Taylor Swift fans go wild as she releases 1989 (Taylor's version)

The US superstar's latest record caused widespread disruption on Apple Music
Tina Campbell27 October 2023
The Weekender

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The 33-year-old music superstar began re-recording her first six albums in 2019 as a way of regaining control over her music. Manager Scooter Braun’s purchase of Swift’s original record label, Big Machine Records, meant that he owned the original masters.

Since then, she has steadily been releasing “Taylor’s Version” editions of her albums, which feature newly recorded vocals and bonus tracks “from the vault” that didn't make the cut the first time around. On Friday, it was the turn of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), which comes exactly nine years to the day after 1989 came out, in 2014.

The new version includes recordings of all tracks from the deluxe 1989 record, as well as five additional tracks: Slut!, Say Don’t Go, Now That We Don’t Talk, Suburban Legends and Is it Over Now?.

Aside from causing widespread disruption on Apple Music, many fans live tweeted their reactions to the album.

In addition to hailing the improved quality of her vocals since the original record, the track which proved the biggest talking point was Slut! which from the x-rated title had seemed a little off-brand for the wholesome songstress.

Swift first announced that 1989 was on the way in August, teasing it in a post on social media.

“Surprise!! 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is on its way to you soon!” Swift wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“The 1989 album changed my life in countless ways, and it fills me with such excitement to announce that my version of it will be out October 27th. To be perfectly honest, this is my most FAVORITE re-record I’ve ever done because the 5 From The Vault tracks are so insane. I can’t believe they were ever left behind. But not for long!”

Following the release of 1989 (Taylor's Version), there are still two albums out of the six to come: Taylor Swift, her 2006 debut, and Reputation, her sixth album from 2016.

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