1989–Deluxe Edition

I just finished 1989, the deluxe version. I really liked this one! It is definitely a complete transition to pop music. At one point as I was listening, I wondered, how do Swifties prepare for a new album? Like, what are y’all doing right now to prepare for October 3rd? I’m listening to these songs with the benefit of a book (and you all) to tell me the stories behind the songs. However, I listen to the songs first and then read what the book says. What are you all going to do when you hear the new album for the first time? I know there’s a lot of speculation already about what the songs could be about and what the titles could be referring to. This is why I want to hurry up and get through the rest of these albums in time. I want to experience the new album the way you all will be…in real time.

With that said, here are my notes about 1989…

1. Welcome to New York—very different sound, like song says. I like it! Very 80s/90s teen movie sounding. I like songs about New York. It’s a bucket list trip for me and I secretly want to live there. Comparing it to a love “Like any real love”, “It’s been waiting for you”. That’s a very poetic thought.
2. Blank Space—Definitely heard this one lots of times. Acknowledging her past and kind of making fun of it, almost like she’s well aware of the relationship routine she has, kind of self-deprecating but in a fun way, very light-hearted. I appreciate this song more now that I’ve listened to everything leading up to this and knowing what she’s been through with boyfriends.
3. Style—Wait a minute?! This is a Taylor Swift song?! I’ve heard this all over the radio but didn’t realize it was her. “Cause I know exactly where it leads”. It’s like she’s learned from the past and knows what to expect now. “I’ve been there too a few times.” She’s not broken over the fact he went out with other girls. She’s all like, f-it, let’s do this. Kind of wild and uncharacteristic of her. She knows what could happen, “And when we go crashing down, we come back every time”, but she goes ahead anyway.
4. Out of the Woods—What are the woods? Are they not supposed to be together? Or on rocky ground? Like out of the woods, going to make it through a rough patch. “Monsters turned out to be just trees.” Ah! I get it now. I see the connection. Lot more repetition in this one than any others I think.
5. All You Had to Do Was Stay—Another song where she’s telling him like it is. Not holding anything back. The music is cool. This is most definitely an all pop album, so far anyway. “This was what you wanted”. Once again, she made it easy for him and he messed up. That’s on him.
6. Shake It Off—Lots of radio hits on this one. Absolutely calling out the haters. Excellent way to clap back at the critics. Keep doing what you’re doing. You do you! I love that middle part! Don’t care about her ex, just the guy with the hella good hair 🙂
7. I Wish You Would—“Cause you still don’t know what I never said” That’s a good one! The chorus has a powerful sound. Could easily be a significant part in a movie.
8. Bad Blood—Is this about a bad relationship, or was this around the time of her Katy Perry feud? (**I read the book afterwards and got the details of their feud and how this is absolutely about Katy Perry). Lots of hits on this album! I have someone I could dedicate this to.
9. Wildest Dreams—Another radio hit! Man! Like a short, passionate fling that is destined to end too soon. I feel like I would have swooned over this song in high school when my hormones were raging.
10. How You Get the Girl—I like the beat. Oh this is cute! She’s kind of wishing this is what would happen to her. Kind of like a fairy tale ending. Sweet. Like how the boys do it in the rom-coms. Makes me think of John Cusack holding up the boombox in “Say Anything”.
11. This Love—Another song that could be from a movie. Very sentimental, love-lorn, absence makes the heart grow fonder? Describing the power of young love “When you’re young, you just run.”
12. I Know Places—A darker sound. Edgy. People critical of her relationship. “Lights flash and we’ll run for the fences.” It’s gotta be tough having the paparazzi watching all the time. Is this about the introverted guy she was with before Travis? She’s trying to be reassuring.
13. Clean—My niece has this word tattooed on her because of this song. “You’re still all over me”. I can see the empowerment in this. It’s getting over someone, but this could be about healing from anything. “Ten months sober”. So, different types of things to be clean from. “That’s when I could finally breathe.” You can feel the relief in the music.
14. Wonderland—I like the transition to an upbeat tempo after the beginning. Literary connection to Alice in Wonderland, the music at first (and in the chorus) sounds fairytale like somehow. I like the dual use of “wonderland”, using it like a metaphor to describe the relationship. “We both went mad.”
15. You Are in Love—Sounds a little bit like “Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper. “And for once you let go”, must be hard going into new relationships after being burned so many times. (The book tells me this is about what Lena Dunham shared with her about her husband). Does she ever write about Travis? What album do those songs show up on? “They lost their minds and fought the wars.”? That doesn’t seem to fit. What does it mean? Maybe they’ve been through so much and now have finally found each other?
16. New Romantics—“Trust me, mine is better” (about her scarlet letter). Is it supposed to sound like a playground at the beginning. “Most of them are true” It’s like she knows what’s most important and it’s not what the bullies are saying. Kind of like, it is what it is about the bricks, the love and fun and playfulness is what it’s all about.

Oh how cool! She shared the voice memos! It’s really neat to hear her process.

Blank Space (voice memo)— I love behind-the-scenes stuff! I see videos with movie behind the scenes but to hear this for behind-the-music is so cool! VH1 had a show called Behind The Music back when it and MTV still focused on music.

Songs from this album that I’m adding to my Taylor Swift favorites list—Bad Blood, Clean. Don’t know yet if they will be the OG or the TV that I add to my “inspirational” playlist. I need to write a post about what’s on that playlist soon. I have added a lot of songs lately!

Alright…on to the Taylor’s Version!