It could be fair to say this post could have been extremely biased (Taylor Swift being my favourite artist/songwriter through my teenage-hood and as such, will probably be an major part in my musicality for the rest of my life) but when previous critics and haters of the singer began to praise and admire her latest album release, 1989, I found it hard not to gloat and proud I will be believed when I say: "This album is what us Swifties saw in her all her albums before". 

Finally, it seems the general concept of Swift as an artist is no longer a girl who only sings country songs about boys but a musician who carefully and creatively expresses her emotions and experiences, with 1989 being her boldest and most striking punch at it yet. Swift has publicly said this is the album she is proudest off, with her aim to create songs which completely emulate the lyrics and tone of what she is describing, something only skilled musicians can achieve. It is for this reason Taylor Swift inspires many; She is story-teller, a poet and an artist of sorts, creating works which are not only current but timeless in the emotions they prevail. It is simple to say that Taylor only writes about love and for that, trashes ex-boyfriends, but any person who knows Taylor's repertoire can state that their is not a single album from Taylor which only talks about love; she can and does write about other topics. 1989 for example, which has had many (too many) conspiracies over which songs are about her ex-Harry Styles from One Direction (yawns) ignores the fact her first single 'Shake it Off' was nothing to do with boys but instead, learning to shake off the haters. Even better, the album starts with a track named 'Welcome to New York' celebrating a city and a new independent life within it. Yet, when looking back at the most successful artists and albums in the past couple of years, artists such as 'Ed Sheeran'  and 'Adele' frequently come up and despite their releases including many songs expressing negative past experiences with ex's, they never face the same scrutiny as Swift does. As always, the media seem to focus on the talking points which sell the most magazines, frequently forgetting to mention in interviews that Swift  has either written or co-written every single song she has ever released or ask about the process behind creating each of her records: something which artists like Ed and Adele are often asked about, more so Ed than Adele. As Taylor expressed in an interview recently, there does seem to be some sexism surrounding this topic. However, despite all this, 1989 has been able to overshadow some stereotypes by catching and inspiring the ears of the listeners, grabbing them with the hooks and riffs before they have a chance to dismiss the song just because it is one of Taylor's, making 1989 an address for a new era for the artist, creating an album so different to those previous without losing of who she was before.

I believe 1989 could not have happened without her previous albums; the importance for her first, self-titled 'Taylor Swift' all the way through to 'Red' have showed a growth, not only lyrically, but literally. From 16 to 24, Taylor has lived her life as most would. Leaving home, starting a career, finishing and dealing with the challenges in the process of 'growing up'. In order to produce something like 1989, Taylor would have needed extensive knowledge and an understanding of the industry, knowing who to work with and how to get the results she wanted but also a belief that she could create something which would not only silence the critics but satisfy her creative integrity. As such, Taylor has developed a strong sense of sound and therefore how to use it; able to produce a Taylor Swift record unlike no other but still be a Taylor Swift  record. She even dubbed this one her birth year, 1989, furthering the sense of identify she wanted to get across in this album more than any of her others despite this one sounding the most different from her self-titled Taylor Swift record at the start of her career. 

I thought I would only write about the few obvious talking points on this album: the start and the end (otherwise I would talk about every single song which would take too long for myself to read, let alone you!)

The album starts with 'Welcome to New York', a bright and welcoming introduction to the start of the album and new sound for the singer. Similar to a song she did in-between albums, 'Sweeter Than Fiction' the song proves Swift is using new techniques when song-writing. The first track suggests this album will feature plenty of electronics, including beats and sound effects, to create a "new soundtrack" which all will "dance to... forevermore". Swift has said previously that New York had helped start a new era in her personal life, and as such I do not find it a coincidence that the first track of her album uses all the most typical techniques that 1989 features... There is clear focus on electronic instruments and beats, sound effects, punching melodies, movements into the highest range in Swift's vocals and playful rhythmic demonstrations as well as using trademark features, including her poetic lyrics, catchy choruses and of course, a bit of guitar here and there too. This first track is inviting listeners to join a celebration, not only presenting an album comprised of pop-focused tracks but also, to a new era in her own life. 

The album ends with 'New Romantics' or one of the best songs Swift has ever written. I mean it when I say I believe this song is timeless because this track will forever represent the generation I am in: the one Taylor portrays so brilliantly not only in the words but sound, with this electronic but personalised sound, which doesn't sound like everything in the charts (i.e. not EDM) but definately not something from the past. It sounds like now.

The lower melody at the start, which effortlessly represents this day and age, can mirror the way we act. We are a generation constantly stimulated (shown through the beat driven and underlining instrumental beneath the words) and perhaps, the laziest we have ever been before ("We're all bored; We're all so tired of everything) being able to do most of things many only dreamed of doing on the comfort of our phones (shown through the almost dragging rhythm and elongated vowels of words). On the other hand, the contrast with the melody sang an octave higher over the main lower line brightens the tone of the song, not forgetting the instrumental is in a major, which is not surprising. This is a song about this generation and Swift's experience within it:

"Baby I could build a castle out of all the bricks they threw at me."

she is also saying we can thrive off these experiences:

 "Everyday is like a battle but every night with us feels like a dream."

New Romantics gives the listener the story of modern-day romance and the way in which we carry ourselves. The chorus lifts the entire song, with Taylor belting the melody like a punch in the air with the beat making anyone dance without them releasing. She hints at how, although we may be comfortable within our lives, we are always one step ahead ("He can't see it in my face but i'm about to play my ace-ah") and marching into the world of adulthood with a new but no-less successful way of living our lives. However, the entire meaning of this song, and I think this album, is not only self-discovery through means of growing up, making mistakes, being heartbroken, trying new things, trusting new people and going to exciting places, but also in the fact that although this generation is perhaps obsessed with technology, it's the people who we are with which make us who we are. 

"The best people in life are free."

I don't know if she means either 'free' in the sense of they're your friends no matter how rich and materialistic you are or in the sense of have a 'freedom' within themselves which means they do whatever they want without judgement: I think for Swift and for myself, it means both. New Romantics is a celebration of these people and of the life we have, so regardless of what brings down, we're still living our dream, and luckily, we have the technology to "capture it, remember it". It is for this reason this song is my "national anthem" because it will forever remind me of what it is to be a part of this generation and I applaud Taylor for writing a song which I believe represents who she was, where she is now and where she will go, adding to why she named this album after the year she was born: it is a definition. If that doesn't prove why 1989 deserves the praise it has received, I do not know what will. 

Whatever your opinion of her is, you cannot disagree in saying this is Swift's most striking album yet, pleasing loyal fans by reassuring them with beautiful and punching melodies, funny and sarcastic lyrics and warm and inviting instruments whilst catching new fans with her catchy riffs and head-bopping/foot tapping/dancing beats, refusing to let your head forget the anthems she had created. For this reason, Taylor Swift is a first-class songwriter and musician, creating the soundtracks to many lives without losing her own identity. 

forteloud rating: 5/5