Welcome to a newbie’s reactions to Taylor Swift! I have minimal prior exposure to her music beyond what’s played on the radio or what popular songs people talk about. This is my first intentional, close listen-through of her entire discography. I do not claim to be a Taylor Swift expert, nor can I promise that my impressions of each song will be considered “socially acceptable” by her fans.
Each song will be scored out of 10, adding decimals as I see fit. Examples of songs that I would rate a 10 include “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Sound of Silence” for reference. Anything 5 or higher means I like the song! I listened to the album in track order, so my reactions and scores match accordingly.
With that being said, here are my thoughts on her fifth album, titled “1989 (Deluxe Edition).”
- Welcome To New York
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This is very… electronic for Taylor. I don’t know how I feel about it. It seems like a good song, but my brain is just having difficulty recognizing it as a Taylor Swift song. Overall, it’s not terrible! Rating: 6.5/10
- Blank Space
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I do recognize Blank Space. I’m not a huge fan of this song. I get why it’s popular- it has the stereotypical pop sound and catchy elements- but I don’t personally find it interesting overall. Rating: 5/10
- Style
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The introduction intrigues me. I like the vibes of this one better than the previous two. However, speak-singing earns any song deductions. Outside of the speak-singing, I don’t mind this song! Rating: 6.5/10
- Out Of The Woods
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This sound is different! It’s not as basic as some of the other songs on this album. I like the effects but not necessarily the vocals and melody. Rating: 6/10
- All You Had To Do Was Stay
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This song has very basic vibes, and it vocally reminds me of “Out Of The Woods,” which makes sense. While I don’t dislike this song, like many of the songs on this album, I get nothing out of listening to them. 5.5/10
- Shake It Off
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Ahh yes, “Shake It Off.” I think this song is fun, even though it is overplayed and also a little basic. The low saxophone line is a bop, so good for whoever that musician is! I like the beginning of the song more than the end, and again, I don’t like when she interrupts the songs with talking. Rating: 6.5/10
- I Wish You Would
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I think this one seems cool! I like the narrative, and the beat has good energy. The vocals aren’t my favorite but combined with everything else, I enjoy the song! Rating: 6.75/10
- Bad Blood
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I also know this song. There are more iconic Taylor Swift songs on this album than I thought there were going to be, which is a surprise. Even though it’s more prominent than some other songs, I’m not a huge fan of this one. The lyrics are cool, but the vocals are a little aggressive for my taste. Rating: 6/10
- Wildest Dreams
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Muffled drum beats always remind me of being underwater for some reason. I’m glad this one is a little lower energy than a lot of the rest of the album because my ears were getting tired. This was a nice break! Rating: 7.25/10
- How You Get The Girl
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Overall, I don’t mind this song, but again, it’s not my favorite. It’s a good bop but not very memorable. Rating: 6.5/10
- This Love
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I instantly perked up when I heard the quiet guitar intro. I love lower energy songs- my brain feels less stressed. I liked this song a lot! One thing I like about this album is the sound effects. They’re good at creating new vibes in Taylor’s songs. Rating: 7.5/10
- I Know Places
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This song has very edgy vibes. I like how the song sounds around a minute in, but before and after that, I enjoyed it less. Overall, I think the chorus improved the song, but I didn’t like everything else. 6.5/10
- Clean
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I like the vibe of this intro! I like the marimba-like instrumentals in the background, but the vocals aren’t super unique compared to the other songs. Rating: 6.75/10
- Wonderland
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“Alice in Wonderland” references! I should have known. The song isn’t what I expected from that, though. It’s more intense than I thought it would be. I like the chorus but not the verses. “Wonderland” is very chaotic, but I like it. It fits with how crazy the plot is. Rating: 7.25/10
- You Are In Love
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I like the atmosphere in the introduction. This is a cool song. It doesn’t sound conventional, but it’s soothing. The melody is a little too repetitive, but I don’t mind the overall vibe. Rating: 7/10
- New Romantics
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Although this song sounds kind of basic, I like the chorus. The verses aren’t my favorite, but this song isn’t bad! I particularly enjoyed the less edgy parts. Rating: 7/10
Average Rating: 6.53/10
Favorite song (based on rating): “This Love”
While I didn’t dislike any songs on this album, there were no standouts either. I’m content to listen to any of the songs on “1989,” but I don’t think I’d really seek any of them out. Overall, I found this a little too pop-like for my taste. It was definitely a departure from the sound of her other albums! My friend seems to think I won’t like “reputation,” but I’m excited to see where Taylor heads next!