It's interesting that New Year's Day seems to be getting a lot of push. First she performed this for that Scandal thing and now on Late Night.
Oh no, that's totally fair when it comes to the actual album release. Sorry, I was thinking more along the lines of initial singles. I think you're totally right that "Pop Style" and "Castle on the Hill" were there to reassure their initial fans. That's probably where TayTay's team was thinking with the last-minute pushes of "Gorgeous" (echoes of "Blank Space") and "Call It What You Want", as well as the recent focus on "New Year's Day". She might've gotten a little too far out of pocket with those single choices and was trying to reassure her initial fanbase that she still has "classic" material for them. And yeah, I definitely wouldn't count her out for future singles. Delicate should be a #1 hit imo. I think if she goes "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" and "Delicate" as the initial 1-2 punch, we'd have been having a very different convo about the rollout for this album. Major album rollouts are so interesting because they're always a balance between storytelling and commercial ambitions. Like... she wants people to know the "old Taylor" is dead, so she releases the photo negative of "Shake It Off" with LWYMMD. At the same time, she's got to hope that song is in tune enough with the mainstream to make a big splash, or album anticipation is neutered (which I do think it was, despite what's sure to be a massive opening sales week). I really need to write about this album.
Yea it's definitely not one sided. And yea I suppose in terms of singles they aren't that different. I still feel like the goal of the singles are different though, which affects the approach to choosing them. I really hear hit potential in End Game, I Did Something Bad, Don't Blame Me, This Is Why We Can't, and Delicate. It's going to be interesting for sure what she goes with next. This is definitely a fascinating album cycle/promotion.
Yeah I'm really glad NYD is on the record. It's a little splash of Red that I definitely didn't expect to get from her on this record, or ever really ever again
Ha, was finally listening through this for the first time and I was kinda feeling meh about it and then New Year's Day came on. Definitely the best song. But as a full album I'm still fairly ehhhhhhh on it. I think the more I'll listen the more it'll grow on me but so far definitely below Red and 1989 for me.
I told myself I was gonna wait for this to come to Spotify, but I caved today and picked it up at Best Buy. First listen I'm liking this a lot more than I was expecting I would. LWYMMD and Gorgeous are the two weakest songs, IMO. Strange that both were released as singles. End Game and I Did Something Bad need to be rushed to radio ASAP. Those songs are gonna dominate.
I feel like the biggest offenders on this record aren't the more daring songs (LWYMMD, End Game, Dress) it's the songs that are very run of the mill. So it Goes, Dancing With Our Hands Tied, and This is Why We Cant have Nice Things aren't doing anything new for her.
I almost liked this until you included This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things on the list? I'd say that's a top 4 "out there" song on here. LWYMMD, End Game, I Did Something Bad and that song are the ones that stand out to me as being more different than the rest of her work.
If someone could edit Nice Things to take the laugh out then it be a pretty good song (already is but ugh that laugh)
I have to give This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things another listen. After my first album listen I thought it was one of the weaker songs. End Game, Dress, I Did Something Bad, Don't Blame Me, Call It What You Want and New Years Day are my favorites.
Constantly changing, but I tried to put together my ranking of the album's songs. Would love to see what other people are thinking as well. 1. I Did Something Bad 2. Dancing With Our Hands Tied 3. Call It What You Want 4. Don't Blame Me 5. End Game 6. ... Ready For It? 7. Dress 8. Getaway Car 9. New Years Day 10. Delicate 11. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things 12. Look What You Made Me Do 13. Gorgeous 14. King of My Heart 15. So It Goes... I should mention, I really enjoy the first 13 songs on my list. I think King of My Heart and So It Goes... are both decent songs, but they haven't clicked with me as much as the rest of the songs.
Ha! Yeah, that order would definitely be horrible. I might try to make a separate playlist and experiment with the tracklist order at some point tonight though!
I'll bite. 1. ...Ready For It? 2. I Did Something Bad 3. Dancing With Our Hands Tied 4. Delicate 5. Getaway Car 6. Don't Blame Me 7. New Years Day 8. So It Goes... 9. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things 10. End Game 11. Call It What You Want 12. Dress 13. King of My Heart 14. Look What You Made Me Do 15. Gorgeous
King of my Heart has massively grown on me last few listens - audible guitar on chorus! - and by far the most interesting drums on the album
1. Delicate 2. Getaway Car 3. I Did Something Bad 4. New Years Day 5. Ready for it? 6. King of my Heart 7. Call It What You Want 8. Gorgeous 9. Don't Blame Me 10. Dress 11. Dancing With Our Hands Tied 12. So It Goes 13. This is Why We Can't Have Nice Things 14. End Game 15. Look What You Made Me Do