Kinney
Gold Member
Joined: December 2012
Posts: 580
|
Post by Kinney on Oct 27, 2014 16:58:30 GMT -5
For comparison's sake, Red, hit #1 in 24 countries. This was at a high mark of 88 (earlier I think). She has officially become the worldwide megastar she was born to be. ![](http://s15.postimg.org/or84eemp7/Screen_Shot_2014_10_27_at_12_29_13_PM.png)
|
|
poplife
Platinum Member
Joined: March 2006
Posts: 1,034
|
Post by poplife on Oct 27, 2014 17:02:32 GMT -5
For comparison's sake, Red, hit #1 in 24 countries. This was at a high mark of 88 (earlier I think). She has officially become the worldwide megastar she was born to be. ![](http://s15.postimg.org/or84eemp7/Screen_Shot_2014_10_27_at_12_29_13_PM.png) She's a goddamn superstar and she was born this way...
|
|
|
Post by countrygirl918 on Oct 27, 2014 17:30:51 GMT -5
1. Welcome to New York – By far one of if not the weakest track on the album, but it works surprisingly well as the album opener. While I would have liked the lyrics to be better developed, the song serves its purpose by introducing the album as a whole different ballgame for Taylor. Welcome to New York = welcome to the new Taylor.
2. Blank Space – Fantastic track. Took me a couple of listens to hear the lyrics properly – I could’ve sworn she was saying “Starbucks lovers” instead of “long list of ex-lovers,” which had me super confused. This is one of the best lyrical songs on the album, and the production is just as great. That pen click right before “and I’ll write your name”? Genius.
3. Style – I’m not as in love with this as many of you are, but it’s still a great song and catchy as hell.
4. Out of the Woods – When this was released as a promo single, I was nervous. The repetitive chorus had me worried for the rest of the album – I didn’t want it all to be like that. But after hearing 1989 as a whole, I can now appreciate this track for what it is. The verses are great lyrically, but this one is more about the production and the feeling you get from the song building and building to its crescendo. Just through the way it sounds, you can feel how Taylor felt in this tumultuous relationship.
5. All You Had to Do Was Stay – Another one of my faves. Adore the production here. Another one about Harry, no? I haven’t really seen anyone point out the “you drove us off the road” line, but I assume that refers to the snowmobile accident again.
6. Shake It Off – Maybe it’s just because I’m so used to it by now, but for some reason this is one that seems to fit in the least with the rest of the album in terms of sound. Still, a fun track. Nice to hear her self-awareness in the lyrics, much like “Blank Space”.
7. I Wish You Would – It almost wouldn’t be a Taylor Swift album without a 2am reference. The music at the beginning of this one reminds me of one of those YouTube ads that pop up and you’re forced to listen to it for a few seconds until the “skip this ad” button pops up. The rest of the song is good, but it’s not one of the strongest tracks on the album for lyrics or production, so I’m hoping it remains an album track.
8. Bad Blood – I love the sound of this one and don’t mind the lyrics, but like I’ve said previously knowing that it’s about Katy Perry kind of ruins the song for me. I’d probably enjoy it more if I didn’t know that. Still, I love the vocals over the drumbeat.
9. Wildest Dreams – The ethereal vocals on this one are gorgeous. Lyrically, this one probably feels the most like classic Taylor, but more mature (and suggestive: “his hands are in my hair, his clothes are in my room”). Great track.
10. How You Get the Girl – Great melody and catchy production, but this one probably comes closest to feeling like filler for me. The lyrics feel too generic for Taylor.
11. This Love – Probably my fave song. This one is absolutely gorgeous. Taylor’s soft vocals sound so pretty here. I would love for this one to become an unexpected single. I think it could surprise a lot of people and be a huge smash. If nothing else, I’m sure a lot of movies and TV shows will want to use this song.
