Red (Taylor's Version)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the studio album. For its title track, see Red (Taylor's Version) (song).
"Nothing New (song)" redirects here. For other songs with the title "Nothin' New", see Nothing New (disambiguation).

Red (Taylor's Version)
The cover image features Taylor Swift in red lips wearing a matching red hat.
Studio album (re-recording) by
Taylor Swift
ReleasedNovember 19, 2021 (2021-11-19)
LabelRepublic
Taylor Swift chronology
Fearless (Taylor's Version)
(2021) 		Red (Taylor's Version)
(2021)

Red (Taylor's Version)[a] is the upcoming second re-recorded album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, scheduled for release on November 19, 2021, through Republic Records. It is a re-recording of Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012), and follows her first re-recorded album, Fearless (Taylor's Version), which was released in April 2021. The re-recording is Swift's counter measure against the changed ownership of the masters to her first six studio albums.

The track list was unveiled on August 6, 2021, confirming collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers, Chris Stapleton, and Ed Sheeran on the album's "From the Vault" tracks, which are songs that were originally written for Red but did not make the final cut. It includes "Better Man" (2016) and "Babe" (2018), written by Swift and later recorded by American country music bands Little Big Town and Sugarland, respectively, and her 2012 charity single "Ronan".

Background[]

Further information: Taylor Swift masters controversy

Musically and lyrically, Red resembled a heartbroken person. It was all over the place, a fractured mosaic of feelings that somehow all fit together in the end. Happy, free, confused, lonely, devastated, euphoric, wild, and tortured by memories past. Like trying on pieces of a new life, I went into the studio and experimented with different sounds and collaborators. And I'm not sure if it was pouring my thoughts into this album, hearing thousands of your voices sing the lyrics back to me in passionate solidarity, or if it was simply time, but something was healed along the way.

— Swift looking back on Red and introducing its re-recording, Instagram[2]

American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift's fourth studio album, Red, was released on October 22, 2012, by Big Machine Records. It witnessed Swift expand beyond her country roots and explore mainstream pop, incorporating a variety of genres.[3][4] The effort was met with generally positive reviews and widespread commercial success. It garnered Swift's first number-one song on the US Billboard Hot 100, the album's lead single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", and other successful singles in 2012 and 2013, such as "I Knew You Were Trouble", "22" and "Everything Has Changed".[5] Red became Swift's first number-one album in the UK, and her album with the most UK top-10 singles so far.[6] Over the years, the album collected critical praise for showcasing Swift's artistry and versatility.[7] It became one of the most acclaimed albums of the 2010s decade, appearing on many decade-end best-music lists.[8] Rolling Stone placed it at number 99 on its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[9] As of June 2021, Red has moved over 7.5 million album-equivalent units in the US alone.[5]

Taylor Swift singing "Red" over an electric guitar
Swift performing at the Red Tour (2013)

As per her contract with Big Machine, Swift released six studio albums under the label from 2006 to 2017. In late 2018, the contract with the label expired; she hence withdrew from Big Machine and signed a new recording deal with Republic Records, a division of Universal Music Group, which secured her the rights to own the masters[b] of the new music she will release.[11] In 2019, American businessman Scooter Braun and his company Ithaca Holdings acquired Big Machine.[12] As part of the acquisition, ownership of the masters to Swift's first six studio albums, including Red, transferred to Braun.[13] In August 2019, Swift denounced Braun's purchase of the label, and announced that she would re-record her first six studio albums, so as to own their masters herself.[14] In November 2020, Braun sold the masters to Shamrock Holdings, an American private equity firm owned by the Disney estate,[note 1] under the conditions that Braun and Ithaca Holdings will continue to financially profit from the albums.[15] Swift began re-recording the albums in November 2020.[16]

Fearless (Taylor's Version), the first of her six re-recorded albums, was released on April 9, 2021. It achieved critical and commercial success,[17] and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart as the first re-recorded album in history to top the chart.[5] All of its singles, "Love Story (Taylor's Version)", "You All Over Me", and "Mr. Perfectly Fine", peaked inside the top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs, the first of which was her first number-one on the chart since "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and made her only the second artist in history to top the chart with both the original and re-recording of the same song, after "I Will Always Love You" by Dolly Parton.[18]

Release and promotion[]

The logo of Red (Taylor's Version)
The logo of the re-recorded album, depicting the additional "Taylor's Version" subtitle

On June 18, 2021, Swift revealed that Red (Taylor's Version), the re-recorded issue of Red would be released on November 19. The album is set to contain all 30 songs that were meant to be on the 2012 version.[5] She also teased the original 10-minute-long version of "All Too Well" as part of the track listing,[19] which was "probably a 20-minute song" according to American songwriter Liz Rose,[note 2] who had co-written some tracks on Swift's first two studio albums, Taylor Swift (2006) and Fearless (2008).[23] Alongside the announcement, pre-orders for the digital album were made available.[24]

