When Taylor Swift hinted that she would be re-recording her first six studio albums on a mission to own her work, fans of the global sensation were eager to relive and rediscover Swift’s critically acclaimed catalog. After years of excitement, Swift finally announced that she would be releasing her first re-recorded album, “Fearless,” under the new title “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).” The album would include six never-before-heard songs that were meant to go on the original track list — deemed as “From The Vault.” The project was met with unprecedented success, including a number one debut atop the Billboard 200 chart and record-breaking vinyl sales. 

Following the success of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” many fans expected her to release “1989,” Swift’s Album of the Year-winning pop bible from 2014, as the next re-recorded album. However, Swift shocked the world in June 2021 by announcing that “Red (Taylor’s Version)” would be released as the next re-recording. She also revealed that the tracklist would include all 30 songs that were written for the original project, including a 10-minute version of fan-favorite “All Too Well,” and new collaborators including Phoebe Bridgers, Ed Sheeran, and Chris Stapleton. After five months of anticipation, the album was finally released on Nov. 12, 2021. 

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” combines Swift’s songwriting expertise with her unparalleled versatility to form one of the most magical, enthralling, and heart-wrenching albums in recent memory. Throughout the record, Swift conveys feelings of longing, devastation, freedom, and hopelessness. The 11-time Grammy winner describes “Red (Taylor’s Version)” as "a fractured mosaic of feelings that somehow all fit together in the end.” This idea is prevalent throughout the tracklist, which is extremely versatile in its genres, themes, and lyrical content. 

“Red (Taylor’s Version)” shows off every facet of Swift’s artistry; the tracklist contains upbeat pop anthems like the infectious “22,” where Swift describes herself as “happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time,” and one of nine new “From the Vault'' tracks, “Message In A Bottle,” where Taylor sings over a teeny-bop backtrack reminiscent of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe.” Swift also pulls from her country roots to tell a story of rebirth on the Grammy-nominated song “Begin Again,” and to tease her past lover on “I Bet You Think About Me,” featuring first-time collaborator Chris Stapleton. By pulling from different genres on “Red (Taylor’s Version),” Swift shows off her versatility in ways that most artists can’t compete with. 

Sonic diversity aside, the songwriting and lyricism on the album is breathtaking, artful, and impressive. Some of Swift’s best lyrics hail from the album’s opener, “State of Grace.” She sings “Love is a ruthless game; unless you play it good and right,” laying the groundwork for an album that touches on every aspect of love: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Other songs like “Treacherous,” “I Almost Do,” and “Better Man” contain some of the best songwriting seen over the past decade. Another notable track is Swift’s duet with Phoebe Bridgers, titled “Nothing New,” that combines both singers’ unique styles to create a vulnerable and intimate confession of insecurity.

However, out of every masterful song on “Red (Taylor’s Version),” one track reigns supreme: “All Too Well (10 Minute Version).” Swift tells the full story of a relationship turned sour, where she practically begs her ex to feel the heartbreak as much as she does. New lyrics on the extended version take a perfect song and make it better; heartbreaking lines like “You kept me like a secret; but I kept you like an oath” and “Just between us, did the love affair maim you too?” flesh out a story fans have related to since the original release in 2012.

Since its release, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” has been met with unprecedented success. It shattered the record for debut streams for a female album, with over 90 million. (The record was previously held by Swift’s own “folklore,” with 80 million streams.) For an album containing mostly songs previously heard by fans, the widespread success of “Red (Taylor’s Version)” is proof of Swift’s domination in the music industry. 

Despite slight changes in a few of the re-recordings that put them below the original, “Red (Taylor’s Version)” improves greatly upon what many consider to be Swift’s best work to date. The “From the Vault” tracks breathe new life into a project fans and critics alike have praised since 2012, but never overshadow the incredible songs on the original version. “Red” has always seemed to be Taylor Swift’s favorite album of hers, and will likely become the world’s favorite, too.