In honor of the start of spring, Taylor Swift’s fifth studio album, 1989, perfectly encapsulates the feelings of spring and the beginnings of summer. Her album is all about new beginnings following her move to New York at age 25. Taylor released this album on October 27th, 2014 after being supported by seven singles.

Three of the singles Shake It Off, Blank Space, and Bad Blood all went to number one on US Billboards Hot Top 100 songs. The release of these songs confirmed Taylor’s transition into pop music after lots of criticism regarding the genre of her albums. Her previous albums had a very heavy country music influence, but she began to break away from her comfort zone and fully emerge her music into the pop category. However, the choice that she made proved to be beneficial. 1989 went number one for 11 consecutive weeks, and this album was the second album of hers to receive a Grammy for Album of the Year in 2016 and was also awarded for Pop Vocal Album. She was the only solo artist to receive Album of the Year two times.

This album includes 13 tracks in the original copy, and 19 tracks in the deluxe addition (along with three voice recordings). She covers topics along all areas such as heartbreak, new relationships, her transition to New York, and addiction. Track 1- Welcome To New York, is all about Taylor’s exposure to New York as she moves there and experiences new beginnings. This song shows that possibilities are endless in New York and her sense of belonging in a community becomes apparent. Track 2- Blank Space, shares her experiences with her ex-boyfriends, and she pokes fun at the concept through her music video where she falls in love with the male character, and then turns against him and wrecks his things after she finds him cheating on her. This song was one of her best selling songs. Track 3- Style, is one of my favorite tracks on 1989. This song hints to her relationship with singer Harry Styles who she once dated. She explains how the relationship always comes back despite the challenges that they face. Track 4- Out Of The Woods, is not only my favorite song on this album, but also one of my favorite songs that Taylor has ever made. This song also touches on her relationship with Harry, describing how their connection was built on anxiety and anticipation for the ending. This song also has one of my favorite bridges that a song has ever had. Track 5- All You Had To Do Was Stay, is one of Taylor’s famous track five’s, typically the songs that encapsulates the overarching theme of the album. I really like this song and what it means, and I believe it does a good job summarizing the feelings of this album. Track 6- Shake It Off, was one of Taylor’s biggest hit singles. This song is fun and shows her carefree style in response to people that dislike her. Track 7- I Wish You Would, shows a perspective from a male’s point of view. It’s about missing an ex that he wishes he could go back to. Track 8- Bad Blood, this song was written in response to her drama with Katy Perry. Although I don’t think that it matches the theme of 1989, it became another one of Taylor’s most popular songs. Track 9- Wildest Dreams, is another one of my favorite songs. The concept of this song is amazing, and the composition of the music in combination with the lyrics matches very well. Taylor has already released the re-recording of this song after it started trending on TikTok. Now we just need the rest of the album! Track 10- How You Get The Girl, is a very fun song that talks about the development of a romantic relationship. Keeping and holding on to something that is worth fighting for is the overall concept portrayed in the song. Track 11- This Love, this song is very real in terms of falling in love with someone despite all the hardships that arise. She wrote this based off her close friend Jack Antonoff and his relationship. Track 12- I Know Places, is about the frantic feeling of always being watched while in the spotlight. This song talks about a relationship and avoiding the bad press that can come along with it. Track 13- Clean, is also one of my favorites. It talks about the hardships associated with addiction. The song walks listeners through the process of getting clean and reaching milestones within the difficulties. Track 14 (bonus track)- Wonderland, is a song that remind me a lot of the movie Alice in Wonderland where I believe she gained inspiration from. This song is very unique in concept and I really like the concept. Track 15 (bonus track)- You Are In Love, is very similar in structure to track 11 where she gained inspiration from her close friends. This is also another one of my favorites that make me happy to listen to every time. Track 16 (bonus track)- New Romantics, is all about new beginnings and Taylor’s experience with relationships in platonic and romantic situations.

Through tracks 17-19, Taylor gives her listeners an inside look into her album making. She shares voice memos that are part of her song writing process and she explains how she created her ideas and how she thinks of the story in her head. She makes these voice memos for her three songs I Know Places, I Wish You Would, and Blank Space. I really enjoy seeing the behind-the-scenes process that goes in to creating her songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ORhEE9VVg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CmadmM5cOk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLf9q36UsBk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfWlot6h_JM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdneKLhsWOQ

Taylor also went on a world tour following the release of her album. She began on May 5, 2015 and went until December 12, 2015. This tour was a major hit and a start of a new era of Taylor Swift. Her tour sold a total of 2.278 million tickets and grossed over $250.7 million. With her tour, the hard work she brought into this project paid off tremendously.

Overall, I really love this album and all the topics that it covers. The range of songs keeps me listening to the very end, and it’s one of her best albums she has created. I love this album for warm weather and to listen when I am in a good mood. Out Of The Woods, as previously mentioned, is in my top running for all time favorite song. Her performance of this song on her world tour is something that everybody needs to experience at least once in their lifetime. Another version of this song that I love is her performance in the Grammy Museum. She strips down the song so it is strictly piano and her voice, and this decision created an iconic performance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-n9-FVTq6w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQSr9EWGgf0