On June 27, 2021, Sheeran appeared on The Official Big Top 40, where he confirmed his involvement with Red (Taylor's Version), saying he had already re-recorded "Everything Has Changed".[25] Swift's 2012 charity single, "Ronan", was also confirmed as a track on the album on July 30, 2021 by her co-writer and the mother of the song's subject, Maya Thompson.[26] On August 5, 2021, Swift posted a cryptic video across her social media, teasing a word puzzle. Clues found by fans online spelled out "Chris Stapleton", "Phoebe Bridgers", "Babe", "Better Man", and "All Too Well Ten Minute Version".[27][28] Concurrently, pre-orders for the album's CDs went up on Swift's webstore.[27] She posted the album's official track listing on August 6, 2021.[29]

Artwork[]

The cover artwork of Red (Taylor's Version) depicts Swift wearing red lipstick, a beige peacoat and a burgundy-colored "Matti" velvet fisherman's cap, seated in a vintage 1932 Chevrolet Cabriolet convertible against an autumnal background. Janessa Leoné designed the cap, which sold out on Leoné's website.[30][31]

Track listing[]

Red (Taylor's Version) track listing[29]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."State of Grace"Taylor Swift 
2."Red"Swift 
3."Treacherous"
 
4."I Knew You Were Trouble"
 
5."All Too Well"
 
6."22"
  • Swift
  • Martin
  • Shellback
 
7."I Almost Do"Swift 
8."We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
  • Swift
  • Martin
  • Shellback
 
9."Stay Stay Stay"Swift 
10."The Last Time" (featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol)
 
11."Holy Ground"Swift 
12."Sad Beautiful Tragic"Swift 
13."The Lucky One"Swift 
14."Everything Has Changed" (featuring Ed Sheeran)
  • Swift
  • Sheeran
 
15."Starlight"Swift 
16."Begin Again"Swift 
17."The Moment I Knew"Swift 
18."Come Back... Be Here"
  • Swift
  • Wilson
 
19."Girl at Home"Swift 
20."State of Grace" (acoustic version)Swift 
21."Ronan"
  • Swift
  • Maya Thompson
 
22."Better Man"Swift 
23."Nothing New" (featuring Phoebe Bridgers)Swift[32] 
24."Babe"
  • Swift
  • Patrick Monahan
 
25."Message in a Bottle"  
26."I Bet You Think About Me" (featuring Chris Stapleton)
 
27."Forever Winter"  
28."Run" (featuring Ed Sheeran)
 
29."The Very First Night"  
30."All Too Well" (10 minute version)
  • Swift
  • Rose
 

Notes[]

  • All tracks are noted as "Taylor's Version"; tracks 22-30 are additionally noted as "from the Vault".[29]

Release history[]

Release dates and formats for Red (Taylor's Version)
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various November 19, 2021
Republic Records [1]
Brazil December 31, 2021 CD Universal Music Brasil [34]

Footnotes[]

