1. A No. 11 debut for “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” – below the top 10 and peak No. 4 of the original, but still very impressive for a remake of an old hit. On a scale of 1 to 10, if you are Taylor Swift, how happy are you with that demo?
Jason lipshutz: I’d be at an 8. A remake of a song that’s been out for over a decade, which sounds almost identical to the original version, just debuted at # 11 on the Hot 100! Even with Taylor Swift’s stardom and general curiosity around her re-recording effort in mind, this debut is quite remarkable on paper, and it’s not the kind of old-song revival that’s typical in the upper reaches of the chart. . Eliminate two points for the top 10 from near failure, maybe that will come with “You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version)”.
Mia nazareno: It would be off the charts in aNorth eleven! Thirteen years after the original “Love History“He was released, he would be excited to know that the track still resonates with his fans, many of whom are in a totally different phase of life since when Brave came out in 2008. Beyond the numbers and the strong debut on the charts, nYou forget the first time you heard the dreamy guitar intro that said, “We were both young when I first saw you.” If I was Taylor I’d be proud of the emotional ties counterfeit with his fans since then is still very much there.
Andrew Unterberger: If I were her listening to this a month ago, I’d say I’d have at least a 9; there was no way to predict how interested fans would be in supporting a re-recording that didn’t offer a ton of difference from the original, and clearly the returns are almost unprecedentedly positive. But if I heard this a couple of days into the week, after the first day’s response was so overwhelming and some chart watchers predicted a debut as high as a top 5 Hot 100, it might feel more like a 7 sold out. a shy place out of the top 10. So I’ll split the difference and say 8.
Denise warner: Pretty happy, I’ll go with a 7. She took on super fan Olivia Rodrigo, who continues to dominate, The Weeknd, who just performed on the biggest stage of the year, Ariana Grande, Cardi B and more. There is no shame in “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” at no. 11 with all that tough competition. Besides the no. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart is a nice cherry on top.
Christine Werthman: No. 1 or nothing, honey! It’s a joke. I would be very happy about that location. It’s a new recording, but it’s deliberately not a remake of the original, so the fact that it managed to climb so high is a huge victory. Let’s call it an 8.
2. Do you think we can expect similar chart results for any other potential advanced track releases from Fearless (Taylor’s version)? Or was it due to a unique curiosity, which is unlikely to be repeated?
Jason lipshutz: The re-recorded version of “You Belong With Me” could go higher if it is released during the week of the correct list; after all, it was the biggest hit of Brave (reaching No. 2 on the Hot 100, while “Love Story” peaked at No. 4), it was a clearer breakthrough for Swift at the time, and it seems to have held out more prosperously within popular culture over the past decade. However, the real answer to this question pertains to the six previously unreleased tracks that Swift will release with her re-recording. Brave– If at least one is released before the album to appeal to longtime fans desperate for more songs from its 2008 era, Fearless (Taylor’s version) it could get a hit in the top 10.
Mia nazareno: I think it will be repeated over and over. “Love story (Taylor’s version)“It was an advance – to chop the interest of his fans and bring them back to 2008, a much better year. Set the mood for the other clues to follow. Everyone has their own favorite song off of Brave, and I think a few they will surpass “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)”. What will be interesting is to find out which songs have particularly aged good and can even trace better than It is original.
Andrew Unterberger: I bet there will be more graphics, but I would be very surprised if another Fearless (Taylor’s version) The cut coincided with the debut number 11 of “Love Story”. I bet a lot of people gave it a curious twist to hear how different he was planning to do his re-recordings, and now that the answer is clearly “not much,” there will be fewer casual fans tuning in on the next one. But I didn’t think that even the first one would get that high, so I could definitely be wrong about this too.
Denise warner: Your fans will rally behind the album’s never-before-released songs, and if you follow the playbook of multiple remixes and music videos you used with “Cardigan” and “Willow,” you might have another new no. 1 in your hands.
Christine Werthman: I think all your new recordings will be traced. Their fans are loyal enough to tune in and casual listeners are interested in playing the “find the difference” game. But I’m skeptical that any of the other new recordings will travel that high apart from “You Belong With Me”. That original peaked at No. 2, the highest of Brave singles, so I suspect the re-recorded version could make it into the top 10.
3. Now that we know that Swift primarily plans to re-record these songs fairly closely to their original versions, is there a Taylor cover of Brave What do you think could still end up being particularly revealing?
Jason lipshutz: “You Belong With Me” is the obvious choice, it’s still one of Swift’s top 10 songs, and much of its momentum comes from its vocal nuances. However, I’ve also been wondering about the Colbie Caillat collaboration rework “Breathe”, and trying to imagine what that will sound like with both artists now in their thirties, singing from a wiser perspective. I guess we’ll see it soon!
