Clean (song)
{{good article}}
{{Short description|2014 song by Taylor Swift}}
{{About|the Taylor Swift song|other songs|Clean (disambiguation)#Songs}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Clean
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = 1989
| released = {{start date|2014|10|27}}
| studio = The Hideaway (London)
| genre = * Soft rock
| length = 4:30
| label = Big Machine
| writer = {{hlist|Taylor Swift|Imogen Heap}}
| producer = {{hlist|Taylor Swift|Imogen Heap}}
}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Clean (Taylor's Version)
| artist = Taylor Swift
| album = 1989 (Taylor's Version)
| released = {{start date|2023|10|27}}
| studio = * Kitty Committee Studios (New York, NY)
| genre =
| length = 4:31
| label = Republic
| writer = {{hlist|Taylor Swift|Imogen Heap}}
| producer = {{hlist|Taylor Swift|Imogen Heap}}
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|AppsjTInqiw&pp|"Clean (Taylor's Version)"}}|type=song|header=Lyric video}}
}}
"Clean" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from her fifth studio album, 1989 (2014). Written and produced by Swift and the British musician Imogen Heap, the track is a steady soft rock, dream pop, and synth-folk ballad with an electronic production. Its lyrics depict difficulty in letting go of a broken relationship.
Initial reviews of 1989 praised "Clean" for the lyrical sentiments and Swift's songwriting, and picked it as an album highlight. Retrospective rankings have considered the track one of Swift's best songs. Commercially, "Clean" reached the charts of Canada and Portugal and received certifications from Australia and the United Kingdom. It has been covered by several singers, and was featured on the set list of Swift's 1989 World Tour (2015).
A re-recorded version, titled "Clean (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of 1989 (Taylor's Version) on October 27, 2023. The re-recording peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Global 200 and entered in the top 30 on the national charts of Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States.
Background
File:Imogen Heap (5127668595).jpg (pictured).|alt=Imogen Heap singing onto a mic with her eyes closed]]
The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift had identified as a country artist until she released her fourth studio album, Red, in October 2012.{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=October 30, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Red' Sells 1.21 Million; Biggest Sales Week for an Album Since 2002 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swifts-red-sells-121-million-biggest-sales-week-for-an-album-since-2002-474400/ |access-date=August 22, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=November 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115122832/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swifts-red-sells-121-million-biggest-sales-week-for-an-album-since-2002-474400/ |url-status=live }} Although Swift and Big Machine Records promoted Red to country radio, some of its tracks feature styles of pop and rock, a result of Swift's desire to experiment with new styles.{{sfn|McNutt|2020|pp=77–78}}{{cite magazine |last=Doyle |first=Patrick |date=July 15, 2013 |title=Taylor Swift: 'Floodgates Open' for Next Album |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-floodgates-open-for-next-album-95545/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225163430/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-floodgates-open-for-next-album-95545/ |archive-date=February 25, 2019 |access-date=May 6, 2022}} This sparked a media debate over her status as a country artist.{{sfn|McNutt|2020|p=78}} In mid-2013, she began writing songs for her next studio album.{{cite news|last=Talbott|first=Chris|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/taylor-swift-talks-next-album-cmas-and-ed-sheeran|title=Taylor Swift Talks Next Album, CMAs and Ed Sheeran|publisher=Associated Press|date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026093555/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/taylor-swift-talks-next-album-cmas-and-ed-sheeran|archive-date=October 26, 2013|access-date=December 7, 2014}}
Swift titled her fifth studio album after her birth year, 1989.{{cite magazine |last=Wilson |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Wilson (writer) |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Contemplating Taylor Swift's Navel |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2014/10/taylor_swift_s_1989_reviewed_could_the_secret_to_the_pop_star_s_world_conquering.html |url-status=live |magazine=Slate |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726091416/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2014/10/taylor_swift_s_1989_reviewed_could_the_secret_to_the_pop_star_s_world_conquering.html |archive-date=July 26, 2020 |access-date=December 9, 2020}} She decided to make it her first "official pop" record that would transform her image to a pop artist and move away from the country styles of her previous releases.{{Cite magazine |last=Eells |first=Josh |date=September 16, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift Reveals 5 Things to Expect on '1989' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-reveals-five-things-to-expect-on-1989-65750/ |access-date=August 22, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116173655/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-reveals-five-things-to-expect-on-1989-65750/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |date=November 5, 2014 |title=Sales of Taylor Swift's '1989' Intensify Streaming Debate (Published 2014) |language=en |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/06/arts/music/sales-of-taylor-swifts-1989-intensify-streaming-debate.html |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111032635/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/23/business/media/taylor-swifts-1989-carries-high-hopes-but-no-country-music.html |url-status=live }} To this end, Swift recruited new producers including the British musician Imogen Heap, whom she called "one of the most interesting and unique artists".