-by Victoria Farina- Taylor Swift’s new album, “1989,” has been released and fans are thrilled. It starts with “Welcome To New York,” a light-hearted song that has been trashed as a newcomer’s idea of the Big Apple–and the critics have a point. It is somewhat shallow because it describes specifics of the city, but when Taylor sings, “The lights are so bright, they never blind me,” one gets the feeling it is not just about New York but the universal experience of being somewhere new and exciting, making it the perfect upbeat tune for when you need some cheering up! Then comes her second most popular single on her new album, “Shake It Off.” The song, a mixture of Pharrell‘s “Happy” and the refrain to “Shake it Out” by Florence + The Machine, makes it catchy. Very catchy. As in, don’t listen to it before bed, because your night’s-sleep-is-at-risk catchy. Another hidden gem that has not had as much fame is the single, “Style,” a lively and flirty song that makes you feel like you want to walk a runway (or at least that is what we feel like, you may have other feelings).

Regardless of its hits and misses, “1989” attests to Swift’s uncanny ability to move through any genre. What worked for her in country also works for her in pop music because Swift has never identified as just a country musician or a pop musician. Overall, Taylor Swift is one of the first supposed “country” musicians to have the guts to successfully come out and say that she wants to write pop music. We, along with her millions and millions of fans, are right behind her. Buying the album on iTunes is definitely worth the investment, or even just purchasing your favorite singles. Bonus: Swift’s controversial music video for one of the singles on “1989,” called “Blank Space,” is definitely worth 4 minutes and 33 seconds of your life. Come on, who would not want to see Taylor smash a gorgeous vintage Cobra with a golf club?