The singer-songwriter, 31, on Friday dropped "Fearless (Taylor's Version)," a newly-recorded version of her second studio album.
Originally released when Swift was 18 and centered in country music, the 2021 version was bound to include some "Changes." Her voice has matured, which works on tracks like "White Horse" and "Fearless" but feels odd when she sings about high school on "Fifteen". For the most part, though, the album's essence is the same and the tweaks are fun reminders for longtime fans of how Swift has developed as an artist through the years.
"Taylor's Version", as Swift is calling it, is a make-good on her promise to rerecord her music from before her "Lover" album. In late summer 2019, shortly after Scooter Braun's purchase of her masters ignited a public battle between the two and renewed debate over music ownership, Swift announced her plan to rerecord her first six studio albums in an effort to own her work, saying "I just think that artists deserve to own their work, I just feel very passionately about that" on "Good Morning America." She started doing so in late 2020 and "Fearless" is the first of her versions to be released.
The new release gives fans 27 tracks: All the songs from the original and platinum edition, six previously unreleased tracks from the vault and a bonus song. We've listened and found the biggest differences between 2008's "Fearless" and 2021's "Fearless (Taylor's Version)."
"Mr. Perfectly Fine" (a surprise release Wednesday) gives us "Forever and Always" vibes, which is probably why it was initially left on the cutting room floor. This one is vintage sentimental Taylor at its finest (as is other vault song "You All Over Me," released in March) and we can't stop belting out "It takes everything in me just to get up each day / But it's wonderful to see that you're OK." It also includes the line "casually cruel," seemingly a precursor to her greatest bridge of all time in 2012's "All Too Well"?
Keith Urban's appearance on "That's When" and "We Were Happy" is a nice homage to the Fearless-era, when Swift was the opening act on Urban's 2009 Escape Together tour (the pair was also featured on Tim McGraw's 2013 song "Highway Don't Care.") But we probably could have done without those two, along with other vault song "Bye Bye Baby," which are pretty forgettable compared the rest of Swift's storied discography.
Of the from-the-vault songs, four are new releases on Friday. The best is "Don't You," a slow bop that sonically could have ended up on her "1989" album but lyrically sounds like if the main character of "Folklore"s "The 1" ran into her ex before going to therapy.
A big question heading into the rerecords: Would Swift, a Pennsylvania native who has since moved into the pop and indie spheres revive the country twang she used in her earlier work?
The answer, we're thrilled to confirm, is yes. It isn't as noticeable as the original and Swift has a more mature and slightly wider vocal range than she did as a teen, but the emphasis on the "r" in "Fearless" and some long, drawn out "I"s and "Y"s undeniably mark a return of yee-haw Taylor.
Taylor Swift reveals full 'Fearless (Taylor's Version)' track list | GMA
Here's How To Get Taylor Swift's "Fifteen" Snapchat Lens For A 'Fearless' Preview
As Swifties are anxiously awaiting the re-recording of Taylor Swift's 2008 studio album Fearless, the singer released a preview of her track "Fifteen" on Snapchat. Get ready to start singing, "When you're fifteeeeeeen," on repeat, because the Snapchat Lens plays a clip of the updated tune. If you can't wait to hear the re-recorded version of her second studio album (not to mention the six new tracks), here's how to get Taylor Swift's "Fifteen" Snapchat Lens .
Although you don't have too much longer to wait until Swift's Fearless rerecorded version drops on April 9, there's plenty to be anxious about. In addition to the original tracks, the singer is unveiling six unreleased songs — one of which already premiered ahead of the album debut. Thankfully, Snapchat is giving fans an early listen of "Fifteen (Taylor's Version)" with a preview Lens and a clip in its Sounds section. With further ado, here's how you can get your hands on the sweet, sweet preview.
It's also possible to preview "Fifteen (Taylor's Version)" by heading to Snapchat's Sounds. To do so, from the Snapchat Camera, tap on the music note symbol to open the Sounds tool. In the library of tracks, you should find Swift's "Fifteen (Taylor's Version)" at the top of the "Recommended" list.
Swifties can continue using "Fifteen (Taylor's Version)" on Snapchat for the next two weeks. Fans can also find "Mr. Perfectly Fine" and "Fearless" in the Snapchat Sounds tool starting on April 9 (aka the album release date).
As you're waiting for Swift's Fearless re-recorded album to drop, you can listen to the Snapchat preview on repeat. Swift also released other track previews: "Breathe (Taylor's Version) (Featuring Colbie Caillat)" on Tumblr , "You Belong With Me (Taylor's Version)" on TikTok , and "White Horse (Taylor's Version)" on Instagram . So, you have plenty to hold you over until the album finally drops and you can listen to all the nostalgic goodness.
Taylor Swift Teases Re-Recorded 'Fearless' Tracks With Help From Olivia Rodrigo, Conan
Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber top this week's new album releases - cleveland.com
Pop powerhouse Taylor Swift goes back to more forward, while folk icon Peggy Seeger comes to a career end amidst this week's new music releases (all subject to change)...
Album of the Week: The first fruit of Taylor Swift's catalog re-recording project is "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" (Republic), a recasting of her 2008 sophomore release. The new set adds another seven tracks (eight on the deluxe edition) and features guest shots from Maren Morris and Keith Urban, along with recent collaborators Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner.
Album Title of the Week: Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band, "Dance Songs For Hard Times" (Family Owned)
Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray Perform Taylor Swift's Re-Recorded Songs: Watch - MTV
With the re-recording of her 2008 album Fearless set to drop on Friday (April 9), Taylor Swift has tapped her "kids" Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray to create their own wholesome, DIY videos inspired by two of her biggest hits from the Fearless era: "You Belong With Me" and "White Horse."