{{cite web |last=Zollo |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Zollo |date=February 13, 2016 |title=The Oral History of Taylor Swift's 1989 |url=https://medium.com/cuepoint/the-oral-history-of-taylor-swift-s-1989-d9869cc13adc?sf22314340=1#.cd4wstjmz |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404113417/https://medium.com/cuepoint/the-oral-history-of-taylor-swift-s-1989-d9869cc13adc?sf22314340=1#.cd4wstjmz |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |access-date=March 23, 2016 |publisher=The Recording Academy |via=Medium}}{{Cite web |last=Zhang |first=Cat |date=August 8, 2022 |title=The Eternal Influence of Imogen Heap |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/article/imogen-heap-eternal-influence/ |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822104746/https://pitchfork.com/features/article/imogen-heap-eternal-influence/ |url-status=live }} "Clean" was one of the last tracks Swift wrote for 1989; she finished the lyrics and melody before approaching Heap to co-produce it.{{Cite web |last=Gevinson |first=Tavi |date=May 7, 2015 |title=Taylor Swift Has No Regrets |url=https://www.elle.com/fashion/a28210/taylor-swift-elle-june-cover-2015/ |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=Elle |archive-date=December 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221213072348/https://www.elle.com/fashion/a28210/taylor-swift-elle-june-cover-2015/ |url-status=live }} Swift recalled that she was inspired to write "Clean" after spending two weeks in London: "it hit me that I'd been in the same city as [an ex-lover] for two weeks and I hadn't thought about it."
Heap helped to complete the track by playing instruments, and they finished recording it after two takes in one day at The Hideaway Studio in London.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=123}} The song was mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and was mastered by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound Studio in New York City. In the third part of the listening session at Grammy Pro in 2015, Swift revealed that for the unique instrumentation of "Clean", Heap combined two of her unique instruments, the mbira, a thumb piano, and "then these things called boomwhackers, which are for the percussion."{{Cite AV media |title=Listening Session With Taylor Swift: 1989 {{!}} Part 3 |year=2015 |url=https://www.grammypro.com/professional-development/video/listening-session-taylor-swift-1989-part-3 |publisher=Grammy Pro |access-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160218035700/https://www.grammypro.com/professional-development/video/listening-session-taylor-swift-1989-part-3 |archive-date=February 18, 2016 |url-status=dead}}{{Cite magazine |first=Erin |last=Strecker |title=8 Things You Didn't Know About Taylor Swift's '1989' |date=October 16, 2015 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-1989-album-you-didnt-know-6730187/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 4, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225011124/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-1989-album-you-didnt-know-6730187/ |archive-date=February 25, 2022 |url-status=live}}
Composition
"Clean" is a soft rock, dream pop,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=123}} and synth-folk ballad. At four minutes and thirty seconds long, the song progresses at a steady tempo. Jem Aswad from Billboard believed that the electronic production was influenced by Heap's musical style.{{Cite magazine |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=October 24, 2014 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift's Pop Curveball Pays Off With 1989 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-1989-album-review-6289405/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=November 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104114329/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-1989-album-review-6289405/ |url-status=live }} It incorporates piano, keyboard, drums, mbira, vibraphone, bass,{{Cite web |last=Hasty |first=Katie |date=October 27, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift, 1989: Track-by-track album review |url=https://uproxx.com/hitfix/taylor-swift-1989-track-by-track-album-review/ |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=Uproxx |archive-date=October 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003183307/https://uproxx.com/hitfix/taylor-swift-1989-track-by-track-album-review/ |url-status=live }} layered vocals,{{Cite web |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |date=September 8, 2020 |title=Every Taylor Swift song ranked in order of greatness |url=https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=NME |archive-date=September 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917054150/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916 |url-status=live }} and a groove that is built around percussion.