As stated in this article: Taylor Swift and More Artists With Copyright Scandals (yahoo.com)"Some songs are highly personal in nature, so artists are understandably protective of them. Therefore, when they hear another song with similar lyrics or beats, they speak up."
For more info on the poetry book:  viewbook.at/Swift Read the story that inspired the poems: Fallen from Grace (retitled Songs of the Unsung)mybook.to/SongsOfTheUnsung
I have always agreed Taylor Swift is a very talented musician and certainly made it to stardom on her own. Any claim of some infringement is not going to destroy one's career. It happens all the time in the music industry and usually they are unintentional. All I hope for is to be able to express my opinion and share what I put my heart and soul into along with some interesting similarities.
As writers, we all know how important it is to protect our work. We all have something we can contribute and share. Of course, there are plenty of fans who discredit me, but their opinions are biased. I've spoken to experts with copyright laws and they also agreed there were some unusually similar passages. I sought their opinion to see if it wasn't just me thinking that.  Recently, Taylor was on Jimmy Kimmel and they mocked my book, Fallen from Grace, which contains the poems. I'm not upset because this just shows guilt. However, I strongly believe copyright laws need to change. Currently, they only protect mostly well-known artists. Some Swift fans made comments that it's impossible as I'm unknown and that it is more likely I copied her work. With the expansion of the internet, it's easy for anyone to copy anyone, known or not. It's my goal to share my blog to increase awareness and hopefully, make things different for those who try to make it in a very competitive industry.
Not all examples constitute copyright issues. Many other lines were provided only to show a repetition of similar expressions. According to an attorney's website, changing some words or reversing lines is a way for the infringer to try and hide the infringement. While some of the themes I wrote about are universal, it's the expression of ideas, the way in which they are conveyed, and the similar use of metaphors that are unique.  Why is it that so many of Taylor Swift's songs have the same topics as my poems? There are hundreds of thousands of topics. Why is it that about 3-6 months after I publish my topics, the same songs with the same topics come out? Some songs include the same exact lyrics as lines to my poems. Furthermore, I wrote on topics that have never been in poetry form or in songs before--- this does not have anything to do with being good or not. I have worked hard on making my writing unique, conveying concepts in ways that have not been done before poetically or musically.
Ironically, Taylor knows the importance of protecting her own work. She has trademarked many lines and short phrases from her own lyrics, some which are unique and some not unique such as: "Nice to meet you. Where you been?".  Here are a few others ones:  “Party Like It’s 1989," “This Sick Beat,” “Cause We Never Go Out Of Style,” “Can Show You Incredible Things.”
Copyright laws protect whole works as well as shorter lines if they are considered unique, unusual pieces of works and "expressions of ideas".  In college, I had to provide references whenever I used another person's work, even if I changed the words around and made them my own. I believe this should be required in all industries. I would think nothing of it if it was just one occurrence, but there are way too many coincidences.
As Lady Gaga has stated, "You have to be unique, and different, and shine in your own way.”  (She made a pose at the Grammy's in 2019 that resembles the cover of Fallen from Grace--pictures above)   We all have unique talents and our own writing styles.  Everyone can contribute their own creative literature works and art. We should appreciate and value those who do, and if they inspired others--I believe they should be given some form of mention or attribution for doing so.  (I am not saying all of her work is plagiarized. Again, Most of Taylor Swift's work is original and uniquely hers. Also, she has noted that other writers, artists and poets have inspired some of her songs--but doesnt name anyone specific).
In this blog, I only share the songs that are strikingly similar to my specific poems. In addition, I will share one song that resembles Avril Lavigne's  song, One of Those Girls, and Taylor's song, Trouble. I think you might find this interesting: Taylor sings, "'Cause I Knew You Were Trouble when you walked inSo shame on me nowFlew me to places I'd never been'Til you put me down, oh"
...Now I heard you moved on from whispers on the streetA new notch in your belt is all I'll ever be
...Flew me to places I'd never been Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground ...And the saddest fear Comes creeping in That you never loved me Or her, or anyone, or anything..."
