On October 27, Taylor Swift released 1989 (Taylor’s Version), her fourth rerecorded album. The original came out in 2015 and won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. What makes the rerecordings so special is the vault tracks, which are a collection of 5-9 songs that were written for the original album but didn’t make the cut. In an album where fans have already heard all the songs on the album, the vault tracks are a complete surprise. Here is my personal ranking, from most favorite to least favorite, of the vault tracks on 1989 (TV).
1. Is it Over Now?
The general consensus is that this is the best vault track, and I would have to agree. With a fantastic combination of great instrumentals and lyrics, the song outlines the conclusion of her relationship with Harry Styles, who Swift dated prior to the release of 1989. The lyrics are the real standout in this song, with Swift alluding to the events that ended her relationship, such as “Blue dress/on a boat.” The line, “You search in every model’s bed for something greater” is a direct shot at Kendal Jenner, who Styles dated after Swift.
2. Suburban Legends
I love the synth instrumentals and the chorus of this song! In a song reminiscent of her tenth studio album Midnights, Swift sings about the slow, gradual death of her relationship, despite not expecting to fall in love in the first place. The setting of the suburbs and references to “a 1950s gymnasium” adds to the feeling of constant surveillance that Swift experienced while with Styles, who was part of the most popular boy band at that time. The line, “I broke my own heart ‘cause you were too polite to do it” is very telling about their relationship dynamic and is very relatable to many listeners.
3. “Slut!”
When I heard that Taylor Swift was coming out with a song called “Slut!” I had no clue it would be as moving and emotional as it was. It’s very interesting how Swift was able to turn an insult like slut into something so meaningful to her. The vocals are dreamy and the imagery in the lyrics is strong as she describes the upside of her relationship, despite the constant criticism and slut-shaming that she faced from the media and other artists. Given how the rest of the vault tracks are about the ending of her relationship, it’s nice to have a song where she expresses happiness and contentment in her relationship. Swift sings in the chorus, “If I’m gonna be drunk/ I might as well be drunk in love,” which shows how she is so happy in her relationship that the criticisms don’t get to her.
4. Now that We Don’t Talk
This chorus has been stuck in my head ever since I listened to it. It also includes the lyric that I personally relate to the most, “I called my mom.” Though this song is about the end of a relationship, it also shows that Swift gets to take back the part of herself that was lost while she was in that relationship. I feel like out of all the vault tracks, this is the one you’re most likely to hear on the radio.
5. Say Don’t Go
Just because this song is last doesn’t mean I think it’s bad by any means. The catchy chorus with depressing lyrics is a classic Swift move, especially on an album like this where most of the songs are pretty upbeat. I have already seen this song used in comedic TikToks where people compare their friends not understanding their jokes to this song. The lyrics, “why’d you whisper in the dark/just to leave me in the night/now your silence has me screaming, screaming” reminds me of Swift’s song “The Story of Us” from Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), where the lyric that sticks out the most is, “I’ve never heard silence quite this loud.”
If I could come up with one final message after listening to the vault tracks, it would be this: Harry Styles, count your days.