The long awaited album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version), is finally out in the world, with new recordings of every track and five new stunning vault tracks. Swifties have been waiting for this album rerecording perhaps since Taylor Swift first announced her re-recordings. Anticipation heightened to a new level when Swift announced it at her last Eras tour show of the first leg in Los Angeles. Before the announcement though, Swift teased all her fans with her signature “easter eggs” in which album recording comes next, including several blue outfits in that show and hints in instagram posts. With the introduction of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), came the reveal of the cover. This album cover is the first one that Swift has ever smiled in. I think it’s safe to say that 1989 has never gone out of style, especially release day, when it became the most-streamed album in a single day.
Overall in each recording, Swift’s voice sounds much smoother and crisper. Similar to Speak Now (Taylors Version), Swift’s voice sounds much more mature and natural. She sounds more relaxed, and I can see why: she finally gets to own the rights to her first pop album. This smoothness in her voice is especially obvious in “New Romantics,” “Clean,” and “Bad Blood”. Opposing this change in most songs, other songs have a newfound grittiness to them, like the subtle growl in “I Know Places.” It is very evident that Swift has stepped up her game and made this one of her best recordings yet.
1989 (Taylor’s Version) has the fewest vault tracks of all her re-recordings, and Swift really said quality over quantity. Swift herself stated how this is her favorite Taylor’s version recording because of the five insane vault tracks. Starting off with the first, most anticipated vault track, “S–t!” was a totally different song than everyone was expecting. While fans were expecting an aggressive, even angry song, Swift delivered a slower, even slightly sad track. With its incredible lyricism, it responds to the media for all the shaming she’s received over the years. While unexpected, “S–t!” is no doubt one of the best tracks on the album. Next on the track list is “Say Don’t Go.” This song is truly a masterpiece and one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs ever. The way she starts off the song so low: her pitch, her tone, it is all just perfection and it gives me chills every time. Swift delivers this song with an unbelievable smoothness and the chorus just hits different each time. “Now That We Don’t Talk” was the first song I heard after the album release, and it set my expectations high. Swift really let loose and let her vocals show for themselves on this track. “Suburban Legends” does not seem to fit into the 1989 vibe very well and fans have been comparing it to songs on her recent album, Midnights, including “Mastermind.” Despite being different from the other songs, Swift sounds incredible, and the lyrics of the songs are, as always, enchanting to listen to. Last but definitely not least, “Is It Over Now?” is also up there with some of Swift’s best tracks. Swifties know from just a few lines that this song is indeed a diss track towards Harry Styles, which makes it all the more fun to listen to. Swift, known for her iconic bridges, has done it again in this track, and everything about it is just perfect. Swift was not wrong when she stated that these were the best vault tracks yet.
1989 (Taylor’s Version) broke records, shed the tears of many fans, and made a statement. It is not just another album, it is a message to the people involved in stealing the original, and a message to the world: that Swift is doing better than ever, despite multiple setbacks in her career. Her voice is so much more mature and it is astounding the workload she can take on while also on her tour. Swift showed her fans that she can really show us incredible things: magic, madness, heaven, and sin through her music. With that, I think it’s safe to say that Taylor Swift is finally clean.
