RED TV MUSIC REVIEW

AN ABRIDGED REVIEW OF RED (TAYLOR’S VERSION)

BY MARGARET HOLMES

ALL TOO WELL: Anyone who is anyone will unequivocally agree that “All Too Well” is her BEST EVERRRRR song. No competition, no arguing, only facts. A 10 minute version of this song is also featured on this record. It’s pretty much the same as before, but it definitely requires another listen (or ten). Elizabeth and I broke into song while I was writing this review. That’s how amazing it is.

WE ARE NEVER EVER GETTING BACK TOGETHER: The “weee”s in the background are bad… like, exponentially bad. They sound like she’s on helium. This song is fun to dance to, and it’s fun in general. But it’s not very good and Taylor’s Version is actually a lot worse than the original.

HOLY GROUND: Aside from “All Too Well”, this was my favorite song on the album. It’s just so fun and it has so much energy. It vaguely reminds me of being on the streets of New York. This version sounds pretty different though and not in a good way. The music is more mellow and the singing sounds halfhearted. But I do like how you can hear the guitar better.

BEGIN AGAIN: I hands down love this song. It’s honestly such an aesthetic and the music video is breathtaking as well. Taylor’s Version has a lot of small things that set it apart from the original and put together the music sounds a lot different. Some of the notes seem to either be cut short or go on longer than expected. I kind of like the change, though, and I prefer this version.

COME BACK… BE HERE: This song is just something else entirely. I haven’t heard anything like it from Swift or any other artist. I think this is probably the most mature, well written song on the album. I am not a fan of the new instrumentals sprinkled throughout though. Her voice also sounds a lot more reserved than before.

GIRL AT HOME: Right off the bat, Taylor’s Version has a lot of echo and sounds vaguely like 1989 deep cut “All You Had To Do Was Stay”. I think it works though, it definitely helps this song become more memorable. The instrumentals also sound pretty different. This might be the most changed song. After some of the songs on Lover and 1989, this song doesn’t seem as remarkable, but for its time I think it’s pretty organic lyrically.

RONAN: Ronan was actually originally released as a single in 2012. It was written about a real boy who died of cancer. The lyrics are as heartbreaking as music is and some verses honestly broke me. I’m really glad Swift included it on this album because it fits in well with her other songs.

NOTHING NEW (feat. Phoebe Bridgers): At first this song’s message seems to have been done before in “The Man” and “Mad Woman”. It’s a little boring and sounds like a bunch of other songs on Folklore and Evermore. I do like the lyrics about getting older and they work well. Honestly, though, the only interesting thing is the collaboration with Phoebe Bridgers.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE: I absolutely love this song. This song is a hidden gem that should be put in the Smithsonian. It’s that good. The music is danceable and perfect for dancing around your room. It reminds me vaguely of a Katy Perry song. Sure, the lyrics are kind of vapid, but who needs to listen to the words when you’re dancing?

THE VERY FIRST NIGHT: I love this, too. It’s right up there with “Message in a Bottle”. The lyrics and music are even more danceable. I’m not a big fan of the chorus of most Taylor Swift songs, but this has a great one. My only complaint is that it sounds a little too much like her previous song “Fearless”.

A full review can be found on our website: www.epeaglenewsnetwork.com

ALL TOO WELL (10 Minute Version): Uh oh. This review is going to disappoint the Swifties. I don’t like the 10 minute version of “All Too Well”. My message: don’t mess with perfection. The instrumental changes are pretty bad–they don’t go straight to your heart and hammer in the sadness like the original. The added verses are just incredibly awkward and don’t add anything that the listener couldn’t figure out themselves. It was definitely a good decision to cut the song down in the first place. But at the very least, it led to the short film, so how bad can it really be?

“You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath.”

- All Too Well (10 Min)