It is a withstanding tradition for Taylor Swift to release prewritten tracks that were withheld from the original release when she rerecords her stolen albums. After the highly anticipated drop of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), the pop bible of every 2014 Tumblr girl’s dreams, there has been lots of discourse regarding the content of her vault tracks. Primarily centered around the tumultuous relationships that encapsulated her mind at that point in time, these tracks pull back the curtains to shine light on some more hidden realities. Regardless of your personal opinion of the re-recorded songs of the album, it is undeniable how striking and intriguing the content of the vault songs are in providing context to the greater story of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) as a whole. These tracks hold so much dimension within their synth-pop style while they still articulate the same themeology as the original album.
While each song is uniquely incredible and it’s hard to grasp how these songs were discarded for nearly a decade, there is a clear hierarchy within the tracks. It is my honor to rank each of these tracks for your reading pleasure with the clear intention of entertainment. By no means is this list intended to tear down anyone’s favorite songs or personal preferences, it is simply an ordered list of how I experienced and digested each track to place them in a clear rank over time. That being said, I will be including two sets of rankings to represent my initial opinions formed on the songs based on a single listen, as well as a second list I compiled after a multitude of listens. For the first listen of these songs, I had been listening to the entirety of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) in sequential order on my way to work, and this is where I came up with my initial list. Now that it has been about two weeks since the release of the album, I have really given the time to individually stream and listen to each vault track and form my own decisive ranking without the influence of the rest of the album. The intention behind this two-part system is to demonstrate how repeated listening and lyrical interpretation weigh into how Swift’s songs hold up over long durations of time.
Original Ranking
- “Slut!”
- Now That We Don’t Talk
- Say Don’t Go
- Is It Over Now?
- Suburban Legends
Personally, I think it would be funny to not elaborate on this list, as I know it would be highly contested by avid fans, but then there would be no article to read! So, I will start with an acknowledgment and mention that I was likely biased when initially listening to these songs, due to my excitement of the title “Slut!.” Despite this bias, I stand by my choice to put it first place initially, as the lyric flow and breathy vocals create a heavenly atmosphere within complex storytelling. An entanglement of forbidden thoughts quietly sung to a gently twinkling beat, this song is an absolutely enchanting love story. The overall tone is so gentle and sensitive, as it is swept away through a delicate tempo of chimes. Even with it being a more mellow track than many fans had anticipated based on the title, I still keep it as high as number two in my ranking after dozens of listens. The shimmering sound that begins the song just envelopes me in the velvet blanket of love and lust and longing. The lyricism and overall structure of the song are almost more reminiscent of Folklore, one of Swift’s 2020 albums, than anything on 1989 (Taylor’s Version), but that’s the beauty in it. The song is a blissful contrast from a lot of the more striking songs on the album and provides a moment in contemporary reflection.
Even with my clear obsession with “Slut!,” I recognize that there was a clear mistake in my initial ranking by not having “Is It Over Now?” as my number one. In my defense, it was the final song in the not-deluxe edition of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), and the overall beat did not stand out from the signature album sound. It keeps the upbeat synth that runs through the entirety of 1989 (Taylor’s Version), and after an hour and fifteen minutes of the 2014 pop conglomerate, it was not something I had never heard before. It was only after the second listen that I started to feel the individualized tempo that swept me up in the current. While it carries a similar vibe to other songs on the original album, it reveals so much more depth than I had anticipated from the first listen. After the tenth listen, each word hit like a punching bag blow. It is within the lyrical storytelling web of “Is It Over Now?” where we see more into the pain and complexities of the feelings of the album. More layers are added to the story through each listen to complete a beautiful and complicated mess. “Is It Over Now?” is THE breakup song for all the girls who have just left an intricate entanglement of heartstrings and need to belt their hearts out in the car. The rightful spot of this song was always at the top of my list.
In the shuffle of these top three, I had to move “Now That We Don’t Talk” down from second to my third place song, and it feels right. I was so excited when I found out Taylor Swift was releasing a song only two minutes and twenty-six seconds long. I am always the biggest lover of short songs, as some of the best songs are compact and complex. While I absolutely was not disappointed with this track, there was definitely something missing. After the first listen, I knew it was going to be one of those songs you can put on repeat for an hour and still find yourself dancing again as the beat came back around. It’s catchy, it’s relatable, it’s electric, and it’s real. While an incredible vault track, there are some critical things I feel the song lacks. Despite my excitement for a shorter song, I think the only real issue with this song is the length. After so many listens, it feels like every time the song rolls around to the end, there is this build-up that falls flat. There is so much emotional spite and momentum in this song that just instantly dissipates, which does the song an injustice. Had the build-up ended earlier in the framing of the song, then the length absolutely could work in favor of the replayability. But, in my opinion, the “Now That We Don’t Talk” could end on a stronger note. Regardless of this, the song does leave you wanting more, so it’s impossible not to want to put it on again.
Before anyone accuses me of slander towards “Say Don’t Go” I want to remind you that I think all of the vault tracks for 1989 (Taylor’s Version) are very impressive. “Say Don’t Go” demonstrates the raw and unadulterated yearning that comes from broken endings. This song is heart-wrenching and the bridge gives me goosebumps. However, I do find the structure of this song to fit into a niche of Taylor Swift songs that are repetitive with a catchy bridge that makes you keep listening. “Say Don’t Go” is a song that I think would benefit from being shorter by limiting the repetition. While I find this to be true for “Say Don’t Go” and similar songs, it certainly falls into that niche that is filled with some of Swift’s most popular songs.
Lastly, I must say I am just not the biggest fan of “Suburban Legends,” despite how good the lyrical storytelling is. It is my bottom-ranked song on both lists, and I stand by it. While it’s certainly not a bad song, it blends into the 1989 pop-synth monotony that makes it easy to reason why the song was originally cut from the album. Maybe it’s just me, but nothing presented in “Suburban Legends” adds something contextually new to the story of 1989 (Taylor’s Version). It’s catchy, it’s fun, it’s down-to-earth, but it’s not anything special in the grand scheme of Taylor Swift’s musical catalog.
Even with everything I have said, I do firmly believe that 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is such a whole and complete album with the addition of vault tracks. Peeking into the insight of 2014 Taylor Swift’s songwriting again almost a decade later is a treat to be appreciated. If you’re looking to do something fun, then go stream 1989 (Taylor’s Version) now, and come up with your own ranking!
Finalized Ranking
- Is It Over Now?
- “Slut!”
- Now That We Don’t Talk
- Say Don’t Go
- Suburban Legends
