Last week we talked about Bruno Mars. This week? Taylor Swift. She is a polarizing figure to many music fans. You either hate her because all she writes about are her breakups, or you love her because all she writes about are her breakups. Pop music analysis: Commence.

“22″ by Taylor Swift

I don’t know about you, but a lot of my friends are turning 22. I turn 22 in just a few months. Although I don’t really know what Miss Swift is talking about when she is “feeling 22,” she does a pretty good job selling it. She does a really good job of making the chorus singable. Tons of gang vocals make this song simply irresistible. Who is Taylor Swift anyway? A great pop writer, that’s who.

“Mean” by Taylor Swift

Even though it is not as clean and shiny as the electronics-laced “22,” “Mean” is classic Taylor Swift sass mixed with snappy lyrics and a tinge of her country roots. About a music critic and not a boyfriend, “Mean” has a chorus that is incredibly tight and adorned with simple, effective harmonies. Although the lyrics suffer in the bridge when Taylor goes into what I call “immature mode”, the song recovers quickly with an awesome double chorus. The main hook, “someday I’ll be living in a big ol’ city, and all you’re ever gonna be is mean,” is snappy, and the wordplay is brilliant.

Next week, we talk about an oldie: Hanson.

Contact CU Independent Entertainment Editor Patrick Fort at Patrick.fort@colorado.edu