Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version)
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available on (2023) October (27), , "1989' (Taylor's Version)" stands as Taylor Swift's fourth re-recorded album, a response to a dispute over her back catalog's masters. It's a reimagining of her 5th studio album (1989) from 2014. The announcement came during the Eras Tour's finishing show in Los Angeles on August 9, 2023.
This 1980s-inspired synth-pop masterpiece pulsates with hopeful planning of synthesizers and percussion. Featuring re-recorded versions of the original 16 tracks along with five previously unreleased ) From the Vault( gems, the album showcases Swift's collaborative prowess with producers Jack Antonoff, Christopher Rowe, Ryan Tedder, Noel Zancanella, Shellback, and Imogen Heap. Extended editions also include the reimagined "Sweeter than Fiction" 2 from the (One Chance) soundtrack and Kendrick Lamar's remix of "Bad Blood".
Critics lauded "1989 (Taylor's Version)" for its impeccable production, Swift's compelling vocals, and the allure of the vault tracks. Commercially, it soared, achieving the high streaming day for an album in (2023) on (Spotify) and breaking records on (Amazon Music). Dominating charts worldwide, the album secured the top spot in Australia. Canada. and various European countries. including "France"Italy"Germany"Spain" and the "United Kingdom". In the US, it marked Swift's 13th number 1 album on the Billboard 200, boasting the huge sales week of her position and making her the first artist with six albums selling over one million copies in their debut week. Remarkably, seven tracks from the album surged into the top Ten of the Billboard Hot hundred concurrently, with the vault tracks reigning supreme in the top three spots.
Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Background
On October 27, 2014, Taylor Swift unveiled her fifth studio album, "1989," marking a significant departure as she shifted her focus from country to pop. Released under Big Machine Records, the album drew inspiration from 1980s synth-pop, showcasing Swift's evolution as an artist. Garnering praise from critics, "1989" surpassed 10 million copies in global sales and spawned three chart-topping singles: "Shake It Off," "Blank-Space," and "Bad-Blood."
At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, Swift's dominance continued as "1989" secured her the honored Album of the Year "award", making her the first female musician to clinch the honor twice.
Swift's departure from Big Machine Records in November 2018 marked a pivotal moment in her career. Signing with Republic Records granted her the autonomy to reclaim the masters of her future releases. However, the acquisition of Big Machine by music executive Scooter Braun in 2019 transferred ownership of Swift's first six albums, including "1989," to him. In response, Swift resolved to re-record her catalog, ensuring she retained control over her artistic legacy.
A re-recording tour began in November 2020, with "Fearless (Taylor Version)" serving as the opening release on April 9, 2021, followed by Taylor's version of "Red" on November 12, 2021, and { Speak-Now} Taylor's Version}" on July 7, 2023. Each reimagined album soared to the top of the US Billboard two hurdard chart.
Ahead of the full re-recorded album, Swift teased fans with updated versions of select tracks from "1989," distinguished by the appended "Taylor's Version" label. Notably, "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" gained traction after its TikTok resurgence, while other tracks found placements in various films and series.
On August 9, 2023, during the finale of her Eras Tour at "SoFi-Stadium" in Los Angeles, Swift delighted fans by announcing "1989 (Taylor's Version)," slated for release on 2023, October 27, exactly nine years after the original album's launching. The announcement, accompanied by a vibrant display of blue outfits, paid homage to the era fans fondly associated with "1989."
Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version)Writing and recording
The excellence edition of "(1989-taylor's-Version)" boasts a robust lineup of 21 tracks, including re-recordings of the original 13 Tracks from the excellence edition of the 2014 album. Additionally, it features revamped versions of the three premium songs from the original deluxe edition, along with five formerly unreleased "From the Vault" gems, originally intended for the album but left off the final track list.
Extended editions of "1989 (Taylor's Version)" include bonus tracks such as the re-recordings of the "Bad Blood" remix featuring Kendrick Lamar (2015) and "Sweeter than Fiction" (2013), a track "Swif-tylor" and "Jack-Antonoff" contributed to the (soundtrack) of "One Chance" (2013).
