"Clean" is a song by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift, taken from her fifth studio album,1989 (2014). Written and produced by Swift and the British musicianImogen Heap, the track is a steadysoft rock,dream pop, andsynth-folkballad with anelectronic production. Its lyrics depict difficulty in letting go of a broken relationship.
Initial reviews of1989 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 receivedcertifications from Australia and the United Kingdom. It has been covered by several singers, and was featured on the set list of Swift's1989 World Tour (2015).
Are-recorded version, titled "Clean (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of1989 (Taylor's Version) on October 27, 2023. The re-recording peaked at number 25 on theBillboard Global 200 and entered in the top 30 on the national charts of Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States.
Swift wrote and produced "Clean" with the British musicianImogen Heap (pictured).
The American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift had identified as acountry artist until she released her fourth studio album,Red, in October 2012.[2] Although Swift andBig Machine Records promotedRed to country radio, some of its tracks feature styles ofpop androck, a result of Swift's desire to experiment with new styles.[3][4] This sparked a media debate over her status as a country artist.[5] In mid-2013, she began writing songs for her next studio album.[6]
Swift titled her fifth studio album after her birth year,1989.[7] 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.[8][9] To this end, Swift recruited new producers including the British musicianImogen Heap, whom she called "one of the most interesting and unique artists".[10][11] "Clean" was one of the last tracks Swift wrote for1989; she finished the lyrics and melody before approaching Heap to co-produce it.[10][12] 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."[12]
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.[13] The song was mixed bySerban Ghenea at MixStar Studios inVirginia Beach, Virginia, and wasmastered byTom Coyne at Sterling Sound Studio in New York City.[10][14] 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, thembira, a thumb piano, and "then these things calledboomwhackers, which are for the percussion."[15][16]
The lyrics use imagery of a torrential storm to describe breaking from an addictive, toxic relationship.[25] 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."[25] 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."[27] The wordclean is a metaphor with two meanings:clean as in the feeling of taking a shower and as in getting free from an addiction.[28]
After signing a new contract withRepublic Records, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.[36] The decision followed apublic 2019 dispute between Swift and talent managerScooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including themasters of Swift's albums that the label had released.[37][38] By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs forcommercial use and therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.[39] The re-recording of "Clean", subtitled "Taylor's Version", was released as part of1989's re-recording,1989 (Taylor's Version), on October 27, 2023.[40] "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.[41][1]
The song reached the countries of the Philippines (13),[42] Singapore (26),[43] Canada (28),[44] and New Zealand (28).[45] In the United States, "Clean (Taylor's Version)" was a top-30 entry on theBillboard Hot 100, where it extended Swift's record for the most top-40 chart entries by a female artist.[46] Elsewhere, it appeared on theBillboard Global 200, Sweden'sHeatseeker chart, and the United Kingdom'sAudio Streaming Chart, with peaks of 25,[47] 17,[48] and 33,[49] respectively. The original version also charted at number 85 on Portugal'sAFP Singles Chart following the album's release.[50]
"Clean" received generally positive reviews upon release, with a number of critics choosing it as a highlight from1989.[20][51][52] Forrest Wickman ofSlate called the song "sad but ultimately hopeful" and thought it had similar themes to Swift's other closing tracks, such as "Begin Again" fromRed.[53]Sam Lansky fromTime picked the song as one of the tracks that demonstrates Swift's songwriting in "tight, evocative images".[54] Aswad fromBillboard said "Clean" was an "aching, bittersweet" song and opined that Swift "surrenders to" Heap more than other collaborators on1989.[21] Amy Pettifer ofThe Quietus deemed the lyrics "sparkling–sad and clever".[55] Sasha Geffen ofConsequence called "Clean" a "bell-accounted number" and commended Swift's sentiment of finding strength through friendship.[51] In a less positive review, Matthew Horton ofNME thought the song was "weepy" and considered it "a late collapse" on the album.[17]
In retrospective rankings,Billboard,[56]Paste,[57] Chris Willman ofVariety,[28] Mylrea,[23] andRob Sheffield ofRolling Stone listed "Clean" among Swift's top 20 songs; Sheffield called it an "intense finale" for1989.[19]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".[58] Mary Kate Carr fromThe 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".[59] Alex Hopper fromAmerican Songwriter viewed the song as a fan-favorite and commended how Swift opens up her struggles and ventures deep with her audience.[60]
The singer-songwriterIngrid Michaelson recalled that she loved "Clean" upon hearing it in Swift's apartment before1989's release; Michaelson asked Swift to send the full song to her ahead of the album's release, but Swift declined. Michaelson covered "Clean" at theBillboard Women in Music event on December 12, 2014, to honor Swift's win for Woman of the Year.[61] On September 21, 2015, the American rock singerRyan Adams released "Clean" as part ofhis track-by-track cover of Swift's1989.[62]Annie Zaleski ofThe A.V. Club commented that it has a "sleeker" production.[63] Leah Greenblatt ofEntertainment Weekly opined that it "sounds like a polished evolution" of hisalternative country bandWhiskeytown.[64]
On June 9, 2021, the American singerSara Bareilles performed a cover of "Clean" as a tribute to Taylor Swift at the annualNational Music Publishers' Association meeting.[65] On April 12, 2023, the American singerKelly Clarkson sang the song onThe Kelly Clarkson Show.[66] Critics described the performance as "emotional"[67] and "stunning"—Larisha Paul ofRolling Stone said that Clarkson maintained the song's "sense of rebirth and new beginnings".[68]
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