All of the Singers Taylor Swift Could Collaborate on ‘1989’ With
Taylor Swift has a dedicated fan base that has helped launch her into superstardom. In return, she’s often delighted “Swifties” with surprise releases and other Easter eggs to keep them invested in her work. These sleuthing fans have been trying to figure out what tricks Swift might have up her sleeve after releasing not one but two surprise albums in 2020.
Many believe that the next project will be a re-recording of Swift’s iconic 1989 album, and that might bring some fun new collaborations.
Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated re-recorded ‘1989’ album is likely coming
The drama surrounding 1989 has become part of the Taylor Swift lore. Swift expressed frustration when the catalogue for her first six albums was sold without her knowledge. As The Washington Post reports, “Swift publicly lashed out last year at Scooter Braun after he purchased her former recording label, Big Machine, claiming that he was guilty of ‘incessant, manipulative bullying’ and that she hadn’t been consulted on his purchase of her music rights.”
Expressing pain over her tangled past with Braun, Swift declared she would re-record material from those first six albums to be free of Braun’s influence (and profit). Earlier this month, Swift made progress toward that goal when she released “This Love (Taylor’s Version).” As The Washington Post explains, the new version made “some artistic tweaks to the original song. The intro was changed, and the melody is infused with a more indie-genre vibe.”
Now fans are waiting to see if the entire album will be re-released with new tracks. Imagining how those tracks might be shifted is an anticipatory and fun part of the process for fans, and it also opens the doors for new collaborations.
Who could Taylor Swift collaborate with for ‘1989’ re-release?
1989 contains some of Swift’s biggest hits. Songs like “Bad Blood,” “Blank Space,” and “Welcome to New York” are all part of the playlist. What would the “Taylor’s Version” for each song look like?
One thing fans are excited about is the possibility of new collaborations. One obvious choice for potential collaboration is Harry Styles. Many songs on 1989 are rumored to be about Styles, with whom Swift had a high-profile relationship. If the musicians paired up to work on “Out of the Woods,” it would be a great full-circle moment.
Another nod to the past would be a collaboration with Katy Perry on the re-recording of “Bad Blood.” The song — which contains lyrics like “salt in the wound like you’re laughing right at me” — has long been believed to be about the battle between Swift and Perry. As Glamour reports, Perry and Swift were once collaborators, but when some of Swift’s backup dancers left Swift’s tour to join Perry’s, a feud was sparked.
After telling Rolling Stone that “Bad Blood” was about a bad business dealing with another female pop star, Swift added, “She basically tried to sabotage an entire arena tour. She tried to hire a bunch of people out from under me.” The feud has been fodder for tweets and even a Carpool Karaoke topic in the years that have followed. When Perry appeared in the 2019 video for Swift’s “You Need to Calm Down,” it looked like the “bad blood” may have finally been put in the past.
If Perry and Swift teamed up for the re-recording of “Bad Blood,” it would be a truly transformational moment for the pair.
Could Taylor Swift collaborate with Mandy Moore or Ryan Adams?
One possible collaboration that would have some deep meaning would be with Mandy Moore. Moore — these days better known for her acting on This is Us than her history of pop stardom — would be an interesting choice because of the way that her own relationship history is tied up in the 1989 album.
As Entertainment Weekly reports, Moore’s ex-husband Ryan Adams — himself an indie-rock star — turned to 1989 to help him deal with the emotions of the split from Moore. He explained, “There’s just a joy to 1989. I think she said it as well: she was in a joyful place making that record. Even if there are elements that describe these situations—that describe interactions and the world of romance and the confusion of being alive and knowing how you fit in—all that stuff is there.”
Adams even re-recorded the whole album in his own style as part of his healing process and sent clips to Swift, who was impressed with his take. A collaboration with either Adams or Moore on a track or two would be an interesting homage to the impact Swift’s music has had on others.
It is also likely Swift could collaborate with artists like The National and Bon Iver, as she did on her recent albums Folklore and Evermore. Other possible collaborators include Phoebe Bridgers, with whom Swift collaborated on a track for Red (Taylor’s Version), Ed Sheeran, and Chris Stapleton. The options are seemingly endless for the talented pop star, and fans can’t wait to see who will feature on her version of 1989.
