Rating: 9/10
1989 was a huge deal upon it’s release, as it was Taylor Swift’s official transition from country-pop to pure pop. While the segue was risky, it paid off, as 1989 was extremely successful in sales, and it went on to win Album of the Year at the Grammys. While full-on pop music isn’t generally my thing, I think Taylor did an incredible job with it here, and I can’t deny that 1989 is pop perfection. It absolutely reinvented the pop music scene at the time it came out, and it’s undoubtedly her most cohesive album to date. The story she tells is wrapped-up so tightly, and each song paints a very strong picture. Plus, it’s largely 80s inspired, and as a fan of 80s music, I like that.
In this post I’ll be ranking all of the tracks on Taylor Swift’s fifth studio album, 1989, from worst to best (excluding the deluxe tracks, because I don’t feel like it). Keep in mind that this is just my personal opinion, and you’re allowed to disagree with me. Now let’s get to it.
13. How You Get the Girl (Track 10)
This song is incredibly cheesy, sugary, and poppy, and pretty generic. It’s still a nice listen, but I think it should’ve been a deluxe track because it’s definitely not at the same level as the other songs on this album.
12. Welcome to New York (Track 1)
The opening track of the album is incredibly synthy (which I actually like), and does a great job of introducing the new sound of the album (and Taylor herself). I’m pretty sure I say that about Track 1 in every single album review I do, but whatever. It’s always true. The lyrics aren’t amazing (they’re extremely repetitive in the chorus), but they don’t really need to be. This song accomplishes everything it’s meant to accomplish, and it’s very catchy. In summation, a solid opening track, but I don’t find myself feeling compelled to listen to it outside of the album, so I’m gonna keep it down here.
11. Bad Blood (Track 8)
I feel like most people tend to either love or hate this song. I happen to be right in the middle. It is very catchy, and some of the vocal moments are impressive, but the lyrics aren’t all that clever (with the exception of “Band-aids don’t fix bullet-holes”, for some reason I really like that line). It is well-produced and all, but it’s just not my favorite.
10. All You Had to Do Was Stay (Track 5)
The lyrics in this song are pretty good (for an entirely pop-oriented song), but I don’t think the sound of this song matches the lyrics, and I don’t think it should’ve been Track 5. I wanted to put it higher, as some of the lyricism in the verses is pretty good, but the vocals aren’t all that interesting, and I just find it to be a bit boring. If this had sounded a little more emotional in terms of the production and vocal style, I would like it a lot more, but it’s still a pretty good song as it is. It’s grown on me.
9. I Know Places (Track 12)
I really like the chorus of this song, I think Taylor’s voice sounds really good. Unfortunately, I don’t love the sound of the verses. The topic of the song is interesting (trying to hide a relationship from the paparazzi), but it’s, for obvious reasons, not very relatable. That isn’t the song’s fault, but it does make me just a little less compelled to it. Still, this is a good song, and it definitely deserves it’s place on the standard edition of the album.
8. I Wish You Would (Track 7)
My favorite part of this song is the production, which is actually fantastic. The background music is pretty great, and it fits the sense of urgency that the song provides. The vocals, similarly to All You Had To Do Was Stay, aren’t all that impressive, and show basically no range, but I think it works better here. I think the storytelling in the lyrics is amazing, and this is just a very well-done song.
7. Clean (Track 13)
The production on this song is pretty unusual, but it suits the lyrics/vocals very well. This is a classic Taylor album-finale. A song about looking forward to whatever the future holds, and moving on from the issues that you’ve been struggling with (issues that the other songs on the album center around). The vocals are really pleasant, and the metaphor that the song is based around works very well. Overall, a great closer for the album, and a great song in general. “It was months and months of back and forth. You’re still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can’t wear anymore. Hung my head, as I lost the war, and the sky turned black like a perfect storm. Rain came pouring down, when I was drowning, that’s when I could finally breathe. And by morning, gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean.”
6. Shake It Off (Track 6)
Here’s where we get into my favorites from 1989. Let me tell you, when this song first came out and it was played on the radio 24/7, I was so in love with it. I thought it was the catchiest thing I had ever heard, and I remember when Blank Space came out I was really bitter because all of my friends liked it better than Shake It Off. And while I can acknowledge that this song isn’t very meaningful, and the lyricism isn’t as impressive as you would expect from Taylor, it is a very inspiring song, and I don’t think it needed to be super deep and complicated. Also, side note: Taylor Swift tends to follow-up Track 5 with a super upbeat, anthem-like Track 6, and this song is a perfect example of that.
