Wikipedia

I Know Places

This article is about the Taylor Swift song. For the Lykke Li song, see Wounded Rhymes.

"I Know Places" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). She wrote the song with Ryan Tedder, and the two produced it with Noel Zancanella. A trip hop song with influences of reggae and trap in its instrumentation, "I Know Places" is about a couple's struggle with public scrutiny. Music critics generally praised the composition and imagery of "I Know Places", with some deeming it one of 1989's most vulnerable and underrated tracks, although a handful of them deemed it a weaker track in her discography.

"I Know Places"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album 1989
ReleasedOctober 27, 2014 (2014-10-27)
StudioConway Recording, Los Angeles
GenreTrip hop
Length3:15
LabelBig Machine
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Official audio
"I Know Places" on YouTube

"I Know Places" received gold certifications in Australia and the United States. Swift performed the song on the 1989 World Tour (2015) and as a surprise number in select shows in her future tours. Following a 2019 dispute over her masters, Swift re-recorded the song as "I Know Places (Taylor's Version)" for her fourth re-recorded studio album, 1989 (Taylor's Version) (2023). Critics praised its increase in power in Swift's vocals compared to the original version.

Background and writing

edit

The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift abandoned the country stylings of her past music and embraced a pop production for her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014), which she marketed as her "first official" pop album.[1] Her musical inspiration was 1980s synth-pop and its experimentation with synthesizers, drum pads, and overlapped vocals.[2][3] She began writing the album in mid–2013 while touring in support of her fourth album, Red (2012),[4] and enlisted prominent contemporary pop producers including Ryan Tedder, whom she contacted via a Voice Memo.[5][6] In that voice memo, Swift sang a demo of the chorus while playing a piano.[7]

During the production of 1989, Swift faced a lot of media scrutiny, which she said put her in a place where "no one is going to sign up for [a relationship]". Swift stated, "There are just too many cameras pointed at me. There are too many ridiculous elaborations about my life". She stated that wrote "I Know Places" after fantasizing about a relationship in which she "[met] someone awesome, and they were like, hey, I'm worried about all this attention you get", with Swift responding, "Hey, I know places we can hide. We could outrun them".[8][9]

Lyrics and composition

edit

"I Know Places" is a trip hop song[10] about the pressures of public scrutiny.[11] With a length of three minutes and fifteen seconds, "I Know Places" is co-written by Swift and Tedder, who co-produced the track alongside Noel Zancanella. The song was recorded at Conway Recording, located at Los Angeles.[12] It contains influences of reggae and incorporates trap-inspired snare beats.[13] It takes a seemingly hopeless perspective on a lifestyle where nothing is private,[14] and Swift's need to "hide [her personal information] from the world".[15] It has angry and anthemic feels in the verses and chorus, which were praised by Cosmopolitan's Eliza Thompson.[16] In an interview with Grammy Pro, Swift mentioned that the love she wrote about in "I Know Places" was similar to that of her 2016 single "Out of the Woods".[8] "I Know Places" portrays the paparazzi as people that "cage" celebrities and put them into "boxes", with the lyrics showing Swift "running from something" despite being painted as a role model to other people.[15] It builds up trap-influenced snare drums before launching into a chorus reminiscent of the American singer-songwriter Pat Benatar.[17] The song also focuses on Swift's desire to preserve an unstable relationship.[9]

Critical reception

edit

In a ranking of Swift's entire catalog, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone placed "I Know Places" at number 115, describing it as "underrated" and saying that Swift "goes all Kate Bush" in the song".[18] While ranking every track on 1989's standard edition, Christine DiStasio of Bustle ranked "I Know Places" at number four, praising the song's intense imagery and suspense and claiming that it was unsuspected by anyone. DiStasio deemed "I Know Places" 1989's most vulnerable track, believing that it made her worried about Swift's well-being.[19][20] Lindsay Zoladz, writing for Vulture, compared "I Know Places" to the soundtrack of the dystopian film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014). Zoladz thought that the song was inspired by the "moody" and "electro-minimalist" vibe of the New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde, who curated the soundtrack album to the film.[21][22] The Independent's Roisin O'Connor ranked "I Know Places" 34th out of 100 select album tracks of Swift, praising the way Swift sounds "delightfully menacing" with the lyrics: "Loose links sink ships all the damn time/ Not this time". However, O'Connor also described the song as an inferior version of "Out of the Woods".[23] Nate Jones, writing for Vulture, criticized the song's "lack of universality" but praised its "slice of gothic pop-star paranoia", which gave 1989 a "much-needed bit of edge".[10] In a ranking of Swift's entire catalog, Jones ranked "I Know Places" at number 122 in 2024.[24]

Release, live performances, and covers

edit
 
Swift performing "I Know Places" on the 1989 World Tour

Big Machine Records released 1989 on October 27, 2014; "I Know Places" is number 12 on the standard track listing.[12] The song received received gold certifications in Australia (ARIA)[25] and the United States (RIAA).[26]

