"Red" is the fourth studio album by Taylor Swift, released on October 22, 2012, by Big Machine Records. Swift described Red as a breakup album that captures the complex feelings that arise from lost love. To express these sentiments, she worked with new producers to explore styles beyond her previous country pop sound. The album features contributions from Dann Huff, Max Martin, Shellback, Jeff Bhasker, Dan Wilson, Jacknife Lee, Butch Walker, and her longtime collaborator Nathan Chapman. Red blends pop, country, and rock, incorporating acoustic instruments with electronic elements. Initial reviews praised Swift's songwriting for its emotional depth but were divided on the production quality, with some critics questioning her identity as a country artist.
The album was supported by the Red Tour (2013–2014). Singles like "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You Were Trouble" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and performed well internationally. Red topped charts and received multi-platinum certifications in various countries. In the U.S., it spent seven weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, making Swift the first artist since the Beatles to have three albums with at least six weeks at the top. The album was certified seven-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Red received nominations for Album of the Year at the 2013 Country Music Association Awards and for Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 2014 Grammy Awards. The critical discourse surrounding the album led Swift to move away from her country roots in later releases. Critics now regard Red as a career-defining work that highlights her evolved songwriting and serves as a bridge from her country beginnings to mainstream pop. It has been ranked among the best albums of the 2010s and was included in Rolling Stone's 2023 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. After a dispute over her back catalog, Swift re-recorded the album, releasing it as Red (Taylor's Version) in 2021.
Swift's third studio album, Speak Now, was released on October 25, 2010, and she wrote it entirely by herself, producing it with Nathan Chapman. Speak Now expanded on the country pop sound of her earlier albums, incorporating more aggressive crossover pop elements and rock styles. It was recognized in the Guinness World Records as the fastest-selling digital album by a female artist and was nominated for Best Country Album at the Grammy Awards.
Swift began writing Red while on the Speak Now World Tour in 2011–2012. By October 2011, she had written around 25 songs. Although her label felt she had enough material, Swift sought to collaborate with other producers to push her creativity and explore new songwriting approaches. While she viewed Speak Now as a personal statement, she wanted her fourth album to reflect her desire to learn and grow.
Swift spent two years developing Red. In the first year, she worked solo and with Chapman, and in the second year, she collaborated with other producers. She prioritized emotional expression in her lyrics while experimenting with diverse sounds. During the Speak Now World Tour, she wrote several key tracks, including "All Too Well." The song "Red" was pivotal in the album's development; after a suggestion from Big Machine's president Scott Borchetta, she worked with Max Martin and Shellback to achieve a more pop-oriented sound.
The final version of "Red" was produced by Swift, Chapman, and Dann Huff, who also worked on two other tracks. Swift collaborated with Jeff Bhasker, Butch Walker, and Dan Wilson for various songs. She named the album Red to symbolize the intense emotions associated with love and heartbreak. By the end of the recording process, Swift had written over 30 songs, of which 16 made the final cut, with nine being solely written by her.
Musically, Red features a blend of styles, including pop, rock, and folk, alongside its country roots. Swift described it as her "only true breakup album," using diverse musical styles as a metaphor for the messiness of real breakups. The album's first half mixes country and pop, while tracks like "22," "I Knew You Were Trouble," and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" feature contemporary production. Critics were divided on the album's genre classification, with some calling it post-country rock while others considered it a pop album.
The songs on Red are autobiographical, chronicling the aftermath of an intense breakup. Inspired by an ex-boyfriend's feedback, Swift's lyrics reflect the complexities of love and loss. The album’s booklet features a quote from Pablo Neruda, emphasizing its themes. Swift's songwriting retains her storytelling roots while expanding on her themes of love and heartbreak from a more nuanced perspective.
Key tracks include "State of Grace," which reflects on tumultuous romantic beginnings, and the title track, which uses colors to describe emotional states. "I Knew You Were Trouble" incorporates dubstep elements and has been noted as a departure from her earlier style. "All Too Well" is often regarded as the emotional centerpiece, detailing the progression of a lost relationship.
Other notable songs include "22," celebrating youthful joys, and "I Almost Do," which explores the dilemma of rekindling a past romance. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" firmly asserts boundaries in a toxic relationship. The album's final track, "Begin Again," reflects on the hope of new love. The deluxe edition includes additional songs and demo versions, further showcasing Swift's artistic range.