Avril Lavigne sings, "I know your kind of girlYou only care about one thingWho you've seen, or where you've beenWho's got money
I see that look in your eyesIt tells a million liesBut deep inside, I know whyYou're talking to him
I know what you're all aboutI really hope he figures it out
She's one of those girlsThey're nothing but troubleJust one look and now you're seeing doubleBefore you know it she'll be goneOff to the next oneShe's so good that you won't see it comingShe'll take you for a ride and you'll be left with nothingYou'll be broken, she'll be goneOff to the next one"
Sometimes, you need to find humor in some things. People always talkin how Taylor is always droppin "Easter Eggs". Well, I happen to feel like Lucy in this story book!  = ) 

TS = Taylor Swift  Example 1:  TS's lyrics in Getaway Car: "Should've known I'd be the first to leave/...So I stole the keys/That was the last time you ever saw me." And in Cowboys Like Me, she wrote " Now you hang from my lips, like the Gardens of Babylon". My poem, Time, I wrote: "You thought I'd never leave, guess it took you by surprise when I got up and took the keys." Also I wrote, " I'd give you the Gardens of Babylon, just to be given a chance"  ***If you read my poems in their entirety, you would see a close connection between the meanings of my poems and her songs***
Example 2:  TS's lyrics in The Man: "Im running as fast as I can, wonder if I would get there faster if I was a man."   My poem: Ordinary Citizen, I wrote: "I'm running behind, you say it's His word against mine"
I end this poem with the word Afterglow with a capital letter. Later, TS comes out with a song titled Afterglow.
Example 3: TS's lyrics in Tear's Ricochet: "And I still talk to you (when I'm screaming at the sky)" My poem, Scorpion, I wrote "I can hear her laughter echoing to us from above, saying (this is nothing but a shit show)". TS later made a reference using a scorpion in one of her songs.  Also, my poem, Beams of Light, I wrote: Doves dancing and singing high in the sky, and I can hear the beautiful choir"   Example 4: My poem Invisible Power and TS's song Invisible String. Both discuss how an invisible power (which I refer to in my poem as the wind) is leading us to certain places and fulfilling purposes)
TS lyrics include, "Time, mystical time, cutting me open then healing me fine:. Which reminds me of my poem, Time, and my lines include "Time, what is time? All I know, it's never been very kind".Also, I describe how the wind has power. In TS's song, Willow, she wrote "Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind"
Example 5:  In my poem Delusional Reality, I discuss the feeling of derealization I had while suffering with a vestibular disorder. A line includes "Hold on to me, hold on to me. I wont let you down."   In TS's prolog, she stated that her newest album "blurs the lines between fantasy and reality"   Also, in the same poem I wrote, "with the clouds I rain, the smog consumes me" which is eerily similar to the smog and smoke in TS's Archer music video. And, her lyrics include "Help me hold on to you".  (This just shows how she changes the meaning a little by adding or reversing lines).  Example 6:  In my poem, Innocence Lost, I wrote, "I caught your tear in my hand, and I fear, you're drowning in your own reflection". TS's  title of the song, Tear's Ricochet, which makes me think of this message. Furthermore, in my book, Fallen from Grace, I discuss how I lost jewelry when I left it at a hotel room. TS sings about the loss of jewelry with the passing of a loved one. So, this made me think of the book too.  Of course, this also reminds me of a song written by Sia in Titanium where she sings, "I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet".  Example 7:  My poem, Sky Tinted Water, I wrote about someone who was lost looking for love.  I describe the water as reflecting the sky with implications that they reflect love.   TS's song willow, she writes, "I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night, rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife".  The similarities in these two writings are in the usage of metaphors and placing human qualities and human emotions to elements of nature. - with reference to water.
Example 8:  My poem, Sky Tinted Water, I wrote about love and how "I was falsely led astray"  TS's song, Hoax, describes believing in a false love   Example 9:  My poem, Sky Tinted Water, I wrote " Can you show me how to complement the sky?"   TS's song, Illicit Affairs, she sings "You showed me colors you know I cant see with anyone else".
Furthermore, TS song, Illicit Affairs, she sings "I made you my temple, my mural, my sky". Which reminds me of my poem, Sky Tinted Water.
Example 10:  My poem, Breaking Waves, I discuss once we swim past the waves, we will reach a calm and that calm is my saving grace  TS's song, Cardigan, shows her swimming in a fierce ocean looking for something to calm her.   Example 11:  My poem, Stagnate, I describe feeling stuck and I wrote, "When will you let me go".  Also, I describe how someone used to know me but that I have changed, their image of me has remained the same. I wrote how that was me then, and this is me now. In a few songs, TS wrote about how she was then and now, or how she knew someone back then.
TS's songs, Right Where you Left Me, and It's Time to Go both resemble my poem, Stagnate.   Example 12: My poem, Clandestine Cat, describes a cat clawing at me but "can only leave tiny scratch marks on my back"  TS's song, Death by a Thousand Cuts, describes being cut a lot and that it wasn't okay for someone to do that.   Example 13: My poem, All I want for XMas, describes just wanting peace.   TS's song, Peace, and Tis' the Damn Season, remind me of the poem above.  Example 14: My poem, Innocence Lost, I wrote "Waiting for a break in the cloudsAs the rain continues to pourRays of light will soon shine upon us know As we continue to stand tall thru it all" TS's song, Daylight, she sings "Like daylightIt's golden like daylightYou gotta step into the daylight and let it go"
Example 15:  My poem, Gaslight, describes a woman being manipulated and made to feel as though she is crazy  (Recently, there is a song co-written by Jack Antonoff titled Gaslighter.  However, this was for the group "The Chicks)".  TS's song, Mad Woman, sings about the same thing. Also, TS lyrics include "Now I breathe flames each time I talk".   This reminds me of my poem, The Fire, when I describe fighting fire with fire.     Example 16:  My poem, Ingenue, describes a woman going through adversity but remaining strong. I also compare the fall of the Mayan Dynasty--as it being their own demise.   This sorta reminded me of TS's song, The Last Great American Dynasty, as she sings about how a woman had a marvelous time ruining everything--as if she caused the demise of her own dynasty.