{{Cite web |last=Mathieson |first=Craig |date=October 31, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift's new album 1989 defies expectations |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/taylor-swifts-new-album-1989-defies-expectations-20141029-11cuu9.html |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703000152/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/taylor-swifts-new-album-1989-defies-expectations-20141029-11cuu9.html |url-status=live }} The Telegraph author Neil McCormick described "Clean" as "understated" and "atmospheric". Hannah Mylrea from NME said the song has "chiming soft rock instrumentals", while The Guardian{{'s}} Alex Petridis wrote that it features "alternately pulsing and drifting electronics".{{cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=October 24, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift: 1989 Review – Leagues Ahead of the Teen-Pop Competition |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/24/taylor-swift-1989-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101060229/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/24/taylor-swift-1989-review |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |access-date=February 4, 2019 |work=The Guardian}}
The lyrics use imagery of a torrential storm to describe breaking from an addictive, toxic relationship.{{cite news |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |date=October 26, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift, 1989, Review: 'Full of American Fizz' |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/11181928/Taylor-Swift-1989-review-full-of-American-fizz.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117063504/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/11181928/Taylor-Swift-1989-review-full-of-American-fizz.html |archive-date=November 17, 2018}} At one point, Swift sings of a past relationship, "You're still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore." She continues, "When I was drowning, that's when I could finally breathe / And by morning / Gone was any trace of you / I think I am finally clean."{{Cite web |last1=Morgan |first1=Lucy |last2=Laws |first2=Chloe |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's 10 best (and worst, if that's even possible) songs of all time |url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/taylor-swift-best-worst-songs |access-date=November 3, 2023 |website=Glamour UK |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013100359/https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/taylor-swift-best-worst-songs |url-status=live }} The word clean is a metaphor with two meanings: clean as in the feeling of taking a shower and as in getting free from an addiction.{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=December 13, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift's 50 Best Songs, Ranked |url=https://variety.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs-ranked/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108035828/https://variety.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |access-date=January 27, 2023 |website=Variety}}
Releases
1989 was released on October 27, 2014, via Big Machine Records. In the track-list, "Clean" is placed at number 13 as the closing track.{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift |date=October 27, 2014 |title=1989 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/1989/1440935467 |access-date=August 22, 2023 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |archive-date=October 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005110614/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1989/id907242701 |url-status=live }} The song appeared on the Canadian Digital Song Sales chart upon release, with a peak of number 45. In 2015, Swift included the song on the set list of the 1989 World Tour.{{Cite web |last=Lindner |first=Emilee |date=May 5, 2015 |title=Taylor Swift's 1989 World Tour: A Track By Track Breakdown |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/zzcoo2/taylor-swift-tokyo-1989-world-tour |access-date=August 22, 2023 |website=MTV |language=en |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822111912/https://www.mtv.com/news/zzcoo2/taylor-swift-tokyo-1989-world-tour |url-status=dead }} Before performing it, she would share lessons she had learned in her personal life with the audience.{{Cite news |last=Hunt |first=Elle |date=November 29, 2015 |title=Taylor Swift review – polished perfection remains accessible as 1989 tour winds down |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/29/taylor-swift-review-polished-perfection-remains-accessible-as-1989-tour-winds-down |access-date=October 18, 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=November 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128110347/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/29/taylor-swift-review-polished-perfection-remains-accessible-as-1989-tour-winds-down |url-status=live }} In 2023, she performed the track as a "surprise song" on two dates of the Eras Tour: April 1 in Arlington, Texas, and May 28 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In 2024, Swift sang it with a piano as part of a mashup with her songs "Welcome to New York" and "Say Don't Go" at the tour's Stockholm stop on May 18 and with "Is It Over Now?" and "Out of the Woods" at the tour's London stop on June 23.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Katie Louise |date=June 23, 2024 |title=Here's Every Surprise Song Performed on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/taylor-swift/eras-tour-surprise-songs-setlist/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240624104114/https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/taylor-swift/eras-tour-surprise-songs-setlist/ |archive-date=June 24, 2024 |access-date=June 24, 2024 |publisher=Capital FM}} The song also received platinum and silver certifications in 2023 from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), respectively.
