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Red (Taylor’s version): It’s Officially Swiftie Season

25 November 202123 November 2021By
Red (Taylor’s version): It’s Officially Swiftie Season

Taylor Swift has released her rerecording of Red (Taylors Version). Fans are going manic over this release, racking up over 90.8 million streams in 24 hours, breaking 2 Spotify records; the most streamed female in a single day and the most-streamed album in one day.  

Why is Swift Re-recording her albums? 

The rerecorded album marks Swift’s latest move to reclaim control over her own music after the nonconsensual sale of her master recordings to Scooter Bruan and then to Shamrock Capital Advisors. 

In just four days Red (Taylors Version) has successfully overthrown the original album on both social media and streaming services. The massive success of the ‘Taylors Version’ re-recordings informs us of the impact streaming has had on the power dynamics that have historically defined the music industry. 

Red (Taylor’s Version) is the second re-recorded album from Swift, following Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. 

Red (Taylors Version)

From nail polish colours, the year a car was made, the number of times a certain word was repeated and more, the Swiftieverse is a powerful place to be. For fans who listened to the 2012 Red, this release has provided a loving reminder of the past, and for those who are listening to Red (Taylors Version) for the first time, it’s showing them the incredible song writing skills that Swift holds. 

Alongside her re-recordings, we are getting songs ‘from the vault’, which provide more depth to the album, allowing us to fully grasp the emotion Swift felt during that time of her life. 

Red was originally recorded in 2012, following her breakup with Jake Gyllenhaal. At the time, Gyllenhaal was 29, and Swift had only recently turned 20 – still on the cusp of childhood.

There is something I need to stress: No, Swift is not still hung up over a relationship she had over a decade ago. This release is simply to gain legal rights over her own work! The media has penalised Swift throughout her career, providing a misogynistic view of her work.

Starbucks:

Swift worked in partnership with Starbucks, releasing a drink in honour of the release of Red (Taylors Version). The drink was a Grande caramel Latte, with non-fat milk. Starbucks, in classic Swift fashion took part in releasing Easter eggs for this collaboration:

What some fans know ‘all too well’ is that Starbucks also released their own Spotify Playlist in celebration of the release that was playing worldwide in stores. Now we can go into a Starbucks or order a ‘Taylors Version’ on the app and enjoy Taylor’s usual order as we get emotional over the All Too Well short film. 

All Too Well Short Film:

Alongside the release of her album, she also released a short film for the 10-minute version of ‘All Too Well’ starring Dylan O’ Brian and Sadie Sink.

The film full of ‘Easter eggs’ had us on an absolute high. The powerful symbolism provided both Swift and her audience with a cathartic release. As someone who studied English lit, watching the short film was everything an English student dreamed about; from the warm tone that filled our screens, to the harsh blue hue that snatched control, the colour palette in the short film informed us of the different stages of the relationship, and the moments than encompassed them.

Many fans commented on how the age gap between the two actors made them feel uncomfortable, this age gap was the same that was between Swift and Gyllenhall, highlighting how much older Gyllenhall was in comparison to Swift. 

Many fans speculate that during the scene where she meets his friends, her glass of wine being the only one untouched is a device showing just how young she was to be dating a 29-year-old (she was not yet of legal age to drink in the United States). 

Gyllenhaal’s current relationship is with Jeanne Cadieu, who is currently 25 – there is a 15 year age gap between them.

At the end of the short film, she is no longer played by Sadie, but by Swift herself, showing us the maturity and growth Swift has gone through, whereas, O’Brian’s character has not gone through any change, growth or increase in maturity levels.

Which album is the next to be re-recorded? 

Many speculated that Swift was going to release 1989 (Taylors Version) after Fearless (Taylors version) as the cost to buy the Fearless (Taylors Version) cd was exactly $19.89. Swift also released Wildest Dreams (Taylors Version) due to a TikTok trend, which caused many to believe 1989 was going to be the next release. 

The car that was present in the All Too Well short film was made in 1989 and fans are left in a state of confusion. Many of the Easter eggs found in the short film point to Speak Now being the next album to be re-recorded, and whatever album it is, we cannot wait!!

If you haven’t listened to Red (Taylors Version) yet, I assure you, it is well worth your time with vivid imagery, incredible vocals and much more.