1989 Taylor’s Version will never go out of Style.
Taylor Swift (she/her) released 1989 on October 26th, 2014. Taylor’s Version came out on October 27th, 2023, almost exactly 9 years later. It is the fourth re-recording out of the anticipated six. All that is left to be re-recorded is her 2017 album Reputation and her 2006 album titled Taylor Swift.
For the original version, producers Max Martin (he/him), Shellback (he/him), Ali Payami (he/him), and Nathan Chapman (he/him) produced many of the songs for the album. Most have not returned; instead, producer Christopher Rowe (he/him) is listed in their place for Taylor’s Version. Shellback only returned as a collaborator for “Wildest Dreams” (Taylor’s Version)
Other producers Imogen Heap (she/her), Ryan Tedder (he/him), and Noel Zancanella (he/him) have returned to produce for Taylor’s Version.
1989 was the first time she worked with now long time collaborator Jack Antonoff (he/him) who is credited with producing “Out Of The Woods”, “You Are in Love”, and “I Wish You Would” on the original version and all of the vault tracks for the new addition.
I thought the album was recreated faithfully. I liked listening to new versions of her biggest hits from the era like “Blank Space” and “Shake It Off”. The new recording somehow removes the ‘overplayed’ feelings I had and lets me listen to them again without it.
I found the vault tracks interesting. They sounded much more like her modern music than the very 2014 sound of the rest of the 1989 album. My favorites are “Suburban Legends” and “Is it Over Now?”. Her storytelling in both is lovely and both musically are some of my favorites on the whole album.
Anyone who was a fan of the original will love this version and likely love the new vault tracks as well. 10/10.
