RED Taylor Swift (Deluxe Edition) – Review

by Sahana Singh, Bridgewood

Last year, Rolling Stones Magazine put Taylor Swift’s RED, at #99 on their list of 200 Greatest Albums of All Time. The funny thing is, they only gave RED a 3/5 review, when it first came out. In fact, it is one of the songwriter’s most polarising albums. At its release, it was often called “incohesive” and “messy”, or a “let-down” after 2010’s self-written Speak Now. It is now, as we have seen, critically acclaimed, and even kickstarted a new generation of singer-songwriters, like Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray. Even Folklore seems to be a sequel to RED in a musical sense.

 The backlash RED received, caused Taylor to make her first all-pop album, 1989. 1989, is Taylor Swift’s most iconic album. Taylor’s 1989 era itself is iconic - being associated with the infamous #SquadGoals, Famousgate Feud, and Bleachella. 1989 was also produced by first time producer, Jack Antonoff, who went on to work with Lana Del Rey, Lorde, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Charli XCX. In a way, the fact that RED lost the Album of the Year Grammy in 2014, is what propelled the making of 1989, on the release of which Barbara Walters said, “Taylor Swift is the Music Industry.”

 I think RED is a grower. I too admittedly hated it, when I first listened to it. (I even called Taylor Swift’s most acclaimed song, ‘All Too Well’ a ‘Dear John’ knockoff.) That is why RED went from the Swift-loving Rolling Stones giving it a mere 3/5 to the notoriously elitist, Pitchfork giving it a 9/10. After listening to it multiple times this quarantine, I realised that I had started to actually like it. RED has a vibe. I did not think it was messy, I thought it was rollercoaster… a much better description of the album, which is upbeat while retaining a melancholic undertone.   The album also evokes the colour scheme of the era – red, black and white.

 

Song Reviews

 

State of Grace

The first song starts with a long drumroll. It is the perfect song to open the album. It is very upbeat, but the lyrics are sad. I love how atmospheric it is, and how it gets you hyped for the album.

Best Lyric – So you were never a saint, and I loved in shades of wrong // We learnt to live with the pain, mosaic broken hearts.

Score – 10/10

 

Red

I love the pre-chorus. The use of colours is a nice way of portraying emotions. It is the perfect name for the album. It has a great build-up from the bridge, but the song is too repetitive to be considered better than the first track.

Best Lyric – ‘Cause love was like, driving a new Maserati down a dead-end street.

Score – 9.7/10

 

Treacherous

I like her voice in this song. I wish the guitar were louder. I don’t like this song until the bridge, but I can see why someone else would.

Best Lyric – I can’t decide if it’s a choice, getting swept away.

Score – 9.2/10

 

I Knew You Were Trouble

It’s a nice change from the last song. It sounds quite dated with the 2012 dubstep, but I love the EDM drops, they pull you back into the song.

Best Lyric – And when I fell hard, you took a step back.

Score – 7.3/10

 

All Too Well

Probably her most iconic song. Not going lie, it kind of bores me in the beginning. But the lyrics are great, and the bridge is amazing.

Best Lyric – I might be okay// but I’m not, fine at all

Score – 10/10

 

 

22

See what I mean!! Rollercoaster! The song is fun, but the lyrics are so sad, and I feel bad for these depressed girls. I hate her pronunciation of 22 - it is not twennytoohoo! This song is the only reason people care about the age 22. And ‘23’ by Miley Cyrus, is the only reason care about that age.

Best Lyric – Who’s Taylor Swift anyway? Ew.

Score – 7/10

 

I Almost Do

A boring song, with terrible meter. Was she recorded on a toaster! Because this sounds really not-smooth. Stop betting Taylor unless you are going to pay this dude! And no one cares, that someone, ‘almost’ did something!

Best Lyric – I can’t say hello to you // And risk another goodbye

Score – 6.6/10

 

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

I LOVE THIS SONG!!! It’s so catchy, and fun to lip-sync to! It’s very repetitive, and not that good a song, but it sounds great live.

Best Lyric – With some indie record, that’s much cooler than mine

Score – 7/10

 

Stay Stay Stay

Blink twice if you need help Taylor!!! This is garbage. I don’t remember clicking on a DIY-Back to School video! I have to be in the right mood to listen to this song, sometimes I like it, and sometimes…

Best Lyric – (No good lyrics in this trash.)

Score – 3/10

 

The Last Time (feat. Gary Lightbody)

I hate Gary Lightbug. He ruined the song. They both sound so nasally.

Best Lyric – (I don’t know. I can barely understand what they are saying.)

Score – 6.7/10

 

Holy Ground

A nice return, to the sound of the first few songs. I love the bittersweet positivity, and how catchy this song is.

Best Lyric – Tonight I’m gonna dance, for all that we’ve been through // but I don’t wanna dance, if I’m not dancing with you.

Score – 9/10

 

Sad Beautiful Tragic

The name explains it all. The tune is really sad, and it was one of the first songs that made me cry. The bridge is amazing as usual.

Best Lyric – You’ve got your demons, and darling they all look like me.

Score – 9.4/10

 

The Lucky One

Not much to say, I like it. It’s the ‘fame isn’t everything’ song, that all stars have.

Best Lyric – You don’t feel pretty, you just feel used.

Score – 8.9/10

 

Everything has Changed (feat. Ed Sheeran)

Definitely the superior Ed Sheeran collaboration. The chorus is good, and the verses have a good build up.

Best Lyric – I’m feeling like I’ve missed you, all this time.

Score – 7.9/10

 

Starlight

A very average song. Fun tune, but average lyrics. The sound is too mid-2000s for a song that is supposed to be about the Kennedys.

Best Lyric – (It does not really have any good lyrics.)

Score – 6.3/10

 

Begin Again

I like how calm this song is. It is a great ending to the album.

Best Lyric – He never liked when I wore high heels, but I do.

Score – 8.4/10

 

BONUS TRACKS

 

The Moment I Knew

I love this song. It is really sad, but the beat is great. I can see why it was a bonus, but it deserves to be on the main album.

Best Lyric – You called me later // And said, “I’m sorry I didn’t make it” // And I said “I’m sorry too.”

Score – 8.3/10

 

 

Come Back… Be Here

This is such a sweet song.

Best Lyric - The feeling you can know so much, without knowing anything at all

Score – 8/10

 

Girl At Home

Because of the first two bonus tracks, I thought the last would be good… It is not.

This is absolute garbage. The most preachy, repetitive thing ever. I get the point, stop saying it over-and-over again. This song has no reason to exist. Bad melody, bad lyrics, and it isn’t even catchy .

Best Lyric – You got a girl at home (Seems to be the only lyric, but whatever.)

Score – 4/10