No one has shut up about this album since it came out in October 2014. Taylor Swift’s “1989” sold over a million copies in the first week alone and continues to sell well even today, largely due to the fact that it was previously nowhere to be found on streaming services. That is until Apple Music launched and Swift suddenly had a change of heart.
Still, since everyone I know buzzed about this album and the media certainly buzzed about it given the Spotify melodrama, I had to give it a listen. I didn’t want to buy it because I truly didn’t care that much, but I cared enough to listen if I was already paying for a streaming subscription. Now that I’m officially an Apple Music member, I got to stream “1989” in its entirety while I was cooking my lunch.
The album opens with “Welcome to New York,” a song about Swift’s exuberant attitude moving to New York City. Within the first few seconds, the album title is made clear: not only is 1989 her birth year, but the music on this album draws inspiration from the ’80s. The song has great energy to it, I can almost picture myself in the middle of Times Square listening to it.
Oh look, the water is boiling. Time to steam the vegetables.
The next tracks, “Blank Space” and “Style” are two of the singles from the album, so I’m already a bit biased. I’ve heard them a million times and they’re perfectly catchy, but I’m over them. “Style” is one of my favorites on the album though, as it has a unique alternative sound with great lyrics.
Then we get to “Out of the Woods.” I toss meatballs into the frying pan while Taylor Swift repeatedly asks me for three minutes and 56 seconds if she’s out of the woods yet. I really don’t know or care Taylor, just let me cook this meat please.
“Shake It Off” is still one of the most infectious songs I’ve ever heard. So there’s that.
“Bad Blood” is my favorite song on the album. It has an awesome beat that rises and crashes along with her voice. It’s the one that, though a commercial single, I still don’t get tired of.
I slightly burned the meatballs. Whatever. They go on the plate as “Wildest Dreams” plays. Another lyrically impressive song, the production even sounds like a dream. This is another solid track up there with “Bad Blood.”
Unfortunately, that’s where the songs stop being particularly noteworthy. (“I Know Places” is decent.) Almost all of the songs I mentioned are commercial singles though, which means we were already able to listen to them for free either on the radio or YouTube.
I finished eating my lunch a bit underwhelmed. Taylor Swift’s album didn’t quite meet the high expectations so many people set for it. It’s not terrible; in fact I’d listen to it again. My favorite songs apart from “Wildest Dreams” and “I Know Places” are the commercial singles.
So was the album worth the roughly nine-month wait to stream? Not really. I could have streamed this nine months ago and come to a similar conclusion. Sorry, Taylor. Time to “Clean” my dishes.
George Tinari has covered Apple and technology for over six years. On the rare occasion that he’s not sitting in front of his laptop, you can find him eating, awkwardly socializing, listening to music or singing along loudly to said music. You can also follow George on Twitter if you need more complaints and sarcasm in your timeline.
64 responses to “Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ wasn’t worth all that Spotify drama”
How many different times are you going to claim one song as your favorite? So not worth the read. Talk about repetition.
People are sticking with Spotify. Not like everyone likes Taylor’s music
You clearly didn’t read his comment, moron.
What a crappy article. If you had a negative attitude to begin with and actually liked about 6 of the songs, how can you be so freakin bitchy about it. Just eat your burnt meatballs and shut up!
The album is crap, but I’m thankful for the T.S. drama nonetheless.
I wasn’t that impressed with any of the songs the first time I heard the album. However, after several listenings, I think it’s a brilliant album, and don’t think there’s a bad song on it, which is much more than you can say for most albums.
The idea that you would actually write a review after hearing it many of the songs only once is reckless, and unfair to the artist and your readers.
What’s really unfair is to have to have ever heard this stupid album existed in the first place. my offer still stands… I’ll pay Taylor Swift $5 a month out of my own pocket for her to take this off of Music, $10 a month to take all her music off. People like the commenter above are part of the reason the music industry has become so crappy, catering their record deals to people who create music for those with no musical taste or ability to discern music from marketing.
First – Why you gotta be so mean? You know, someday I’ll be living in a big old city and all you’re ever gonna be is mean.
Second – You’d be better off spending that $10 a month on your therapist and some psychotropic drugs — to deal with your rampant narcissism. Because apparently you think you’re here to tell people what music is.