After signing a new contract with Republic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.{{cite web |last=Melas |first=Chloe |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/11/16/entertainment/taylor-swift-masters/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118064935/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/taylor-swift-speaks-out-about-sale-of-her-masters-1.5191925 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |access-date=November 19, 2020 |publisher=CNN}} 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 that the label had released.{{Cite news |date=August 22, 2019 |title=Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190822202321/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 |archive-date=August 22, 2019}}{{cite web |last=Finnis |first=Alex |date=November 17, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212170953/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 |archive-date=February 12, 2021 |access-date=February 13, 2021 |work=i}} 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 and therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.{{Cite news |last=Shah |first=Neil |date=April 9, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Releases New Fearless Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211008111731/https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 |archive-date=October 8, 2021 |issn=}} The re-recording of "Clean", subtitled "Taylor's Version", was released as part of 1989{{'}}s re-recording, 1989 (Taylor's Version), on October 27, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Vassell |first=Nicole |date=October 27, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Fans Celebrate As Pop Star Releases 1989 (Taylor's Version) |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/taylor-swift-1989-track-list-b2436950.html |url-access=limited |access-date=October 30, 2023 |website=The Independent |archive-date=October 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030093741/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/taylor-swift-1989-track-list-b2436950.html |url-status=live }} "Clean (Taylor's Version)" is a second longer than the original; Heap reprised her role as co-producer and player of instruments including vibraphone, percussion, kalimba, keyboard, and drums.{{Cite web |last=Swift |first=Taylor |author-link=Taylor Swift |date=October 27, 2023 |title=1989 (Taylor's Version) |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/1989/1440935467 |access-date=October 30, 2023 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |archive-date=October 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005110614/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/1989/id907242701 |url-status=live }}
The song reached the countries of the Philippines (13), Singapore (26), Canada (28), and New Zealand (28). In the United States, "Clean (Taylor's Version)" was a top-30 entry on the Billboard Hot 100, where it extended Swift's record for the most top-40 chart entries by a female artist.{{Cite magazine |last=Zellner |first=Xander |date=November 6, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Charts All 21 Songs From '1989 (Taylor's Version)' on the Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-all-songs-hot-100-1235464591/ |access-date=November 8, 2023 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-date=November 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106204255/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-all-songs-hot-100-1235464591/ |url-status=live }} Elsewhere, it appeared on the Billboard Global 200, Sweden's Heatseeker chart, and the United Kingdom's Audio Streaming Chart, with peaks of 25, 17, and 33, respectively. The original version also charted at number 85 on Portugal's AFP Singles Chart following the album's release.
Critical reception
"Clean" received generally positive reviews upon release, with a number of critics choosing it as a highlight from 1989.{{cite web |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=October 28, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift Gets Clean, Hits Reset on New Album 1989 |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/10/taylor-swift-new-album-1989-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119025551/https://www.spin.com/2014/10/taylor-swift-new-album-1989-review/ |archive-date=November 19, 2018 |access-date=April 5, 2018 |work=Spin}}{{Cite web |last=Geffen |first=Sasha |date=October 30, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift – 1989 {{!}} Album Review |url=https://consequence.net/2014/10/album-review-taylor-swift-1989/ |access-date=August 24, 2023 |website=Consequence |archive-date=November 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126083205/https://consequence.net/2014/10/album-review-taylor-swift-1989/ |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=October 24, 2014 |title=1989 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/taylor-swift-1989-20141024 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621221231/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/taylor-swift-1989-20141024 |archive-date=June 21, 2018 |access-date=August 23, 2017 |url-access=limited}} Forrest Wickman of Slate called the song "sad but ultimately hopeful" and thought it had similar themes to Swift's other closing tracks, such as "Begin Again" from Red.{{Cite web |last=Wickman|first=Forrest|date=October 25, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift's 1989: A Track-by-Track Breakdown |url=https://slate.com/culture/2014/10/taylor-swift-s-1989-leaked-here-s-a-track-by-track-breakdown-of-the-new-album-video.