Taylor Swift has never been one to shy away from her critics.

From her 2010 track, “Mean,” to her firm but delicate handling of the now infamous Kanye West incident, and even her retaliation video after a messy break up with Joe Jonas, she has become almost as well known for her refutation of others opinions as her reportedly turbulent love life. It therefore is unlikely to have come as a shock to anyone when her latest single, “Shake It Off” was revealed to be a rehash of the themes expressed on “Mean”: “F**k you, I do as I please.”

The song leaves critics in a tricky loophole: to damn the record simply invites Taylor’s plethora of fans to denounce you as one of the many “haters” she names and shames in the track itself. A more cynical person could even claim the song to be a clever self-fulfilling prophecy, dreamt up by a professional songwriter and their six-figure-salary marketing team.

Up until now, I was an ardent fan of Taylor’s. Her first three albums were, to me, perfect, a strong confession from an adult male, and while I had my favourite album and one I didn’t revere quite as strongly, it was all Taylor and it all meant something. I’ll admit that I was in love with her country sound, and that when Red came along I took a while to adjust. I had to switch from adoring Taylor for being a “country artist” to being an “artist who offers something.” Everything about Red’s debut single, “We Are Never Getting Back Together,” was quite ridiculous, from its eccentric music video to its spoken-rant acting as the bridge. It was unlike anything I’d ever heard. And so, while other tracks on Red were quickly forgotten, I was satisfied that Taylor was still presenting music that made me feel a connection to an artist that was doing something different.

With “Shake It Off,” I regret to say, I have reached the end of my acceptance. The song sounds something I would more associate with Ke$ha, than anything I would care to associate myself with. Sure, it contains several of the Swift-tropes we have become acquainted with in the past two years (the giggling mid-verse; a dialogue-heavy bridge – whether you embrace these quirks or find them cringy is your own opinion), but the problem now is they have become typical and expected. It’s as though one of Rihanna’s writers had been given the job of writing a Taylor Swift song, having never met the girl.

It’s unfortunate that I will now be branded by “true Swifties” as a “hater” or what have you. I’m not. I will continue to listen to Taylor’s first three albums regularly and with great enjoyment, and “WANGBT” is now a stable on all my party playlists. However, as an adult with very little money or free time, I find no justifiable way to invest in an artist who refuses to offer me nothing in return. I have listened to “Shake It Off” only two or three times before writing this article, but already feel like I’ve heard it one thousand times before, “sick beat” and all.

I won’t go as far to say that we will never, ever get back together. But, for now, I’m sorry, Taylor. It’s time to shake you off.