12. I Know Places – This one wasn’t immediate for me, but once I heard the voice memo of it I had to go back and listen to it. I love the darkness of this one, particularly on the pre-chorus. Some of my fave lyrics, too: “they got the cages, they got the boxes / and guns / they are the hunters, we are the foxes / and we run.” I want this to be a single, because I really want to see a video for it.
13. Clean – Another fave. The slow beat, Taylor’s soft vocals, the lyrics. Some more fave lyrics: “when I was drowning, that’s when I could finally breathe.” The level of self-awareness and self-confidence on this album is really fantastic, and this one caps it off perfectly. Perfect album closer.
Bonus Tracks:
1. Wonderland – I’m really trying to like this one. I’ve seen a lot of people list it as a favorite, but I’m not on board yet. Love the verses, but that chorus sounds like a mix of Avril Lavigne and Rihanna (“eh eh eh”) to me, which isn’t what I want to hear on a Taylor song. Maybe it will grow on me.
2. You R in Love – Despite the spelling of the title bothering me, this one is so pretty. So cute that Taylor wrote this song for Lena and her new relationship.
3. New Romantics – Wish this one had been on the standard version. I hope that even though it’s a deluxe-only track, it still has a chance at being a single. The entire album has an 80s vibe to it, but this one especially does. More fave lyrics: “Baby, I could build a castle / out of all the bricks they threw at me” and “It’s poker / he can’t see it my face / but I’m about to play my ace”.
What I’d love to see as singles: Blank Space, This Love, I Know Places, New Romantics, All You Had to Do Was Stay
Good luck to Taylor and her team in choosing singles. It’ll be hard for them to misstep – aside from one or two songs, every song on the album could be a #1 smash. (And let’s be real, even those one or two would be. It’s Taylor.)
|
|
desertfloods
2x Platinum Member
Joined: July 2007
Posts: 2,431
|
Post by desertfloods on Oct 27, 2014 17:37:53 GMT -5
According to Kurt, "Blank Space" has a HAC adds date, so it is very likely the next single. :) That would be perfect! Will be my favourite Taylor single to date!
|
|
anafan
4x Platinum Member
Joined: April 2004
Posts: 4,450
|
Post by anafan on Oct 27, 2014 17:46:32 GMT -5
|
|
Active Aggressive
Moderator
Short-Sighted
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 36,448
Pronouns: He/Him
Staff
|
Post by Active Aggressive on Oct 27, 2014 17:56:50 GMT -5
Alright...unfortunately, this album pales in comparison to both Red and Speak Now. Something is missing and I can't quite put my finger on it. My order: 1. Out Of The Woods 2. This Love (easily one of her best songs. I think it would be a nice single. Love the vocal production on this one and I think she could have used more of these songs on the album to balance it out.) 3. You Are In Love (for the most part, it seems like Jack Antonoff really gave his all to the songs he worked on) 4. Shake It Off 5. How You Get The Girl 6. Blank Space 7. Wildest Dreams (holy shit, this is almost like a Lana parody. Was NOT expecting that from Taylor but...Lana does it better) 8. Clean 9. Wonderland (I'm trying to think who she sounds like in this song..Rihanna at times? I'm surprised Sia didn't have a hand in this.) 10. Style I would say that's the order for me. Ryan Tedder gave her the weakest songs. As much as I love OneRepublic, I am not that surprised. I'm not sure they were ever a good match to begin with. I Know Places is infinitely more interesting than Welcome To New York but the latter fits Taylor's "aw-shucks" naivete a lot more. The album isn't bad but I actually agree with EW's review for the most part. Um...WTF Is New Romantics?? No thank you. Song is a MESS. ![:-X](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/lipssealed.png) Again, not a bad album by any means. The only songs I don't really care about are All You Had To Do Is Stay, I Wish You Would, and Welcome to New York and those aren't terrible...just OK. New Romantics is legit the only thing I don't need to ever hear again. Oh...the voice memos are very cool. I like that she included them, rambling and all.
