It’s a new soundtrack that we could dance to forever more. “1989” is arguably one of Taylor Swift's most adored albums, clocking in at ten grammy nominations with three wins, including Album of the Year. The re-recording of this beloved album was released on Oct. 27, 2023.

By Wynter Muro

Despite it being freshly out, it has broken the record for biggest single-week vinyl sales in current times, and has sold over one million copies in the United States. It is anticipated to debut with over 1.5 million units sold on the Billboard 200.

Growing up with “1989” being my favorite Swift album, I was nervous about the re-recording.

Could the pop bible of the last decade be butchered?

Swift remastered this piece in a way that did it absolute justice. This is not only to speak of the success for this re-recording, but as well as the other three that she has done. All of her re-recordings end in “T.V” which stands for Taylor’s Version; “Fearless T.V”, “Red T.V” and “Speak Now T.V. have all broken a variety of records.

“Fearless T.V” was the first re-recorded album ever to top the charts of Billboard, “Red T.V” was notorious for breaking Spotify’s record for most streamed album by a female artist in a single day. And “Speak Now T.V” debuted at number one on Billboard.

The album features twenty-one tunes, five of which were from “the vault,” Swift’s name for unreleased songs that were left out of the first iterations of her albums. These five songs were previously written for the original “1989” in 2014, but were unreleased up until now. In my opinion, these vaults might be her best songs yet.

With Swift’s mind, alongside the genius Jack Antnoff co-producing and co-writing the vault tracks, these songs are bits of heaven with synth, whimsical elements and lyrics that scream.

“Now That We Don’t Talk (Taylor’s Version),” is a fantastical masterpiece. The speakers of my Honda Pilot boomed with the first few notes of the tune. This song truly demonstrates Swift's storytelling in the most eloquent way. The drama. You are given an entire plot with visuals so profound, it is as if you are experiencing it there with her.

This song became my favorite particularly because I understood the implications of it. The confusion, but the relief. The questioning, but the self-answering. The sweetness, but the sarcasm.

“Remind myself the more I gave, you’d want me less.” My body physically screenshotted at this moment. This song hits every nail on its head with regards to the breakup process. And I expected nothing less from Swift.

Hearing the re-recording of an old favorite song is like trying on a sweater from when you were in high-school and hoping it still fits. “You Are In Love (Taylor’s Version),” remained flawless. Not a seam ripping, or a tone ill-fitting.

This song has always been my ideal outlook on love, and hearing it as an older person now allows me to have the capacity to behold the lyrics.

“Pauses, then says, ‘you’re my best friend’.” My heart sank in the same fashion it did years ago after first hearing it, but with so much more weight because of my deeper understanding.

Swift and Antonoff remastered this song in a way that highlighted the best parts of it and her matured voice compliments the song beautifully.

This album is a defining stance for what pop music is and how it can change an artist's life, as we saw with Taylor Swift. It became obvious that it can also change the life of those who listen as well.

This album has continuously fueled my determinative dreams of moving away to New York and basking in the notion that “the best people in life are free.” “1989”, you will never go out of style.

Taylor Swift’s 1989: Pop Perfection