Earlier today I finished Taylor Swift’s Red, the OG version. I decided to start keeping a list of my favorite songs as I come across them. I put four from this album on the list. Technically, five. I skipped ahead to the 10-minute version of “All Too Well” and so both versions are on the list, although really, the 10-minute version is the best. It’s the one I’ve been listening to on repeat. I’m determined to learn the words so I can sing/scream it with my whole chest like other Swifties have said they do.
So, once again, here are my thoughts about each of the songs on this album, to include lyrics that stood out to me:
- State of Grace—Much different sound! The drums! Sounds like it’s from an 80s movie. What are the twin fire signs? “Loved in shades of wrong” Lots of references to other poetic/literary things-“Achilles heel”, “golden age”. I like “mosaic broken hearts”. I like the idea of “state of grace”, interesting way to describe love, state of grace in Catholicism is what you are in when your sins are forgiven.
- Red—Lots of similes and metaphors. Using colors to describe experiences, that’s neat! Creative. Red-does she mean like passion, or red like hot?
- Treacherous—Just the title, I like it already! Who is going to be treacherous? “If you say it with your hands” Does she mean abuse? Violence? “The slope is treacherous” is repeated a lot. Slope to hope. Is she in love with someone who’s not good for her? “Nothing safe is worth the drive.” Interesting. Need the book on this one.
- I Knew You Were Trouble— I definitely know this one. Listening close for the first time. Wow! Was this about someone in particular? This is definitely a new sound for her. No wonder the dj on the radio was so critical when this came out. I remember she said she didn’t like the new sound and thought Taylor should stick to what she had always done. This could be song #5. I like it.
- Alright, song #5! Let’s go!
All Too Well—This is the song! From the Fall Guy! When Ryan Gosling was sitting in his truck listening to it and crying and Emily Blunt came up and made fun of him for it. “So casually cruel in the name of being honest” !!!! (I really did write that many exclamation points).
10-minute version—The music and vocals sound sharper and more powerful. There’s an E on this! “You double-cross my mind” GD! Oh…my…gawd! Who the F was this about?! (I found out it was Jake Gyllenhaal—who, the book says denies it’s about him and says it’s about her fans. Whatever dude). Like I can’t even accurately express how amazing this is! This is a masterpiece! Twin flame bruise? That’s the second reference to a twin flame. I thought that meant she was a Gemini, aren’t they the twin sign? But Google says she’s a Sagittarius. It fades out instead of an abrupt end like her other songs.
In case anyone missed my reaction selfie on Threads, this was me throughout most of the song:
This song is amazing and even though I don’t relate to it in terms of a heartbreak like hers, the fact that she remembers it “all too well” resonates with me because all the things in my life that hurt the most, I remember those moments “all too well”, sometimes more than the happy moments.
6. 22—I’ve heard this on the radio and it’s so fun. “We’re happy, free, confused, and lonely in the best way”. “It’s miserable and magical”. This could be about me at 43. Seriously. I think I’m aging in reverse. “We won’t be sleeping.” Me either, thanks, perimenopause! Lol! Seriously though, this is such a fun song.
7. I Almost Do—Sounds like classic Taylor. About resisting getting back together, want to, but doesn’t want the heartbreak again. She’s mature, making the smart choice by not running back to him.
8. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together—What a fun way to tell someone to F off. I’ll bet girls (and guys) sing this really loudly. Love the talking/dialogue in the middle. Definitely a unique style for her.
9. Stay, Stay, Stay—This is sweet. She’s learning that sometimes fights are ok and healthy for a relationship. Funny/ironic about him coming in with a football helmet. She didn’t know Travis then, but this could have easily been about him. Like the last line, this song is really fun.
10. The Last Time (featuring Gary Lightbody)—It’s interesting that the guy starts the song. Two different perspectives. Last chance to make it work, or, last time this is happening because it’s over? This is kind of a heartbreaking song too. The music is kind of intense and serious, gets more so as the song goes on.
11. Holy Ground—The fast tempo and then slow tempo (only in one spot though). Kind of an 80s sound to the music in places. Nothing stands out much about this one.
12. Sad Beautiful Tragic—Very melancholy sound. Trying to get over someone. His demons look like her?! Wow! The switch from beautiful magic to sad beautiful tragic is smooth and kind of wistful sounding.
13. The Lucky One—Is she really lucky though? This turned out how I thought it would. Fame isn’t all you thought it’d be. Like, “Lucky” by Britney Spears. “How you took the money and your dignity and got the hell out” GD right! Lucky for getting out. Oh I relate to this!
14. Everything Has Changed (featuring Ed Sheeran)—What’s the story with her and Ed Sheeran? I saw they’re like best friends. (The book says they are in fact really good friends because they used to tour together). Such a beautiful duet!
15. Starlight—Sounds very pop-y in the beginning. ‘45? Is this a back in time thing? “Things you can’t change” Thought it was a fun night before going off to war. (I read in the book that it’s about Ethel Kennedy and this night being when Senator Robert F. Kennedy took her to a dance).
16. Begin Again—He vs. you. This is a breath of fresh air kind of song. “And for the 1st time, what’s past is past”. That’s growth and healing.
My four favorites from this album are:
- 22
- All Too Well (both the OG and the 10-minute version even though it’s not on this album exactly)
- We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
- The Lucky One (This really hit me because while I wasn’t movie star famous, I was at the top of the food chain at my old job and I “got the hell out” and definitely feel very lucky for having done so).
On to the TV of this next…
Leave a Reply