Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift drops Red (Taylor’s Version), after raving fan anticipation.
After her previous record company, Big Machine Records, sold Taylor Swift’s master recordings to Scooter Braun, a popular record executive, against the artist’s wishes, Swift has signed to a new record company, Universal Music Group. This decision catalyzed the rerecording of her masters, a set of 6 albums ranging from Debut to Reputation. Swift has also added various “From the Vault” songs, producing some of the tracks previously cut from the album.
Swift has already recorded Fearless (Taylor’s Version), adding one new vault track, the widely popular “Mr. Perfectly Fine.” Now, Swift released 30 songs, nine of them “from the vault.” Perhaps the most anticipated is “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) (Ten Minute Version),” a powerful ballad reportedly about Swift’s relationship with American actor Jake Gyllenhaal.
“A crowd favorite is ‘All Too Well,’” says sophomore Liane Bdair (‘24). “I really respect Taylor for not holding back on her emotions and not censoring her feelings about past relationships and being able to really create art with those emotions.”
Many of Swift’s songs on Red are quintessential breakup songs, discussing heartbreak and how to mend relationships from the past. She has an uncanny ability to communicate her emotions in a way that is both beautiful and relatable to people who have been through similar and dissimilar experiences.
The epitome of a “breakup album” according to Swift, Red (Taylors Version) bridges the gap between the genres of country and pop, serving as a perfect transition from Swift’s more country debut album to the likes of 1989 and Reputation.
Swift definitely keeps this genre mixing in her latest rerecording. Songs like “22” and “We Are Never Getting Back Together” have a more pop feel, with strong drums and their iconic guitar and vocals. “Begin Again” and “Treacherous,” however, retained some of that country flair, characteristic of the songs on the original album. “She has done every single genre, she’s done it all to perfection,” says senior Maddie Bauman (‘22).
As for the “vault” songs, Swift includes titles like “Better Man,” a song originally given to the country band Little Big Town, but written by Swift. She also incorporated various Ed Sheeran features, not only on “Everything Has Changed” but also on a new song titled “Run.”
Another notable feature was Chris Stapleton on “I Bet You Think About Me,” whose harmonies added another layer to the typical country-style harmonica and Swift’s own voice. Most anticipated, though, was American indie musician Phoebe Bridgers and her feature on “Nothing New,” a mellow track about growing up.
“I was really glad that Phoebe had an actual feature and got to sing a part unlike some of Taylor’s other features where it’s just like a harmony or something. It was really nice to see such a good song with two great artists on it,” says Bdair ‘24.
Unlike Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version) had different artists sing complete verses, rather than simply harmonies found throughout Fearless, exemplified in songs like “You All Over Me ft. Maren Morris” and “Breathe ft. Colbie Caillat.”
“I think she’s turned a lot of heads towards the whole genre she’s in. I never paid attention to her until all of this stuff happened with Tayor’s version and all these goodies,” explains senior Max Parr (‘22). This attitude about Swift’s career is shared by a wide variety of listeners. Not only has her impressive discography interested fans, but the spectacle of her release has attracted new listeners as well.
Swift has been notoriously cryptic with her releases, hiding hints of upcoming singles and albums in her instagram posts, music videos, and interviews. While some may see this secretive procedure as disingenuous, for many fans, this course action excites listeners, and works as a sort of mystery hunt before the actual release.
For Bauman ‘22, the mystery “does make you more aware and does make you appreciate it… The amount of dedication her fans have to look at every clue, and the fact that she puts so much thought into it, is really admirable.” Bdair ‘24 agreed with this sentiment, explaining that, “It’s a good way to keep her fans engaged.”
Especially for female fans, Swift’s rerecording symbolizes a win against the immensely sexist music industry. Many female artists have had to deal with harassment and misogyny from the male dominated field of the music industry, so Swift’s release and her corresponding ownership of her own music demonstrates a victory for her fans everywhere.
“I have so much respect for her to persevere through not being able to buy her own music back and then deciding that she was going to take control of that and re-record her own music and be able to own it and I think that’s such a great thing,” says Bdair ‘24.
There are, however, male fans who appreciate Taylor Swift immensely, as exemplified by sophomore Aidan Lawlor (‘24). He says that, “being a male Taylor Swift listener is always a good thing. It’s really good to get past the point of misogyny that a lot of men are at right now where they think that they are somehow above listening to it.”
He continues saying that, “After my eyes have been opened to it [Taylor Swift’s music], I have become happier and healthier in my relationships and more confident as a person.”
Along with the release of the album, Swift directed or acted in two different music videos. The first was the highly anticipated “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) Short Film,” starring actors Sadie Sink and Dylan O’brien. Immediately after casting was released, fans pointed out the similarities between the actors and Swift’s own relationship with Gyllenhaal.
As director of the short film, Swift succeeded in telling the story of a manipulative relationship, all with warm autumn hues and an impressive display of the actors’ talent. The scene in the middle of the video, illustrating both Sink and O’brien fighting, allowed the audience to truly step into Swift’s mindset. The video was not only a masterpiece of emotion but also of cinematography, production, and acting, proving Swift as illustrative and wise with her directorial debut.
Next, both Swift and actor/director Blake Lively, one of Swift’s closest friends, announced their partnership on the “I Bet You Think About Me” music video. Alongside actor Miles Teller, Swift herself acted in this music video, with Lively as director.
Another success, the music video juxtaposed a bright red with the mellow whites and black of a wedding, promoting “individuality,” as Bdair ‘24 puts it. The music video narrates the story of a man on his wedding day when all he can think about is his past relationships with Swift. Her bright red dress and lipstick also further this mentality, as do her almost erratic behaviors throughout. All this is pleasantly compared with a quiet slow dance scene between the two before Swift drops Teller’s hand, just as, she insinuates, he did before.
Her most recent videos have already created speculation about what her next rerecording will be. Bauman ‘22, for example, explains that “the cake in the ‘I Bet You Think About Me’ music video points to 1989.” Bdair ‘24 agrees with this analysis saying, “I think 1989 will be the next re-recording, but I grew up on Speak Now, so I would love that too.”
Throughout her career as a singer, Swift has introduced a variety of ‘eras,’ all corresponding to her albums, but also her fashion, music videos, and overall persona. For example, in her ‘1989 era,’ Swift leaned towards a more preppy style, partnered with her pop vocals on tracks like “Blank Space” and “Style.” According to both Bdair and Bauman, Swift’s ‘Reputation era’ “was the most iconic.”
Lately, Swift has shifted to a more mellow style that shows off her powerful vocals on albums Folklore and Evermore. “I love her newer stuff as well, like Folklore and Evermore, I think just shows her growth as a person from going to writing these breakup songs, that were obviously incredible, to the storytelling she does now. It just shows how much she’s grown from a little country girl to the music industry,” explains Bauman ‘22.
For her entire time in the spotlight, Taylor Swift has garnered both praise and criticism and millions of loving fans eagerly waiting for new releases. While not everyone is set on her music, one thing is for sure: the effect she has had on the music industry will have a lasting impact, especially for female artists and listeners. The empowerment contained within her albums is evermore, and personally, we both applaud and congratulate Swift on a career of enormous success, and even better music.
