Blind Ranking of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) Vault Tracks
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Every Swiftie has one album that just speaks to them. For me, that album has always been 1989. Characterized by RayBan sunglasses, glittery bomber jackets, and lyrics tackling the perils of love and loss, Taylor Swift’s fifth studio album displayed her ability to shift into the pop genre. Now, nearly ten years later, Taylor Swift is regarded as “The Music Industry” by her fans and is one of the most recognizable pop artists in the world. How will this album, symbolizing Taylor’s shift into the pop music scene, change after ten years of leading and shaping the genre?
At the reveal of the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) tracklist, I could not stop imagining what each of these songs would sound like. How will they compare to the original vibe that encapsulates Taylor’s Grammy-winning 1989? What prevented Taylor from including these tracks on the original album? While Swifties across the globe are dying to hear these vault tracks on October 27th, I’ve already begun to imagine what each track sounds like… I’ve even ranked them.
Keep reading to find out my blind ranking of the 1989 (Taylor’s Version) vault tracks, and stay tuned in the next couple of weeks to hear my unofficial-official ranking after I listen.
5 - “Say Don’t Go”
Maybe my personal bias affected my ranking of this song, but the title immediately reminded me of “Stay Stay Stay” from Red. While I’m sure this track will blow me away once I’m actually able to listen, the title didn’t really catch my attention the way some of the others did.
4 - “Suburban Legends”
Honestly, I have no idea what this song is going to sound like. I could see Taylor having gone many different ways with it, and I’m so excited to see which direction she took! Something about this title feels a bit corny to me, but I’ll have to wait to hear the song to see how my opinion evolves. Since so much of the original 1989 was associated with the urban New York City scene (e.g. “Welcome to New York”), I’m hoping this track will bring something different to the table that we haven’t heard from Taylor before.
3 - “Is It Over Now?”
For this track, I’m imagining “Out of the Woods” vibes, maybe “I Know Places.” We’ll just have to wait and see what Taylor’s creativity has in store for us this time.
2 - “Slut!”
I really struggled with whether or not to put this track at number one. With “Slut!,” I imagine an upbeat track that makes you want to dance, sort of like “New Romantics,” but with lyrics addressing the challenges Taylor has faced as a woman in the spotlight. During the 1989 era, Taylor was being heavily criticized about her dating life. Following the release of the Miss Americana documentary in 2020, Taylor began to open up about her personal life, experiences with misogyny, and political views. I hope this track gives more insight into Taylor’s mindset during this period, as she tended to stay quieter during 2014-15 when the original album was released.
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1 - “Now That We Don’t Talk”
The first thing that came to mind when I read this album title was one of my favorite, and arguably one of Taylor’s best, songs: “Clean.” For this track, I’m picturing a slower, heartfelt beat with lyrics addressing the mixture of pain and a sense of freedom following a breakup.
Strike Out,
Avery Gahler
University of Notre Dame
Editors: Elisabeth Olsen, Victoria Dominesey, Maddie Arruebarrena