|
|
Kinney
Gold Member
Joined: December 2012
Posts: 580
|
Post by Kinney on Oct 27, 2014 18:08:26 GMT -5
Just bought the album and will be listening soon, but the packaging! I wish more artists would put this much effort into album art and packaging, really makes buying the physical edition worth it.
|
|
14887fan
Diamond Member
Joined: November 2013
Posts: 11,262
|
Post by 14887fan on Oct 27, 2014 18:11:11 GMT -5
Um...WTF Is New Romantics?? No thank you. Song is a MESS. ![:-X](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/lipssealed.png) I'm not usually one to ever call someone out for their opinions, but LMAOOOOO at how wrong you are.
|
|
Clauss
Platinum Member
Joined: October 2013
Posts: 1,752
|
Post by Clauss on Oct 27, 2014 18:29:52 GMT -5
|
|
kanimal
3x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,044
|
Post by kanimal on Oct 27, 2014 18:37:42 GMT -5
Not that an Internet stream is going to make a major dent in TV ratings (or vice versa), but why is she competing with her own episode of The Voice? The visual of this is fantastic though. Plus, it's cool to hear the songs performed so soon into the cycle.
|
|
Active Aggressive
Moderator
Short-Sighted
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 36,448
Pronouns: He/Him
Staff
|
Post by Active Aggressive on Oct 27, 2014 18:38:13 GMT -5
Maybe it will grow on me but eh, different strokes for different folks.
|
|
Clauss
Platinum Member
Joined: October 2013
Posts: 1,752
|
Post by Clauss on Oct 27, 2014 18:38:32 GMT -5
Not that an Internet stream is going to make a major dent in TV ratings (or vice versa), but why is she competing with her own episode of The Voice? It's airing iheart radio as well
|
|
Pink Pvssy
Platinum Member
Joined: November 2012
Posts: 1,785
|
Post by Pink Pvssy on Oct 27, 2014 18:40:43 GMT -5
I wish I'm there watching her right now. I'm so jealous of those fans who got picked to witness this event
|
|
Clauss
Platinum Member
Joined: October 2013
Posts: 1,752
|
Post by Clauss on Oct 27, 2014 18:43:13 GMT -5
|
|
kanimal
3x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,044
|
Post by kanimal on Oct 27, 2014 18:43:38 GMT -5
Not that an Internet stream is going to make a major dent in TV ratings (or vice versa), but why is she competing with her own episode of The Voice? It's airing iheart radio as well That's what I mean. If you want the largest possible # of Taylor fans to watch/hear the stream and she + NBC want the largest possible # of Taylor fans to watch The Voice, this should have been at 6:30 or 7 (unless it's only a half hour?).
|
|
matty005
3x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,426
|
Post by matty005 on Oct 27, 2014 18:45:01 GMT -5
It's airing iheart radio as well That's what I mean. If you want the largest possible # of Taylor fans to watch/hear the stream and she + NBC want the largest possible # of Taylor fans to watch The Voice, this should have been at 6:30 or 7 (unless it's only a half hour?). She's only competing with herself on the East Coast. I get your point though.
|
|
Gravity.
7x Platinum Member
Mischief Managed
Truth.
Joined: February 2009
Posts: 7,962
|
Post by Gravity. on Oct 27, 2014 18:50:03 GMT -5
What kind of perfection is this? :'(
Initial favorites are "I Know Places," "New Romantics," "Out of the Woods," and "Blank Space." I need more ballads from Taylor in the future though! Those are always my favorite. Luckily "Clean" was able to fill that void.
|
|
Au$tin
Diamond Member
Pop Culture Guru
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 54,566
My Charts
Pronouns: He/his/him
|
Post by Au$tin on Oct 27, 2014 18:51:40 GMT -5
US iTunes
4/13 tracks have reached the top five (31%): Shake It Off, Welcome to New York, Blank Space, Out of the Woods 7/13 tracks have reached the top ten (54%): ALL^ + Style, Wildest Dreams, and Bad Blood 8/13 tracks have reached the top 20 (62%): ALL^ + How You Get the Girl 12/13 tracks have reached the top 40 (92%): ALL - I Know Places (which sits at #41)
She currently occupies the top two spots with "Shake It Off" and "Blank Space."
|
|
kanimal
3x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,044
|
Post by kanimal on Oct 27, 2014 18:56:11 GMT -5
Seems like SIO might be the finale? So maybe they are stopping for The voice...
