Top 5 from 1989

It’s that time again: time for me, your local friendly Swiftie, to share her favourite tracks from the new Taylor Swift album. By now, I’m positive that you’ve heard 1989, her latest release. Hugely anticipated after her Secret Sessions in which Taylor surprised us that her sixth album would take a shift into the pop genre, 1989 is the best thing to happen to my iTunes Library in months.

Unlike her previous country-laced flair, 1989 is full-frontal pop, moving directly to an area that I think has always somewhat shunned and ridiculed Taylor. Confessional songwriting is a work in its own right and, while I’m already missing the Fearless and debut album vibes, I can already feel that this is going to define my twenties. Now I see exactly what made Brian Mansfield say: “It’s like the other albums were practice for this one.”

So, continuing my Taylor Swift series, let’s dig in to my top five favourites from 1989. (Don’t worry, I’ll let you work out the secret messages.)

Blank Space

When I heard Blank Space for the first time at 4.07am on Monday morning, my heart metaphorically sang.

It’s completely different, yet full of precisely all the best reasons of why I adore Taylor. The conversational lyrics, plinky sounds and nostalgic feel just does it for me. It definitely has an ’80s feel about it, but I just adore how Taylor’s unique vocals and devil-may-care attitude apply a current flavour to it. If I had to pick one song to listen to for the rest of 2014, it’d be this.

Favourite lyrics: “So it’s gonna be forever, Or it’s gonna go down in flames.’ and ‘I’m dying to see where this one ends.“

How You Get The Girl

I think How You Get The Girl feels a little like 2006 Taylor to me. I just love the chorus so damn much – I can’t stop getting in the car and having a good singalong! And it perfectly demonstrates Taylor’s positive defeatist songwriting skillset, turning sadness and acceptance into 4 minutes of super-singability. Casually inventing my own words.

Favourite lyrics: “Pictures in frames of kisses on cheeks.“

Style

Opening with a sweet electric guitar instrumental, Style is as sophisticated and polished as the title would suggest. Telling the tale of how it’s been a while since she’d heard from mysterious ‘you’, it has a relaxed poppy feel with genius lyrics pertaining to her personal style and favourite music. It’s undeniably Taylor lyric-wise but the track itself feels timeless. I adore the whole idea of a relationship and couple being in style and sync all the time. I love it.

Favourite lyrics: “You’ve got that James Dean daydream look in your eye, And I got that red lip classic thing that you like. And when we come crashing down we come back everytime, ‘Cos we never go out of style.“

All You Had To Was Stay

I felt quite neutral towards this at first and then I realised I loved it because it’s what I wanted Stay Stay Stay from her last album to be. I adore the faux falsetto and the slower pace of it. Again, it feels like a perfect blend of her earlier music with her new pop take. And you can pinpoint exact storylines and moments behind the song itself.

Favourite lyrics: “You were all I ever wanted, But not like this.“

Clean

This seems to be the overall favourite from 1989 of the majority of people that I’ve spoken to. It errs on eerie with a firm wanderlust and longing behind it. I love the metaphorical language throughout the lyrics: as Man Repeller said, they’d be the ideal MSN message lyrics. I think nearly everybody can relate to the message behind this one too: that moment when you realise you’re finally over someone, something. Again, the grown-up version of Breathe from ‘Fearless’ which is one of my favourite songs in life.

Favourite lyrics: The rain came pouring down, When I was drowning, That’s when I could finally breathe.“

What are your favourite tracks from Taylor Swift’s – ‘1989’?