Taylor Swift just released her most awaited re-recording of her masters yet, the elusive 80s synth pop inspired album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and it was absolutely worth the wait. Taylor has also included a few “from the vault” tracks, songs that were written in the same era as the original album but were cut before its release. Asides from Taylor’s matured voice, the tracks stayed as wonderfully pop as they could with an even brighter production. Here, I discuss my favorite songs and lyrics from Taylor Swift’s re-released album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
The original tracklist contained 13 songs and featured 3 bonus songs on the deluxe version, making its 2014 tracklist a total of 16 songs. Taylor’s Version features a total of 22 songs, 16 of the original, 5 “from the vault” tracks, and one feature track “Bad Blood ft. Kendrick Lamar.” Unavailable on streaming services and exclusive to the Target Tangerine Vinyl is the song “Sweeter than Fiction.”
From the original tracks, my favorites have always been “Out of the Woods” and “Wonderland” but after this re-release, I can confidently say I have a newfound appreciation for “Clean”, “I Know Places”, and “Wildest Dreams”. I think sonically, these five songs are similar in tone and production, all very dreamy, poppy, and upbeat yet their lyrics starkly contrast their sound. I personally love a good juxtaposition when done right, and Ms. Swift always does.
In my opinion, the best of the never-heard-before tracks are definitely “Now That We Don’t Talk” and “SLUT!”. I am a sucker for lyrical storytelling and these two songs have one of the most beautiful and heart wrenching stories on this album. “Now That We Don’t Talk” shares Swift’s experience with cutting off a recent lover and is basically all the petty things she wishes she could tell her past lover as both parties begin to change, how she hides behind this facade of nonchalance so they don’t see how much losing them affected her, and finally coming to terms with the end of the relationship. It is criminally short and disguises its gut wrenching words with an upbeat instrumental and fun vocal cadence. My favorite lyrics have to be “And the only way back to my dignity/Was to into a shrouded mystery/Just like I had been when you were chasing me/Guess this is how it has to be now that we don’t talk”.
“SLUT!” is almost the opposite, its lyrics tell the story of Swift’s inner thoughts regarding the many hurtful judgements the public and the media have made about her romantic endeavors and how they are all worth enduring due to the intensity of their love. It toys with this idea of being torn down because of who you’re in love with, that person being so highly sought after that people hate you for it. None of this matters to Swift because of how blinded by her own love she is, making this song the sonic embodiment of wearing rose colored glasses. “Got love-struck, went straight to my head/Got lovesick all over my bed/Love to think you’ll never forget/Handprints in wet cement/Adorned with smoke on my clothes/Lovelorn and nobody knows/Love thorns all over this rose/I’ll pay the price, you won’t”.
Overall, I think the re-recording of this album was done beautifully paying homage to the original tracks with cleaner productions and stronger vocals but also giving life to the songs once previously cut from the album. Definitely worth a listen to!