Shake It Off | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s Albums: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Edition

I just know that the idea of releasing vault tracks came out of the moment Taylor remembered she wrote 'Is It Over Now?'

994
A Deep Dive Into Taylor Swift’s Albums: 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Edition
Edited by Hailey Hastings

In This Article:

I am fully emersed into diving deep into every single Taylor Swift album, which I do on my own all the time, but wanted to do it in a way where I am sharing what a special discography she has. I feel like 1989 is the perfect place to start, it's an era that changed everything, and will always be an album people automatically think of when you say "Taylor Swift."

Welcome To New York

Not a single song on this record could have better kicked off Taylor's first full-on pop era quite like 'Welcome To New York.' This track is hopeful, and joyous, and encapsulates the dreams people come to chase in New York City, which is a wide-eyed approach to a city that is easy to feel jaded in.

Blank Space

This album is chalked full of some of Taylor's biggest hits, and 'Blank Space' may just be the biggest. This track being the smash-hit it is has always felt like the sweetest version of karma. Taylor penned this track all about the media and their depiction of her as some jet-set woman who plays men and serial dates, and she played into that and it sent her into full-on superstardom. That's my girl!

Style

This song was written purely while Taylor was daydreaming about strutting down a catwalk, I am almost sure of it. 'Style' has the perfect beat to create wind in the hair and act like you're on America's Next Top Model. This song meant everything to me when this record came out and I think is one of the leading reasons 1989 is often referred to as the pop bible.

Out of the Woods

And speaking of why 1989 is referred to as a pop bible, 'Out The Woods' may be the leading reason. I revisit this song often and have not left those listening sessions without feeling like I have found a new line to hang onto. There are so many emotions that flow through this track, there is longing, longing for freedom, for privacy, and there is so much fear, and so much love. I feel like Taylor let us into her world in a whole new with the way she described the role media plays in her relationships.

All You Had To Do Was Stay

I know that some people criticize 'All You Had To Do Was Stay' being a track five, saying the sound is too upbeat. But I've always found it to be a quite heartbreaking song. The premise of having to plead with someone, of saying literally all you had to do was stick around, the bare minimum, is devastating. Don't let the glittery beat fool you!

Shake It Off

I think everyone on the planet may know this song. It's taken on such a life of its own, and become one of those songs that is synonymous with pop music. From the beat to Taylor's playful lyrics where she pokes fun at the people who poke fun at her, this song is the hit of all hits. Also, nothing is as fun as being in a room with thousands of other people at a Taylor Swift show singing and dancing along to this track.

I Wish You Would

Top three on 1989, and I will take no questions! This song just scratches a part of my brain that I didn't know needed to be scratched. I think as far as this album goes, this is the best chorus. And I will die on that hill. I will always be a 'I Wish You Would' defender.

Taylor Swift - Bad Blood (Taylor's Version) (Lyric Video)

The OG music video for this song was my Joker when it came out. It was that serious to me. Similarly to 'Blank Space' and 'Shake It Off' this song became bigger than I am sure even Taylor was ever expecting and is now one of those songs that people automatically think of when they think of Taylor Swift.

Wildest Dreams

This song in any romantic movie ever, automatically makes it ten times better. 'Wildest Dreams' is both sultry and sweet, giving me everything I had ever wanted out of this sound from a Taylor pop album, and this was one of the first times we got to see this side of Taylor.

How You Get The Girl

She wrote y'all a playbook! There are no excuses! This bubble-gum pop track, which is filled with so many great lyrical moments has been an album highlight for me since my very first listen, and judging by how I just danced around my room, it still is!

This Love

"This Love' is a bit of a paradox in a song. There is both a positive take on this while feeling utterly heartbreaking all at once. Taylor going through the list of all the things that this love is, on both ends of a spectrum, is such a beautiful element of the track.

I Know Places

'I Know Places' was our first taste of this darker sound that could have easily fit on Reputation. This song followed suite of a few other songs on this record and shined the mirror back on the media, and painted herself as feeling hunted by them. Saying she has to jump through hoops to keep things private. It's a sad reality, and I can't even imagine now, in 2024, how that has intensified given she's the biggest artist in the world, and only getting bigger.

Clean

This song breaks me, I don't think I have ever listened without ugly crying. That feeling of being out of a toxic situation and feeling so emotionally drained, feeling like you're drowning, but then looking around and realizing despite the pain, the hope of a better tomorrow is finally there, that is just a freeing experience. 'Clean' will forever hold such a special place in my heart.

Wonderland

Having a Taylor Swift song chalked full of Alice in Wonderland references still makes my Disney-loving heart so happy. This is one where I find new things I love about it all of the time. The production gets better with every listen, it's a true smash.

