Much-loved singer and songwriter Taylor Swift has been re-recording her albums–adding “Taylor’s Version” to the original titles–to gain full ownership of her music. The reason is that her old record label was sold to music manager Scooter Braun (who works with Justin Bieber, Kanye West, and Ariana Grande), which gives him the rights to the recordings of her old songs. This means he gets the final say on who can use her songs in TV shows, movies, etc., and even whether other artists can cover her songs. Thankfully, since Taylor joined Republic Records in 2018, she now owns the copyright to all of her new recordings with them, but she wants to own all her music. Therefore, the only option is to re-record her old albums under her new record label.
Albums she has previously re-recorded are Fearless (2008 and 2021), Red (2012 and 2021), and Speak Now (2010 and 2023). The most current album she is planning to release is 1989 (Taylor’s Version), coming out on October 27th. The original album was released on the same day in 2014 and contains iconic bops such as “Blank Space, “Style,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Shake it Off,” and “Bad Blood.”
Many RMA students are huge Taylor Swift fans and are excited about the release of this new album. Some even went to see her in concert this past April in Atlanta, Georgia. “It’s definitely the best concert I’ve been to, and it was cool that she could sing and dance for the whole three hours,” RMA sophomore Landry Miller comments about the concert. Gabbi Ams, an RMA senior who went to the same show, says, “It did not feel like it was three hours long. I could’ve stayed even longer.” Taylor Swift is not only sending ripples through the RMA community but also throughout the world. Well-known for her variety of music, ranging from country to pop to indie hits, she is loved by (almost) all for “her ability to convey emotion and create captivating worlds through her storytelling,” says the Evening Standard. Her songs are relatable, filled with emotion, and fun to jam to with friends.
Aside from the entertainment her music brings, Taylor’s music provides material for academic interpretation. Several colleges offer Taylor Swift classes now, including Stanford University, Berklee College of Music in Boston (that’s Mr. Leonard’s alma mater!), and New York University, where the singer received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree. Erudera says that some of these classes focus on “how her lyrics relate to social psychology and her impact in the music industry,” and some classes focus on her music as literature, “compar[ing] Taylor Swift’s lyrics with poems of prominent writers such as William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Sylvia Path.” The interpretation of her music as literature has caused some controversy among the general public since some people don’t believe that the lyrics can be interpreted as literature. Even though “the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate,” many Swifties and students of literature deeply enjoy these classes. Who knew that the singer could have such an impact on the world, including education?
We cannot wait to hear Taylor’s take on her 1989 (Taylor’s Version) album, which will include five extra new songs on the standard edition and a bonus track on the Tangerine Edition. We also cannot wait for the final albums she is re-recording, Taylor Swift (2006) and Reputation (2017), to be released. But in the meantime, prepare to travel back to 2014 as you listen to 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on the 27th!