The re-recording process was largely overseen by Swift and Christopher Rowe, with contributions from original producers including Antonoff, Ryan Tedder, Noel Zancanella, and Imogen Heap. Notably, Swedish producer Shellback, who collaborated with Max Martin on multiple tracks on the original "1989," joined Swift and Rowe to produce "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)" However, Martin did not join them in the re-recording process again. All vault tracks were penned and bring out by Swift-tylor and Antonoff, except for "Say Don't Go," which saw collaboration with American songwriter Diane Warren.
Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Music and lyrics
Composition-wise,1989's "Taylor Version" is an excellent synth-pop masterpiece, characterized by sinuous melodies, bubbling synthesizers, and robust percussions. While rooted in the 1980s-inspired synth-pop sound, the album transcends mere imitation, representing an evolution of Swift's distinctive style rather than a nostalgic throwback. Critics note that the primary sonic disparity between the original "1989" and its re-recorded counterpart lies in Swift's vocals, which exhibit newfound technical prowess and depth.
In the re-recording, there's a perceptible refinement in instrumentation, as noted by Clash's Alex Berry, who praised its "cleaner" sound. Subtle alterations are scattered throughout the tracks: the clicking pen noise on "Blank-Space" adopts a different tone, the vocal hook of "New Romantics" becomes more staccato, the reverb on "Out of the Woods" gains prominence, and the guitar tone on "Style" undergoes modification.
The "From the Vault" songs seamlessly integrate with the album's overarching 1980s aesthetic. Their production, characterized by reverb-drenched keyboards, harkens back to the late-1980s radio era, according to AllMusic's Fred Thomas. Critics observed that these vault tracks span various pop subgenres akin to the original 2014 recordings. Additionally, some elements in the vault tracks reflect influences from Swift's more recent original studio album, "Midnights" (2022), as noted by Variety's Chris Willman.
Each vault track encapsulates unique narratives and musical styles. "Slut!" confronts public scrutiny, with lyrics celebrating a romantic relationship unabashedly. It's a mid-tempo synth-pop piece adorned with soft backing vocals and lush synthesizers. "Say Don't Go" delves into the complication of holding onto a fading relationship, featuring pop-rock production and 1980s-inspired drum patterns. Meanwhile, "(Now-That-We-Don't-Talk)" infuses disco grooves and falsetto vocals, depicting Swift's liberation from a past lover. "Suburban Legends" captures the longing for a hopeful yet unattainable romance, accompanied by a pulsating disco groove and ethereal synthesizers. Lastly, "Is It Over Now?" navigates the aftermath of a breakup, blending electropop elements with poignant lyricism and echoing drum machines.
Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Release
On 2023 September 19, Swift teased fans with a cryptic visual on social media, showcasing the letters "T-S-!-U-L" rising from a blue-vault, hinting at one of the anticipated "From the Vault" tracks. Collaborating with Google Search, she launched a word puzzle feature to unveil these tracks. Typing "Taylor Swift" triggered an animated blue vault, leading to one of 89 puzzles, with or without hints, to solve. The revelation of track titles awaited the global solving of 33 million puzzles. Despite a brief crash, the target was surpassed within a day. Four of the five vault tracks were disclosed: "Is-It-Over-Now?", "Now-That-We-Don't-Talk", "Say-Don't-Go", and "Suburban-Legends". Swift later confirmed "'Slut!'" as the final vault track through the album's back covers reveal.
Republic Records dropped "(1989-Taylor's-Version)" on year 2023 October 27, marking Swift's fourth re-recorded album. Available across various platforms including streaming, downloads, vinyl LPs, cassettes, and CDs, the standard edition comprised 21 tracks—16 re-recorded originals and five vault tracks. Additionally, a deluxe edition, featuring a re-recorded remix of "Bad Blood" with Lamar, hit streaming and digital platforms shortly after. The album boasted 14 physical variants, encompassing vinyl editions (including a Target exclusive with "Sweeter than Fiction" re-recording), CD editions (each with folded posters or photographs), and a multi-colored cassette. The standard cover, featuring Swift adorned in red lipstick against a backdrop of a blue sky with seagulls, drew criticism from Exclaim!, ranking it 15th worst of the year. Universal Music and Republic Records furthered promotion by releasing "'Slut!'" to Italian radio and "Is-It-Over-Now?" as a one only to US contemporaneous hit radio, respectively, on October 27 and October 31.
Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Critical reception
1989 (Taylor's Version) garnered widespread critical acclaim. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, it achieved a weighted mean score of 90 out of 100 based on 15 reviews, signifying "universal acclaim". AnyDecentMusic? aggregated 14 reviews, awarding the album an 8.1 out of 10.
Critics lauded the production for its fidelity to the original. Hollie Geraghty of NME, Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph, and Ludovic Hunter-Tilney from the Financial Times hailed it as Swift's finest work. Hunter-Tilney even praised the album for exemplifying "the highly engineered setting of the perfect pop song". The Times' Will Hodgkinson labeled it a "pop masterclass", while Ed Power of the-i described it as "bright, brash, smart, and catchy". Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone, Alex Hopper of American Songwriter, and Shaad D'Souza of Pitchfork asserted that the re-recorded album reaffirmed the original's timeless brilliance. Mark Sutherland of Rolling Stone UK went as far as to suggest that 1989 (Taylor's Version) "could well be the greatest pop album of 2023".
Swift's vocals also received praise, with critics noting their increased power and maturity. Rachel Aroesti of The Guardian remarked on their richness and maturity, while Berry applauded Swift's crystal-clear pronunciation and impactful delivery. Some, like Keefe and Hopper, argued that her matured vocals added depth and resonance to the tracks. However, Adam White of The Independent contended that while Swift's improved vocals lacked the raw strain of 2014, they still elevated the album to "untouchable greatness".
The vault tracks were similarly well-received, deemed by Aroesti, Martoccio, Power, and Hopper as valuable additions showcasing Swift's songwriting prowess. Berry praised their "exquisite" quality and strong production. Elizabeth Braaten of Paste hailed them as Swift's best-re-recorded album additions yet, while Thomas suggested they solidified Swift's status as a "timeless songwriter". Keefe, however, expressed less enthusiasm, finding the vault tracks solid but lacking thematic and aesthetic extension. D'Souza noted they lacked the precision of the album proper but added depth and context.
Taylor Swift's 1989 (Taylor's Version) Commercial performance
On Spotify, 1989 (Taylor's Version) set a new benchmark for global album streams in 2023, amassing an impressive 176 million streams in a single day. Swift also surpassed her own-record for the highest single-day streams for an artist. The album made waves on Amazon Music as well, breaking records for both single-day and single-week streams. Republic Records reported stellar opening-week sales exceeding 3.5 million units globally, solidifying its status as the third best-selling female album in its debut week ever.
In terms of sales figures, 1989 (Taylor's Version) achieved remarkable success, selling 2.8 million copies worldwide in 2023. This made it the sixth best-selling album overall and the top-selling solo artist album of the year. Additionally, it emerged as the best-selling vinyl album of 2023, with a staggering 1.4 million copies sold. Swift's dominance extended to the charts, with all 21 tracks on the standard edition of the re-recording making an impact on the Billboard Hot 100.
In the United States, 1989 (Taylor's Version) continued Swift's streak of chart-topping albums, debuting at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 1.653 million units, including 1.359 million pure sales. It marked her 13th chart-topper and remained at the summit for six non-consecutive weeks, contributing to Swift surpassing Elvis Presley's record for the most weeks atop the Billboard 200 by a soloist. By January 2024, it had surpassed two million in pure sales.
Internationally, the album saw widespread success, reaching #1 on album charts across Europe, including major territories like Germany, France, and the UK. In the UK, it had a stellar opening week, debuting at #1 on the UK Albums Chart with 184,000 units sold, Swift's 11th number one. It also became the fastest-selling vinyl album of 2023 in the UK, with 62,000 LPs sold in its first week. Similarly, in Australia, it debuted at the top of the ARIA Albums Chart, marking Swift's 12th number-one album and setting a new record for the largest vinyl sales week in Australian chart history.
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