New Romantics
Single | Bonus Track | 1989 (2014) | 1989 (Taylor's Version) [2023]
Table of Contents
Background and Release
Originally released as one of three bonus songs on the deluxe edition of 1989, “New Romantics” was initially available exclusively through Target stores in the United States. On February 17, 2015, Taylor announced that the deluxe tracks would finally be released individually to the U.S. iTunes Store as promotional singles. “New Romantics” was made available digitally on March 3. Following its release, the song debuted at No. 71 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated March 21, 2015. Nearly a year later, on February 19, 2016, Taylor confirmed that “New Romantics” would serve as the seventh and final single from 1989.
Lyrical Theme
Lyrically, “New Romantics” reflects a shift in Taylor’s perspective on love and relationships. Moving away from the fairytale idealism of her earlier albums, here she adopts a more self-aware and carefree attitude—embracing independence, resilience, and emotional growth. In a 2014 interview with Cosmopolitan, she spoke about her evolving views on dating, saying:
«People will say, 'Let me set you up with someone', and I’m just sitting there saying, ‘That’s not what I’m doing. I’m not lonely. I’m not looking.’ They just don’t get it. I’ve learned that just because someone is cute and wants to date you, that’s not a reason to sacrifice your independence and allow everyone to say whatever they want about you. I’m not doing that anymore. It’d take someone really special for me to undergo the circumstances I have to go through to experience a date. I don’t know how I would ever have another person in my world trying to have a relationship with me, or a family.»
Taylor Swift
Production
“It was a very experimental time in pop music,” Taylor said. “People realized songs didn’t have to follow the standard drums-guitar-bass formula. You could build a track with synths and a drum pad, use group vocals throughout—it was about freedom and possibility.” She drew a parallel between the era’s music and its bold, colorful fashion trends, emphasizing a cultural mood of limitless self-expression.
Reflecting that ethos, Taylor approached 1989 with a sense of creative liberation: “There are no rules to this,” she said. “I don’t need to use the same musicians, band, producers, or formula. I can make whatever record I want.”
Music Video
«The fans are the best part of this tour. They are the reason the shows are incredible. I don’t want to forget anything that happened on this tour. It was one of those remarkable moments in time when everything felt exciting.»
Taylor Swift
Live Performances
Six years later, Taylor chose “New Romantics” as the first surprise song for the final show of the US leg of her record-breaking “The Eras Tour” (2023–2024), performing it acoustically on guitar in Los Angeles on August 9, 2023. The performance coincided with her highly anticipated announcement of 1989 (Taylor’s Version). On May 19, 2024, during her third “Eras Tour” show in Stockholm, Taylor performed “New Romantics” as part of a special “Max Martin Medley.” The acoustic mashup featured two additional Martin co-writes: “Message In A Bottle” and “How You Get the Girl.”
«One thing that I have always been a huge fan of, in terms of Sweden’s most incredible export, is the genius pop songwriters and producers. And so in 2012, my life changed for the better because I started working with two genius Swedes named Johan Shellback and Max Martin. And Max is actually here tonight, and he is a shy genius, so I’m not going to bring him out onstage. But I am going to do what I am calling the 'Max Martin Medley.'»
Taylor Swift
Critical Reception
Upon the album’s release, Corey Beasley of PopMatters argued that “New Romantics” and the other deluxe tracks were more “compositionally daring” than any of the songs on the standard edition. Carl Wilson of Slate described it as “manifesto-toned,” while Pitchfork’s Vrinda Jagota called it a “surging, euphoric” track that encapsulates the spirit of the album.
Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone ranked “New Romantics” as the second-best song of 2014, writing: “I have no idea why she left a song this urgent and glittery and perfect off her album…but geniuses are weird.” In a 2019 career-spanning ranking, Sheffield again placed the track at No. 2, calling it “a work of genius, exceeding even the wildest hopes any fan could have dreamed.” Rolling Stone also included “New Romantics” at No. 58 on its list of “The 100 Best Songs of the 2010s,” with critic Brittany Spanos praising it as “the type of relieving dance floor soul purge that the best pop can be.”
In retrospective reviews, critics such as Alexis Petridis (The Guardian), Hannah Mylrae (NME), and Jane Song (Paste) echoed the sentiment that “New Romantics” deserved a place on the standard edition of 1989.
