Taylor Swift has made her home in New York City, and now she's paying tribute to the Big Apple in a new single from her album 1989. Today (Oct. 20), the "Out of the Woods" singer announced that her mysterious new track that will drop at midnight tonight is none other than her album opener "Welcome to New York."
In an announcement on Good Morning America, Swift explained her inspiration for the song, which was of course the "electric city" of New York.
"I wanted to start the album with this song because New York has been an important landscape and location for the story of my life in the last couple of years. I dreamt about moving to New York, I obsessed about moving to New York and then I did it," Swift explained. "The inspiration that I have found in that city is kind of hard to describe and hard to compare to any other force of inspiration I have ever experienced in my life. It's like an electric city."
She also teased the new single, which has been touted as a favorite of one of Swift's many BFFs, Lorde, and it's clear to see why. The steady pace and drums of "Welcome to New York" are not unlike the rolling beat of Lorde's own single "Team." But, of course, it comes with a much poppier edge.
"I said welcome to New York / It's been waiting for you / Welcome to New York, welcome to New York," Swift hopefully and happily sings in the repetitive chorus.
Though it's only a 30-second clip, there's a notable build and optimistic anticipation to "Welcome to New York," which makes the song seem like a logical choice to open up 1989.
"Welcome to New York" will be the third released track from Swift's new album 1989 and follows the release of "Shake It Off" and "Out of the Woods." 1989 will be released on Oct. 27.
