On Nov. 12, Taylor Swift released Red (Taylor’s Version). Despite the challenge of re-recording her original work, this album presents a flawless, brand-new sound and turns the original into something with a new depth and tone.
Swift’s old record label, Big Machine Records, sold her masters to music executive Scooter Braun. In response to this, Swift announced her plans in 2019 to re-record her first six albums.
By creating new recordings of her old songs, Swift regains ownership of her masters.
Swift started her re-recording journey with Fearless (Taylor’s Version) in April, which had the biggest first-week debut of any country album in the past six years.
More recently, Red (Taylor’s Version) had the second largest first-week album debut of the year, after Drake’s latest album, Certified Lover Boy. The re-recording also broke two Spotify records: the most-streamed album in a day by a female artist and the most-streamed female artist in a day.
Red was originally released in 2012. The 2021 version features 30 incredible tracks, nine of which feature new lyrics that never made it onto the original album. Swift has pulled them from what she calls her “vault” of songs to showcase them in a new light.
These “from the vault” tracks include Better Man (Taylor’s Version) and Babe (Taylor’s Version). Swift previously gave these songs to Little Big Town and Sugarland, respectively.
She also chose to include Ronan (Taylor’s Version), a heartbreaking anthem about a little boy who died from neuroblastoma. These lyrics were inspired by a blog Ronan’s mother created after his death. Swift debuted the song at a Stand Up To Cancer telethon in 2012.
The new songs gave Swift the creative freedom to add in some collaborations. On Fearless (Taylor’s Version), she featured Maren Morris and Keith Urban. On Red (Taylor’s Version), Phoebe Bridgers, Chris Stapleton and Ed Sheeran shine through.
Each new addition manages to be distinct in an album of 30 songs. The new voices added to these older songs give fans exciting new material through never-before-dreamed-of collaborations.
Even the re-recorded versions of songs originally featured on the album are not carbon copies. Swift enhanced and improved many of the tracks by including new backup vocals to enrich the sound, as well as changing up the production of the songs.
Girl at Home (Taylor’s Version), a song that was overlooked by many fans on the first version of Red, now stands out with its unique production and remixed sound. Every song manages to sound richer as Swift’s vocals sound more mature and well-rounded.
Lyrically, Red (Taylor’s Version) is one of the strongest in Swift’s collection. The songs hint at personal struggles, public break-ups with certain well-known actors and even societal critiques.
Nothing New (Taylor’s Version), featuring Phoebe Bridgers, is about the shiny, newness that is valued within the music industry and life in general. The line, “And someone else lights up the room/People love an ingenue” is poignant and deep.
Lines like these envelop a universal emotion and show Swift’s versatility as an artist, demonstrating why she is one of the best lyricists of her generation.
Each song on this album fits perfectly within the tragic narrative she has created and tells the story of pure heartbreak.
The highlight of this album is certainly All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault). First teased in 2020, Swift had originally written a 10-minute version of the fan-favourite song back when Red was just a concept. This new version includes all the same lyrics, plus powerful new verses that encompass all the feelings of a devastating breakup.
Lines such as, “You kept me like a secret but I kept you like an oath,” induces shivers and “I’ll get older but your lovers stay my age” delivers a throat punch to the man who inspired the track. The anticipation for this track was high and it did not disappoint.
The artistry and lyrical genius of this album cannot be ignored. Few artists could manage to re-record their old work at this magnitude. The universal experience that Swift sings about on this record makes it one of the best albums of the year.
Featured image via Taylor Swift/Big Machine Records.
