Rock musician Ryan Adams has spent weeks in his Los Angeles recording studio covering Taylor Swift's 1989 from start to finish, and now he's ready to release it. Adams has announced that the album will launch digitally on September 21st, and one track, "Bad Blood," will debut today at 12PM ET exclusively on Apple's Beats 1. Preorders open tonight at 12AM ET, and those who buy through iTunes will receive "Bad Blood" as an instant download. Adams says his reimagining of 1989 will also come to CD and vinyl "soon." There's been plenty of buzz around the project — thanks in large part to Swift paying close attention to it and sharing Adams' progress on Twitter.
Ok here it is! 1989! Digital 9/21 Bad Blood premiere on @ZaneLowe @Beats1 9am CA time : ) pic.twitter.com/2a9uZ3wJYQ
— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) September 17, 2015
Adams has already shared plenty of video snippets from the recording sessions via his Instagram page. As you might guess, his take on Swift's hit album is dramatically different from the original recording; he called in a string quartet for "Blank Space," if that gives you a hint of the sadness we're all in for. (Other tracks like "Style" are a bit more upbeat.)
Recording strings on Blank Space @taylorswift13 #1989 @sectionquartet I love this! pic.twitter.com/cTaYCwvCNc
— Ryan Adams (@TheRyanAdams) August 20, 2015
Swift herself seems as eager as anyone else to hear the finished product.
Ryan's music helped shape my songwriting. This is surreal and dreamlike. Countdown to #RyanAdams1989 @TheRyanAdams pic.twitter.com/pGZB0uUqiB
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) September 17, 2015
Aside from his own prolific and successful solo career (Adams recently sold out a two-night run at Carnegie Hall), the singer/songwriter has a penchant for covering other artists' work. His haunting version of the Oasis smash hit "Wonderwall" compelled Noel Gallagher to once say, "I think Ryan Adams is the only person who ever got that song right." Below are a few other clips posted during the production of Adams' 1989 cover album.