Mia nazareno: “YOU BELONG WITH ME”!!! It is my personal favorite taylor Fast song, and the clue That started it all for me, 15 years old.. But since its original debut, “You belong With Me ”has acquired a different narrative in pop culture, including the 2009 VMAs and some rap. eccentric. RTh-releasing your version of the song might be a way of taking that back of the drama. After all, Isn’t it about property?
Andrew Unterberger: “Fifteen” seems to be the most ripe for reinvention, even in terms of the small subconscious differences in vocal performance that seem to be inevitable if Swift sings the teenage tale for the first time as a thirty-something. I’ll also be really looking forward to the new “Hey Stephen,” a personal favorite deep cut that always sounded like it was written and recorded at such a specific point in an early crush; It will be fascinating to hear her try to regain that feeling.
Denise Warner: In my opinion, the obvious answer is “You belong to me.” Even without changing the lyrics, I imagine Taylor is smart enough to instill a sense of entitlement to his narrator’s “friend zone” that the original lacks. However, “Fifteen” could be even more fascinating: At 18, Taylor was singing about a recent period in her life. At 31, things look a little different.
Christine Werthman: I’m going to put this in writing now: “Fifteen” is going to surpass the original, which peaked at 23rd. Hearing Taylor sing that song now in his thirties? Shaking chills. I have chills! I know I’ll be tuning in repeatedly to see if I can spot any thoughtful sighs or knowing smiles as Taylor looks back at that specific teenage tale.
4. What other album by a pop star from the last 15 years would you be most interested in hearing a re-recorded version?
Jason lipshutz: Grimes has become such a brilliant production company over the past decade that I have long been curious how she would rework some of herVisions material if you get a chance – after all, there are songs in 2010 Geidi Primes Y Halfaxa They contain the kind of melodic beauty that hinted at their future breakthrough. Those projects contain a lot of lo-fi charm, but if Grimes were to re-record them now (or eventually) they would be a must-have for me.
Mia nazareno: What I wouldn’t give to relive Lorde’s 2017 set Melodrama – the soundtrack of my 20 years. It would be great to hear a stripped off, that sounds like home interpretation of “Supercut”, “Homemade Dynamite” or any of the other gems of your sophomore album. But at this point, I’ll take anything from the New Zealand-raised pop star. Come baaaack.
Andrew Unterberger: I’d love to hear Kesha try to get her back Animal/Cannibal it was. She can never get rid of Dr. Luke from those songs, as of course he co-wrote most of them, but she can at least get rid of some of the memories she has of his involvement in her specific recordings, and probably work on some. . Hilarious 2020s Kesha-style reinventions of electro-pop classics from their dollar sign days in the process.
Denise warner: Sorry I’m still going with Taylor here, just because I can’t wait to hear the new Red. Give me a faithful re-recording And give me one Folklore-esque version.
Christine Werthman: Does Kanye West count as a pop star? If so, I’d like to hear it do 808 and heartbreak now, after their divorce. God knows the man could use a musical catharsis again. If not, then Beyonce in B’Day, maybe with a extended extended mix of “Get Me Bodied”. Also a “Freakum Dress” from 2021 would be so timely: “I think I’m ready / I’ve been locked in the house too long.” Correct?!
5. A year from now, you’re at the grocery store and “Love Story” is playing. Be honest: What percentage of chances do you have of being able to identify if it is the original 2008 version or the new “Taylor version”?
Jason lipshutz: Zero! Supermarkets are not the forum for subtle production changes, at least for me. Too much is happening to sniff out the revamped instrumentation! Perhaps you would have better luck in a post office, a coffee shop, or the doctor’s waiting room? Time will tell in what everyday situations I will be able to stand up and declare, “Taylor’s version!”
Missing in action Nazarene: Depending on the chaotic is at Supermarket (Fingers crossed, there won’t be another pandemic-induced grocery craze next year!), I think I could identify the version with a success rate of 80%. Taylor’s voice has changed slightly since 2008. In version 2021, she sounds confident and very self-assured. His version of 2021 sounds a lot like growth, like I don’t need Romeo after all – Y that’s what we like to hear.
Andrew Unterberger: Maybe 40%? It depends on how clearly I can distinguish the violin levels in the chorus, or if I stay long enough to hear how long the final note holds.
Denise warner: Zero percent. The only way I can tell now is if I’m looking at my phone as each version plays one after the other. I doubt very much that I can tell in nature.
Christine Werthman: Zero percent probability. Without shame.