You Are In Love

I like to pretend this song isn't about Lena and Jack, personally. 'You Are In Love' is one of, in my opinion, one of the most beautifully written tracks of all time. I do indeed cry every time the line "pauses then says, you're my best friend" is uttered.

New Romantics

Before Taylor's Version, this was the OG ending track to the 1989 era, and it is beyond perfect. This song is indeed a heartbreak anthem, and you don't feel heartbroken for one moment when you are singing and dancing along to the track. Another track that is pure joy when it's performed live.

Slut!

As soon as 'Slut!' started I knew we were in for a flawless 5-track run of vault tracks. This track takes a close look at how the media has treated Taylor over the years and is finally her saying that she is going to let people think what they want, but that she is going to continue to operate as though no commentary is being given.

Say Don't Go

'Say Don't Go' wasn't initially my favorite track out of the vault tracks, but has definitely grown on me and become a song that holds its own with these other four stellar additions to a ffront-to-backperfect album. I don't go back to this one as much as the other tracks, but that could change at any time.

Now That We Don't Talk

This song perfectly describes what it's like to watch an ex from afar and ponder if not talking, if being apart is for the best. There are two sides of the coin Taylor talks about, on one side she's saying she's watching this person change into someone who she doesn't recognize, someone who "looks like they are trying life on," someone who she doesn't recognize, and on the other side of the coin she's looking at it as a positive thing by saying that at least she doesn't have to continue to be the one pretending to enjoy all these things she did to fit with him.

Suburban Legends

This song belongs on in a coming-of-age soundtrack. The idea of being meant to be frozen in time, meant to be those people that everyone from your hometown knows about, that everyone talks about, that is very Paper Towns, Margo Roth Spiegelman coded. This track should have been on the OG version, teenage me would have made myself the main character with this as the soundtrack.

Is It Over Now?

One of the best songs in Taylor's discography (the highest compliment a song could receive) and of the best pop songs ever released. Is It Over Now? is simply just THAT girl! I can not believe Taylor kept a song this good locked away for all these years, but I am also so glad this song was waiting for us with this release. A slam dunk if there ever was one. She could not have waved goodbye to the 1989 era with a better song.

Report this Content
university
University of Nebraska at Omaha

Creating your schedule for the upcoming semester can be an exciting process. You have the control to decide if you want to have class two-days a week or five-days a week. You get to check things off of your requirement checklist. It's an opportunity for a fresh start with new classes (which you tell yourself you'll never skip.) This process, which always starts out so optimistic, can get frustrating really quickly. Here are 25 thoughts you have when registering for classes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

10 Thoughts Of A 5th Year Senior

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1106
college shirt
pointsincase.com

"College will be the best four years of your life" is a phrase that we have all heard growing up. College is painted as a magical place to us while we are in high school. A place you go to learn, meet your best friends and probably have the time of your life while all of this is going down. Four whirlwind years, where everything that you've known changes and you start to learn what it means to live on your own, have a job, etc. But what about those of us who don't do this all in four years? Major changes, hard courses, switching schools, career paths changing, these are just a handful of factors that could extend your four years to five, six or seven. There is nothing wrong with taking extra time to graduate, but returning as a fifth-year is a little different. Most of your best friends have most likely graduated and moved and while you may be one of the oldest undergraduates on campus, you might feel as awkward as a freshmen. A world that became home and comfortable to you is still there but it's slightly different than you've known it to be and you have to find a groove to fall into. These are thoughts you'll have as you look ahead to returning to your college campus, with a victory lap planned.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

17 Times "Friends" Accurately Described Life

You can't say that no one told you life was gonna be this way.

264
friends

In the 12 years since it went off the air, "Friends" continues to be adored by millions. The show that gave generations unrealistic expectations about love (or should I say lobsters?) and New York City apartments had a charming cast of characters that everyone could relate to at some point or another. Here are 17 times Ross, Monica, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Rachel accurately described life.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

11 Times Aubrey Plaza Described Sophomore Year

"I don't want to do things. I want to do not things."

624
Aubrey Plaza
Flickr Creative Commons

Aubrey Plaza is one of my favorite humans in Hollywood. She's honest, blunt, unapologetic, and hilarious. I just started my sophomore year of college, and found that some of her best moments can accurately describe the start of the school year.

1. When your advisor tells you that you should declare a major soon.

2. Seeing the lost and confused freshmen and remembering that was you a short year ago, and now being grateful you know the ins and outs of the campus.

3. Going to the involvement fair to sign up for more clubs knowing that you are already too involved.

4. When you actually do the reading required for the first class.

5. Seeing your friends for the first time since last semester.

6. When you're already drowning in homework during syllabus week.

7. Realizing you don't have the same excitement for classes as you did as a freshman.

8. Going home and seeing people from high school gets weirder the older you get.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

College vs. High School

Freedom vs. Curfew

310
graduation

Things you may not realize are different between high school and college:

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments