|
Post by countrygirl918 on Nov 24, 2014 20:40:40 GMT -5
Having sat with the album for a full month now, I wanted to reflect back on my initial thoughts of it and see how they've changed. I still think " Welcome to New York" is the weakest track on the album, but I still listen to it once in a while, particularly if I'm in a New York mood. " Blank Space" has burned on me a bit, though I still think it's a fantastic track and an excellent second single. I do find myself skipping it on album listens sometimes, though, because I hear it a lot anyway now that it's a single. " Style" has grown on me. I always liked it, but I was never in love with it like many of you here. It's still not in my top 5, but it's a great track and I'll be shocked if it's not a single at some point. I swear I like " Out of the Woods" more and more every single time I hear it. It also works surprisingly well live, as demonstrated here. I'm not as in love with " All You Had to Do Was Stay" as I was initially, but I still think it's a really fun track and has some great lyrics, particularly "Let me remind you / This was what you wanted / You ended it / You were all I wanted / But not like this". There's a maturity to these lyrics that I love hearing from Taylor. My thoughts on " Shake It Off" are pretty much the same, since I had already sat with it for a while by the album's release. I think the song that's grown on me the most is " I Wish You Would". I still think the instrumental track is a bit unoriginal, but the melody and lyrics are pretty addicting. I don't want this as a single, but it's a great album track. " Bad Blood" has had the highest burn-out rate for me. I skip it most of the time now, and after sitting with the album for a while this song has started to feel very out of place. It doesn't feel like this one belongs on this album - or any Taylor album. It just doesn't sound like her, which I get was probably the idea, but it doesn't work for me like I think they were hoping it would. " Wildest Dreams" is the standout ballad track, and absolutely must be a single. I don't listen to Lana Del Ray so I can't really comment on its similarity to her, but if this is what Lana sounds like I'll have to give her a listen. This one is absolutely fantastic, from the lyrics to the melody to the production to Taylor's vocals. I'm really interested to hear what this is going to sound like live. I hope Taylor can pull it off live. I still listen to " How You Get the Girl" quite a bit due to the catchy production and melody, but it still feels like the most generic song lyrically on the album and the production isn't unique enough to make up for that. A fun track, but filler. I still adore " This Love," but I'd no longer call it my fave track. It's beautiful, and will likely remain an album track. I knew within days of the album's release that " I Know Places" would grow to become one of my favorites, and that proved true. Incredible track - there's not a single thing I don't like about it. I would love for this to become a single - I'm picturing the video in my head, and I want to see what Taylor sees visually with this one. This song is a very visual one for me - can't wait to see the tour set up for it. " Clean" also remains one of my faves. Probably my fave lyrics overall on the album. Everything about this track works so well. I can't picture it as a single, but I'm okay with that. The perfect album closer. " Wonderland" has grown on me a bit, but it's still one of my least favorites thanks to the production and some of Taylor's vocals, particularly the chorus. I really hope it's not a single, because it will be an instant station-changer for me. I wish " You Are In Love" had been on the regular edition. This one is gorgeous, and one of my favorite Taylor ballads ever. I can definitely see why Lena Dunham wants to play it at her wedding someday. I still love " New Romantics" as well - it hasn't burned on me a bit. Though this one lyric always confuses me: "Please leave me stranded, it's so romantic." Huh? Overall, the album has held up incredibly well, and I can't wait to see how the rest of the era plays out. Still hoping Taylor adds another concert date closer to me (and not in the middle of the week, making a road trip impossible).
|
|
NeRD
Diamond Member
RIHANNA NAVY
Joined: March 2010
Posts: 15,054
|
Post by NeRD on Nov 24, 2014 20:54:09 GMT -5
This is just all around a fantastic album. My favorite since Unapologetic.
It's just crazy how many potential singles they have left...
Out of the Woods Style Bad Blood Wildest Dreams I Know Places and All You Had to Do Was Stay (to a lessor extent).
However, I highly doubt they'll go eight singles deep, but they would be stupid to not release all of the first four listed.
|
|
matty005
3x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,413
|
Post by matty005 on Nov 24, 2014 20:56:55 GMT -5
Having sat with the album for a full month now, I wanted to reflect back on my initial thoughts of it and see how they've changed. I still love " New Romantics" as well - it hasn't burned on me a bit. Though this one lyric always confuses me: "Please leave me stranded, it's so romantic." Huh? . Doesn't that lyric pretty much sum of the subject of the song? The, "new romantics" are people with broken hearts, people who've been in bad relationships (or none at all) and have got back on their feet and enjoying life without a bf/gf.
|
|
Peterawr
2x Platinum Member
hi
Joined: November 2011
Posts: 2,015
|
Post by Peterawr on Nov 24, 2014 22:26:30 GMT -5
I thought Taylor said at some point that Out Of The Woods wouldn't be a single...? Maybe I just made that up. But it should be.
|
|
kmbgs
7x Platinum Member
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 7,239
|
Post by kmbgs on Nov 24, 2014 22:50:31 GMT -5
I thought Taylor said at some point that Out Of The Woods wouldn't be a single...? Maybe I just made that up. But it should be. That would be a travesty along the lines of Addicted if so. Like it needs to be
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 23:01:08 GMT -5
Having sat with the album for a full month now, I wanted to reflect back on my initial thoughts of it and see how they've changed. I still love " New Romantics" as well - it hasn't burned on me a bit. Though this one lyric always confuses me: "Please leave me stranded, it's so romantic." Huh? . Doesn't that lyric pretty much sum of the subject of the song? The, "new romantics" are people with broken hearts, people who've been in bad relationships (or none at all) and have got back on their feet and enjoying life without a bf/gf. Hmm. I kind of interpreted the song differently. To me it's about how a lot of people purposely (or if not purposely, kind of recklessly) embrace those bad-for-you relationships and drama. "We need love, but all we want is danger" is the line that kind of sums up the song imo. You're in love with love; you get involved with all these people who deep down you know aren't good for you, revel in the excitement of it and then even more in the inevitable implosion; you know people are probably judging you relentlessly for it but you don't care. Then you dust yourself off, call it a lesson learned ("life is just a classroom") and start all over again. In some ways the heartbreak is the thrill that some live for more than the relationship itself....it's sort of picking up where Blank Space left off, but written so that it applies more broadly instead of just to her specifically. All that said, I don't think how I view the song conflicts much with your interpretation. I hate that it's only a deluxe track, it's really single material.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: January 1970
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2014 23:01:26 GMT -5
I thought Taylor said at some point that Out Of The Woods wouldn't be a single...? Maybe I just made that up. But it should be. That would be a travesty along the lines of Addicted if so. Like it needs to be now look, don't bring that clarksonnumber1 mess in here. Don't let the cancer spread!
|
|
|
Post by countrygirl918 on Nov 25, 2014 0:24:13 GMT -5
Doesn't that lyric pretty much sum of the subject of the song? The, "new romantics" are people with broken hearts, people who've been in bad relationships (or none at all) and have got back on their feet and enjoying life without a bf/gf. Hmm. I kind of interpreted the song differently. To me it's about how a lot of people purposely (or if not purposely, kind of recklessly) embrace those bad-for-you relationships and drama. "We need love, but all we want is danger" is the line that kind of sums up the song imo. You're in love with love; you get involved with all these people who deep down you know aren't good for you, revel in the excitement of it and then even more in the inevitable implosion; you know people are probably judging you relentlessly for it but you don't care. Then you dust yourself off, call it a lesson learned ("life is just a classroom") and start all over again. In some ways the heartbreak is the thrill that some live for more than the relationship itself....it's sort of picking up where Blank Space left off, but written so that it applies more broadly instead of just to her specifically. All that said, I don't think how I view the song conflicts much with your interpretation. I hate that it's only a deluxe track, it's really single material. Love this interpretation - it makes a lot of sense. I'm going to have to keep in in mind during future listens as I analyze the lyrics. :)
|
|
tsr
3x Platinum Member
Joined: July 2007
Posts: 3,344
|
Post by tsr on Nov 25, 2014 2:02:45 GMT -5
I just still can't get over the beat in "Wildest Dreams" being Taylor's actual heartbeat. Who else?
