut-shaming yang diterima Taylor amat memengaruhi kehidupan personal dan profesionalnya. Taylor banyak mengeksplorasi perlakuan yang diterimanya ini dalam lagu-lagu di album 1989, termasuk “Blank Space”.
Dalam “Slut!” sendiri, Taylor bercerita soal bagaimana rasanya berada di bawah sorotan media setiap kali dirinya kedapatan berkencan dengan pria baru, yang pada akhirnya membuat Taylor mendapatkan banyak kecaman dari publik.
Lirik lagu “Slut!” - Taylor Swift
Flamingo pink, Sunrise Boulevard
Clink, clink, being this young is art
Aquamarine, moonlit swimmin' pool
What if all I need is you?
Got love-struck, went straight to my head
Got lovesick all over my bed
Love to think you'll never forget
Handprints in wet cement
Adorned with smoke on my clothes
Lovelorn and nobody knows
Love thorns all over this rose
I'll pay the price, you won't
But if I'm all dressed up
They might as well be lookin' at us
And if they call me a slut
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be drunk
I might as well be drunk in love
Send the code, he's waitin' there
The sticks and stones they throw froze mid-air
Everyone wants him, that was my crime
The wrong place at the right time
And I break down, then he's pullin' me in
In a world of boys, he's a gentleman
Got love-struck, went straight to my head (Straight to my head)
Got lovesick all over my bed (Over my bed)
Love to think you'll never forget
We'll pay the price, I guess
But if I'm all dressed up (If I'm all dressed up)
They might as well be lookin' at us (Lookin' at us)
And if they call me a slut (If they call me a slut)
You know it might be worth it for once (Worth it for once)
And if I'm gonna be drunk
I might as well be drunk in love
Half asleep, takin' your time
In the tangerine, neon light, this is luxury
You're not sayin' you're in love with me
But you're going to
Half awake, takin' your chances
It's a big mistake, I said, "It might blow up in your pretty face"
I'm not saying, "Do it anyway" (Do it anyway)
But you're going to
(Up)
And if they call me a (Slut)
You know it might be worth it for once
And if I'm gonna be (Drunk)
I might as well be drunk in love