Can you rerecord an album and sound 99% the same? Taylor Swift proves that she can, and with the advancement of technology and production, her re-recording of 1989 are sounding very similar to the original version. But can you really recreate everything that makes an album great?

Like remaking Mona Lisa,1989 (Taylor’s Version) makes many fans feeling uncertain while others hitting it off in a heartbeat. Here are some major differences between the original and the remake.

1989 (Taylor’s Version) Has Serious The Eras Tour Vibe

You simply can’t fake the vibe of an album. One striking difference between the original and the re-recording is that they set completely different vibes. The technical differences are very nuanced, but Taylor’s Version feels poppy and sweet. Calling it Candy Pop wouldn’t be an exaggeration. Indeed, Swift is at a celebratory point of her career. Her record-breaking The Eras Tour this year makes yet a new high. And 1989 Taylor’s Version happens in the same space.

Overall, the new album creates an epic cinematic sonic experience. In tracks like “Wildest Dreams,” the quality of instrumentals and beats have been drastically improved, making the sounds smoother and more polished. However, “Out of the Woods,” a song about the problems with fame, sounds like a grand sonic film depicting the forest…it’s danceable and ultimately, pop.

The Original 1989 Has More Emotional Nuances

If you stream the original album before listening to Taylor’s version, you’re going to end up saying, yeah, it’s basically the same. But if you listen to the latter first, the truth is, you’ll end up feeling like something is missing.

As one of Swift’s best autobiographical albums, 1989 draws a fantastic spectrum of emotional nuances. From raw heartbreak to unfulfilled dreams to nostalgia and regrets, there are many “technical errors” made during the original recordings that have become part of the storytelling.

The sparks and emotional tensions have drastically decreased in the new version. After all, having sung the same set of songs for a decade, it’s just impossible to feel as raw as they were newly written. The wounds have healed. The lyrics now have new meanings.

Same Record, Different Era

As close as a match the re-recordings are to the original, but it’s inevitable to lose sight of certain aspects in a matching contest. Yes, they sound the same to most ears, but 1989 has grown into a different record during the remake. We are talking about a different Taylor too. After all, Taylor’s Version is about her taking back control of the rights to her music, owning her narrative. It makes sense for it to be different. And honestly, 1989 Taylor’s Version gives many songs a pretty exciting update.