Well, we’ve all had a couple weeks to process Taylor Swift’s release of “Red (Taylor’s Version).” Quite frankly, I’m still not over it. Even now, when I scroll through the Spotify friend feed, at least three people will be playing a song from this album. The day after the album dropped, there was a noticeable shift in the energy on Baylor’s campus. It was quieter, more solemn. While walking through East Village, a car pulled up to the light with its windows rolled up, but the punchy drums of “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” were unmistakable. I glanced over and the driver was, for lack of a better phrase, going through it. I mean, do you blame her? Having the opportunity to hear nine songs that Taylor has been sitting on for the past decade has been incredible. Now that there’s been ample time to learn the lyrics to each and figure out your favorite, the next step is to find out what your top pick from the vault says about you.
“Babe”
You adore music from the 90s and the early 2000s. You also have a reputation of giving people the benefit of the doubt, even if they may not deserve it. You’ve been in a messy relationship, and you didn’t come out of it entirely unscathed. Even though they treated you poorly, you still have the tiniest amount of feelings left for them. Take the time required to heal, dust yourself off and don’t be afraid to get out there again. Go have fun and forget about them.
“The Very First Night”
Man, you really miss your ex. It doesn’t help that you have an extremely vivid memory. You take mental snapshots while you’re going through life, and you love to document everything through writing, photos and other mediums. You show others you care by remembering small details about them. Birthdays, pets’ names, childhood anecdotes — you have the uncanny ability to recall these from a conversation that happened months prior, and it makes people feel special. Your memories of events may be rosier than the reality of what occurred. While this gives you a commendable sense of optimism, try to view your memories objectively (especially ones of those who may not deserve your kindness).
“Message in a Bottle”
You romanticize life and find meaning in even the seemingly mundane. You consider yourself to be the “main character.” Finding beauty in everything is a wonderful trait, but you also have the tendency to read into even the smallest interactions. Unfortunately, not everything is that deep. You also have a whopping crush on someone, but you’re too afraid to actually do something about it. News flash: they won’t know unless you tell them. You’ve got this.
“Forever Winter”
You’re most likely a highly empathetic person. When you love someone, either platonically or romantically, you love them deeply and attentively. You tend to be very perceptive and you have a knack for reading people. You wear your heart on your sleeve and aren’t afraid to be emotionally vulnerable. Sometimes, the amount of effort you pour into relationships can be difficult for people to reciprocate, and it causes you a lot of frustration. Don’t forget to take care of yourself — everyone deserves their own “summer sun,” including you.
“Better Man”
As much as you’d rather die than admit it, you are still not over your ex. Yes, there were good times, but there’s a reason (or several reasons) why the two of you are no longer together. You have the ability to always see every side of a situation, and you enjoy contemplating the “what-ifs” of life. Don’t take that instinct as an invitation to buy into the false belief that you can change that person. You deserve better. In the kindest way possible, I’m telling you to snap out of it.
“Run”
You’re either in a loving, committed relationship or you have a vivid imagination that allows you to fantasize that you do. A hopeless romantic at heart, you’re a daydreamer and a free spirit. You have a spontaneous streak and will drop everything at a moment’s notice if someone wants to go on a last minute adventure. “Fun now, worry later” is your motto. After all, some of the best memories in life are made from those seemingly rash decisions.
“I Bet You Think About Me”
You enjoy country music, you miss the old Taylor and you’d like to tell your ex to eat dirt. You’re a natural when it comes to storytelling, and you’re not afraid to say what’s on your mind. Being confident and bold are admirable qualities, but your outspokenness may have gotten you into trouble a few times in the past. When the situation calls for it, you’re capable of being “casually cruel in the name of being honest,” for better or worse.
“Nothing New”
If you scrolled just to find this song? Hi, I’m Rachel. Let’s be friends. You tend to overthink and have an existential crisis every so often. You’re a highly emotional individual, even if it may not appear that way to most people. You love nostalgia and you yearn for time to stop passing you by. You find a sincere beauty in sadness — people may find that odd, but you don’t care. But then again, you care about others’ opinions more than you’d prefer. Take a deep breath, and tell yourself that it’s okay to take life one day at a time.
“All Too Well (10 Minute Version)”
You are everyone. It doesn’t matter what your relationship status is. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never even held hands with another human being. You scream the lyrics to this song at the top of your lungs, and the experience doesn’t feel anything close to being 10 minutes long. This song is your new unit of measurement for everything that you do. “Alright, if I start this assignment now, it’ll take me about four ‘All Too Wells’ to finish it. Then, as a reward, I can belt one out in the shower.” Embrace it, my friend. Embrace it.
Taylor Swift has managed to remain a relevant artist for over a decade and produce quality music consistently. She’s a brilliant songwriter who has held onto a fanbase that essentially grew up alongside her, and has gained plenty of new admirers along the way. And possibly the coolest of all: she’s now able to have ownership of her older albums through these re-releases. I hope you enjoyed my analysis, and I encourage you to take the day (or the rest of “sad girl autumn” and beyond) to admire her work.