Taylor Swift’s 1989 Review: “Swifty” vs. “Non-Swifty”

From A Non-Fan:

Nicole Crites, Entertainment Director:

First off, I am not the biggest Taylor Swift fan. I mean, she’s essentially the definition of basic; I bet she wears Ugg boots and drinks pumpkin spice lattes while she looks at inspirational quotes on Pinterest. Despite my personal feelings, I decided to put it all aside and objectively give her new album, “1989,” a chance.

I actually liked 2008’s “Fearless.” I’ll give her that, but Taylor seemingly has left her country music days behind her. The singer has officially completed her metamorphosis into full-on pop in “1989” but is still not quite yet in adulthood. The catchy, bass-riddled beats are accompanied by generic lyrics that are once again largely about boys and full of clichés. Basically, the album is just what one would expect.

Among the tailored-for-radio songs, there were a couple that stood out to me. “Blank Space” and “Style” are actually pretty good, the kind of tunes that will get stuck in your head (even if you don’t want them to) and will probably be the next singles following “Shake It Off, ”which I won’t even really mention since the entire world has heard it a thousand times.

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be one of the slower songs of the album, “Clean,” featuring Imogen Heap. It’s the last song on the album and is refreshing after the string of basic, upbeat songs that precede it. Other than that – and I swear I say this objectively – the rest of T-Swift’s shot at pop greatness is fairly forgettable.

From A Fan:

Sarah Self-Walbrick, News Director:

I have always been a Taylor Swift fan. From her original self-titled album through “Speak Now,” I quietly enjoyed her music through earbuds, not sharing my obsession with anyone. Then, “Red” came out. I just could not hold my love for T-Swizzy in any longer and began singing/screaming “All Too Well” at the top of my lungs on a regular basis everywhere I went.

tumblr_naivjoi61l1qay3vso1_500

Needless to say, I was extremely excited for Taylor Swift’s newest album, “1989,” to be released. The album overall is filled with some extremely catchy songs that make you want to shake, shake, shake.

My favorite song on the album is “Blank Space.” It is a little more synthesizer heavy than Swift’s previous work, but the lyrical style is typical. I think this song has some of the most developed lyrics on the album. I also like that Swift is very self-aware on this song. Of course it is about boys, but she is not blaming everything on them. She seems to realize that a relationship takes two people, which is refreshing compared to some of her other songs. I think this one will be my new “All Too Well.” Find me performing in my car at a red light near you!

I also really enjoy “All You Had To Do Was Stay.” This song reminds me of everything off of Tegan and Sara’s latest album, “Heartthrob.” This track is very upbeat but still referring to a troubled relationship. Her musical style may have changed, but the content is still pretty much the same. I also still really like “Shake It Off,” which is stuck in my head 24/7.

There are some songs I will always skip over. I really dislike “Welcome To New York.” It’s a little too intense for my taste and not as relatable as Swift’s music typically is. I guarantee New York has not been waiting on me. I know every album has to have its ballads, but “This Love” and “Clean” seem a little out of place to me — not bad, just not my favorite either.

“1989” is definitely worth downloading! It is different than her previous albums but in a good way. Homegirl has come a long way from “Teardrops On My Guitar.”

About Sarah Self-Walbrick

Graduate Executive Director — Mass Communication Graduate Student, Class of 2017
Sarah, a Lubbock native, has two bachelor of art degrees in electronic media and communication and journalism, and is pursuing a master's in mass communications. She loves Texas, her husband and dog, and good storytelling.