Example 17:  TS's song, Long Story Short, describes picking battles until they picked her. Yet, in the end, she survived.
My poem, The Fire, describes fighting a battle and I wrote, "Pick your battles wisely, they say". In the end of the poem, I describe how I survived.
Example 18:  TS song, willow, she wrote "every switch and bait was a work of art". In my poem, Whirlwind, I wrote "when you write from the heart, it results in a work of art"I wrote a message on TS Instagram prior to evermore being released. Under one of her pics, I wrote how TS sometimes uses a "bait and switch strategy" as in avoiding attribution.
Example 19: I never thought writing about our personal experiences would be seen as a terrible thing to do. Why? We cant even express how we feel? Seriously, this is absurd. In TS's music video for Look What You Made Me Do, she is inside a cage on a swing. This video came out about 6 months after I published my poems, including Gaslighter where I wrote "You caged me and told me I am crazy".  I think this is just a coincidence, but I believe it to be metaphorical. Also, her video shows a woman who died and recovered which is how I feel a lot of the times!  I do realize we can take any song and probably find something relatable. But, we can also misinterpret lyrics and attach our own personal interpretations to them. I believe this happened when Meghan Herning interpreted the song on her blog, PopFront. Interesting note: this seemed to be the last blog entry she wrote  (Click on the "Features" Tab on her website). Meghan compared the lyrics of Swift’s song “Look What You Made Me Do” and the chants at the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville Virginia. I dont see any correlation and TS has always fought against injustices and called for equality. According to an author of another article, TS may be viewed negatively for she's a white female singing about being unjustly wronged. I believe I experienced a similar reaction with my poetry and novel. I know we all have different struggles in life, but I am not comparing myself to anyone!!  Writing was always therapeutic for me and provided a way for me to try to understand things better. Writing should not be politicized!!!! unless the intent is for that very reason. We all go through things in life, we all experience hardships and struggles....I believe everyone has the right to express their feelings and share it with others and not be persecuted for doing so. This is truly concerning.
Example 20: This has to do with another artist.  On February 12, 2021, I entered a new poem I wrote titled Truth into a poetry contest.   My poem discusses that anyone can write lies and it's very easy to manipulate others, but the truth stands on its own and it's through our actions, not words.A line in my poem is "It's the patriot turned renegade" Pink's lyrics "I haven't always been this way, I wasn't born a renegade". Pink's other lyrics are: "When they dress you up in lies and you're left naked with the truth".  This correlates with what I wrote about how lies are used in manipulative ways and truth is shown through action. Also, I posted a video on Instagram where I discussed my books and stated how it's about "what I have learned so far". Just a few months later, Pink's documentary and new song are titled "All I know so far". Also, in her video she says "She was fueled by her anger, and anger was her fuel". This is exactly the same thing I wrote in my poem "The Fire". A line in my poem is "Anger fuels my Desire and here I am, fighting fire with fire".
Yes, this could all be just a coincidence, but I don't believe all of it is. I do want to mention I have always been a fan of Pink and  think she's very talented. **Update**Example 21: TS just came out with a new album (well, it's a revised edition of her earlier RED album in which she had reproduced to be able to claim rights to the songs as they are formerly controlled and owned by media proprietor, Scooter Braun). I think it is great that she took ownership of the work she created, but still...I checked the lyrics carefully to see if I found any other similarities to other musician's songs). *TS added some new songs, including Nothing New. I would say that this song is anything but new because I first thought of Tori Amos' song, Jupiter, when I heard it. In Jupiter, Tori sings "And I thought I wouldn't have to be with you...Something new" which correlates to TS song where she sings, "And will you still want me when I'm nothing new?"/ Also, it made me think of my poem "Ingenue" which was also the initial title of my novel, Fallen from Grace. I describe a girl who lost her innocence as she grew older and wiser. Seems pretty similar to me. Oh, and i can't forget, TS also used the word Ingenue in her new song. So yeah, I guess it is similar. I do like this song of hers though and most of it is unique...just wanted to point out the similar concepts.
TS also just produced a short film titled All Too Well. **I just want to say, "I think I saw this film before, so I'm leaving out the side door" ~  TS