If that’s what it takes to get Taylor Swift off of Music, I’ll do it. I’ll take every psychotropic drug available to make me delusionally and ingenuinely happy and blend in with all the Taylor Swift fans. We can all pretend the world is a happy place where we all just hug and listen to junk music. Then the tables will turn and I’ll be begging to get Taylor Swift back onto Music and cheering her on in tech blog posts with righteous indignation against anyone who speaks against her and she was run off of it in the first place.
Please, why don’t you tell us what you think good music is…
I like a ton of different musicians across many different genres. There are many artists who make music purely for the sake of the art. I will say this… In my day it was Nirvana who took down the Taylor Swift-like cookie cutter money grubbers off the Billboard charts and revolutionized music. Whether you like Nirvana or not the pure art in their music cannot be denied. The art is more important than the money and it shows through in the music. Whether it is Mark Knoppfler, G. Love and Special Sauce, DJ Quik, Iron and Wine, Queen, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sarah McCalachlan, Rebellion, Tom Petty, Zap Mama, or SOJA when you go to a concert it is the music that takes priority over the performance. There is too much emphasis on performance nowadays and the music is secondary to it in most cases and it shows. The above mentioned are also great performers, but that was of necessity and not part of the original inspiration. Inspiration is the key, not a contract.
You know what, I totally agree with your assessment of the current music industry. The emphasis is not just performance but physical beauty. I try listening to some of the popular (“promoted”) stuff to see what’s so great, but a lot of it sucks.
I really like some of the acts you mentioned, and I can’t stand some of the others. I am not going to make a comment on your musical taste. That’s your prerogative.
I know Taylor Swift sits at the top of a huge marketing machine. She even promotes poison like Diet Coke. Nevertheless, I’ve been around long enough to know a good song when I hear one, and Taylor Swift is a great songwriter. Her lyrics are juvenile and naive, but I’ll give her a pass for that because she’s very young. I’m glad I actually listened and didn’t dismiss her just because she’s popular. That’s my opinion, and I couldn’t care less what anybody thinks about it.
I appreciate that. My intention was not to be mean, just irreverent toward the profit machine of the music industry. Maybe I lumped her in without fully giving her a chance (though I did not care for her dancing sharks performance). I will give a listen. If music is good it’s good. There are even kids music artists that I admire because they are solid musicians. Or even if I don’t like the music of certain artists I still respect it as art as that dimension shines through despite whether it’s a genre or song I like (Outkast, for example, annoys me but I can hear the artistic intent and respect them and would never discount them as artists). Unfortunate Taylor Swift has become the poster girl for the music marketing machine which is why she attracts so much ire. Thanks for keeps Ng it cool, I will check her out now that I can with Music.
Well, I posted a reply with a link in it, but it’s “pending”, so I’m removing the link and reposting here.
I cut my teeth on the Beatles, Stones, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, Hendrix, Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, The Who, Johnny Winter etc. Also, a lot of Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Hayden. So I can appreciate your search for authentic music not motivated by profit.
When I was young, there weren’t many alternatives. There was radio, TV, the record store and live concerts.
But even though the mainstream music industry has devolved into something unattractive, nowadays there are SO MANY alternate channels, including SoundCloud, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music (especially the Connect feature for new and obscure artists), etc., that you can ignore the loud din of the marketing machine if you want to.
Actually, when I said you were being “mean”, that was kind of a joke. I was using the lyrics from a Taylor Swift song called “Mean”, which she wrote after being ripped apart by a music critic. You can see the video on YouTube or Vevo. By the way, it’s a really good song.
Sorry, I interjected my comment between your discussion with Dan Boltron.
I just had to say how interesting it is–you and I have almost identical music that we “cut our teeth” on, even the classical music. And we both like Taylor Swift! It’s interesting that some of those people we like-/also appreciate Swift’s songwriting.
I’d say she’s quite good with lyrics. She always made a point–she writes about her life, so if she’s 18 or 20–you get that age. But–it’s the way she uses words, and constructs lyrics and music, that are really good. A song like All Too Well from her Red album illustrates her abilities as a lyricist well. I recently read a critic who wrote about her distinctive “Swiftian” couplets.
Swift writes songs that stick in your head. SNL even did a spoof commercial about that. I think that’s something she has in common with many of the older generations you mention.
Anyway, just found our musical tastes and appreciation of Swift interesting.
No problem, I’ve been really enjoying your comments.
