Nothing New (song)
"Nothing New"[a] is a song by the American singer-songwriters Taylor Swift featuring Phoebe Bridgers. Swift wrote the song in March 2012 and produced it with Aaron Dessner for her second re-recorded studio album, Red (Taylor's Version), which was released in 2021 through Republic Records. The track is a guitar-led folk and alternative rock tune about anxieties over romance and growing up.
This article is about the Taylor Swift song. For other songs with the same name, see Nothing New (disambiguation)."Nothing New"
March 2012
November 12, 2021
- Kitty Committee (Belfast)
- Long Pond (New York)
- Sound City (Van Nuys)
4:18
Taylor Swift
- Taylor Swift
- Aaron Dessner
Critics interpreted "Nothing New" as Swift's message about the music industry's treatment of female musicians. They lauded the song's emotional sentiments, Swift's songwriting, and Bridgers's performance. After Red (Taylor's Version) was released, the track peaked at number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top 40 on national charts in Australia, Canada, and Ireland. "Nothing New" was included on the set list of Swift's the Eras Tour at concerts opened by Bridgers, who performed the song with her.
Release and reception[edit]
"Nothing New" was released as the 23rd track on Red (Taylor's Version) via Republic on November 12, 2021.[22] The song peaked the top 40 on national charts in Australia (31),[23] Canada (22),[24] and Ireland (25).[25] In the United States, "Nothing New" debuted both on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs, with peaks of number 43 and number 11 respectively.[26][27] On other non-national charts, it reached number 33 on the Billboard Global 200 and number 11 on the United Kingdom's Audio Streaming Chart.[28][29] After the album's release, Swift embarked on the Eras Tour in March 2023, where she would perform various songs across her discography and would feature different opening acts at each concert, and Bridgers was one of them.[30][31] At concerts opened by her, "Nothing New" was added on the tour's set list, in which both Swift and Bridgers performed the track.[32][33]
In reviews of Red (Taylor's Version), critics generally praised "Nothing New" for its emotional sentiments, Swift's songwriting, and Bridgers's performance. They picked it as an album highlight[c] and one of the best "From the Vault" tracks.[d] The New York Times' Lindsay Zoladz, Billboard's Jason Lipshutz, Variety's Chris Willman complimented Bridgers's vocals and the thoughtful lyrics.[34][18][36] Carrie Battan of The New Yorker compared "Nothing New" to the "folksy poeticism" of Swift's 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore.[37] Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone lauded the collaboration: "Swift's adult voice combines with Bridgers' honey-soaked, hushed vocals, melding together in an autumn rush that brushes against your cheek".[20] Some critics praised Swift's double entendre message about the music industry[e]—The A.V. Club editor Saloni Gajjar opined that its "extremely relatable even if you’re not a globally recognized musician."[38] For the Los Angeles Times, Mikael Wood highlighted its double entendre lyrics and nostalgic sentiments during the age of internet culture.[35]
Critics have ranked "Nothing New" highly among Swift's bonus/vault tracks. Willman and Josh Kurp from Uproxx both ranked it sixth among over 25 vault tracks that Swift released; they praised Bridgers's appearance and the emotionally resonant lyrics.[39][40] Time writers ranked it first in their list; the critic Rachel Sonis wrote: "It's interesting, if a little sad, that Swift was plagued with this thought at only 22 when she wrote this song, knowing where she is now."[41]