“Red,” Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album, was initially released in 2012 to rave reviews.
It was praised for itssongwriting,versatility, andmaturity.
For fans, it’s a perfect excuse to relive one of Swift’s best-loved albums.
In fact,Rolling Stoneeven wrote that the new album “makes a classic even better.”
Want to discover more about what Swift hascalledher “only true breakup album?”
Here is the untold truth of Taylor Swift’s “Red.”
She had just turned 22, and had recently experienced her first taste of heartbreak.
It should come as no surprise that the songs she wrote during that period were pretty emotional.
And Swift certainly did a lot of growing up in those two years.
For one, she had abrief romance with Jake Gyllenhaal,which led to her first experience of heartbreak.
Plus, she spent her time honing her craft as a songwriter.
Of course, not all of them were recorded the first time around.
Some of the tracks became bonus tracks, and others were never released.
At the time, Swift didn’t know if the songs would ever come out.
Luckily, Swift had the perfect opportunity to release the extra songs in 2021 when she re-recorded the album.
Both Ed Sheeran and Gary Lightbody from the band Snow Patrol featured on some of the tracks.
“‘Red’ the song was a real turning point for ‘Red’ the album.
So, that’s exactly what she did.
Swift was especially proud of this song because it was a huge departure from her usual style.
No wonder it’s one that she was proud of.
As Taylor Swift toldBillboard, the song was “really close to [her] heart.”
“The feeling wasn’t sadness and anger or those things anymore.
It was wistful loss.”
Many of the songs on the album are supposedly about Jake Gyllenhaal, who the star dated in 2010.
The song “Holy Ground” is potentially about Joe Jonas, who Swift had dated years before.
She had already established herself as one of the most famous country singers in the world.
With “Red,” her music took a dramatic turn.
In fact, it was the first time Swift marked her transition from country star to pop star.
Her first re-record, “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” came out inApril 2021.
“Red (Taylor’s Version)” was her second re-record.
Swift explained her reasoning for re-recording “Red” in an interview withSeth Meyersshortly after the album was released.
“I’ve always wanted to own my own music,” she said.
“So that’s what we’re doing.”
Tonight we begin again.”
So, Swift cut the song down.
Her fans had also latched onto the song, even though it wasn’t a single.
“If she sings it, I will listen to it,” Swift gushed about her fellow singer.
“I really wanted another female artist who I loved to sing it with me,” she said.
So, Swift sent Bridgers a “very long text” asking her to join her on the song.
Apparently, Bridgers was only too happy to accept.
Talk about a dream team!
And, as she explained, casting Sink and O’Brien two actors made her job easy.
“The actors, Sadie and Dylan, they just gave everything, and I trusted them so much …
When she re-recorded “Red,” she had the chance to revisit being 22.
So, when she first released the album, she had a difficult time.
In fact, Swift even remembered having to take breaks between interviews to cry.
However, this time around, Swift gets to enjoy the release of the album.
“It’s chill this time …
I’m telling you, it’s much better this way,” she said.
