Shake It Off

## Music Video

**Shake It Off** is the sixth track and lead single of Taylor's fifth album 1989. It was released on August 18, 2014.

## Meaning and Background

> "With the song 'Shake It Off,' I really wanted to kind of take back the narrative, and have more of a sense of humor about people who kind of get under my skin — and *not let* them get under my skin. There's a song that I wrote a couple years ago called Mean, where I addressed the same issue but I addressed it very differently. I said, "Why you gotta be so mean?" from kind of a victimized perspective, which is how we all approach bullying or gossip when it happens to us for the first time. But in the last few years I've gotten better at just kind of laughing off things that absolutely have no bearing on my real life. I think it's important to be self-aware about what people are saying about you, but even more so, be very aware of who you actually are, and to have that be the main priority."
>
> - Taylor about Shake It Off

> “I’ve had every part of my life dissected — my choices, my actions, my words, my body, my style, my music. When you live your life under that kind of scrutiny, you can either let it break you, or you can get really good at dodging punches. And when one lands, you know how to deal with it. And I guess the way that I deal with it is to shake it off.”
>
> -Taylor about Shake It off

## Music Video

The music video was released on August 18, 2014. It is directed by Mark Romanek. It was shot in June 2014 in Los Angeles.

**Storyline**

The video shows Taylor dancing with professionals, having fun but not fitting in. The different type of dances she tries are ballet, breakdancing, robot dance, finger tutting, twerking, contemporary, cheerleading and ribbon dancing. The message of the video is to keep being yourself and keep trying to figure out where you fit in, and eventually you will.

**Trivia**

* This is Taylor's most viewed music video; it has over three billion views.

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1]**
I stay out too late
Got nothing in my brain
That's what people say (mmm-mmm)
That's what people say (mmm-mmm)
I go on too many dates
But I can't make them stay
At least that's what people say (mmm-mmm)
That's what people say (mmm-mmm)

**[Pre-Chorus]**
But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop moving
It's like I got this music in my mind
Saying it's gonna be alright

**[Chorus]**
'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

**[Verse 2]**
I never miss a beat
I'm lightning on my feet
And that's what they don’t see (mmm-mmm)
That's what they don’t see (mmm-mmm)
I'm dancing on my own (dancing on my own)
I make the moves up as I go (moves up as I go)
And that's what they don't know (mmm-mmm)
That’s what they don’t know (mmm-mmm)

**[Pre-Chorus]**
But I keep cruising
Can't stop, won't stop grooving
It's like I got this music in my mind
Saying it's gonna be alright

**[Chorus]**
Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

**[Post-Chorus]**
Shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

**[Interlude]**
Hey, hey, hey
Just think while you've been getting down and out about the liars
And the dirty, dirty cheats of the world
You could've been getting down
To this sick beat

**[Bridge]**
My ex-man brought his new girlfriend
She's like, “oh my God”, but I'm just gonna shake
And to the fella over there with the hella good hair
Won't you come on over, baby, we can shake, shake, shake
Yeah, oh, oh, oh

**[Chorus]**
Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
(Haters gonna hate)
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
(And fake, and fake, and fake)
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off

**[Post-Chorus]**
Shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
Shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
Shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off
I, I, I shake it off, I shake it off

## Gallery

* Videos
* Polaroids

Taylor Swift - Shake It OffShake It OffTaylor Swift - Shake It Off (in the Live Lounge)Shake It Off (Karaoke Version)

## References

1. ↑ 'Anything That Connects': A Conversation With Taylor Swift : NPR - https://www.npr.org/2014/10/31/359827368/anything-that-connects-a-conversation-with-taylor-swift/
2. ↑ Taylor Swift Dismisses the Haters in New Song 'Shake it Off' - Rolling Stone - https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-dismisses-the-haters-dances-with-fans-for-new-song-shake-it-off-230490/
3. ↑ Taylor Swift Dismisses the Haters in New Song 'Shake it Off' - Rolling Stone - https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-dismisses-the-haters-dances-with-fans-for-new-song-shake-it-off-230490/