Taylor Swift 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' Album Review

There is no denying the power of Taylor Swift. The superstar has released Speak Now (Taylor's Version) which is a re-release of her award-winning 2010 album. Re-recordings of classic hits and never before listened to tracks make up a project just as enchanting as it was thirteen years ago.

It is well known that Swift is embarking on a feat that not many have done before her. After the masters of her music were sold, Swift decided she would re-record her discography in order to take ownership of her work. She has already released Fearless (Taylor's Version) and Red (Taylor's Version.) Fans have enjoyed guessing which albums will be up next, and now it's Speak Now's turn.

Since the singer was between the ages of 18 to 20 years old when she first recorded these songs, it's easy to see the growth in her voice of where she is now. The highs and lows of a young woman are now seen through the eyes of a woman in her thirties. Songs like "Mean (Taylor's Version)" and "Innocent (Taylor's Version)" tell tales of mistakes and insecurities that still seem to resonate. Swift did end up making a lyric change when it came to "Better Than Revenge (Taylor's Version.)" Instead of "She's better known for the things that she does on the mattress / whoa," Swift changed it to "He was a moth to the flame / She was holding the matches." This change indicates that the blame for the pain should be placed on the man instead of the other woman.

The inclusion of songs from 'The Vault' offers a broader picture of what the original album could've sounded like. "When Emma Falls In Love" is just as sweet and pure as it sounds. Swift's storytelling is on full display as she centers this song around a girl named Emma who finds herself falling for who could be Mr. Right. "When Emma falls in love it's all on her face / Hangs in the air like stars in outer space / When Emma falls in love she disappears / And we all just laugh / After seeing it all these years." "Foolish One" is another standout. This song is the opposite of a good-natured love song. The lyrics summarize what it's like watching someone wait around for "Confessions of love that ain't ever gonna come."

Swift enlisted the help of Hayley Williams of the band Paramore for the track titled "Castle's Crumbling." This song being released now feels like Swift was foreshadowing all those years ago. Her 2017 Reputation album was all about falling from grace in the eyes of the public, which is what this song represents. The addition of Williams adds the pop-rock feel that glitters this country-rotted record.

Back when this album was first heard, people wondered if Swift was truly "country." The stories she wrote, as the sole writer of the entire project, are inherently of the country genre. Such emotions of love, loss, fear, and the complexities of navigating a changing world are reflected in these songs. Swift's voice narrates lyrics she wrote at a very different time in her life, but still feel just as needed and relevant today. Through some of her best bridges and melodies to date, there is magic still left to be had.

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