1989 (Taylor’s Version) is Taylor Swift’s fifth re-recorded album released in response to her masters being sold in 2019 without her knowledge and permission by her former record label Big Machine Records. The full re-recorded album was released with five new songs from the “vault” and this is my review of them.
“Slut!”
Despite the title having an aggressive tone the song is a gentle seductive track including descriptive imagery. Swift captures the fight against the misogynistic backlash that might come with a public relationship, stating “The sticks and stones they throw froze mid-air.” Swift does well with expanding on how her love won’t be phased by negative opinions like these. I really liked this one, especially the bridge.
Say Don’t Go
Swift wrote this one for all the “situationship” girlies out there who relate to the line “I’m yours but you’re not mine.” With a reference to her song “Haunted” from the Speak Now album, Swift once again is talking about walking a fragile line but this time on a tightrope. The insistence of walking this tightrope alone takes into consideration how she might be the only person fighting for this relationship to work. My favorite comparison was her analogy of comparing their love to a poker game and stating that she’ll fold unless her significant other says “don’t go.”. The repetitive chorus of asking why that person made her love them, why they led her on, and why they twisted the knife is exactly what goes on in someone’s mind who is in this situation (totally not speaking from experience).
Now That We Don’t Talk
With an obvious reference to Harry Styles’ long hair, Swift puts into perspective what went on in what seemed like a short-lived 2012 fever dream. Swift represents the feeling of hearing or seeing things about your ex and not being able to ask them about it because well, you don’t talk. I hope I wasn’t the only one who screamed “Now that we don’t talk, I don’t have to pretend I like acid-rock” because wow that was so relatable. Overall Swift does an exceptional job of having FOMO on your ex’s life. Because we all get that… right?
Suburban Legends
Starting right off the bat talking about her cheating ex, Swift mentions the irresistible charm the person had. Sorry if this hurts anyone’s feelings but altogether this song did not stand out to me. My favorite lyric, however, was “And you kiss me in a way that’s gonna screw me up forever”. I still don’t know what “Suburban Legends” means or is supposed to entail.
Is It Over Now?
Even after what Swift describes as “300 takeout coffees later,” she is still reminded of her ex in her everyday life. Swift questions if their relationship is really over even if they are both seeing other people, and I mean is it over? Swift seems to criticize her ex’s flashy ways of showing how he has moved on. Swift then says the most relatable lyric she has ever written: “I think about jumping off of very tall somethings.” While she wants to see her ex run back to her, I think that to avoid homework, we are clearly not the same.
All five songs that were released from the vault were very good, some better than others though. I will admit, these were not my favorite vault tracks that she has released but this does not discredit how good the songs are. Red (Taylor’s Version) had my favorite vault tracks including her version of Babe, I Bet You Think About Me, and All Too Well (10 Minute Version) of course. But, 1989 was a critical point in Taylor Swift’s career as she began her transition to pop and I’m glad she shared 1989 (Taylor’s Version) with us because how else would we have known that she actually dated Harry Styles? I’m just kidding, I believe in their relationship but I also believe in Swiftgron and those two can co-exist! My top two songs were Now That We Don’t Talk and Is It Over Now?
