FLASHBACK TO 2014—the time when I started to transition from Little Miss Sheltered to Little Miss trying to adjust to teenagehood. It was also the year of the emergence of trendy kinds of stuff that every 13-year-old like me would gush about with my friends. The type of things that I would get curious about and the things that I would ponder as I step foot into my first year in high school. Fast forward to Taylor Swift’s 1989 release, there were a lot who were in shambles about her change of genre while some continued to roll with her music and I’m literally one of them.
How I started pitching this entry must be confusing for some of you. Like, what was really the point of mentioning everyone’s favorite pop star? Well, nine years later, she would re-release it again as 1989 is now her 8th owned album. Listening to this album takes some back to their teenage years, and listening to it with a new sound and additional tracks made some realize how much they’ve changed. As a 22-year-old woman, I now relate to the bliss, frustration, and uncertainty in the lyrics more than ever before. It’s crazy to think how much life can change in just a few years, and sometimes I find myself struggling to figure out what I really want in this crazy change called adulthood.
“The album was like a novel written about my life, full of the tough realities of young adulthood, yet also encountering moments of joy and self-discovery.”
“Welcome to New York” was all rainbows and bright lights as it talks about moving into a new city and starting anew. Everything about the song speaks fresh and colorful. Searching for something that you hadn’t encountered before. Leaving behind the burdens that made you struggle. Loving who you want to love! Starting anew in a city is everyone’s dream but it’s not always easy to fulfill. Adjusting to the chaos of a bustling city can be overwhelming, but it’s an opportunity to explore a new culture and learn more about oneself as well. Walking through the crowded streets, enduring exhaustion, and knowing to stand on one’s own are the greatest challenges one must overcome in order to become independent. Embrace the journey, and remember that every step you take is a step towards growth.
Love is such a strong word to describe. It is pure, honest, and beautiful. That is how “You Are in Love” is. It shows how a traditional love story can be from two people who find comfort and solace in each other. On the other hand, if love can be good, it can also be bad. “This Love” is a type of song that visualizes love that is buried dead deeper can be alive and back from how it is. Love is sometimes a journey filled with ups and downs, twists and turns, and a fair share of heartbreak. But amidst the chaos and uncertainty, lies the potential for the chance to grow and experience the joys of love.
The more you understand “Clean,” the more you’ll realize how much it has been such a huge part of your life once you grow older. It speaks of the journey of healing after going through a tough time. It sounds like the song really resonates with you and your experiences. It’s beautiful how it portrays the struggle of difficult times but also emphasizes the potential for growth and moving forward. It seems like the song has been instrumental in your own personal journey towards healing and transformation.
It’s funny that I thought 1989 back then was just all happiness and sadness. What can I say? It really feels nostalgic. But as a young adult currently listening to this new version, it now feels like I have been listening to a song about my life as a grown woman. Life is really a rollercoaster of experiences, from going with the flow to erasing bad blood, finding love, facing heartbreak, and aiming for self-improvement. It is a journey full of twists and turns, but always remember that the possibilities are endless.
To sum up all of it, I realized that 1989 taught me a lot about young adult life. It resonated with my ventures of adjusting to new places, experiencing love and heartbreak, overcoming failures, and appreciating life. The album was like a novel written about my life, full of the tough realities of young adulthood, yet also encountering moments of joy and self-discovery.
Email me at thebedan_fcreditor@sanbeda.edu.ph