|
|
tsr
3x Platinum Member
Joined: July 2007
Posts: 3,344
|
Post by tsr on Nov 25, 2014 2:23:53 GMT -5
1. I Know Places 2. Style 3. Blank Space 4. Out of the Woods 5. Wildest Dreams 6. All You Had to Do Was Stay 7. I Wish You Would 8. Wonderland 9. Shake it Off 10. You Are in Love 11. New Romantics 12. Bad Blood small gap 13. Clean 14. How You Get the Girl 15. This Love 16. Welcome to New York I'm not sure what I was thinking when I said "All You Had to Do Was Stay" was one of my least favorites. #1-7 are all really close actually. Sorry for the double post but I HAVE to update this. Updated: 1. Wildest Dreams (not sure why I was thinking otherwise) 2. I Know Places 3. Style 4. Clean 5. Blank Space 6. All You Had to Do Was Stay 7. Out of the Woods 8. Shake it Off 9. You Are in Love 10. Wonderland 11. Bad Blood -gap- 12. New Romantics 13. I Wish You Would 14. Welcome to New York 15. How You Get the Girl 16. This Love (maybe it'll grow on me)
|
|
SHOOTER
Diamond Member
3x Poster Of The Year!!!
Typical of those in power to stay worried about the *wrong* shit.
Joined: April 2006
Posts: 75,061
|
Post by SHOOTER on Nov 25, 2014 2:28:54 GMT -5
Doesn't that lyric pretty much sum of the subject of the song? The, "new romantics" are people with broken hearts, people who've been in bad relationships (or none at all) and have got back on their feet and enjoying life without a bf/gf. Hmm. I kind of interpreted the song differently. To me it's about how a lot of people purposely (or if not purposely, kind of recklessly) embrace those bad-for-you relationships and drama. "We need love, but all we want is danger" is the line that kind of sums up the song imo. You're in love with love; you get involved with all these people who deep down you know aren't good for you, revel in the excitement of it and then even more in the inevitable implosion; you know people are probably judging you relentlessly for it but you don't care. Then you dust yourself off, call it a lesson learned ("life is just a classroom") and start all over again. In some ways the heartbreak is the thrill that some live for more than the relationship itself....it's sort of picking up where Blank Space left off, but written so that it applies more broadly instead of just to her specifically. All that said, I don't think how I view the song conflicts much with your interpretation. I hate that it's only a deluxe track, it's really single material. EXACTLY my thoughts about the song. A slight tinge of cursory masochism, even; there's pleasure in the pain hence finding romance in being stranded.
|
|
SHOOTER
Diamond Member
3x Poster Of The Year!!!
Typical of those in power to stay worried about the *wrong* shit.
Joined: April 2006
Posts: 75,061
|
Post by SHOOTER on Nov 25, 2014 2:48:07 GMT -5
On an unrelated note, I just watched her AMAs performance. I've never thought of her as a great live singer so I'm never critiquing her vocal performance when watching. That said, it was a very clever and entertaining opener for the show. Great job.
|
|
kmbgs
7x Platinum Member
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 7,239
|
Post by kmbgs on Nov 25, 2014 9:24:40 GMT -5
Just watched the AMA performance. It was cute, but she sounded horrendous. Reading the comments here I thought she had a pitchy moment or two. You guys, she needs to work on this. It's completely distracting and detracts from her otherwise great performance abilities (stage presence, theatrics, etc.).
|
|
Kinney
Gold Member
Joined: December 2012
Posts: 578
|
Post by Kinney on Nov 25, 2014 18:04:03 GMT -5
I didn't think she sounded "horrendous" at all. She is never going to be anything more than a competent live vocalist (which she is), and I can't be bothered to care when I enjoy her performances as much as I do. CNN's #1 of the night, Billboard's #1 of the night, one of Hitfix's best of the night ("I'm not personally a fan, but that doesn't matter - she's a master entertainer and proved that once again with tonight's performance of "Blank Space."), and Us Weekly's #2 best moment of the night.
|
|
Joe1240
6x Platinum Member
Taylor Swift-The Best in Pop & Country Music!
