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.
