Taylor Swift Dropped "New Year's Day" During 'TGIT' & It's Seriously Emotional
Taylor Swift is too good to us. She knew there was no way in hell I could wait until Nov. 10 for the release of her entire album, Reputation, so she unleashed a little something a few hours early. Love you, Tay. Her newest song, "New Year's Day," was released on ABC during TGIT and it's everything.
ABC's TGIT (Thank God It's Thursday) lineup consists of Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and How To Get Away With Murder. All the shows are made by Shonda Rhimes AND ALL ARE SERIOUSLY AMAZING. I don't want to turn this into a Shonda Rhimes love fest, but she's legit my hero and if it wasn't for her I would have nothing to binge watch. OK, not nothing, but I love all her shows.
Anyway, the TGIT schedule stays pretty consistent on ABC, but this week there was a very special release by Taylor Swift. Following the structure of most of her Reputation releases, Swift teased the drop with a 15-second video. The video opens with white text that reads, "World Premiere Performance." A few deep piano notes play in the background with views of the sunset falling over the ocean. The phrases "A New Song" and "Taylor Swift" come rolling onto the screen. Then the bomb is dropped that it will premiere sometime during TGIT.
One thing that is noticeable is where the teaser video was shot. It looks very similar to Swift's beach house in Rhode Island.
It's interesting to see the significance of what that house means to Swift. She definitely doesn't do anything by accident. During each of her four single releases for Reputation ("Look What You Made Me Do," "... Ready For It," "Gorgeous," "New Year's Day") Swift has done everything with a lot of thought and calculation.
And now, "New Year's Day" is here. The lyrics read:
There’s glitter on the floor after the party. Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby. Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor. You and me from the night before but don’t read the last page. But I stay when you’re lost and I’m scared and you turn anyway.
I want your midnights, but I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day. You squeeze my hand three times in the back of the taxi. I can tell that it’s gonna be a long road. I’ll be there if you’re the toast of the town babe or if you strike out and you’re crawling home. Don’t read the last page. But I stay when it’s hard or it’s wrong or we’re making mistakes. I want your midnights, but I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day.
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you. Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you. Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you. And I will hold on to you. Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere. Please don’t ever become a stranger whose laugh I could recognize anywhere.
There’s glitter on the floor after the party. Girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby. Candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor. You and me forevermore. Please don’t read the last page. But I stay when it’s hard or it’s wrong or we’re making mistakes. I want your midnights, but I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day.
Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you. Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you. Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you. And I will hold on to you.
Please don’t ever become a stranger (Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you). Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere (Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you). Please don’t ever become a stranger (Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you). Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere (And I will hold on to you).
And here's the video:
Before the official release of Reputation, Swift already received praise about the album. Fans were invited to exclusive listening parties and completely lost their sh*t over the album, but were careful not to leak any info.
Other waves of praise came from Swift's close friends like Selena Gomez. While doing press for "Wolves," the topic of Reputation came up (of course). During an interview with Zane Lowe for Beats Radio 1, Gomez was asked: "Have you heard the Taylor album? Is it good, is it incredible?"
Gomez answered: "Would you expect any less?" She added,
It's so inspiring. It's really cool to surround yourself with people and be involved with people who are aspiring and changing the way that they dictate what they love, whether it's acting or music, and she's one of those people who will continue to do that.
Another celebrity endorsement for Reputation came from Ed Sheeran. He stayed a little more tight-lipped than Gomez. During a recent interview with Roman Kemp on Capital Breakfast, Sheeran said about the album,
Yeah, I think the songs are great, I think the visuals, she’s really putting everything into the visuals as well, the visuals are really impressive. I think people will like the album!
I weigh this review pretty heavy because Sheeran can be brutally honest. Plus, he and Swift are close friends. There have been rumors that there will be a collaboration track featuring Sheeran, but nothing has been confirmed as of now. HOW AMAZING WOULD THAT BE THOUGH?!
We are literally just hours away from the release of Reputation. There are a lot of high hopes, and, so far, Swift has not disappointed. I AM SO READY.
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