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taylor swift kendrick lamar bad blood re-record
taylor swift kendrick lamar bad blood re-record
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Culture > Entertainment

Kendrick Lamar Re-Recorded “Bad Blood” With Taylor For ‘1989 (TV)’ & Her Reaction Was Everything

Rachel Armstrong

Happy 1989 (Taylor’s Version) release day to all who celebrate! In addition to all of the songs Taylor Swift re-recorded for 1989, she added a special feature and remake from the one and only Kendrick Lamar on “Bad Blood.” The two first collaborated in 2015 when the “Bad Blood” remix initially dropped. The 1989 (Taylor’s Version) of “Bad Blood” features an entirely new version of his feature. 1989 also features five new vault songs called “Slut!,” “Say Don’t Go,” “Now That We Don’t Talk,” “Suburban Legends,” and “Is It Over Now?” The whole album is a bop.

Fans have long loved Lamar’s original feature on the song. When the new version dropped on Oct. 27, Swift wrote posted about it on Instagram, and talked about the significance of his feature. “Watching @kendricklamar create and record his verses on the Bad Blood remix was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life,” she wrote. “I still look back on this collaboration with so much pride and gratitude, for the ways Kendrick elevated the song and the way he treats everyone around him. Every time the crowds on The Eras Tour would chant his line ‘you forgive, you forget, but you never let it
 go!’ I smiled. The reality that Kendrick would go back in and re-record ‘Bad Blood’ so that I could reclaim and own this work I’m so proud of is surreal and bewildering to me. I’m overjoyed to say that the ‘Bad Blood Remix (featuring Kendrick Lamar)’ is available everywhere on the 1989 Deluxe Edition.”

The “Bad Blood” song was a favorite among fans during The Eras Tour, so much so that fans shouted his lyrics to Swift as a chant during her live performance of the song. The “Bad Blood” fandom runs deep. You may also remember the original song’s iconic video, and the long list of A-list celebrities who made a cameo in the video — and who also happen to be a few of Swift’s closest friends. It’s safe to say this song is pretty special to Swift and her fans. 

The re-recorded 1989 album not only comes with five new tracks and a new Kendrick Lamar feature, but Swift also wrote a handwritten letter to fans about what this release means to her and how, although this may be a re-release of old music, it encompasses all of the growth Swift has had since it’s initial release. She wrote in a handwritten message: “I was born in 1989, reinvented for the first time in 2014, and a part of me was reclaimed in 2023 with the re-release of this album I love so dearly.” She continued, “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the magic you would sprinkle on my life for so long.”

The refreshed version of the “Bad Blood” remix concludes the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) album, and emphasizes Swift’s new era on the horizon. 

Rachel Armstrong

St. John's '21

Rachel is a contributing writer for Her Campus under the Culture and Entertainment verticle. Her articles cover trending topics, including new releases, fan theories, and pop culture news. She has been a part of the Her Campus community since 2019, when she started as a charting member of the Her Campus St. John's University chapter. Rachel was also the chapter's President from Fall 2020 to Spring 2021. As president, Rachel managed the divisions of the chapter, gave weekly updates on progress, and led chapter meetings and events. In 2021, Rachel graduated from St. John's with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a minor in Business Administration. Rachel has freelanced in Digital Marketing and Copywriting since graduating. As an aspiring multi-media journalist, Rachel enjoys exercising her writing skills on various digital platforms. You can catch Rachel trying out new makeup trends on TikTok, watching her favorite shows, or listening to music in her free time. She is passionate about connecting with people through music, lifestyle, and cultural conversations.