The “Vault Songs” off Taylor Swift’s rerecording of her fifth studio album 1989 left me quaking in my boots. Miss Swift always amazes me and always leaves me wanting more tracks “From The Vault.” Yet, I don’t know if Swifties will ever feel the same magic or known as the infamous “Sad Girl Fall” of the first released “From The Vault” tracks from the rerecording of Red. And I still remember it all too well.
- Slut!
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When I first listened to this song I wasn’t too into it. This is partly because I was expecting “Angry Girl Taylor,” but after a few more listens with my headphones I fell in love with this track. A few of my favorite lines from this song are “Got lovestruck / Went straight to my head” and “Half asleep / Taking your time in the tangerine neon light.” I love all the descriptive imagery and the twinkling sounds in the background that remind me of a montage in an 80s romance movie. Maybe something out of Say Anything with the many scenes of Diane and Lloyd driving around.
- Say Don’t Go
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This song is as sad and upbeat as I expected it to be. Perhaps this is a controversial take, but I’m a firm believer that this is the sister song to I Wish You Would. Lyrics that I found to be so good are “Why’d you have to lead me on? / Why’d you have to twist the knife?” and yet they hurt so much. This is one of those songs that are fun, but when you really get down to the nitty-gritty of the lyrics it’s a sad song. It reminds me of listening to Mitski’s song Nobody and then looking up the words to the song for the first time.
- Now That We Don’t Talk
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This is my 1989 angry Taylor song that I love. Despite loving Harry Styles, I can’t defend him from the allegations that this song is about him. I can’t wait to belt this song out with my best friend, especially the lyrics that go “I called my mom, she said it was for the best” and “I don’t have to pretend I like acid rock.” This is definitely my second favorite track “From The Vault.”
- Suburban Legends
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This song is Mastermind coded and it shows. When I first listened I thought I was listening to Mastermind, but this is Suburban Legends we’re talking about. It is very reminiscent of the 2012s and for some reason, all I can imagine is driving down a long winding road in Los Angeles. My personal favorite lyrics from this Vault Song are “You were so magnetic it was almost obnoxious” and “You kiss me in a way that’s gonna screw me up forever.”
- Is It Over Now?
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The last “From The Vault” track of 1989 is my third favorite. This song ends the album and it is incredibly written. From “You dream of my mouth before it called you a lying traitor” to “Only rumors ‘bout my hips and thighs, and my whispered sighs.” This song is tragic and painful but it has me screaming out the lyrics “Baby, was it over then? / And is it over now?” It feels like a cathartic experience of being at the beach and sitting on the shoreline realizing that it is indeed over now.