Swift performed "I Know Places" as part of the permanent setlist of the 1989 World Tour (2015), during which Swift wears thigh-high black boots and garters.[27] The song's intense lyrics and production are accompanied by a performance of Swift being chased by the masked dancers through multiple mobile doors as she sings "They are the hunters / We are the foxes".[28][29] Outside the 1989 World Tour, Swift performed the song as a surprise song during the Reputation Stadium Tour (2018) (Tokyo, first show) and the Eras Tour (2023–2024) (Los Angeles, fifth show).[30][31] During the first Edinburgh show of the Eras Tour, Swift performed "I Know Places" in a mashup with "Would've, Could've, Should've" (2022).[31] The Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy recorded a video of him covering "I Know Places" to his YouTube channel.[32] Swift described his cover as "so mesmerizing" and "so pretty".[33] The American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams covered the song as part of his track by track cover of 1989.[11]

Personnel

edit

Adapted from the liner notes of 1989.[12]

Chart

edit
Chart performance for "I Know Places"
Chart (2014) Peak

position

Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard)[34] 51

Certifications

edit
Certifications for "I Know Places"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[25] Gold 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[26] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

"I Know Places (Taylor's Version)"

edit
"I Know Places (Taylor's Version)"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album 1989 (Taylor's Version)
ReleasedOctober 27, 2023 (2023-10-27)
StudioMandarin Oriental, Milan
Length3:15
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Ryan Tedder
Producer(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Ryan Tedder
  • Noel Zancanella
Lyric video
"I Know Places (Taylor's Version)" on YouTube

After signing a new contract with Republic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.[35] The decision followed a public 2019 dispute between Swift and talent manager Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters of Swift's albums which the label had released.[36][37] By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs for commercial use. In doing so, she hoped that the re-recorded songs would substitute the Big Machine–owned masters.[38]

The re-recording of "I Know Places", subtitled "Taylor's Version" was released as part of 1989's re-recording, 1989 (Taylor's Version) (2023).[39] Swift produced "I Know Places (Taylor's Version)" with Ryan Tedder and Noel Zancanella, who reprised their co-production roles.[40] The re-recording is also three minutes and fifteen seconds long, but is recorded at Mandarin Oriental, located in Milan, instead.[41] Upon release, all songs on 1989 (Taylor's Version) entered the US Billboard Hot 100, with "I Know Places (Taylor's Version)" peaking at 36.[42] The re-recording also charted in Canada (35),[43] Greece (41),[44] New Zealand (32),[45] the United Kingdom (38),[46] and the Billboard Global 200 (30).[47]

Critical reception

edit

Rachel Martin of Notion praised its uptick in emotion in the vocals of "I Know Places (Taylor's Version)", alongside its "more powerful end", and the addition of more "depth and emotion" made by a few tweaks in the bridge of the song.[48] Kelsey Barnes of The Line of Best Fit hailed the re-recording as one of the best re-recordings on 1989 (Taylor's Version), elaborating that it is "more guttural" and hypothesizing that Swift "[channeled] her anger" at media scrutiny into the recording.[49] Jonathan Keefe of Slant Magazine praised Swift's vocals' soar in power in "I Know Places (Taylor's Version)".[50]

Personnel

edit

Adapted from the liner notes of 1989 (Taylor's Version).[41]

Charts

edit
Chart performance for "I Know Places (Taylor's Version)"
Chart (2023) Peak

position

Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[43] 35
Global 200 (Billboard)[47] 30
Greece International (IFPI)[44] 41
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 32
UK Streaming (OCC)[46] 38
US Billboard Hot 100[51] 36