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 6,953
|
Post by Joe1240 on Nov 25, 2014 21:27:21 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by countrygirl918 on Nov 26, 2014 0:04:34 GMT -5
Just watched the AMA performance. It was cute, but she sounded horrendous. Reading the comments here I thought she had a pitchy moment or two. You guys, she needs to work on this. It's completely distracting and detracts from her otherwise great performance abilities (stage presence, theatrics, etc.). I don't think anyone expects Taylor to be a great vocalist, so people don't seem to even pay attention to her live vocals anymore. It may not matter to many of her fans, but I do hope it's something she continues working on. I have seen improvement since the beginning of her career, and she can be quite good on slower songs. It's the faster ones like "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space" that she has the most trouble with live. I will say, though, that I have noticed the backing track often being a lot louder lately than I think it should be. That's one element of the vocal delivery that distracts me - I can barely hear Taylor's actual voice over the backing track. It almost feels like she might as well lip-synch if the backing track is going to drown out her live vocals that much.
|
|
slayZ
3x Platinum Member
Joined: November 2010
Posts: 3,232
|
Post by slayZ on Nov 26, 2014 1:05:10 GMT -5
The only time the backing track is on is during the hook of the song, which based on the last 2 Blank Space performances, she sometimes doesn't even bother "lip-synching." She's not trying to fool anybody, 90% of the performance is her.
If the chorus of a Pop song doesn't sound good live, most people won't like the performance, because they're so familiar with the studio track. This technique is done a lot when Pop stars perform live.
|
|
|
Post by countrygirl918 on Nov 26, 2014 1:20:26 GMT -5
The only time the backing track is on is during the hook of the song, which based on the last 2 Blank Space performances, she sometimes doesn't even bother "lip-synching." She's not trying to fool anybody, 90% of the performance is her. If the chorus of a Pop song doesn't sound good live, most people won't like the performance, because they're so familiar with the studio track. This technique is done a lot when Pop stars perform live. I'm aware of that. Doesn't mean I like it.
|
|
Florencia
New Member
Happy. Free. Confused. Lonely. 23
Joined: April 2013
Posts: 107
|
Post by Florencia on Nov 26, 2014 7:06:58 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by itsaboutart on Nov 26, 2014 10:59:31 GMT -5
I wasn't a huge fan of the voice performance. Her voice sounded a lot better to me than the ama's but i think the hair flipping and over dramatics are a bit old (but i admit they probably do fit the aesthetic of the song).
i am by no means a hater. i bought this album legally but i do feel conflicted about taylor swift. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that taylor swift is the female artist (or even simply THE artist) of my generation. I dont think anyone has had as much success. There are people who have had bigger moments e.g adele but she has been on top so consistently now and truly feels like she is just getting bigger and bigger.
I like Taylor Swift because she is a HUGE step in the right direction for pop music. This is a girl who is truly truly authentic. The music may be pop but u really believe that this is the album she wanted to make. i dont think she is doing it for album sales or fans. i believe 1989 is truly taylor's expression. It is so rare to see that in pop music. Katy perry for example (im not a hater) - u can feel she is creating something for the masses. i have heard her in interviews say 'if it aint broke dont fix it'. I believe katy perry in her authentic form is an acoustic pop/rock artist. i do not blame her. She has all the time when she is older and there is less at stake to make an indie album and i am sure one day she will.
So as a concept i love taylor swift. But if i am honest to myself i think she is propelled massively by being really inoffensive, being incredibly incredibly likeable (and she is deliciously so) and by being in a pop environment where there is little authenticity and so she shines like a diamond. As an aside i consider lorde and lana del rey two other authentic pop artists. I just wonder if each one of us looks back in time at other stellar female singer songwriter wordsmiths - maybe you're too young but think back to alanis morrissette, jewel, fiona apple. Does Taylor Swift compare? I dont think so. But then again to be truly amazing u need to be truly truly deep, and to be successful and deep i think you need a culture of youth that feels displaced and not enough and deep too. And maybe we are not. And maybe we just really care about taylor swift as a human being and we want to read her diary. And that seems to be what 1989 is. I'm enjoying the read. And i love seeing her cute performances and interesting sets and watching her dance with all her friends at award shows in a sweet encouraging ego-less way. But i wont lie, i feel like she is the biggest voice of my generation, and i worry she doesn't really have much to say.
|
|
Joe1240
6x Platinum Member
Taylor Swift-The Best in Pop & Country Music!