I’ve heard a few of Taylor Swift’s songs, some from Red, and some from earlier albums, some a little country, some pop. But they were so good that I decided I was going to buy her new album, 1989, when it came out, which I did. As I mentioned, when I first listened, I felt the songs were good, but wasn’t that impressed by any of them. But after listening a few times, they grew on me to the point that I felt they were literally “growing on me”, I couldn’t get them out of my head. For me, there’s not a bad song on the album, and they’re not cookie cutter copies of each other, or some repetitive, hypnotic stringing together of some loops.
So now that Apple Music is here, I’m going to go back and listen to some of her earlier work, like Red and then the older albums. I look forward to hearing some of the lyrics you’re talking about.
My previous comments about her lyrics didn’t completely convey my feelings. They express the experiences, views and discovery of a young person (what else could they be?) However, within that context, there is a lot of intelligence, insight, cleverness and self awareness.
I agree it’s interesting that we were both “cut our teeth” on the same music and are now enjoying Taylor Swift’s music. I just like good music. Many artists are one hit wonders, but anyone that can produce great, unique music as consistently as Taylor Swift does has a special gift.
Like the Beatles. I ridiculed my sister when she got INTO them. She even went to scream at them in Shea Stadium. I thought it was SO STUPID. Until I heard their music. After that, I bought their albums before my sister did. Album after album they created incredible stuff. I remember; I kept wondering when they would flame out, like all the other groups. They never did.
There’s a lot of other incredibly talented and consistent song writers in other genres like Broadway musicals.
It wasn’t Taylor Swift who did the dancing shark thing at the Super Bowl. That was Katy Perry. Are you confusing Swift with Katy Perry entirely? Perry’s first hit was I Kissed a Girl. Another one I”m aware of is Cslifornia Gurrls. Seriously. Terrible.
I first listened to Taylor Swift because someone said “she’s actually a good songwriter, read Wikipedia to see what other songwriters think.” Yeah. Wikipedia. I try hard to keep an open mind though. I eventually gave it a scan. Stevie Nicks. Ok. kris Kristophersom? I guess he was impressed that someone so young could write that well. Anyway, people I respect liked her. I listened to her Red album. I’ll admit, I’m not used to music written and performed by a 22 year old girl. I liked the stuff she wrote herself though. The first couple of songs were the best (not as fond of the more pop songs she co-wrote) the first two–I imagined what they’d sound like if different bands I liked played them. And I thought, yes, they were good songs. All by a 22 year old girl. Not what we’re usually used to.
Anyway, streaming music is a good thing. I’ve had Rhapsody forever. (I do believe in paying for my music) I get you on stuff like Nirvana. My tastes are wide ranging. swift is good with lyrics. 1989 doesn’t have the strong, involved lyrics she’s capable of, they’re far more spare on 1989. Still, the lyrics are unlike what you’d hear in other pop music. She seems to have started a movement with younger songwriters, like under 25 years, that strongly emphasize lyrics. Which I think is good.
1989 she put together when she was 24. She does one album every two years, each album different. I wait to see what will come next. I’m hoping she continues to evolve and grow.
But hey–enjoy streaming music! It’s a joy to have so much music so readily available.
I guess I’ve fully lumped everybody in the marketing machine as to be avoided. I’m a total lyrics guy so I am now even more curious. Anyone who writes lyrics worth listening to is worthwhile in my book. I am not immune from falling for an artists music even when they are part of that marketing machine, once I actually give it a real listen. To leftylaf- I put in artists whom I’m assuming you said you’re not into to emphasize the fact that my musical interest is not constrained to any genre. I recently got into DJ Quik, who raps about both things I agree with and some I don’t agree with for example, but he’s so authentic that his music is contagious. Whether I agree or don’t agree with someone as long as they’re genuine and authentic I can really appreciate them.
No, I get it. When someone’s coming from their heart, no matter what they’re doing, it resonates.
So sign up for Apple Music and listen to whatever you want. There. Problem solved.
I like the girl but her music is too teenage girl for me. Must be getting old…
In time people will get over her music and she will get replaced
That’s what they said about the Beatles. Should I get off your lawn?
Nowadays people get over someone quickly and move on to the next okay
That’s true for all the crappy artists, which doesn’t include Taylor. She’s sticking around, deal with it.
