Taylor Swift just released the re-recorded version of her album "Speak Now" and fans have been rejoicing as they enjoyed the pop star's fresh new take on her classic hits.
However, there was one song that stood out among the tracklist as many listeners noticed that the musician changed the lyrics in order for it not to be controversial anymore.
In early reports, the track "Better Than Revenge" previously contained what many believed to be misogynistic lyrics which read: "She's better known for the things that she does / On the mattress, whoa."
In the latest version, fans noticed the big change as the singer now sings: "He was a moth to the flame / She was holding the matches, whoa."
The song was reportedly about Camilla Belle, an actress who dated Joe Jonas almost immediately after he and Swift broke up more than a decade ago.
In a previous interview, the "Anti-Hero" hitmaker apologized for her lyrics, stating that she was only 18 years old at the time when she wrote the song.
Artists Who Changed the Lyrics of Their Songs
It appears that Taylor Swift is not the only artist in the music industry who made this big move as there were also several ones who did the same after a specific controversy.
According to Forbes, Lizzo was criticized in 2022 just days after the release of her album "Special" as the song "Grrrls" reportedly contained the word "spaz," which many considered being an ableist slur. The lyrics were later changed to "Hold me back."
On the other hand, Beyoncé also used the same word in her song "Heated" so instead of singing "spazzin" from the original version, she switched to "Blastin."
In the same year, Elvis Costello said he will not perform his song "Oliver's Army" anymore as the track contained the n-word slur. He noted in an interview that he would "think twice" about writing the song if he wrote it today.
Changing Lyrics Have Been a Thing Decades Ago
Changing the lyrics of a specific song due to its controversial nature wasn't just a thing in recent years as there have been musicians who got criticized for their choice of words back in the day.
In 2004, the outlet noted that the Black-Eyed Peas also changed the lyrics and the title of their song "Let's Get It Started" as it was originally called "Let's Get Retarded."
Michael Jackson also received heat from the public in 1995 after his song "They Don't Care About Us" contained the lyrics, "Jew me, sue me, everybody do me... don't you black and white me."
Although he clarified in an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer that the lyrics were not "antisemitic" as he was not a racist, he eventually changed it in a re-recorded version as the updated one now has "do me" and "strike me" instead of "jew me" and "kike me."
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