Red (Taylor’s Version)

On Friday, November 13th, Taylor Swift released a revised version of her 2012 album, Red. This album holds thirty songs, including a ten minute version of “All Too Well.” There are nine songs from “the vault,” unreleased songs Swift wrote when she first created Red. Her new album also includes never before seen photos, artwork, and handwritten lyrics. Taylor Swift broke two  Spotify records as well: first for the most streamed album by a female in a day with over 90.8 million streams. Second, for the most streamed female artist in a day, surpassing 122.9 million streams. 

The reason Taylor Swift revised her old album is because she used to be signed with Big Machine Records, who controlled what she released. In 2019, she decided to sign with Universal Music Group who gives her more freedom. Now, she is reclaiming her songs the only way she knows how, to re-record them. Taylor Swift announced that she is going to re-record her first six albums; Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation.

Along with releasing her new album, Taylor Swift also made a short film based on her ten  minute version of “All Too Well.” It has over 50.5 million views. The film stars nineteen year old actor, Sadie Sink and thirty year old actor Dylan O’Brien. Fans believe this song is about Swift and Jake Gyllanhall’s relationship. During their relationship in 2010, Jake was 30 and Taylor was  21.  Although Swift won’t admit All Too Well is about Jake, most of her fans believe it. The main lyric that sticks out in her new song is, “I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age.” With this short film and the ten minute version of All Too Well, Taylor Swift expresses her old heartbreak in a wonderfully cinematic and poetic way. 

I interviewed some Taylor Swift fans, or Swifties, about their opinion on her new album. Sophomore Greta Meilahn says her favorite song on the albums is “Nothing New” featuring Phoebe Bridges. Also, Greta’s favorite lyric in the album is “You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath” in the ten minute version “All Too Well”. Seventh grader Margret Duffy shares that her favorite song in this album is, of course, the ten minute version of All Too Well. Also, Ms. Magnuson shares that her favorite lyric is “I’m a crumbled up piece of paper lying here, ‘cause I remember it all too well.”

Red (Taylor’s Version) is an amazing revision of the famous 2012 album, but the old albums will always have a special place in Swifties’ hearts. But, that’s doesn’t mean her fans aren’t thrilled for her next four revised albums. Because any and every song and alum Taylor Swift creates is a poetic masterpiece.