Style sounds fun live - I wish they'd do a little bit more with the live guitar on that though.
Blank Space is killer. Not feeling that stupid wink-click thing she keeps doing, but the performance as a whole was awesome.
She's still struggling with SIO live (the new, more stationary choreography isn't helping with her breath on the song or allowing her to sing the whole chorus), so as much as I like the song, I'm glad she'll be on a new single soon.
|
|
surfy
Diamond Member
Irreplaceable
learning and growing
Joined: September 2013
Posts: 18,144
Pronouns: (she/they)
|
Post by surfy on Oct 27, 2014 18:57:35 GMT -5
Just absolute slayage from Taylor. I have to give it to her and her management, they are just killing it this era! Also... I love how much work she puts into it! Will be buying a physical copy too! This is why she's famous, she werqs hard at everything she does!!! (and slays while doing it ![:smokingdiva:](http://i.imgur.com/t6wcd.jpg) )
|
|
Gravity.
7x Platinum Member
Mischief Managed
Truth.
Joined: February 2009
Posts: 7,962
|
Post by Gravity. on Oct 27, 2014 18:58:04 GMT -5
I thought the "wink" was like her clicking a pen to fill the guy's name in the 'blank space'? Maybe I'm thinking too much in that.
|
|
Active Aggressive
Moderator
Short-Sighted
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 36,448
Pronouns: He/Him
Staff
|
Post by Active Aggressive on Oct 27, 2014 19:02:18 GMT -5
Yeah, homegirl has what it takes to go very far in the music industry. She is way more gifted than I gave her credit for during her first two eras, but I have been on board since Mine was released as a single and have purchased all of her albums ever since. The songs that I don't love on this album will grow on me probably but I definitely liked all of the ones i listed and I really don't mind WTNY. The performance of Style already made me like it more.
I want the singles to go:
1. Shake It Off 2. Blank Space 3. This Love 4. Style/Out of the Woods
This Love would be a crazy shocker if they sent that out for winter. It can be used in so many promos for winter episodes of dramatic TV shows. I would say it would work in the Spring as a Prom song but it's a little depressing, so nah. It will prob not be released but I wish it would be. It's the better ballad over Clean for atmospherics alone but Clean is very nice as well.
|
|
kanimal
3x Platinum Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 3,044
|
Post by kanimal on Oct 27, 2014 19:02:40 GMT -5
I thought the "wink" was like her clicking a pen to fill the guy's name in the 'blank space'? Maybe I'm thinking too much in that. It is...I just don't like it ;)
|
|
theflying
2x Platinum Member
Joined: August 2006
Posts: 2,995
|
Post by theflying on Oct 27, 2014 19:06:12 GMT -5
...
|
|
Envoirment
Diamond Member
Joined: December 2009
Posts: 13,599
|
Post by Envoirment on Oct 27, 2014 19:08:03 GMT -5
Hmm, so far disappointed with the album and with "Blank Space" as the second single (It's rather underwhelming/lacks any punch). Of course I've only listened through the album a couple times so some of the tracks might grow on me with more listens.
|
|
tsr
3x Platinum Member
Joined: July 2007
Posts: 3,344
|
Post by tsr on Oct 27, 2014 19:11:06 GMT -5
I LOVE THE ALBUM. "Blank Space" and "Style" are definite standouts but they're all good enough to be standouts in their own way.