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 6,953
|
Post by Joe1240 on Nov 26, 2014 11:29:34 GMT -5
Taylor Swift versus Spotify, in one chart. Taylor Swift pulled all of her music from streaming services under the argument that she deserved to be paid for her art and Spotify was not paying her enough. After the release of her new album 1989, however, Swift didn't pull her songs from YouTube, a site where — like Spotify — users can listen to songs free of charge with minimal ad interruption. This chart, produced by Nielsen shows exactly how much that hurt Spotify, or, rather, how much of a boost in traffic Swift gave to YouTube by pulling her music from streaming services. There are two things to be careful about here. It's unlikely that Swift would have put 1989onto Spotify immediately, since she waited a few months to put Red, her last album, on the service. That means the Spotify line likely would have remained steady, even as YouTube rose. This chart extends past the date when Swift uploaded her music video for "Blank Space" to YouTube, giving the site an added bump in traffic. That disparity would have existed even without the Spotify pull. To be clear: this is an apples-to-oranges comparison. But it's one advantageous enough to Swift's position that her camp will almost certainly use it (or something similar) to get higher rates per play out of Spotify and other streaming services in the future. www.vox.com/xpress/2014/11/25/7282421/taylor-swift-youtube-spotify
|
|
Hefty Hanna
Diamond Member
a prettier jesus
Joined: August 2007
Posts: 20,337
|
Post by Hefty Hanna on Nov 26, 2014 11:35:36 GMT -5
Cool concept for the performance (+ the concept was very well-executed), but she's done, and sounded, better. For such a hater you stay loving her shit on instagram
|
|
JamaicaFunk²
Diamond Member
Will & Grace!
Joined: January 2005
Posts: 13,774
|
Post by JamaicaFunk² on Nov 26, 2014 19:47:45 GMT -5
1989 will be $6.99 at Best Buy Thursday and Friday.
Where else is it getting some good discounts?
|
|
slayZ
3x Platinum Member
Joined: November 2010
Posts: 3,232
|
Post by slayZ on Nov 26, 2014 19:57:26 GMT -5
Wow I'm shocked they're discounting it. Good approach!
I doubt Target will since they're all about the DLX, but maybe Walmart will too.
|
|
Kinney
Gold Member
Joined: December 2012
Posts: 578
|
Post by Kinney on Nov 26, 2014 20:05:58 GMT -5
Looking at the Black Friday circulars, Best Buy is the only outlet that is discounting 1989. And they only accounted for 1% of her sales opening week, so it's not likely to boost her numbers very much.
They know better than I do (and they've obviously done the cost-benefit analysis), but I wish BM would discount her albums - when they're actually new - at places like Target and iTunes. She would get such huge numbers...not like they aren't already huge, but you know what I mean.
|
|
tsr
3x Platinum Member
Joined: July 2007
Posts: 3,344
|
Post by tsr on Nov 26, 2014 20:48:39 GMT -5
I think "Clean" is becoming one of my favorite Taylor songs. It's a grower, but when you have something personal going on to relate to it, it really hits hard.
"The water filled my lungs, I screamed so loud but no one heard a thing" might be one of her best lyrics ever.
|
|
Keelzit
Diamond Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,815
|
Post by Keelzit on Nov 26, 2014 21:29:46 GMT -5
The performance at the Voice was much better than the AMAs. Theatrics bore me in general so the more 'freestyle' setting is always a bigger pleasure for me.
|
|
nightshade
Diamond Member
I'm adaptable.
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 10,693
|
Post by nightshade on Nov 26, 2014 22:26:19 GMT -5
I'm heralding Out of the Woods as the Enchanted and All Too Well of the album.
|
|
theflying
2x Platinum Member
Joined: August 2006
Posts: 2,973
|
Post by theflying on Nov 27, 2014 0:26:42 GMT -5
I'm heralding Out of the Woods as the Enchanted and All Too Well of the album. It is THE song that defines 1989. I want people to come around and not only realize it, but love it. It's fantastic. It must be a single after or before Style.
|
|
Joe1240
6x Platinum Member
Taylor Swift-The Best in Pop & Country Music!
Joined: September 2003
Posts: 6,953
|
Post by Joe1240 on Nov 27, 2014 0:39:47 GMT -5
I'm heralding Out of the Woods as the Enchanted and All Too Well of the album. That's tough to put in the league of Taylor's greatest album cuts. "This Love" is close enough to be in that league also. Imagine Taylor performing this at a future award show. That would be great. Taylor in her emotional songs are at her best.
|
|