Note: This review is number five in a series looking back at Taylor Swift’s first 10 albums.

The creation of “1989” was based on Swift’s birth year, appearing to represent a rebirth of her artistry and career.

Swift was also inspired by her 2014 move to New York City, evident on the first track, “Welcome to New York,” showcasing how the city inspired her and how she fell in love with it.

The lyric “Searchin’ for a sound we hadn’t heard before,” relates to Swift’s shifting artistic focus towards pop music. It is the first of her albums without any country songs.

“1989” has frequently been referred to as a summer album by fans with its upbeat songs, as well as its imagery. The album, or what has become Swift’s 1989 era has become associated with the color sky blue and seagulls, as shown on the cover for “1989 (Taylor’s Version).”

The track “New Romantics” embodies the summer feeling. It relates to a broader audience with lyrics noting broader, general experiences and the frequent use of “we.”

Swift sings how she could “build a castle/Out of all the bricks they threw at me,” alluding to the criticism she received at that point in her career.

She later adds, “We’re the new romantics, The best people in life are free.” Including the listener and lining up with the narrative “1989” paints of youth and moving past hardships.

Contrasting the positive and cheery music, Swift addresses an underlying conflict expressed in the lyrics of some songs.

“Bad Blood” is reportedly about her spat with Katy Perry. According to Swift who spoke to Rolling Stone in 2014, Perry tried to “sabotage an entire arena tour. She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me.”

Swift was referring to how Perry allegedly stole three dancers from the Red Tour for Perry’s own solo tour.

This song led to the iconic music video, dramatizing the Perry betrayal. The video showcases Swift building herself up with her armor after an attack (symbolizing what Perry did), and the introduction of various characters who become part of Swift’s army.

These characters later join Swift in a battle against the real-life Selena Gomez in a black wig, posing as the Perry figure. The other cameos are even more significant to fans, with appearances by Zendaya, Gigi Hadid, and Ellie Goulding.

The video also relays a message to Perry that Swift will always have an army of fans behind her, supporting her, and stealing from her was a mistake.

Previous Album Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021) | Next Album “Reputation” (2017)