Welcome to New York - probably my least favorite. I do like it though and it sounds like a grower. Blank Space - I just love that Taylor pokes fun at herself. This is one of the best melodies on the album imo and the lyrics are genius. Style - YES. This is the sound I wanted from the record and she absolutely delivered with this song. The bridge is incredible. Out of the Woods - This one is honestly still growing on me every day; loving it. All You Had to Do Was Stay - This is good, but the "stay"s in the chorus irk me a little. Probably my second least favorite. Shake it Off - Not much left to say about this one other than it's still a jam. I Wish You Would - One of my favorites. I had it pegged at #3 on first listen but "I Know Places" is giving it a run for its money. I kind of expected a scorcher but I love it either way. Bad Blood - I definitely see the Avril comparison. Not really one of my favorites but it's very listenable and I wouldn't skip it. I do hope other songs are released to radio first though. Wildest Dreams - I'm still trying to process the melody a little bit but I love this. Reminds me a little of "Last Kiss" (in the sense that it stands out a little more sonically). How You Get the Girl - Definitely enjoyable, but not one of my favorites on first listen. This Love - It's not very memorable but I've only given it one listen, and I do remember really liking it. The lyrics are top notch. I Know Places - very quickly becoming my favorite. I like the verses a little more than the chorus but it's growing on me with each listen. Her vocals on this are incredible. Clean - see "This Love."
I feel as though I didn't give the bonus tracks a proper listen, so I'll leave them out for now, but I enjoyed them all. They honestly should've just made the album 16 songs again. Taylor has done it once again.
|
|
circadian
4x Platinum Member
alone and undisturbed
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,358
|
Post by circadian on Oct 27, 2014 19:40:00 GMT -5
Listened to the whole album a few times now, and it's growing on me big time. I would still place it below Fearless and Speak Now, but doesn't mean it's not a great cohesive album.
- For me the weakest links are Welcome to New York, I Wish You Would and This Love. - Style and Blank Space are one of the best songs she's ever created. Damn, they're fucking well-crafted pop records, the production, the lyrics, the hook, EVERYTHING is flawless. - Bad Blood is almost anthemic. Almost. It's a great sing-along-to song, and it's the perfect Facebook status' song, however it's underwhelming how the verses build up and then the production is stripped on the first part of the chorus only for drums to be picked up until the second part of it. Had they made the chorus explode out of the gate, this would have been perfect. - All You Had To Do Was Stay is also amazing, it'd make a great laid back hit for late in the era. The chorus' melody is delicious. - How You Get The Girl is the perfect jingle song, glad Coke took advantage of that already. As a whole song it kind of drags, but the high points of it (which are used in the ad) are blissful. - Out of The Woods, I Know Places, Wildest Dreams and Clean are really cool and different, I wouldn't like them as singles though. They're nice album little gems. - Don't care that much about the bonus tracks, really.
That said, I would love the singles to go like this...
1. Shake It Off 2. Blank Space 3. Bad Blood 4. Style 5. Out Of The Woods 6. All You Had To Do Was Stay
|
|
slayZ
3x Platinum Member
Joined: November 2010
Posts: 3,232
|
Post by slayZ on Oct 27, 2014 19:46:18 GMT -5
Billboard is now predicting "900k plus sales."
This is hitting a million. It has to.
|
|
DJ General
5x Platinum Member
Dupe
Joined: March 2010
Posts: 5,932
|
Post by DJ General on Oct 27, 2014 19:51:57 GMT -5
I'm surprised so many people hating on New York. I really like that one lol
|
|
BadRomance
6x Platinum Member
Joined: March 2005
Posts: 6,912
|
Post by BadRomance on Oct 27, 2014 19:53:49 GMT -5
iTunes Canada:
1. Style. 2. Shake It Off 3. Blank Space 4. Wonderland 5. --- All About That Bass 6. Wildest Dreams 7. New Romantics 8. I Know Places 9. Bad Blood 10. Clean 11. How You Get The Girl 12. All You Had To Was Stay 13. This Love
WHAT KIND OF SLAYAGE. 12/13 songs of the Top 13 are from Taylor.
|
|