Listeners all across the world highly anticipated Taylor Swift’s, “Red (Taylor’s Version)”, which was released on November 12, 2021 to all streaming devices. Swift had been remaking her previous five albums due to her passion of owning her own work, which many musicians do not have the right to. Swift had done this to regain financial and artistic control over her own music. Swift exceeded the expectations held by fans of the first version of “Red”, with new masterful songs from the vault added to the album, an extended version of “All Too Well”, and incredible lyricism throughout.

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” was captivating to old listeners and new listeners alike because of the new songs previously written by Swift that had not made it to the original album. Nine new songs were added which had the album come to 30 songs in total, although a daunting number to some, all incredible in meaning and originality. Listening to each song from the vault provides more backstory from past relationships she had and feelings she had as a young female artist that she fought with in “Nothin’ New (featuring Phoebe Bridgers).” With a thoughtful and detailed production process behind each remake and new song, it allowed listeners to go through the mind of a 22 year old woman grappling with heartbreak and learning about herself even superior to the original album of “Red.”

The album had a ten minute version of “All Too Well” which was originally on the first album as well, just cut down. This song was by far the biggest surprise and most popular song of the album due to the lyrical creativity and additions of storyline of her past relationship that fans were engulfed in listening to. Lyrics like “And did the twin flame bruise paint you blue? Just between us did the love affair maim you too? ‘Cause in this city’s barren cold, I still remember the first fall of snow and how it glistened as it fell, I remember it all too well,” put listeners at awe of Swift’s ability to create a perfect image in their heads. When Swift teased the idea of a ten minute version of “All Too Well” it was a wonder how she could fill up the time and still make it worth a whole ten minutes to listen to. Although Swift had no trouble in this aspect; the song was a masterpiece of artistry that combined different dynamic elements to recreate a tragic story in a beautiful way. Along with the extension, Swift created a short film to pair with the ten minute version of the song, featuring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’brien, which perfectly portrayed the song’s emotion.

Swift had always been known for her powerful lyrics, and it shows vividly in “Red (Taylor’s version)”, from “Forever Winter” speaking of everlasting love, “He says he doesn’t believe anything much he hears these days, I say, ‘Believe in one thing, I won’t go away’” to snarky snabs at past boyfriends in “I Bet You Think About Me,” saying, “I bet you think about me when you say, ‘Oh my god, she’s insane, she wrote a song about me.’” Swift had lyrics that could hit anyone in a heart string and relate to what she had once felt, which is what made the album so listenable to millions.

Taylor Swift’s new songs, extensions to songs, perfectly crafted lyricism, all held hand in hand in creating a new and intriguing picture of a classic album to many. Every lover and casual listener of music can enjoy Swift’s album with the many ways it reached people. Not only her artistry, but wonderfully sassy remarks are what made this 30 song album so easy to listen to.