In the TikTok clip, Rodrigo and Gray pay homage to Swift's 2008 " You Belong With Me" music video, wherein Swift and her crush, who happens to be her next-door neighbor, correspond with one another by writing signs and holding them up to their windows. "Conan, you ok?" Rodrigo's sign reads. "No bitch, I'm listening to the Fearless re-records," Gray's sign answers before the two begin dancing and singing on a bed just like Swift in the music video.
But the duo didn't stop there. They also filmed a hilarious take on the poignant country ballad "White Horse" in which both artists don cowboy hats and reenact the song's lyrics. Gray literally sweeps Rodrigo off her feet and leads her up the stairwell before ending on a gloriously timed turn and tip of their cowboy hats. Rodrigo wrote on Instagram , "We got a sneak peak of 'White Horse (Taylor's Version)' and we just had to make this vid. One of my favorite songs of all time. In response, Swift shared the video on her Instagram Story and appropriately captioned it: "sobs in yeehaw."
She also revealed that Swift imparted some important career advice in the letter as well: "She's like, 'I think we make our own luck and I think when you're kind to people and do what's right, it always comes back to you in the best way.' I just adore her and that's what I've literally been thinking about since I opened that thing last night. It's the only thing in my brain."
Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray Jam Out After Taylor Swift Sends Them 'Fearless (Taylor's
Taylor Swift has tapped Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray to tease more of Fearless (Taylor's Version) one day ahead of its release.
Rodrigo and Gray kicked things off by expertly recreating Swift's iconic music video for "You Belong With Me." As the rerecorded version of the track played, Rodrigo, dressed in nerdy clothes, held up a sign that reads, "Conan, you OK?," which is a direct reference to Swift's original music video.
The cute clip continued with Rodrigo and Gray singing into hair brushes as they jumped and danced on a bed.
"ily mom," Rodrigo replied on her Instagram Story, with Gray agreeing on his, writing "we love our mom."
The pair continued their Fearless (Taylor's Version) promotion with a looser interpretation of Swift's track, "White Horse." Both sporting cowboy hats, Rodrigo and Gray act on the song's devastating lyrics, with Gray offering Rodrigo a crown, sweeping her off her feet and leading her up a stairwell.
"we got a sneak peak of white horse (taylor's version) and we just had to make this vid lol," Rodrigo captioned the clip. "one of my fav songs of all time. remix this and sing along!"
She shared a sneak peek of "Breathe," featuring Colbie Caillat, on Tumblr, and had her fan page's official Twitter account post a snippet of "Hey Stephen." Additionally, on Thursday's Good Morning America , Swift shared a short clip of the album's title track.
The rerecorded album will feature four more "from the vault" songs -- "We Were Happy," "Don't You," "Bye Bye Baby," and "That's When," featuring Keith Urban -- all of which were written at the same time as the other Fearless tunes, when Swift was between 16 and 18.
Taylor Swift recruits Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray to tease Fearless songs | Wales Farmer
Taylor Swift has recruited her “two kids” Olivia Rodrigo and Conan Gray to help promote the re-release of her album Fearless.
The Grammy-winner, 31, sent previews of two tracks from the record, which she has re-recorded following a bitter row over the ownership of her early career masters, to the young pop stars ahead of its launch on Friday.
Rodrigo, whose hit single Drivers License recently spent nine weeks at number one in the UK, shared a video of her and Gray, 22, dancing along to snippets of the reworked tracks.
The 18-year-old, who is the star of the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical – The Series, also shared a clip of them reenacting the music video to You Belong To Me on the social media platform TikTok, writing messages to each other on pieces of paper.
Fearless (Taylor’s Version), which is released on Friday, includes 26 songs, as well as a Love Story remix, while the original record included 13 tracks.
Swift’s re-recording spree was triggered by a row with prominent talent manager Scooter Braun.
She moved to Universal Music Group in 2018 and has since released her album Lover, as well as surprise drops Folklore and Evermore.
Explaining the new material, Swift revealed multiple songs were left off the original album for reasons including “too many break-up songs” and not being able to fit that much material on a physical CD.
Taylor Swift – Love Story (Taylor's Version) [Elvira Remix] Lyrics - The West News
[Verse 1]
We were both young when I first saw you
I close my eyes and the flashback starts
I’m standing there
On a balcony in summer air
See the lights, see the party, the ball gowns
See you make your way through the crowd
And say, “Hello”
Little did I know
[Pre-Chorus]
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet”
And I was crying on the staircase
Begging you, “Please don’t go”
And I said
[Chorus]
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting, all therе’s left to do is run
You’ll be the princе and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes”
[Verse 2]
So I sneak out to the garden to see you
We keep quiet ’cause we’re dead if they knew
So close your eyes
Escape this town for a little while, oh, oh
[Chorus]
Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone
I’ll be waiting, all there’s left to do is run
You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes”
Romeo, save me, they’re trying to tell me how to feel
This love is difficult, but it’s real
Don’t be afraid, we’ll make it out of this mess
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes”
Oh, oh
[Bridge]
But I got tired of waiting
Wondering if you were ever coming around
My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town
[Chorus]
And I said, “Romeo, save me, I’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you, but you never come”
Is this in my head? I don’t know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring, and said
“Marry me, Juliet, you’ll never have to be alone
I love you and that’s all I really know
I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It’s a love story, baby, just say, ‘Yes'”
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