When Taylor Swift shared a video on Instagram of her pressing the number “18” button in an elevator, her fans were quick to pick up on the hint. It was clear that she was teasing the release date of her upcoming album, just as she had done in the past with her albums Red and Speak Now. Fans speculated that the album would drop sometime in October, as it has in previous years, and that we’d likely get a new single before then. The anticipation is high, and Swifties everywhere are eagerly awaiting more news about what promises to be another hit album from the pop superstar.
It’s true, everything that was speculated has now become a reality. Recently, during a Yahoo livestream, Taylor Swift made a big announcement that she would be releasing a new single entitled “Shake it Off” complete with a music video. Additionally, she revealed that her new album, named 1989, will be released on October 27th. “Shake It Off” is a song that talks about dealing with haters and their negativity. Swift advises listeners to ignore the hate by simply shaking it off. The song features some interesting trombones in the background and even has a portion where Swift talks (but it’s debatable whether this can be considered rapping). The music video features Swift dancing awkwardly in various styles, including ballet and twerking, alongside some talented background dancers. Overall, it’s an enjoyable video, and I’ve personally listened to the song 15 times already.
Taylor Swift is known for changing her looks with every album she releases, using her whole aesthetic to reflect the theme of that particular album. According to her, this is a helpful visual cue for her fans to know what to expect. Swift explained that she likes to release a new album every two years, which is enough time for her to make changes in her hairstyle, living situation, and other aspects of her life. This also gives her fans just enough time to anticipate her new music without getting impatient. She refers to each new album as a “rebirth,” such as her latest album 1989, named after the year she was born. During a Q&A session with fans, Swift acknowledged that her look tends to change with each album, and this is a deliberate strategy for her. Despite this, her fans are supportive and enjoy seeing the evolution of her style.
Taylor Swift is known for her calculated moves, but she’s not trying to hide anything. During a recent livestream, a fan asked her if she planned on continuing the tradition of hiding secret messages in her album’s liner notes. These messages are created by capitalizing random letters in the song’s lyrics, often hinting at which of her ex-boyfriends inspired the song. Taylor acknowledged that people love to analyze her relationships, even referencing her song “Shake it Off” with the lyrics “I go on too many dates, but I can’t make ’em stay, that’s what people say.” She then assured her fans that if they like the secret messages, she’ll keep doing it. Taylor values her listeners’ opinions and bases her album decisions on what she believes they will enjoy, all while staying true to her artistic vision.
It’s not shocking that as Taylor Swift has refined her image and approach to business, she has drifted away from country music. She now provides fans with various bonuses that they didn’t know they needed, including voice memos and packs of Polaroid photos. Despite the self-promotion that borderlines on obnoxiousness, she manages to remain grounded by poking fun at herself and acknowledging her tendency towards cat metaphors. Her upcoming album, 1989, will be her first official pop album, further solidifying her departure from her country roots. However, her fans aren’t fazed and continue to support her in her new direction.
According to the hints dropped during her livestream, it appears that Taylor Swift’s upcoming music will have a heavy pop influence and be reminiscent of the past. Expect more catchy radio hits produced by Max Martin and fewer acoustic, metaphor-heavy ballads about heartbreak (although I personally find this unfortunate). Swift expressed her admiration for ’80s pop during the livestream and has recently been seen sporting crop tops. The cover of her new album features a grainy and faded Polaroid photo of herself with the top of her head cut off, which she claims was a random discovery that she decided to use as the album cover. However, it seems unlikely that this was truly an accident.