  1. ^ Stylized as RED (Taylor's Version).[1]
  2. ^ A master is the first recording of an audio work, from which copies are replicated and distributed for consumption by the masses; the owner of the master, therefore, owns all formats of the album, such as digital versions for download or on streaming platforms, or physical versions available on CDs and vinyl LPs.[10]
  1. ^ Not to be confused with the Walt Disney Company. Shamrock is a private corporation founded by Roy E. Disney as the Disney family's investment firm. The family completely owns Shamrock and remains its sole investor.
  2. ^ Swift self-wrote "All Too Well" in 2010 as the first song for Red,[20] after which she contacted Rose to help her condense the song to 10 minutes.[21] The final version of "All Too Well" that made to the 2012 album was only five and a half minute long, but still the longest song on the record.[22]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Red (Taylor's Version) release formats:
    1. "RED (Taylor's Version) CD". Taylor Swift Official Store. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
    2. "Red (Taylor's Version) digital album (explicit)". Taylor Swift Official Store. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
    3. "Red (Taylor's Version) Vinyl". Taylor Swift Official Store. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  2. ^ Ellise, Shafer (June 18, 2021). "Taylor Swift Sets 'Red' as Next Re-Record, Out in November". Variety. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Eells, Josh (September 8, 2014). "Cover Story: The Reinvention of Taylor Swift". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  4. ^ "Taylor Swift Readies Her Version Of 'Red,' Featuring 30 Songs". American Songwriter. June 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Lipshutz, Jason (June 18, 2021). "Taylor Swift Announces 'Red' As Next Re-Recorded Album, November Release Date". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  6. ^ "A look back at the hits and legacy of Taylor Swift's Red". Official Charts Company. June 21, 2021. Archived from the original on June 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  7. ^ McNutt 2020, p. 78; Tanner 2020, p. 57.
  8. ^ "Best Albums of the Decade (2010-19)". Metacritic. January 11, 2020. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  9. ^ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Archived from the original on September 22, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  10. ^ Finnis, Alex (November 17, 2020). "Taylor Swift masters: The controversy around Scooter Braun selling the rights to her old music explained". i. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  11. ^ Willman, Chris (August 27, 2018). "Taylor Swift Stands to Make Music Business History as a Free Agent". Variety. Archived from the original on August 29, 2018. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  12. ^ Christman, Ed (June 30, 2019). "Scooter Braun Acquires Scott Borchetta's Big Machine Label Group, Taylor Swift Catalog For Over $300 Million". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  13. ^ Grady, Constance (July 1, 2019). "The Taylor Swift/Scooter Braun controversy, explained". Vox. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  14. ^ "Taylor Swift wants to re-record her old hits after ownership row". BBC News. August 22, 2019. Archived from the original on August 22, 2019. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  15. ^ Ingham, Tim (November 17, 2020). "Why Did Shamrock Capital Spend $300 Million on Old Taylor Swift Albums?". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 13, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  16. ^ Aswad, Jem (August 22, 2019). "Taylor Swift Performs on 'GMA,' Talks Re-Recording Big Machine Songs (Watch)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  17. ^ Willman, Chris (April 20, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Fearless (Taylor's Version)' Debuts Huge: What It Means for Replicating Oldies, Weaponizing Fans". Variety. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  18. ^ Peaks of singles from Fearless (Taylor's Version) on Hot Country Songs:
    1. "Taylor Swift's 'Love Story (Taylor's Version)' Debuts at No. 1 on Hot Country Songs Chart: 'I'm So Grateful to the Fans'". Billboard. February 22, 2021. Archived from the original on April 22, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    2. Asker, Jim (April 6, 2021). "Taylor Swift Scores 25th Hot Country Songs Top 10 With 'You All Over Me'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
    3. Asker, Jim (April 20, 2021). "With 'Fearless (Taylor's Version),' Taylor Swift Scores First Top Country Albums No. 1 Since 'Red'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  19. ^ Pasquini, Maria (June 18, 2021). "Taylor Swift Announces 30-Track Re-Recording of Red as She Teases Song That's 'Ten Minutes Long'". People. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  20. ^ Mansfield, Bryan (October 17, 2012). "Taylor Swift sees 'Red' all over". USA Today. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
  21. ^ "Taylor Swift Reveals 'All Too Well' Hard To Write — About Jake Gyllenhaal?". Hollywood Life. October 22, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  22. ^ Aniftos, Rania (November 17, 2020). "Yes, Taylor Swift Recorded a 10-Minute Version of 'All Too Well' (With a Swear Word)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  23. ^ Skinner, Paige (February 6, 2019). "From Irving to Nashville to a Grammy: Songwriter Liz Rose Crushes It". Dallas Observer. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  24. ^ Rossignol, Derrick (June 18, 2021). "Taylor Swift Confirms That 'Red' Will Be Her Next Re-Recorded Album". Uproxx. Archived from the original on June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  25. ^ "Ed Sheeran confirms he has re-recorded 'Everything Has Changed' For Taylor Swift's 'Red' remake". The Official Big Top 40. June 27, 2021. Archived from the original on June 27, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  26. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (July 30, 2021). "'Ronan' Finds a Home on Taylor Swift's Re-Recorded 'Red' Album". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Willman, Chris (August 5, 2021). "Taylor Swift Teases Phoebe Bridgers, Chris Stapleton Collaborations for 'Red' Album in Word Puzzle". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  28. ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 5, 2021). "Taylor Swift Teases 'Red (Taylor's Version)' With Cryptic Video, Word Jumbles". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Taylor Swift Made Fans Work to Uncover the Red Bonus Tracks". Vulture.com. August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
  30. ^ Aniftos, Rania (June 21, 2021). "How to Get Taylor Swift's 'Red (Taylor's Version)' Look for Less". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  31. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (June 21, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Red (Taylor's Version)': Designer Janessa Leone 'Shocked But Thrilled' to See Her Cap on Album Cover". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  32. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (June 19, 2021). "Taylor Swift's 'Red (Taylor's Version)' Has 30 Songs: Our Track List Predictions". Billboard. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  33. ^ "I Bet You Think About Me". ASCAP. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  34. ^ "RED (TAYLOR'S VERSION) 2CD". Umusic Store (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on August 6, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2021.

Cited literature[]

Retrieved from ""