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214041234/https://slate.com/culture/2014/10/taylor-swift-s-1989-leaked-here-s-a-track-by-track-breakdown-of-the-new-album-video.html |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=Slate}} Sam Lansky from Time picked the song as one of the tracks that demonstrates Swift's songwriting in "tight, evocative images".{{Cite magazine |last=Lansky |first=Sam |author-link=Sam Lansky |date=October 23, 2014 |title=Review: 1989 Marks a Paradigm Swift |url=https://time.com/3533569/taylor-swift-1989-review/ |magazine=Time |access-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-date=November 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101185534/https://time.com/3533569/taylor-swift-1989-review/ |url-status=live }} Aswad from Billboard said "Clean" was an "aching, bittersweet" song and opined that Swift "surrenders to" Heap more than other collaborators on 1989. Amy Pettifer of The Quietus deemed the lyrics "sparkling–sad and clever".{{Cite web |last=Pettifer |first=Amy |date=November 27, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/16790-taylor-swift-1989-review |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=The Quietus |archive-date=February 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207165110/https://thequietus.com/articles/16790-taylor-swift-1989-review |url-status=live }} Sasha Geffen of Consequence called "Clean" a "bell-accounted number" and commended Swift's sentiment of finding strength through friendship. In a less positive review, Matthew Horton of NME thought the song was "weepy" and considered it "a late collapse" on the album.{{Cite web |last=Horton |first=Matthew |date=October 27, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift – 1989 |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-taylor-swift-15754-322720 |access-date=September 21, 2023 |website=NME |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030210804/https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-taylor-swift-15754-322720 |url-status=live }}
In retrospective rankings, Billboard,{{Cite magazine |date=March 16, 2023 |title=The 100 Best Taylor Swift Songs: Staff Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 30, 2023 |author10=Glenn Rowley |author11=Andrew Unterberger |archive-date=April 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230411021029/https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs/ |url-status=live }} Paste,{{Cite web |last1=Song |first1=Jane |last2=Staff |first2=Paste |date=February 11, 2020 |title=All 158 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs |access-date=September 22, 2023 |website=Paste |archive-date=June 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625065820/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs |url-status=live }} Chris Willman of Variety, Mylrea, and Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone listed "Clean" among Swift's top 20 songs; Sheffield called it an "intense finale" for 1989.{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=July 8, 2023 |title='Clean' (2014) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/clean-2014-205630/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 24, 2023 |archive-date=June 3, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603040428/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/clean-2014-205630/ |url-status=live }} Clash picked the track as one of Swift's 15 best songs—editor Sahar Ghadirian labeled the song a "masterclass in songwriting" and lauded its emotional sentiment as "empowering and validating".{{Cite web |last=Ghadirian |first=Sahar |date=February 1, 2022 |title=15 Best Taylor Swift Songs |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/best-taylor-swift-songs/ |access-date=September 23, 2023 |website=Clash |language=en-GB |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525021731/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/taylor-swift-her-15-best-songs |url-status=live }} Mary Kate Carr from The A.V. Club wrote that while there are "occasions when Swift's whimsical metaphors can become overwrought, but the fantastical imagery of the lyrics and the zen chime sounds" work on "Clean", which makes it "a perfect ode to set oneself free" that is aware enough to admit that "just because you're clean, don't mean you don't miss it".{{Cite web |last1=Carr |first1=Mary Kate |last2=Gajjar |first2=Saloni |date=November 21, 2022 |title=20 underrated Taylor Swift songs that prove her lyrical prowess |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-underrated-songs-obscure-tracks-1849666689 |access-date=September 27, 2023 |website=The A.V. Club |archive-date=October 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024162328/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-underrated-songs-obscure-tracks-1849666689 |url-status=live }} Alex Hopper from American Songwriter viewed the song as a fan-favorite and commended how Swift opens up her struggles and ventures deep with her audience.{{Cite web |last=Hopper |first=Alex |date=December 7, 2023 |title=A Battle of Taylor Swift's Songs: The Big Hits vs. Fan Favorites |url=https://americansongwriter.com/a-battle-of-taylor-swifts-songs-the-big-hits-vs-fan-favorites/ |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=American Songwriter}}
Covers
The singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson recalled that she loved "Clean" upon hearing it in Swift's apartment before 1989
