For several months now, Taylor Swift has been promoting her most recent album Red (Taylor’s Version) behind the scenes, with her label using her sturdy brand name and immense popularity to push several different singles at radio. This week, she scores a new placement on one competitive tally, and it might be a sign that she has chosen which one of her early full-lengths she’ll re-release next.
On this week’s Adult Contemporary chart, which ranks the tunes that reach the largest audience at adult contemporary radio stations across the U.S., one track from Swift debuts. “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” starts its time on the tally at No. 25, and it’s not her only placement on the list this time around. Two singles from Red (Taylor’s Version) also appear, with “Message In A Bottle (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault)” slipping slightly to No. 14 while “I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor's Version)” keeps at No. 20.
“Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” doesn’t fit in with her other current charters, as it’s not featured on Red (Taylor’s Version). That’s because it isn’t from that era, but rather her first all-pop title 1989. It looks like the latest win from Swift could be the first track to not just be released from, but to be properly promoted from her forthcoming 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
Swift is in the process of re-recording and re-releasing her first six albums, and so far the project is going incredibly well. Her first two efforts, Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version) both went right to No. 1 on the Billboard 200, sold incredibly well and produced many Hot 100 hits. The songs featured on the latter drop has turned out to be successful on a number of radio-only Billboard charts, and she’s so popular at the format, there’s even room for “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version),” which until now seemed to be a one-off standalone cut.
The Grammy winner shared her updated take of “Wildest Dreams” back in September 2021, and it came as a surprise to fans. At the time, some predicted that the Taylor’s Version of 1989 might be arriving at any point, but Swift opted instead to go with Red. Now, with that title having enjoyed its moment in the spotlight, it seems like her team might already be promoting 1989 (Taylor’s Version), even though it hasn’t been announced yet.
It’s possible that Swift and her label have nothing to do with “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” debuting on the Adult Contemporary chart, but it’s very rare for any track to hit one of Billboard’s radio charts without at least some effort. In fact, it usually takes a full promotional campaign for a tune to reach those competitive lists. If the musician herself and those behind her are properly pushing “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version),” it would make sense that 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is not just in the works, but coming soon.
Fans will have to wait until the superstar is ready to make a full announcement to hear about 1989 (Taylor’s Version), and they won’t know exactly what’s coming until she puts it all down in writing. Swifties are known to analyze every move the chart-topper makes, so while the success enjoyed by “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” isn’t a confirmation of anything, it is one more piece of evidence to be considered.