Written by: Lucy Widmann
The moment has come and Taylor Swift has not just released her rerecording of Red (Taylor’s Version), but also dropped some MAJOR easter eggs on what may be on the horizon! The second of six albums to be rerecorded, it is just the beginning to earn her financial and legal control of her catalog back. Only Taylor would take this moment of strategic business and turn it into a sweeping career recollective. From new songs, to merch, a short film, and plenty of conspiracies, Taylor Swift undeniably understood the assignment fans asked for! ❤️
To give some context, the album Red originally came out in 2012 and was the link between where she started and where she was headed. It was a turning point in her career, with melodic tunes transforming from country to pop, and a blonde curly-haired teenager shedding her innocence and entering her twenties. To say the least, the album Red was like Taylor Swift’s coming-of-age movie….But in song form! 🥰
Of course, fans can’t stop recognizing the subtle differences between the original album and Taylor’s Version. Singles off the album like “We Are Never Getting Back Together” and “22” are like a game of Where’s Waldo, with intricate differences between both versions being like hidden details in plain sight! 💋
We also can’t forget about songs from The Vault that have been revealed to us nearly 10 years later! Nine songs make up The Vault, with features from artists like Ed Sheeran, Chris Stapleton, and Phoebe Bridgers. Two of the songs on The Vault were written by Taylor (“Better Man” and “Babe”) but passed down to country bands Little Big Town and Sugarland. And of course, fan favorites so far have been “Nothing New (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)” and “I Bet You Think About Me (ft. Chris Stapleton)”. 🌹
But of course, the song everyone can’t stop talking about is “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” from The Vault. Fans have been dreaming of what the 10 minute version would sound like ever since an interview in 2012, when Taylor hinted at the song originally being 10 minutes long. Fans all around the world are now let in on the hidden secrets that were kept away from us, with the new version of “All Too Well” being a collection of epic emotions, with technicolor lyrics that describe the intimate details of a failed relationship. Lyrical one-liners sting the listener with the brutality of the relationship and fear of being forgotten within the affair. 😭
As if we thought Taylor Swift wasn’t already a powerhouse in creative storytelling through words, she continues to blow us away with her talent with cinematic storytelling. Her debut short film was brought to life with the electric performances of Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink, highlighting the unraveling relationship between Taylor and rumored ex Jake Gyllenhaal. Split into mini acts, each exposes key details that match the song played throughout. Silence is then met with intense dialogue, as well as the noticeable age gap between Dylan and Sadie, which plays on how young Taylor was during this time in her life. The scenes give us as the viewer a third-person perspective, almost as if we were there with them yet invisible to the world. Scenes quickly transform from warmly-lit tones and innocent piggy-back rides, to blue coolness and tense dinner parties, resembling the growing distance between the couple. Manipulation is met with liberation, ultimately setting Sadie’s character free and leaving Dylan lingering in the shadows of what could have been. 💔
Despite the tears we shed every time we watch the short film, we can’t stop watching! Taylor has a hold on us and we are not mad about it! We have been loving all the conspiracies and want to know what you think of the short film! Make sure to let us know on Instagram or Twitter! ❤️🔥
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