Tag Archives: 1989

by

Song of the Day #2,652: ‘Wildest Dreams’ – Taylor Swift

taylor_swift_wildest_dreamsIn Billboard’s fourth and fifth spots are a couple of repeats — one I like and one I loathe. At #4 is Fetty Wap with the horrible ‘679‘ and rounding out the top five is Shawn Mendes with the respectable ‘Stitches.’

Taylor Swift’s dominance continues as yet another 1989 single hits the top ten. ‘Wildest Dreams’ is the fifth 1989 track to reach the top ten, making this one of only 21 albums in history to have that many songs on the chart. And the album is sure to generate at least one more hit, if not several.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,639: ‘How You Get the Girl’ – Ryan Adams

ryan_adams_1989The most unexpected new release this year has to be Ryan Adams’ song-for-song cover of Taylor Swift’s 1989. It’s such a delightfully random project, like a piece of fan fiction come to life.

It also turns out to be a very good album in its own right. Adams is faithful to the melodies and lyrics of Swift’s originals but gives each his own stylistic spin, mostly slowing them down and trading pop rock for folk rock.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,377: ‘Blank Space’ – Taylor Swift

taylor_swift_1989

Best Songs of 2014 – #5
‘Blank Space’ – Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift dominated the music scene last year with her first foray into pure pop, 1989. The album was the year’s top seller (even edging out the Frozen soundtrack in a photo finish) and showed up high on just about every critic’s list.

It’s tempting to call 1989 Swift’s most superficial record, but I think it’s generally as deep and satisfying as her previous work. It’s not the dessert, it’s the whole meal.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,301: ‘1989 Medley’ – Superfruit

superfruit_taylorIn a case of perfect timing, I discovered Superfruit’s medley of all 13 track of Taylor Swift’s 1989 just as I was posting my own review of the album.

So I’ll wrap up this not-random weekend with their take on the record, which is predictably awesome. Maybe not up to the level of their Beyoncé medley, but excellent nonetheless.

Continue reading →

by

Song of the Day #2,300: ‘Style’ – Taylor Swift

taylor_swift_1989I’m taking a break from Random Weekends in order to get in a quick review of Taylor Swift’s 1989. Swift’s music has generated enough discussion on the blog that I feel I owe it to my loyal readers to chime in on this latest batch.

1989 is, as everybody knows by now, Taylor Swift’s “pop” album. Though she has always flirted with pop in her music, even when she was a bona fide country artist, she has fully embraced the genre here.

Continue reading →