Don't Blame Me

"Don't Blame Me" is a song by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017). Written by Swift and producers Max Martin and Shellback, "Don't Blame Me" combines electropop, EDM, and gospel. Its production is driven by heavy bass, pulsing synthesizers, and manipulated vocals. The lyrics are about Swift's unapologetic attitude reflecting her reputation as a songwriter who mostly wrote about love and past relationships. In Reputation album reviews, contemporaneous critics described the production as dark and moody; some deemed "Don't Blame Me" a highlight and praised the dense production, while a few others felt the sound is generic. In 2022, "Don't Blame Me" gained traction on TikTok and debuted on various national charts, and has since earned sales certifications in several countries. Swift included the song on the set list of her Reputation Stadium Tour (2018) and the Eras Tour (2023). Background Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album, 1989, in October 2014 to commercial success. The album sold over six million copies in the U.S. and spawned three Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles: "Shake It Off", "Blank Space", and "Bad Blood". Swift continued to be a major target of tabloid gossip during the promotion of 1989. She had short-lived romantic relationships with Scottish producer Calvin Harris and English actor Tom Hiddleston. Her reputation was blemished from publicized disputes with other celebrities, including rapper Kanye West, media personality Kim Kardashian, and singer Katy Perry. Swift became increasingly reticent on social media, having maintained an active presence with a large following, and avoided interactions with the press amidst the tumultuous affairs. She conceived her sixth studio album, Reputation, as an answer to the media commotion surrounding her celebrity. Describing the album as "cathartic", Swift followed the songwriting for her 2014 single "Blank Space", on which she satirized her perceived image. She said: "I took that template of, OK, this is what you're all saying about me. Let me just write from this character for a second." The final cut of Reputation consists of 15 tracks, all of which Swift co-wrote.