Yes it does
Nope. Your opinion doesn’t matter here. The music industry that recognizes her immense talent says your opinion is wrong.
Your opinion doesn’t matter to me and you keep replying to me so you can be right. It’s okay cause she will get replaced soon.
Good cause I haven’t expressed my opinion, only facts. You’ll continue to be wrong. Sucks to be you.
Your facts are wrong
I’m sorry you don’t like them. It doesn’t make them any less true. Move on.
You seem like you can’t move on
…is something everyone knows about you. You should take kbar’s advice and stop commenting on articles about someone you clearly don’t like. It only makes you look like a moronic troll with nothing to backup what you say.
But by all means, do continue to reply and make yourself look like a complete asshat.
Kat, for someone who doesn’t like Taylor Swift, you sure seem to go out of your way to comment on articles about her. And always your resounding reply is “she will be replaced.” Then when someone supports their opinion well and you disagree, you just discount their facts.. Remember what I said before about sounding like a petulant child??
Thank you. Kat is an imbecile.
the album is great. this article is stupid, not well put together. you either like the album or you dont
In your opinion
no its a fact
No it’s not.
blah blah blah
Good
get a life bro
You suck
cry me a river I told the truth it is a great album
I think you are right, It’s a great album. It has a sound that is unlike her other albums and unlike any other album released in the last 10 years (that I know of). I like that it is cohesive, and the lyrics are smart. Clean is one of my favorite cuts.
As for the article…. I don’t think this guy is a real music critic. And he’s not the best writer I’ve ever seen either. Pretty much, anybody with three brain cells to rub together should be able to see this article for what it is… a fluffed assignment to write a certain number of words for an opinion piece.
…ok
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If only you had the same writing skills as Taylot Swift I wouldn’t have this article so mediocre. So not worth the 10 seconds it took to load this article.
“Taylor Swift’s ‘1989’ wasn’t worth all that Spotify drama”
Nothing Taylor Swift does is worth any drama. Talented, but so what?
People make it seem like Taylor is the savior of the music industry when she’s not
You love showing how ignorant you are.
Its not worth the money. Just listen to it over the radio and record it if you want to
listen to it all the time. I never pay for music just record it off the radio. Its easy.
Put it on a SD card and there you go. Why pay for something that is played over
the radio for free.
Kid wake up and save your money. The radios station play the music for you for free
and you can just record it then play it when ever you want.
Its not worth the money. Just listen to it over the radio and record it if you want to
listen to it all the time. I never pay for music just record it off the radio. Its easy.
Put it on a SD card and there you go. Why pay for something that is played over
the radio for free.
can we seriously stop posting articles and talking about TS? It’s obvious that all of this drama the TS camp is drumming up is just publicity stunts. The music is crap, lets all move on.
PR from Taylor’s team. Taylor was loved in the beginning of the year and now she is way overexposed and now boring. Time to move on
Still at it? Sad…
Still at it? Why don’t you look at yourself first and your the onr who’s replying to me!!’
Except you commented first. Try again, moron.
Except you keep replying. Let it go, let it go :)
You first, idiot.
Not publicity stunts. You should stop reading articles about her if you feel that way, moron.
I could care less if I die and never hear this album. Thanks.
Why is an idiot like George writing about music? Anyone’s music? What a pathetic little website this is! Read his bio–he usually writes dweeby articles like the “vibrant new colors available for your IPod.” “When he’s not busy being a University student.” Haaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
So this little meatball eater is telling us what he thinks about an album. Oh yes, George. I always want to read the music opinions of a a university student who usually writes stuff about vibrant new colors for IPods.
Clue, buddy. The album came out last fall. It’s already been reviewed. Rave reviews too, pal, like The New York Times and stuff? But maybe you missed all that “cause you were checking out vibrant IPod colors, or stuffing your craw with meatballs.
George says he didn’t listen to the album before because he didn’t care that much. That’s because he’s cool, and ewwww. Females like Taylor Swift. Well George–I know manly men who like 1989 and aren’t afraid to say it. In fact they say they like it without even worrying what anyone else will think.
I think REAL music critics who liked 1989 listened, listened again without any meatball breaks, and didnt think twice about saying how much they liked 1989. No condescension just because ewwwww, women like Swift, too.
George and whoever gave him the okay to write this juvenile drivel–spare us. Send George back to writing what he knows best–you know, vibrant IPod colors and stuff.