Taylor Swift Releases “Taylor’s Version” of “Speak Now”
Taylor Swift has once again reinvented an era with the release of her re-recorded album, “Taylor’s Version” of her hit album “Speak Now.” The 22-track album was dropped on Thursday evening, and Swift took to social media to celebrate the release.
In a heartfelt post, Swift expressed her excitement for the album, stating, “It’s here. It’s yours, it’s mine, it’s ours. It’s an album I wrote alone about the whims, fantasies, heartaches, dramas, and tragedies I lived out as a young woman between 18 and 20.”
She further reflected on the making of the album, sharing, “I remember making tracklist after tracklist, obsessing over the right way to tell the story. I had to be ruthless with my choices, and I left behind some songs I am still unfailingly proud of now. Therefore, you have 6 From The Vault tracks! I recorded this album when I was 32 (and still growing up, now) and the memories it brought back filled me with nostalgia and appreciation. For life, for you, for the fact that I get to reclaim my work. Thank you a million times, for the memories that break our fall.”
This news follows Swift’s announcement in May that her 2010 album would be the next in the lineup of re-recorded albums, during her Eras Tour shows in Nashville. With the release of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version),” Swift continues her mission of reclaiming her master recordings. She previously released re-recorded versions of her albums “Fearless” and “Red” earlier this year.
“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” features the original tracklist of the album, including hit singles such as “Mine,” “Mean,” “Back to December,” and “Ours.” The re-release also includes songs from the vault, featuring collaborations with Fall Out Boy and Paramore. Paramore has recently been announced as the opening act for the European leg of Swift’s Eras Tour.
Notably, Swift made a change to the lyrics in her song “Better Than Revenge (Taylor’s Version)” amid controversy surrounding the original lyric. The revamped version replaces the line “She’s better known for the things that she does on the mattress” with “He was a moth to the flame, she was holding the matches.”
The original “Speak Now” album earned Swift a Grammy nomination for Best Country Album, and she took home awards for Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for the track “Mean.”
In anticipation of the album’s release, Swift surprised fans by teasing a preview of “Back to December (Taylor’s Version)” in the season two trailer of Prime Video’s “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” During an Eras Tour show in Minneapolis, she also urged fans to spread kindness instead of hate online, especially regarding the song “Dear John,” which is widely speculated to be about her past relationship with musician John Mayer.
Swift’s re-recorded albums allow her to regain control over her music catalog and assert ownership over her work. Fans eagerly await her future releases, as albums such as “Taylor Swift” (2006), “1989” (2014), and “Reputation” (2017) are still to come.
The release of “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” marks another milestone in Swift’s career, showcasing her growth as an artist while allowing fans to revisit beloved songs with a fresh perspective.