It has been a long time coming, but so worth the wait, the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is almost here! It will be released this Friday, on the nine year anniversary of its original release, at 11:00 CST. This highly anticipated re-recording of Taylor’s fifth album is a significant moment for Swifties everywhere. With the original release of 1989 in 2014, Taylor Swift showcased her evolution as an artist, and now, with the re-recorded version, she is reclaiming her artistic freedom and control over her music catalog. Fans eagerly await the chance to experience the nostalgic magic of 1989 all over again, this time with Taylor’s renewed artistic vision and ownership.
With the release of 1989 under Big Machine Records in 2014, Taylor Swift underwent a dramatic change in her artistic direction. She adopted a pop-oriented sound, very different from her past country albums. The album yielded three successful singles: “Blank Space,” “Shake It Off,” and “Bad Blood.” These singles not only topped the charts but also showcased Taylor Swift’s versatility as an artist, making her a pop icon and marking a turning point in her career.
For students who have not yet been converted to the Swiftie Religion, Taylor has been re-recording and re-releasing her albums because she had lacked ownership of her work. Now, she re-records each album and adds songs that were previously cut, calling them “Vault Tracks”. After her contract expired with Big Machine Records, she partnered with Republic Records, a new company that allowed her to retain the right to any new music she would release. In August 2019, Swift announced that she would re-record her first six albums so she could gain full ownership of her works. Since beginning the re-records in November 2020, Taylor has released Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version), followed by Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), her most recent rerecord released 2 months ago.
Taylor dropped many hints about the album’s announcement while she performed. These included changing many of the Era’s Tour costumes to blue, the color she has associated with the album. She also programmed fans’ LED wristbands to flash blue five times, with 1989 being her fifth album. On August 9, 2023, the last concert on the first leg of the tour, Taylor announced 1989 (Taylor’s Version) as her next re-recorded album, set for release on October 27, 2023, exactly nine years after the original release of 1989.
This re-record contains 21 songs, five of which are Vault Tracks, meaning they were written in 1989 but did not make the final track list in 2014. To release the titles of these tracks, Taylor designed a set of puzzles that needed to be solved before the new titles were revealed. By googling “Taylor Swift,” fans could solve these puzzles by clicking on the blue vault animation that appeared in the corner. After 33 million of the unscramble-style puzzles were solved, the track titles were released. All 33 million puzzles were solved by Taylor’s army of fans worldwide in less than a day, revealing four of the 5 vault tracks entitled: “Is It Over Now?,” “Now That We Don’t Talk,” “Say Don’t Go,” and “Suburban Legends.”
The impending release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is a momentous occasion for Swifties and music enthusiasts alike. With the re-recorded version of 1989, she invites her fans to relive the nostalgia of that era, but this time with her renewed artistic vision and ownership. The re-recording project not only demonstrates Taylor’s resilience and determination but also stands as a testament to the unwavering support of her dedicated fans. As we eagerly await the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), it’s a reminder of the power of artistic expression and the enduring bond between an artist and her fans. Taylor Swift’s re-recordings have become an empowering journey that transcends the music industry and encapsulates the unwavering spirit of an artist standing up for her creative rights.