References

edit
  1. ^ Light, Alan (December 5, 2014). "Billboard Woman of the Year Taylor Swift on Writing Her Own Rules, Not Becoming a Cliche and the Hurdle of Going Pop". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved February 27, 2019.
  2. ^ Eells, Josh (September 16, 2014). "Taylor Swift Reveals Five Things to Expect on 1989". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Zollo, Paul (February 13, 2016). "The Oral History of Taylor Swift's 1989". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016 – via Medium.
  4. ^ Talbott, Chris (October 13, 2013). "Taylor Swift Talks Next Album, CMAs and Ed Sheeran". Associated Press. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  5. ^ Leight, Elias (January 12, 2021). "10 Great Songs You Didn't Know OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder Wrote". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  6. ^ Perricone, Kathleen (October 20, 2014). "Taylor Swift Gives Details on Recording 'I Know Places' With Ryan Tedder". American Top 40. Archived from the original on January 19, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Van Der Veen, Danica (April 7, 2015). "GLAM Chat: Taylor Swift". Glamour. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Gibson, Kelsie (October 27, 2023). "Who Are Taylor Swift's 1989 Songs About? What She Has Said About the Inspirations". People. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Iasimone, Ashley (October 11, 2015). "Taylor Swift Shares the Stories Behind 'Out of the Woods' & 'I Know Places'". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Jones, Nate (August 16, 2019). "All 128 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best (2019)". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Wood, Mikael (September 21, 2015). "Ryan Adams Turns to Taylor Swift for Help on His Version of 1989". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  12. ^ a b c Taylor Swift (2014). 1989 (CD liner notes). Big Machine Records. BMRBD0500A.
  13. ^ Galvin, Annie (October 27, 2014). "Review: Taylor Swift, 1989". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  14. ^ Yahr, Emily (November 2, 2017). "If you think Taylor Swift writes only about her exes, then you don't get Taylor Swift". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  15. ^ a b DiStasio, Christine (November 7, 2014). "Taylor Swift's "I Know Places" Lyrics Make It The Most Vulnerable Song On '1989'". Bustle. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  16. ^ Thompson, Eliza (October 27, 2014). "Taylor Swift's 1989: A Track-by-Track Review". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  17. ^ Galvin, Annie (October 27, 2014). "Review: Taylor Swift, 1989". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  18. ^ Sheffield, Rob (April 25, 2024). "All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 26, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  19. ^ DiStatsio, Christine (October 27, 2014). "Which Taylor Swift '1989' Song Should You Listen To First? A Definitive Ranking of the Album's 13 Tracks". Bustle. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  20. ^ DiStasio, Christine (November 7, 2014). "Taylor Swift's "I Know Places" Lyrics Make It The Most Vulnerable Song On '1989'". Bustle. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  21. ^ Zoladz, Lindsay (October 24, 2014). "Did Taylor Swift Rip Off Lorde and Lana Del Rey?". Vulture. Archived from the original on December 28, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  22. ^ Smith, Lauren (August 1, 2014). "Lorde to be "sole curator" of Hunger Games soundtrack". Glamour UK. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  23. ^ O'Connor, Roisin (July 23, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 100 album tracks – ranked". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  24. ^ Jones, Nate (May 20, 2024). "All 245 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked (2024)". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  26. ^ a b "American single certifications – Taylor Swift – I Know Places". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  27. ^ Crandell, Ben (October 28, 2015). "Review: Taylor Swift in Miami". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 20, 2020. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  28. ^ Caramanica, Jon (May 21, 2015). "Review: On Taylor Swift's '1989' Tour, the Underdog Emerges as Cool Kid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 28, 2019. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  29. ^ Pollock, David (June 27, 2015). "Taylor Swift, Hydro Glasgow, gig review: Two-hour hyperactive spectacle is a triumph for both the artist and her fans". The Independent. Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  30. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (November 20, 2018). "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Has Performed On Her Reputation Stadium Tour B-Stage". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 27, 2024. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Shafer, Ellise (August 20, 2024). "Taylor Swift's Eras Tour: Every Surprise Song She's Played So Far". Variety. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  32. ^ Vain, Madison (May 5, 2015). "Watch Vance Joy cover Taylor Swift's 'I Know Places'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  33. ^ Eidell, Lynsey (May 6, 2015). "Hear Taylor Swift's Favorite 1989 Cover?". Glamour. Archived from the original on October 3, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  34. ^ "Canadian Digital Song Sales". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  35. ^ Melas, Chloe (November 16, 2020). "Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters". CNN. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
  36. ^ "Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits". BBC News. August 22, 2019. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  37. ^ Finnis, Alex (November 17, 2020). "Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained". i. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  38. ^ Shah, Neil (April 9, 2021). "Taylor Swift Releases New Fearless Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on October 8, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
  39. ^ Vassell, Nicole (October 27, 2023). "Taylor Swift Fans Celebrate As Pop Star Releases 1989 (Taylor's Version)". The Independent. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  40. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (October 30, 2023). "Taylor Swift: 1989 (Taylor's Version) Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on October 30, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  41. ^ a b 1989 (Taylor's Version) (Compact disc liner notes). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2023. 0245597656.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ^ Zellner, Xander (November 6, 2023). "Taylor Swift Charts All 21 Songs From '1989 (Taylor's Version)' on the Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  43. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  44. ^ a b "Digital Singles Chart (International)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  45. ^ a b "Taylor Swift – {{{song}}}". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  46. ^ a b "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on November 3, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  47. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  48. ^ Martin, Rachel (October 27, 2023). "Album Review: 1989 (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift". Notion. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  49. ^ Barnes, Kelsey (October 27, 2023). "Taylor Swift: 1989 (Taylor's Version) Review - reigniting pop passion". The Line of Best Fit. Archived from the original on October 27, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  50. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (October 30, 2023). "Taylor Swift '1989 (Taylor's Version)' Review". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on October 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  51. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Know_Places&oldid=1251010502"