I’m back from my trip to Chicago and have finally finished “Fearless-Taylor’s Version”. I listened to a few songs in the airport on the way to Chicago last week, but just now finished the rest in my backyard, where I generally feel the most inspired. As usual, I have thoughts! And questions! First, I wrote just some general observations as I listened to the songs that I had heard from the OG album. Then, starting with “Jump Then Fall”, I go into detail about each song.
Let me preface this by saying, this is going to be a longer post because…26 songs!
My overall thoughts…
- My listening process for the re-recordings was to go back and forth between the OG and the TV just so I could hear the difference.
- The music feels/sounds generally the same.
- Her voice—it’s not deeper, but it sounds stronger and more mature (I saw that description on Apple Music and it’s exactly right).
- Definitely sounds like a young teenager on the OG album compared to this.
- What do Swifties prefer? OG or Taylor’s Version? What is the go-to when there’s a particular song you want to hear?
- “Fifteen” was my favorite and now it’s easy to imagine an older version of her talking to her younger self.
Before I get into each of the ‘new’ songs I heard, I just have to say, how bad ass is she for saying “screw you, I’ll just re-record everything”?!
These songs weren’t on the OG but it still says Taylor’s Version. What’s that about?
14. Jump Then Fall—This is cute. Crushing hard on someone. Taking care of someone, reassuring him. It’s sweet.
15. Untouchable—Another song where she’s talking to a crush it seems like. Pleading her case for him to be with her. Reminds me of name edited. I called him an untouchable. Had a huge crush on him, but had no chance of ever being with him.
(I’m ready to get to the songs that are deeper than crushes and innocent love).
16. Forever and Always (Piano Version)—The piano definitely changes the vibe of the song. It definitely sounds more serious. I honestly don’t know which I prefer. Maybe the piano version because it’s such a different sound?
17. Come In With the Rain—Very melancholy, feels tired, a defeated feeling to it, leaving it up to the other person, slower than many other songs, she’s giving up.
18. Superstar—Is this about that guy she toured with and didn’t know she liked him until she wrote this song about him? If not, it’s got to be about someone in the music industry. Another slower song, but also, I’m ready to move on to other themes, other than crushes. These are all variations on the same few topics. Were they not on the OG for that reason?
19. The Other Side of the Door—Not much to say about this one. Girls having trouble with their boyfriends probably really related to this. I want to skip over it, but I’m sticking to my word. Listening to all of it, every word. Kind of an intense surprise end to the song though.
20. Today Was a Fairytale—I like that she’s capturing a good day/time and the emotions that went with it. Some people take pictures, Taylor writes a song.
From the Vault…
21. You All Over Me—Lots of imagery. Interesting how she’s comparing those examples to her. Describing heartbreak in a different interesting way. “No amount of freedom gets you clean.” That’s deep.
22. Mr. Perfectly Fine—Oh! I see what she means by “perfectly fine”, not that he’s just average. He’s fine while she’s heartbroken. Unique way to describe the differences, calling him Mr… The use of the word ‘miss’. Very clever word play in this one.
(Are the vault tracks the OG recordings)?
23. We Were Happy—Reminiscing, sentimental. “Back when I deserved it”? Does she not deserve it now? Just fell out of love I guess. I can picture a music video to this. Makes me wonder why these weren’t chosen for the OG album.
24. That’s When (featuring Keith Urban)—I like this one! I like the male/female duet/perspective. I think it’s well done with the layering of voices.
25. Don’t You—I feel like this shouldn’t sound so soft. There should be more intensity—but she does say she wishes she could hate you, so maybe her feelings aren’t as intense. Reminds me of the end scenes of a 90s/early 2000s teen rom-com where the boy and girl are resisting each other after a fight and then they run back to each other (or walk away for good).
26. Bye Bye Baby—Speaking of movies, lol! “It wasn’t just like a movie.” Kind of similar theme to “Don’t You”.
Overall, I liked this one. Though, to be fair, I’ll probably say that about all of them.
Speak Now is next. I’ll do the same thing with that one. Listen to the original and then her version. Stay tuned.
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