Single Review: “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift

PHOTO from popdust.com

“Shake It Off” is the lead single of Taylor Swift’s upcoming fifth studio-release entitled ‘1989’. It is an interesting choice for a first track from her much awaited latest effort as it does not have any hints or reminders of Country music in it at all. Neither does it sound like a mature track that would have been meant for the adult-pop realm.

In fact, in this track was a chance for her to let loose, have fun, and in a sense just play along with the music co-produced for her by Max Martin, the very same renowned producer who worked on her previous smash hit studio-release ‘RED’.

I think fans of Swift will enjoy “Shake It Off” because they will get to hear her own commentaries about her fame which are not necessarily self-deprecating. Rather, they reveal that she has attained some level of maturity and can brush off criticisms, and perhaps even laugh at herself and the foibles of youth.

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What is the overall production value of “Shake It Off”?

You can categorize Taylor Swift’s lead single as a “bubble-gum pop” track with its bouncy beat, a synthesized-based sound, and one that has undergone a lot of mixing before it was finally released into the global market.

While there are so many artists now doing the same routine with “bubble-gum pop”, with “Shake It Off”, though, you will still know that you are listening to Taylor Swift. Plus, I do like the sampled horns featured in it and how “Shake It Off,” has a faster tempo (BPM) when compared to some of her more lighthearted songs from her earlier albums.

The track offers listeners a quick, yet enjoyable four minutes that are neither too serious nor offensive in any way. While some may question Swift’s creative direction here, this track tells me that you can’t always take yourself too seriously. Swift is aware that she will always be criticized one way or the other–there’s no way out, it seems. So, why not just have fun with it ?

Needless to say, Taylor Swift has another sure fire winner here–“Shake It Off” debuted very recently on the Number 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Expect “Shake It Off” to acquire more digital sales when ‘1989’–the album title from where this track was taken–will be finally released in record stores worldwide.

Thumbs Up!