On June 9, 2021, the American singer Sara Bareilles performed a cover of "Clean" as a tribute to Taylor Swift at the annual National Music Publishers' Association meeting.{{Cite magazine |last=Eggertsen |first=Chris |date=2021-06-09 |title=Taylor Swift Accepts NMPA Songwriter Icon Award, Thanks Her Songwriting 'Teachers' in Speech |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-nmpa-songwriter-icon-award-speech/ |access-date=2024-09-17 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}} On April 12, 2023, the American singer Kelly Clarkson sang the song on The Kelly Clarkson Show.{{Cite magazine |last=Rowley |first=Glenn |date=April 12, 2023 |title=Kelly Clarkson Washes Herself 'Clean' for Kellyoke With a Taylor Swift Fan Favorite |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kelly-clarkson-taylor-swift-clean-cover-1235301857/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 25, 2023 |archive-date=October 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022012525/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/kelly-clarkson-taylor-swift-clean-cover-1235301857/ |url-status=live }} Critics described the performance as "emotional"{{Cite web |last=Irvin |first=Jack |date=April 12, 2023 |title=Kelly Clarkson Performs Emotionally Charged Cover of Taylor Swift's 'Clean' for Kellyoke—Watch! |url=https://people.com/music/kelly-clarkson-performs-emotional-cover-taylor-swift-clean-kellyoke/ |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=People |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827052437/https://people.com/music/kelly-clarkson-performs-emotional-cover-taylor-swift-clean-kellyoke/ |url-status=live }} and "stunning"—Larisha Paul of Rolling Stone said that Clarkson maintained the song's "sense of rebirth and new beginnings".{{Cite magazine |last=Paul |first=Larisha |date=April 12, 2023 |title=Kelly Clarkson Belts Out Taylor Swift's Metaphorical Sigh of Relief With 'Clean' Cover |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-kelly-clarkson-cover-taylor-swift-deep-cut-clean-kellyoke-1234713604/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=August 27, 2023 |archive-date=August 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827052437/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/watch-kelly-clarkson-cover-taylor-swift-deep-cut-clean-kellyoke-1234713604/ |url-status=live }}
Personnel
"Clean" (2014) 1989 (CD liner notes). Taylor Swift. Big Machine Records. 2014. BMRBD0500A.
- Taylor Swift – vocals, background vocals, songwriter, producer
- Imogen Heap – producer, songwriter, programming, background vocals, percussion, drums, mbira, vibraphone, keyboard
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- John Hanes – mixing
- Tom Coyne – mastering
"Clean (Taylor's Version)" (2023){{Cite AV media notes |others=Taylor Swift |title=1989 (Taylor's Version) |year=2023 |publisher=Republic Records |id=0245597656 |type=Compact disc liner notes}}
- Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriter, producer
- Bryce Bordone – mix engineer
- Imogen Heap – producer, songwriter, recording, vibraphone, drums, kalimba, percussion, piano, programming, keyboards, background vocals
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Randy Merrill – mastering
- Christopher Rowe – vocal engineering
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= "Clean" =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2014 weekly chart performance for "Clean" ! scope="col"| Chart (2014) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Canada Digital Song Sales (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-song-sales/2014-11-15/|title=Canadian Digital Song Sales|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 5, 2023|archive-date=November 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107165404/https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-canada-digital-song-sales/2014-11-15/|url-status=live}}
| 45 |
|---|
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2023 weekly chart performance for "Clean" ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| {{single chart|Portugal|85|artist=Taylor Swift|song=Clean|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2023|refname="Portugal"}} |
{{col-2}}
= "Clean (Taylor's Version)" =
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Clean"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|relyear=2014|certyear=2023|title=Clean|artist=Taylor Swift|type=single|award=Platinum|access-date=November 17, 2023|refname=ARIA23s}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Clean|type=single|award=Gold|access-date=December 19, 2024|source=radioscope|relyear=2014|certyear=2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Clean|award=Silver|relyear=2014|certyear=2023|id=19193-1598-1|access-date=August 10, 2023|refname="BPI"}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
References
{{Reflist}}
= Sources =
- {{cite journal |last=McNutt |first=Myles |year=2020 |title=From 'Mine' to 'Ours': Gendered Hierarchies of Authorship and the Limits of Taylor Swift's Paratextual Feminism |journal=Communication, Culture and Critique |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=72–91 |doi=10.1093/ccc/tcz042}}
- {{Cite book |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |title=Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-6672-0845-9 |pages=106–131 |chapter=The 1989 Era}}
{{Taylor Swift songs}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Taylor Swift
Category:Songs written by Imogen Heap
Category:Song recordings produced by Taylor Swift
Category:Song recordings produced by Imogen Heap