With a new style and a fresh 80s pop sound, Taylor Swift released her fifth studio album “1989” on Oct. 27. The foundation for the title and the tunes revolves around the decade of her birth; more specifically, the late 80s. “1989” as a whole is an upbeat album where Swift writes about new experiences (like in “Welcome to New York”), being true to who you are, and post-relationship emotions she is famously known for.
One track, “Wildest Dreams”, is a heartfelt and emotional ballad with a strong melody. The lyrics emphasize Swift’s want to be remembered after a relationship comes to an inevitable end. Her voice proves she can sing a lively song like “Shake It Off” (a pre-released single that was an instant hit), but also a touching and passionate ballad like “Wildest Dreams.” In certain parts of the song, the vocals vaguely remind me of American dream pop singer Lana Del Ray’s haunting style.
“Bad Blood,” another song gaining much praise, has a strong chorus with a “you-should’ve-known-better” attitude. The metaphorical lyrics are relatable and the “car-shaking beat” just adds to the song, making it one of my personal favorites. In this song especially, Swift speaks, creating a sassy and empowering feeling.
Another upbeat single is “Style.” It is one of the earlier songs on the album, with references to iconic actor James Dean and mentions Swift’s classic red lipstick. Taylor discusses the happy-go-lucky feeling she gets in a relationship which will “…never go out of style.” Its 80s beat and fun lyrics makes the track a highlight in the album.
A song that is quite similar to “Love Story,” a single from her 2009 “Fearless” album, is “How You Get the Girl”. Both songs replicate the fantasy aspects of a relationship, and “How You Get the Girl” is somewhat similar to the pop country style she abandoned. The beat is playful, but the same time is similar to her younger songs she wrote and produced in her teens giving the song a childish feel.
As a whole, the album “1989” is one of the best albums Taylor Swift has ever produced, as listening to it is exciting and relatable. She reintroduced 80s style music, adding a modern twist, that, represented her as a musician. The music is upbeat and made even doing dishes a time to dance, which she has a knack of doing.
I rate this album a 4 out of 5 stars because some songs reminded me of previous singles Taylor Swift has released, whether it was embedded in the lyrics or the beat (“How You Get the Girl” and “Love Story,” for example). However, being a devoted fan of 80s music (and Taylor herself since her first album release in 2006), I admired how she took a different direction regarding her sound. When her single “Shake It Off” was released, I immediately knew this album was going to take a completely different turn, and this decision to switch up her style and lyrics greatly benefited the pop artist. Once again, Taylor Swift has proved her strength as a musician through the combination of soulful lyrics and unique beats, and I think fans and critics alike will be dancing along to “1989” for months to come.