5. This Love (Track 11)
“These hands had to let it go free, and this love came back to me.” I think this would have been the best choice for Track 5, as it’s very vulnerable and soft, and just a tad sad. The instrumental is very calming and peaceful, and I think that that was a good choice for the song. While the vocals aren’t particularly outstanding, they’re still nice, and I think that this song didn’t need any outstanding vocals. The lyrics are also great. This is a beautiful song, and I love it a lot. “When you’re young you just run, but you come back to what you need.”
4. Blank Space (Track 2)
I know that I just said that I was really bitter about Blank Space being more popular than Shake It Off, but finally, 5 years later, I kind of understand it. As fun as Shake It Off is, it isn’t as endurable as Blank Space. I feel like this is a song that you could listen to forever, and not get sick of it. Maybe that’s just me. Anyway, this song is an incredibly witty satire of Taylor’s image at the time, which was that of a boy-crazy serial dater. There are some great vocals, and the beat is irresistible. And as I said, the lyrics are super clever. From, “Darling I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream” to “Got a long list of ex-lovers, they’ll tell you I’m insane. But I’ve got a blank space, baby, and I’ll write your name” I can see why this is by far the most popular song off of 1989.
3. Out of the Woods (Track 4)
“Looking at it now, it all seems so simple. We were lying on your couch, I remember. You took a polaroid of us, then discovered the rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming color.” I wasn’t originally a huge fan of this song when I first heard it on the radio (likely due to the chorus), but upon relistening to it, this song has really grown on me. The bridge is fantastic, and the lyrics in the verses are pretty great. Plus, this song has some impressive vocals from Taylor, as well excellent production. I never feel like skipping it when I listen to the album, and it’s a great addition to the record. I’ve also since realized that the repetitive chorus was purposeful. Taylor said that this song is about a relationship where the main feeling was anxiety, and that anxiety and urgency is portrayed very sharply through the chorus. Overall, this is a fantastic song, and I never get sick of listening to it.
2. Wildest Dreams (Track 9)
“He said let’s get out of this town, drive out of the city, away from the crowd. I thought heaven can’t help me now. Nothing lasts forever, but this is gonna take me down.”This song is so dreamy and ethereal, and the music video is absolutely gorgeous. The vocals and production go so well together, and they capture the sound of the song. Yet again, this song has an amazing bridge, and I don’t really know what else to say, so I’ll just tell you, listen to this song if you haven’t, because it’s amazing and one of my favorite Taylor songs of all time. “Say you’ll remember me, standing in a nice dress staring at the sunset, babe. Red lips and rosy cheeks, say you’ll see me again even if it’s just in your wildest dreams.”
1. Style (Track 3)
“You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye, and I got that red lip classic thing that you like. And when we go crashing down we come back every time ’cause we never go out of style.” I love this song so freaking much, dude. I really can’t praise it enough. From that opening guitar, to the synths, it’s all so 80s inspired and I just love it. Taylor’s vocals are awesome, and yet again, the bridge in this song is fantastic. The chorus is timeless (one could say it never goes out of style) and the verses really capture the feel of the song. I love the picture the lyrics paint, and I really don’t know how to put into words how much I love this song. I remember that I really liked it when it first came out, but relistening to it now, it’s definitely one of my top 5 Taylor songs ever. Just listen to it if you haven’t. It’s 1989‘s true masterpiece, and you’ll be blessed to hear it. Now, before I quote some iconic lyrics, I just want to point out that one thing that makes this song so great is that it doesn’t paint the relationship in a negative light. Rather, it highlights the sense of excitement and romance that made the relationship great in the first place. Another thing I’d like to point out is that, for me, 1989 is the only Taylor Swift album where the singles are truly the best songs of the album. I mean, maybe that applies to Fearless a little too, but not as much as it does for 1989. This is the only ranking I’ve done for her where the top songs are all singles (I mean, except for This Love, but whatever). “So it goes, he can’t keep his wild eyes on the road. Takes me home, lights are off, he’s taking off his coat.”
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