Taylor Swift's Red: Re-Imagined and Re-Released

Swift comes back swinging.

On November 12, 2021, world-renowned singer and songwriter Taylor Swift released Red (Taylor’s Version), the second album in her series of re-releases. The media was in a frenzy leading up to its release, looking for easter eggs in her Instagram posts and trying to find hidden meaning in her new Twitter bio. Even the Empire State Building turned on red lights in anticipation. To say the least, Taylor Swift has the music industry in her back pocket. However, these re-releases weren’t exactly in her ten-year plan. 

In 2019, it was announced that Scooter Braun, a talent manager, had bought Swift’s first six albums from Big Machine Records, Swift’s former record label, without her consent. What does this mean, you ask? It means that Taylor Swift doesn’t own her first six albums and no longer profits from them. This was a huge blow for Swift and in an effort to control her works again, she began re-releasing her albums, with Fearless earlier this year and now Red, with the other four in the works. Along with her old songs, Taylor Swift is releasing new songs “from the vault,” or songs that never made it onto the album due to capacity limitations or a different feel. Taylor Swift is finally reclaiming her music and her fans, including myself, couldn’t be more excited. 

Swift appeared on Jimmy Fallon on 11/12/21 in celebration of her new album.

Red (Taylor’s Version) features thirty songs, twenty featured on the original album and ten from the vault. While having the same words and melody, Swift has been masterful in ensuring that fans aren’t bored with the original songs. Her voice has matured, and so has her fan base, meaning that not only can we all relate to her songs more, but from Swift’s perspective, it’s more reflective than raw.

I’ve been listening to Taylor Swift since elementary school, and the release of Red was when I really became a fan. My favorites back then were “Starlight,” “Red,” and of course, “All Too Well.” On November 12, I stayed up with bated breath until the album’s release at midnight and I think it’s safe to say that anyone who listened to the Jake Gyllenhall-inspired ten-minute version of “All Too Well” was intoxicated by Swift’s lyricism and revamp of the cult classic breakup song. Along with that, her short film centered around the song is brutally honest about the nasty conditions of their relationship. Better watch out, Jake, Taylor Swift just got everyone on her side. 

I spoke with Leah Keith ‘24 (Communications and women’s studies) about her reaction to Swift’s newest album. Like me, Keith has been listening to the musician since elementary school. 

“I can’t remember exactly when I started to become a fan of Taylor Swift’s, she’s just always been a part of my life,” Keith says. “I fell in love with her Speak Now album, and I have my older sister to thank for that. She really got me into it. It’s really cool to have seen Taylor’s progression through the years. It’s almost like we grew up with her.” 

Red (Taylor’s Version) album art. Photo credit: Taylor Swift

Because of the trials of her first year of college, Keith got distracted from the anticipation leading up to the release of Red (Taylor’s Version) until the week before, when she began feverishly listening to the original album in preparation. Now that the album is released, her three favorite songs are “All Too Well (Ten Minute Version),” “Nothing New” featuring Phoebe Bridgers, and “I Bet You Think About Me,” a spunky poor-you style closure song featuring Chris Stapleton. 

If this Swiftie lore is intriguing to you, Keith is also the leader of Swifties Unite!, an NFSO-style club centered around all things Swift. “I started the club in October,” says Keith.

“I really wanted a place that people could go to geek out about her new albums,” Keith says of the club. “Of course, we talk about other artists and watch movies, but overall, it’s just a place to hang out with people of your same interests.” Swifties Unite! meets weekly on Wednesdays in the RauMor seminar room. Interested in signing up? Email lefagerlund995@stkate.edu or lgkeith553@stkate.edu for more information. 

Throughout the years, Taylor Swift has done an incredible job at keeping her music fresh and interesting, and yet the re-released albums have been such a nostalgic nod to her past eras and her younger self. I know my 12-year-old Swiftie self is screaming when I’m listening to my old favorite songs. Would I recommend trying out Taylor if you somehow haven’t heard any of her music? Definitely.