All you have to do is stay until Oct. 27 to hear Taylor Swift’s fourth re-recorded album, “1989 (Taylor’s Version).” Many Swifties are counting down the days until it releases.
In her last show of the first leg of The Eras Tour at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, Taylor Swift announced her new release with hundreds of celebrities and fans watching live and even more watching on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Taylor Swift fans—Swifties—have been known to follow clues that she leaves in her carefully planned social media posts, outfits, and concerts. Most fans predicted the announcement when SoFi stadium posted a TikTok with “1989” song, “New Romantics,” as background music the same day.
I would consider myself a Swiftie through and through. I have waited for her other three re-releases over the last two years and changed all my playlists with her music to have the Taylor’s Version songs.
Taylor Swift was forced to make these re-releases after her record label, Big Machine, sold her songs to a music industry snake, Scooter Braun. Swift, however, still owned her lyrics and is taking the time to re-record and release her own versions, along with songs she never released when the original albums debuted.
“1989” is personally one of my favorite albums because of its diverse music. Some songs like “New Romantics” and “Shake It Off” are upbeat and positive. Other songs like, “All You Had To Do Was Stay” and “I Wish You Would” show an emotional side to Swift and her music.
Many people say that Swift’s music is just breakup songs. This is the furthest thing from the truth. Sure, she writes songs about boys and her past relationships, but that could be said about almost any music artist in this present era.
For example, she has a song in her “1989” album, “Welcome To New York,” which is about her move to New York City in 2014 where she moved into her infamous apartment on Cornelia Street in Greenwich Village.
Swift also has a very popular song released in 2019 for her “Lover” album called “The Man,” which is a song about patriarchy and women like her having to “run as fast as they can” knowing they’d get there quicker if they were men. This song sent a really important message about the music industry and how it has normalized sexism.
The origin of this song came from Swift’s personal struggles in the industry and how the press painted her as an undeserving artist in the height of her success. She was brought down by the public for making the same cutthroat choices. This was so contradictory because, in the past, male artists have been praised for making the same choices.
These songs are not about petty break ups or even about romantic relationships in general. She makes such a variety of music that could tailor to anyone’s preference.
If you like rap-style pop music with the message of positive self-image and rebuilding yourself, “Reputation” is your album.
If you are more of a country listener, then her debut album, “Taylor Swift,” or her second studio album, “Fearless,” are the ones worth listening to, with songs about starting high school and being 15, or the song she shares with her significant other.
She even has two indie rock albums, “Folklore” and “Evermore”. These albums feature songs about made-up people and a Great American Dynasty.
If you are a Swiftie hater, maybe try and listen to “1989” when it comes out. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
And for Swifties, fill that blank space on your calendar and stream “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” on Oct. 27.