"Red (Taylor's Version)" is the second re-recorded album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on November 12, 2021, by Republic Records. This album is a re-recording of Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012), and is part of her broader project to regain control of the masters of her early catalog, following a dispute in 2019 over the ownership of her music rights. Red (Taylor's Version) features re-recorded tracks from the original Red album, alongside nine "From the Vault" tracks, which include unreleased songs from that era and some that Swift had written for other artists.
In August 2018, Taylor Swift signed a new recording contract with Republic Records, securing ownership of the rights to her music moving forward. However, in 2019, when the talent manager Scooter Braun and his company, Ithaca Holdings, acquired Big Machine Records, they took control of the masters of Swift's first six albums. Swift publicly expressed her frustration with this situation, leading her to begin re-recording these albums in order to regain control of her music. Red (Taylor's Version) follows the release of Fearless (Taylor's Version), which was released earlier in 2021.
The re-recorded version of Red maintains the eclectic mix of genres from the original album, including pop, country, rock, and electronic influences. Some tracks feature subtle production adjustments, with enhanced vocals and sharper instrumentation. For example, "I Knew You Were Trouble" has more pronounced drums, while "22" features more defined guitars. The album's 30 tracks span several different musical styles: pop and synth-pop dominate several songs, like "State of Grace" and "22." Indie folk is prominent on tracks like "Run" (featuring Ed Sheeran) and "Nothing New" (a duet with Phoebe Bridgers). Country remains at the heart of several tracks, especially the "From the Vault" songs, such as "Better Man" and "I Bet You Think About Me."
The "From the Vault" tracks offer new insights into Swift's songwriting process during the Red era, including "Better Man," a banjo-led country ballad about the aftermath of a painful breakup, "Nothing New," a folk duet with Phoebe Bridgers that addresses aging and societal expectations of young women, "Babe," originally recorded by Sugarland, Swift's version is a pop-ska song that reimagines the original, "I Bet You Think About Me," a country ballad with a sharp tongue-in-cheek narrative about an ex-lover, "Forever Winter," a power pop song about emotional struggles and mental health, "Message in a Bottle," a dance-pop track about the beginning of a romantic connection, "Run," an acoustic, indie-folk duet with Ed Sheeran, "The Very First Night," a bubblegum pop track about the excitement of new love, and "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)," the extended version of one of Swift's most beloved songs, which provides deeper context and emotional depth.
Red (Taylor's Version) received widespread critical acclaim for its vocal performance, enhanced production, and the emotional depth of the vault tracks. Critics praised Swift's ability to take ownership of her past work while breathing new life into the re-recorded versions. Many also appreciated the expanded version of "All Too Well," which became a fan favorite and was widely regarded as one of Swift's most poignant songs. Commercially, the album was a huge success. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and topped the charts in multiple countries, including Australia, Canada, and the UK. The album made history by having 26 of its tracks debut on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking the record for the most single-week new entries by an artist. "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" topped the Billboard Hot 100, making it the longest song ever to reach the top spot.
"Sad Girl Autumn" became a cultural phenomenon following the album's release, reflecting the themes of heartbreak and emotional complexity found throughout Red (Taylor's Version). The album won several awards, including a Billboard Music Award, two American Music Awards, and an NME Award. Red (Taylor's Version) is more than just a re-recording of a past album; it is a statement of artistic independence and ownership for Taylor Swift. The album not only revisits some of Swift's most iconic songs but also introduces new material that expands the emotional landscape of Red. With its mix of familiar and fresh tracks, Red (Taylor's Version) showcases Swift's growth as an artist while offering fans new ways to experience one of her most beloved albums.
On June 18, 2021, Taylor Swift released the cover art for Red (Taylor's Version) and initially announced that the re-recorded album would be released on November 19, 2021. Along with the announcement, pre-orders for the digital album were made available. The cover features Swift wearing red lipstick, a beige peacoat, and a burgundy-colored "Matti" fisherman velvet cap, sitting in a vintage 1932 Chevrolet Cabriolet convertible against an autumnal backdrop. The cap was designed by Janessa Leoné and quickly sold out on her website. The customized ring Swift wears on the cover was designed by one of her real-life friends. On August 5, 2021, Swift posted a video across her social media accounts, teasing a word puzzle for fans to solve. The puzzle revealed words like "Chris Stapleton," "Phoebe Bridgers," "Babe," "Better Man," and "All Too Well Ten Minute Version." Pre-orders for the album’s CDs were also launched at that time. Swift unveiled the official track listing on August 6.
On September 30, Swift announced that Red (Taylor's Version) would be released a week earlier than originally planned, now set for November 12. To build excitement, she shared snippets of several re-recorded songs leading up to the album’s release: "22" and "I Knew You Were Trouble" via an Instagram story on August 5, "Red" via an Instagram video on October 24, and "Babe" via Tumblr on November 11. The album was made available for streaming, download, and in physical formats, including CDs and vinyl. Limited edition versions were sold through retailers like Target, Walmart, and Urban Outfitters, each offering exclusive merchandise. In January 2022, Swift released five streaming “chapters” from Red (Taylor's Version), including "Could You Be the One Chapter," "She Wrote a Song About Me Chapter," "The Slow Motion Chapter," and "From the Vault Chapter."
Starbucks teamed up with Swift to commemorate the release of Red (Taylor's Version), aligning it with the company's "red cup holiday season." Fitness equipment manufacturer Peloton also announced an exclusive collaboration with Swift, using songs from the album for their on-demand fitness classes. To promote the album, Swift made appearances on two NBC late-night talk shows, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers, airing back-to-back on November 11. On the same day the album was released, she premiered All Too Well: The Short Film, which accompanied the 10-minute version of "All Too Well." The film starred Swift, Sadie Sink, and Dylan O’Brien, and she performed the song at its premiere. The following day, she appeared as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, performing "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)." The song went on to become a number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, marking the longest number-one song in history, surpassing the 8-minute, 37-second length of "American Pie" by Don McLean.
The vault tracks "I Bet You Think About Me" and "Message in a Bottle" were promoted as singles to country and pop/adult contemporary radio formats, respectively.
