1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Taylor Swift is finally releasing “1989 (Taylor’s Version),” and fans could not be more excited. She announced this re-recording on August 9 at her final show of the U.S. leg of the wildly successful Eras Tour in Los Angeles.

Swift is re-recording her first six albums in order to reclaim her masters after they were acquired by Scooter Braun, who bought the original masters without Taylor’s knowledge or consent. So far, she’s already re-released “Fearless,” “Red” and “Speak Now,” which have all topped the charts, made waves throughout pop culture and allowed Swift to reclaim her work.

Originally released on October 27, 2014, “1989” was a smash hit, winning the Grammy Album of the Year in 2016. The album had three number-one singles and spent 11 consecutive weeks on the top of the Billboard charts. The album was Swift’s first full pop album, and she was able to prove that she could master multiple genres with her poignant lyrics and masterful storytelling.

Swift’s re-recordings are a seamless blend of nostalgia and new, exciting opportunities, both for Swift and for her fans. Re-releasing this album not only allows Swift to own her work, but it also lets listeners listen to the album with nine more years of experiences, wisdom, stories and friendships that they can relate her songs to while also being able to reminisce on their lives when “1989” was first released.

The fresh take on her albums with Taylor’s Versions also allows Swift to highlight how she has grown as a musician. Re-recording songs means that she can show off her stronger and more mature vocals, and it allows her music to sound more polished. In a few cases, Swift has made significant changes to songs, like adding a dance-pop beat to the previously acoustic “Girl At Home” on “Red (Taylor’s Version)” or changing a controversial lyric in “Better Than Revenge” on “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).” Owning her music means that it is completely hers, and she is able to make it sound exactly like what she wants.

One of the most exciting parts of Swift’s re-recordings for the fans is the ability to hear songs “From The Vault” that did not make the original cut of the album. “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” has five vault tracks: “Slut!”; “Say Don’t Go”; “Now That We Don’t Talk”; “Suburban Legends”; and “Is It Over Now?” Unlike her past three re-recordings, there are no features on any “1989” vault tracks. These songs offer more insight into Swift’s life when she was writing the original album and provide fans with even more opportunities to make connections between their life and Taylor Swift’s. Vault tracks keep her re-recordings exciting because unlike the re-recorded album tracks, these songs are completely new to fans.

Taking back ownership of her masters is a power move by Swift, and she can make her music sound exactly as she wants. Re-releasing music allows fans to reconnect with old songs while making new memories with never-before-heard vault tracks. The massive success of Swift’s re-recordings proves that she is a massive voice with the power to make music that defines an entire generation.

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