November 12 marked the second of Taylor Swift’s re-releases. “Red” was Taylor Swift’s fourth album (originally released in 2012) which she describes in her message on Apple Music as being a “fractured mosaic of feelings that somehow all fit together in the end.”
Admittedly, I have been anxiously awaiting this release from the moment it was announced. “Red” has been my favorite of Taylor Swift’s albums for years, and after thoroughly familiarizing myself with the new “Red (Taylor’s Version),” I can confidently say this is still true. I personally love the wild dramatic shifts in this era of her music that moves from heartbreak, to finding love, to warnings of stardom, and being free. The line from “22,” “We are happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way,” manages to capture this beautiful mess and array of emotions that are all rolled together in this one album.
For fans familiar with the original version of “Red,” this Taylor’s Version brings new life into the songs of this era. Complete with 30 songs, including all 16 of the original tracks, four singles, eight new “from the vault” songs, and two different versions of original songs, Red (Taylor’s Version) is truly an early Christmas present for fans.
Unlike with her first re-release, “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” the songs in “Red (Taylor’s Version)” sound noticeably different from the original album. Her voice sounds different and I would describe it as “fuller” than in the original versions. In addition to this natural change which was likely the result of Taylor growing as a person and an artist, there were minor changes to the way that the music itself was mixed. I found that some of the rhythms and instruments sounded more pronounced in the production—the guitars and drum synthesizers are more striking and seem to be crisper than originally. In all, everything remained true to the original versions of the songs, but I found it refreshing to have these minor changes.
“I thought the album was absolutely fantastic. As someone who was pretty young when the original album came out, this rerecording has been really nostalgic for me and I definitely connect with the songs a lot more now than I did when I was 11. I’d say my favorite songs from the new vault tracks are “Nothing New,” because I really feel a connection with lyrics and meaning with that song, and “All Too Well,” the 10-minute version,” said Kyra Wirsz (junior, behavioral science).
To me, the pinnacle of the album is undoubtedly the inclusion of “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” “All Too Well” was a masterfully written tragedy with some of the most heartbreaking lyrics I have come across. The 10-minute version had existed as mere myth for years until Swift announced that it would be included in this re-release. While I was excited about the album as a whole, this song was certainly the most thrilling. It has a length of 10 minutes and 12 seconds, and became the longest song to ever hit No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100.
In addition to the track, Taylor wrote and directed a short film revolving around the song that stars Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien. I highly recommend watching this film to most people, but I would especially recommend it to music fans who love scarves, fall vibes, and heartbreak. The “All Too Well'' film and song follow the story of Taylor Swift in her romance with Jake Gyllenhaal, and opens and closes with a scarf that Swift says she left at his sister’s house. It beautifully moves through the bittersweet memories of a difficult breakup while also reminiscing on moments of happiness. This dynamic between hurt and bliss demonstrates the difficulty associated with romantic relationships falling apart.
“I’ve definitely been listening to the 10 minute version of “All Too Well” on constant repeat since it came out! The song was always good, but I think I only really came to love it when this version was released. And the short film was so beautifully made—I loved the way it was done, the contrasting tones and colors, the detail she put into it. It really complimented the additional lyrics, too. I am again in awe of her talent as a musician and a storyteller,” said Alannah Tjhatra (junior, biochemistry).
Reliving this era of Taylor Swift music has been reminiscent of years long past while also being fresh and bringing new life to the album. I have thoroughly enjoyed listening to all 30 songs on repeat, absorbing everything with the enthusiasm of a little kid and the critical knowledge of a (mostly) life-long Swiftie. Overall, I believe that Taylor Swift has given her fans, old and new alike, a time capsule to the past, allowing them to relive the glory of days gone by. She has also managed to keep the album relevant with the inclusion of songs that were originally cut from the 2012 album. This jumble of emotions and feelings packaged in musical brilliance was released just in time for scarf weather, hot drinks, and perfect fall vibes, even though winter is just around the corner.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.