Who is the red album about

Whether you’re feeling 22 or not, Taylor Swift’s new spin on her old album Red is bound to make fans feel nostalgic — and that’s the point.

The “Love Story” singer was inspired to rerecord her previous six albums after Scooter Braun purchased the masters to them in 2019. Her hope was that the updated takes on the music would give her back control of her discography.

“Artists should own their own work for so many reasons,” she wrote via Instagram in March 2021. “But the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.”

In April, the Valentine’s Day actress released Fearless (Taylor’s Version), an expanded version of her 2008 record of the same name, which featured collaborations with Maren Morris and Keith Urban.

In November, Swift will drop Red (Taylor’s Version), which she promised would include “so many songs you haven’t heard yet.” The new tracklist, which features 30 songs, includes a previously unreleased duet with Ed Sheeran and a 10-minute version of “All Too Well.”

In August, the Miss Americana star tweeted, “I can’t wait to dust off our highest hopes & relive these memories together.” Two months prior, she teased that listeners might want to grab a box of Kleenex before listening to the updated version of Red.

“I’ve always said that the world is a different place for the heartbroken,” she wrote via Instagram in June. “Musically and lyrically, Red resembled a heartbroken person. It was all over the place, a fractured mosaic of feelings that somehow all fit together in the end.”

The Pennsylvania native’s new version, though, allowed her to put this person back together.

“Like trying on pieces of a new life, I went into the studio and experimented with different sounds and collaborators,” she explained. “And I’m not sure if it was pouring my thoughts into this album, hearing thousands of your voices sing the lyrics back to me in passionate solidarity, or if it was simply time, but something was healed along the way.”

The original 2012 album was said to be inspired by the musician’s brief 2010 romance with Jake Gyllenhaal. “Sometimes you need to talk it over (over and over and over) for it to ever really be … over,” she explained a decade later.

Keep scrolling to learn more about Red (Taylor’s Version):

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The Release Date

In June, Swift announced that she was rerecording Red, and it would be out November 19 — but three months later, she decided to move the release up.

“Got some news that I think you’re gonna like — My version of Red will be out a week earlier than scheduled (including the 4-disc vinyl) on November 12th,” she tweeted in September. “Can’t wait to celebrate the 13th with you and our new/old autumn heartbreak album.”

Credit: Michael Zorn/Shutterstock

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The Tracklist

The reissue of her fourth studio album features 30 tracks, which includes songs “from the vault” and a 10-minute version of “All Too Well.” The new spin on the old record also includes guest appearances from Sheeran, Phoebe Bridgers and Chris Stapleton.

See the full tracklist below:

1. “State of Grace (Taylor’s Version)”2. “Red (Taylor’s Version)”3. “Treacherous (Taylor’s Version)”4. “I Knew You Were Trouble (Taylor’s Version)”5. “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)”6. “22 (Taylor’s Version)”7. “I Almost Do (Taylor’s Version)”8. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Taylor’s Version)”9. “Stay Stay Stay (Taylor’s Version)”10. “The Last Time (Taylor’s Version)”11. “Holy Ground (Taylor’s Version)”12. “Sad Beautiful Tragic (Taylor’s Version)”13. “The Lucky One (Taylor’s Version)”14. “Everything Has Changed (feat. Ed Sheeran) (Taylor’s Version)”15. “Starlight (Taylor’s Version)”16. “Begin Again (Taylor’s Version)”17. “The Moment I Knew (Taylor’s Version)”18. “Come Back…Be Here (Taylor’s Version)”19. “Girl at Home (Taylor’s Version)”20. “State of Grace (Acoustic Version) (Taylor’s Version)”21. “Ronan (Taylor’s Version)”22. “Better Man (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”23. “Nothing New (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)24. “Babe (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”25. “Message In a Bottle (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”26. “I Bet You Think About Me (feat. Chris Stapleton) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”27. “Forever Winter (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”28. “Run (feat. Ed Sheeran) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”29. “The Very First Night (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”

30. “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)”

Credit: Jordan Strauss/AP/Shutterstock

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A Jonas Brothers Duet?

While the JoBros aren’t credited on the Red tracklist, fans believe there is a chance they teamed up with Swift for a new song — and it has to do with the pizza emoji.

TikTok users noticed that Swift left the symbol in the comments of a video that Nick Jonas posted, during which he ate a slice while listening to her song, “Me!” What’s the connection? Well, November 12 is National Pizza With Everything (Except Anchovies) Day so fans wondered if it could be a wink to the brothers making a surprise appearance on her new album.

For his part, the Disney Channel alum played it coy. “What’s this collab rumor all about?" Nick said via Instagram in October. “For the record … here for it.”

Credit: Disney/Kobal/Shutterstock

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The Late Night Appearances

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The Short Film

Swift wrote and directed a short film that will accompany the new 10-minute version of her song “All Too Well.” The clip, which stars Stranger Things actress Sadie Sink, Teen Wolf alum Dylan O’Brien and the “Cardigan” singer, will be released the same day as Red.

Credit: Shutterstock (3)

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‘All Too Well’ Teaser

Swift dropped a trailer for the All Too Well short film on November 5. The clip showed a car driving down a desolate road lined by trees with yellow and green leaves falling around it.

The musician also released a poster for the film featuring stars O’Brien and Sink staring into each other’s eyes. “Shot on 35mm film with cinematography by the brilliant @the_rinayang. Plan your watch parties or grab your blanket and curl up into a ball,” she captioned the snap via Instagram on November 11. “However you want to watch All Too Well The Short Film, it’ll be out tomorrow on YouTube at 7pm Eastern.”

Credit: YouTube

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Fall-Themed TikTok

The Grammy winner teased her “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” song via TikTok on November 10. “*blink* and it’s red season 🍁😆#swifttok #alltoowelltaylorsversion,” she captioned the video, which featured Swift singing along to her track as digital autumn leaves fell from the sky.

Credit: Courtesy of Taylor Swift/TikTok

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The Next Music Video

The All Too Well short film was released on November 12, but the next one will come on November 15. Swift's good friend Blake Lively directed the music video for "I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor's Version)." The song was cut from the original 2012 Red album, but it was among the bonus tracks Swift added for the rerelease.

Lively, whose three daughters with Ryan Reynolds have been referenced in many of Swift's songs, makes her directorial debut with the music video. In a short clip announcing the "IBYTAM" visual, a woman's hand reaches into what appears to be a red velvet wedding cake. The Gossip Girl alum and the singer are both credited as the writers. 

Credit: Courtesy of Blake Lively/Instagram

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A New Record

Don McLean previously held the record for the longest song to top the Billboard Hot 100 charts with “American Pie,” until the “Christmas Tree Farm” songstress’ “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From the Vault)” broke his record in November 2021.

The legendary crooner congratulated Swift on toppling his record via Twitter at the time, writing, “Let’s face it, nobody ever wants to lose that #1 spot, but if I had to lose it to somebody, I sure am glad it was another great singer/songwriter such as Taylor. Congratulations @taylorswift13!”

Credit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock; Matt Baron/Shutterstock