The last night of Taylor Swift’s U.S. leg of her highly acclaimed “The Eras Tour” brought some exciting news — the Grammy-winning sensation announced that she will be releasing “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” Oct. 27, the ninth anniversary of the original’s release.
“The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post. “[It] fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th.”
Swift announced in 2019 that she was rerecording her albums, considering them “stolen versions” after talent agent Scooter Braun acquired the rights to her first six albums through his acquisition of the Big Machine Label Group. Swift wanted to buy back her old master recordings, saying she faced “incessant, manipulative bullying” from Braun, but he refused to relinquish his ownership.
“Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it,” Swift said in a 2019 Tumblr Post.
She signed with Republic Records in fall 2018 with a record deal containing a clause that ensured her ownership of master recordings from there on. Since then, she released and holds possession of “Lover,” “folklore,” “evermore” and “Midnights.”
“It sends a meaningful signal to the larger world of music artists to not let their careers be hijacked by impersonal studios and agencies aiming to take control of their personal stories,” said Samuel DiBartolo, a second-year business administration and economics combined major.
Starting with the release of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” in 2021, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” and “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” came in the following years. “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” will be Swift’s fourth rerecorded album to be released. Her self-titled debut album and “Reputation” will be the last two albums to receive new masters.
The album will feature all of the songs from “1989,” plus five brand new “vault” tracks — songs that were written for the album but did not make the final cut.
“I think we could potentially be getting some of Taylor’s best work on vault tracks,” said Syringa Barenti, a second-year environmental and sustainability sciences and landscape architecture combined major.
Additionally, it dons a new cover photo, replacing the old iconic Polaroid design from the original album with a joyous outdoor photo of Swift smiling.
“She wrote ‘1989’ when she was going through a lot of stuff mentally and physically, so the new cover reflects that it is her version,” said Sarayu Pininti, a second-year business administration and data science combined major. “I’m different now in the same way that Taylor is different in this new era.”
The previous cover was a coveted reference to the song “Out of the Woods” and the redesign choice has sparked controversy on social media platforms. Some fans see it as a sign of her maturity and overcoming challenges — Swift revealed in 2020 that she had struggled with an eating disorder during the 1989 World Tour, which had greatly affected her stamina and health.
“Despite the disappointing choice to step away from the Polaroid format, the brightness of both the picture’s setting and Taylor’s expression present a less fragile individual, finally at peace with who she is and not trying to put up a facade to appeal to the wider public,” DiBartolo said.
Barenti agreed that while she is sad about the change, she likes that Swift kept certain elements, like the seagulls, in the new design.
“Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” and “This Love (Taylor’s Version)” are already available to listen to but, in the meantime, Swift’s fans — also known as Swifties — are beyond excited about the release.
“I am so excited to hear her matured vocals on ‘You Are In Love,’” Pininti said. “It is one of my favorite tracks of hers and it’ll feel like I’m getting to listen to it for the first time again.”
DiBartolo became a Swiftie in recent months and is excited for an opportunity to re-experience these releases. Having grown up with her hit music in his childhood, even though he finds “Bad Blood” and “Shake It Off” redundant, DiBartolo said he is looking forward to forming new memories of his own.
“I think the most interesting part about the rerecordings is the ability to witness Taylor’s vocal growth,” DiBartolo said. “Even as some continue to show disinterest and disregard for Taylor’s music, I feel it’s undeniable there’s something for every mood, moment and occasion.”
Swift’s discography continues to get millions of streams daily, but fans agree that her music is something unique to her that draws them into her fanbase.
“There is so much symbolism, poetry and double meaning in her work that makes it so deep and meaningful to listen to,” Barenti said. “The way she is able to paint a picture with her songs and make you feel all kinds of emotions is something so beautiful that I don’t think every singer is able to do.”