Commercial Performance
Internationally, the single charted within the Top 40 in several countries, including Lebanon (No. 18), Belgium’s Flanders region (No. 33), Australia (No. 35), and Scotland (No. 40). “New Romantics” also earned a nomination for “Choice Song – Female Artist” at the 2016 Teen Choice Awards.
Taylor's Version
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
We’re all bored
We’re all so tired of everything
We wait for trains that just aren’t coming
We show off our different scarlet letters – trust me, mine is better
We’re so young
But we’re on the road to ruin
We play dumb but we know exactly what we’re doin’
We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom
Honey, life is just a classroom…
[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
And every day is like a battle
But every night with us is like a dream
Baby, we’re the new romantics
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the national anthem
We sing it proudly
We are too busy dancing
To get knocked off our feet
Baby, we’re the new romantics
The best people in life are free…
[Verse 2]
We’re all here
The lights and noise are blinding
We hang back, it’s all in the timing
It’s poker, he can’t see it in my face
But I’m about to play my Ace (Ah)
We need love
But all we want is danger
We team up, then switch sides like a record changer
The rumors are terrible and cruel
But, honey, most of them are true…
[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
And every day is like a battle
But every night with us is like a dream
Baby, we’re the new romantics
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the national anthem
We sing it proudly
We are too busy dancing
To get knocked off our feet
Baby, we’re the new romantics
The best people in life are free…
[Post-Chorus]
So come on, come along with me…
The best people in life are free…
[Bridge]
Please take my hand and…
Please take me dancing and…
Please leave me stranded…
It’s so romantic…
[Final Chorus]
‘Cause baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
And every day is like a battle
But every night with us is like a dream
‘Cause baby, I could build a castle (Castle)
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
And every day is like a battle (Oh)
But every night with us is like a dream
Baby, we’re the new romantics
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the national anthem
We sing it proudly
We are too busy dancing
To get knocked off our feet
Baby, we’re the new romantics
The best people in life are free…
[Verse 1]
We’re all bored
We’re all so tired of everything
We wait for trains that just aren’t coming
We show off our different scarlet letters – trust me, mine is better
We’re so young
And we’re on the road to ruin
We play dumb but we know exactly what we’re doin’
We cry tears of mascara in the bathroom
Life is just a classroom…
[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
Every day is like a battle
But every night is like a dream
Baby, we’re the NEW ROMANTICS
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the National Anthem
We sing it proudly
We are too busy dancing
To get swept off our feet
Baby, we’re the NEW ROMANTICS
The best people in life are free…
[Verse 2]
We’re all here
The lights and noise are blinding
We hang back, it’s all in the timing
It’s poker, he can’t see it in my face
But I’m about to play my Ace (Ah)
We say we want love
What we really want is danger
We team up, then break up like a record changer
And the rumors are terrible and cruel
But most of them are true…
[Chorus]
‘Cause baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
Every day is like a battle
But every night is like a dream
Baby, we’re the NEW ROMANTICS
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the National Anthem
We sing it proudly
We are too busy dancing
To get swept off our feet
Baby, we’re the NEW ROMANTICS
The best people in life are free…
[Post-Chorus]
So come on, come along with me…
The best people in life are free…
[Bridge]
So take my hand
And we’ll both stand inside a burning building
Maybe I’m a shit show
But I’m fun and kinda cute and willing affectionate
And if I could be your anti-hero
You could be my perfect villain
We’ll go around chasing storms
Leave me cold then keep me warm
Fall in love then go to war
That’s what new romance is for
[Final Chorus]
‘Cause baby, I could build a castle
Out of all the bricks they threw at me
Every day is like a battle
But every night is like a dream
Baby, we’re the NEW ROMANTICS
Come on, come along with me
Heart break is the National Anthem
We sing it proudly
We are too busy dancing
To get swept off our feet
Baby, we’re the NEW ROMANTICS
The best people in life are free…
Artist | Taylor Swift | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Albums | 1989 1989 (Taylor’s Version) | |||
Released | October 27, 2014 | |||
Re-Released | October 27, 2023 | |||
Recorded | 2014 | |||
Studios | Conway (Los Angeles) MXM (Stockholm) Kitty Committee (New York) Prime Recording (Nashville) | |||
Genre | Synth Pop | |||
Length | 3:50 | |||
Labels | Big Machine Records Republic Records | |||
Songwriters | Taylor Swift Max Martin Shellback | |||
Producers | Max Martin (original) Shellback (original) Christopher Rowe Taylor Swift | |||
1989 CHRONOLOGY | ||||
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