At 11:30pm on November 11, 2021, 13 happy, free, confused, and lonely Kappa Delta Swifties joined together in the alcove to listen to the highly anticipated re-release of Red (Taylor’s Version). An album originally recorded in the Fall of 2012, however with recent legal disputes between Taylor Swift, Scooter Braun, and Scott Borchetta, Taylor has been taking matters into her own hands and re-recording her first through sixth studio albums and adding the little tag “Taylor’s Version” with each one with never before heard “Vault Tracks” to go along with each re-release. She started with Fearless (Taylor’s Version) back in April 2021 (which was a wild success). This was Swift’s second re-record so far and if I am being completely honest, I do not think it will be possible for her to top any of her next albums to come.
We began the night with All Too Well Ten-Minute Version and at first, we all hated it because the television speaker was not very good and it seemed that the music was drowning out the singing, but we ended the album with listening to it on the speaker and it was PERFECT. She quite simply took something that was already perfect and made it into a masterpiece that is in my opinion comparable to the work of Leonardo DiVinci, Vincent Van Gough, or Pablo Picasso.
I’m having a hard time putting into words the emotions I feel for an album I love so much. My only true attachment to Red is it is my favorite album point blank period. Fearless, Speak Now, 1989, and Reputation all have a specific, nostalgic memory linked to them in my head, but Red came out at a time when music was the least of my worries. I remember hearing all the singles in the car on the way to and from dance practice, but I think there was a reason this album came into my life when it did. There is no way I could have fully obtained and related to this album until I had experienced certain events in my life. I can now look back and realize that when this album originally came out, I was going through the pain I would need to be healed from to fully comprehend this album. For most of us we were somewhere between ages 9-13 when this album was originally released and (I hope) that none of us could fully relate to the raw, yet, relatable pain that this album carries, but now that most of us range somewhere from late teens to early twenties we have more life experience (I guess most prevalently love experience) that can help us fully appreciate the vulnerability of this album.
With that being said I would like to highlight some moments from the new and improved album. Every song had such a live sound to it as if she was singing with life in her once again. The classic singles had the same fun beat (i.e., Red, I Knew You Were Trouble, We Are Never Getting Back Together, 22), but with the flair of knowing the OWNER is performing them. All Too Well (Taylor’s Version) was perfection as to be expected, and The Last Time (Taylor’s Version) [ft. Gary Lightbody] as well. Everything Has Changed (Taylor’s Version) [ft. Ed Sheeran] was originally my top pick for best song on the album, however after taking some time (and a good night's sleep) to reflect on that I think I have a slightly different answer, though I am not quite sure what that answer is. The Moment I Knew (Taylor’s Version) now has an entirely new meaning knowing that it fits in like a puzzle piece with the 10 minute All Too Well. The songs each reflect on what seemed to be an extremely painful 21st birthday for Swift. Come Back...Be Here (Taylor’s Version) carried the same pain, but in a more mature voice.
As for the vault songs, they were much more upbeat than I was expecting. I think they would have been very successful on the first release, but they were definitely made for the second release of the album. Hearing her sing Better Man and Babe (songs she had written with intent of using them on this album originally, but then gifted them to country bands Little Big Town and Sugarland) were so interesting to hear from her voice because it was how she originally heard the songs in her head.
Overall, hindsight shows that Red was just the rough draft for something greater to come. It has the same core sound for the die-hard stans but carries a new fresh beat for Swifties who may not have had Red in a top spot before. My official Swiftie rating would be five out of five Red Scarves...or Crumpled Up Pieces of Paper...or Football Helmets...or Wednesdays in a Cafe. All I can truly say is good work, Taylor...Good. Work.
Comments