"Red" | ||||
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Single by Taylor Swift | ||||
from the album Red | ||||
Written | September 2011 | |||
Released | June 24, 2013 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:43 | |||
Label | Big Machine | |||
Songwriter(s) | Taylor Swift | |||
Producer(s) |
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Taylor Swift singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Red" on YouTube |
"Red" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was produced by Dann Huff, Nathan Chapman, and Swift. Big Machine Records released the song onto the iTunes Store on October 2, 2012, as Red's second promotional single, and to U.S. country radio on June 24, 2013, as an official single. Musically, "Red" is a country, roots rock, pop rock and soft rock song, using acoustic banjo and guitars, and electronic vocal manipulation. Lyrically about a tumultuous relationship, the refrain likens the conflicting emotions to a spectrum of colors, including the color red which symbolizes the ensuing intense feelings.
Swift performed the track on many television shows and included it on the set list of her 2013–14 Red Tour. A music video for "Red", a compilation of footage from the tour, was released on July 3, 2013. Swift's acoustic rendition of "Red" at the 2013 Country Music Association Awards, featuring Alison Krauss and Vince Gill on background vocals, was released on November 8, 2013. The single received mixed-to-positive reviews from contemporary critics; some complimented the production for straddling the boundary between country and mainstream pop, while some other deemed it inconsistent and underwhelming.
"Red" peaked within the top 30 on record charts of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, and the U.K. In the U.S., it peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Hot Country Songs, on which it stayed for 42 weeks and became Swift's longest-charting song. The single received certifications in Australia, the U.K., and the U.S. A re-recorded version of "Red", titled "Red (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of Swift's second re-recorded album Red (Taylor's Version) on November 12, 2021.
Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift released her third studio album, Speak Now , in October 2010. She wrote the album entirely by herself and co-produced it with Nathan Chapman, her longtime collaborator. [1] The album's sound expands on the country pop sound of her two previous albums, with elements of radio-friendly pop crossover that had been evident on its predecessor Fearless (2008). [2] On Speak Now's follow-up, Red , Swift aimed to experiment beyond her previous albums' formulaic country pop sound. [1]
Swift initially continued working with Chapman in her career base of Nashville, Tennessee, until her creativity "started wandering to all the places [she] could go" while she was writing "Red", the title track, on a plane in September 2011. [1] [3] [4] Scott Borchetta, president of Swift's then-label Big Machine Records, overheard the original production by Chapman and suggested a pop-oriented sound. [5] After several failed attempts at the desired sound, Swift asked Borchetta to recruit Swedish producer Max Martin, whose chart-topping pop tunes had intrigued Swift by "how [they] can just land a chorus". [3] [5] Even though Swift went to Los Angeles to work with Martin and his frequent collaborator Shellback on three songs on Red, they did not produce the final version of "Red". [1] It was produced by Swift, Chapman, and Dann Huff—a Nashville-based country producer. [6] [7]
To promote Red, Swift premiered one album track on Good Morning America and released it onto the U.S. iTunes Store, each week from September 24 until the album's release date of October 22, 2012, as part of a four-week release countdown. [8] "Red" was released as the second promotional single from Red during the second countdown week, on October 2, 2012. [9] The song was released to U.S. country radio as a single from the album on June 24, 2013, by Big Machine Records. [10]
"Red" is a genre-spanning song; it incorporates elements of country music characteristic of Swift's previous songs, such as acoustic banjo, guitars, and fiddles, and twang. [11] [12] Critics noted the song features a radio-friendly production with a pop chorus, [13] [14] which includes electronic vocal manipulation where Swift sings the title "r-r-red". [15] Marc Hogan from Spin wrote that "Red" is a "glossy soft rocker" featuring a "stomping four-on-the-floor beat, back-porch twang, adult-contemporary orchestration, and Top 40-ready electronic vocal effects." [11] In Time Out , Nick Levine described it as pop rock with minimal country influences. [16] Jewly Hight writing for American Songwriter found the song's juxtaposition of country elements and upbeat pop production straddles the perceived boundary between country pop and dance music. [17] Alex Hudson of Exclaim! described "Red" as "beginning with banjo plucking that's pure country, before turning into a stomping roots rocker", and that it's "stuttering, chopped up vocals allude to the electronic dance pop she would soon dive into headfirst". [18]
The lyrics are about the conflicting emotions recollected from lost romance. [11] In the refrain, the lyrics correspond its different stages to different colors: "losing him" to blue, "missing him" to dark gray, and "loving him" to red. [12] Throughout the verses, Swift compares her lost love to experiences including "driving a new Maserati down a dead end street" and "trying to change your mind once you're already flying through the free fall". [11] [19] Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone compared Swift's "stark-relief emotional mapping" on "Red" to the songwriting of Carole King and Joni Mitchell. [19] Explaining the title, Swift said on Good Morning America: "I wrote this song about the fact that somethings are just hard to forget because the emotions involved with them were so intense, and to me intense emotion is red." [20]
Swift performed "Red" for the first time at BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards, held at Wembley Arena on October 7, 2012, in London. [21] On October 15, 2012, Swift performed "Red" as part of her concert for VH1 Storytellers , held at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. [22] During the first release week of Red, Swift appeared and performed the song on television shows including Good Morning America, [23] Late Show with David Letterman , [24] and The Ellen DeGeneres Show . [25] She also included the song in her performances at festivals and awards shows, including the CMA Music Festival on June 6, 2013, [26] the 2013 CMT Music Awards, [27] and the 2013 Country Music Association Awards (CMA). [28] The performance at the 2013 CMA Awards on November 6, 2013, featured an acoustic version of "Red" with Alison Krauss on fiddle and Vince Gill on guitar (both on background vocals), Sam Bush on mandolin, Edgar Meyer on acoustic bass, and Eric Darken on percussion. [29] It was released for digital download through the iTunes Store by Big Machine Records the following day. [30]
Swift included "Red" on the set list of the Red Tour (2013–14). [31] A music video for "Red", directed by Kenny Jackson and featuring footage from the tour, was released on July 4, 2013. [32] [33] It was nominated for Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year at the 2014 CMT Music Awards. [34] During the September 17, 2015 concert of Swift's 1989 World Tour in Columbus, Ohio, she performed a stripped-down version of "Red" on an acoustic guitar. [35] It was a "surprise song" on the set lists of Swift's later tours: these include the Reputation Stadium Tour (Pasadena, May 2018) [36] and the Eras Tour (Foxborough, May 2023). [37] She also performed "Red" during one-off concerts including a private concert in Paris on January 28, 2013, [38] DirecTV's Super Saturday Night (part of a series of pre-Super Bowl concerts) in Houston on February 4, 2017, [39] and the City of Lover concert in Paris on September 9, 2019. [40]
Upon its initial release, "Red" received mixed-to-positive reviews from contemporary critics. Rolling Stone provided a positive review, writing that the production effectively accompanied the "simple but effective" lyrics. [12] Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave "Red" a 4.5/5 rating, applauding the song for expanding Swift's musical versatility and songwriting capabilities: "[toying] with colors like a skilled artist, ... this song is her Sistine Chapel." [41] Marc Hogan from Spin felt the lyrics were memorable, but said that the genre-spanning production made it unfocused. [11] In a lukewarm review, Entertainment Weekly 's Grady Smith wrote the lyrics "paint a rather blurry portrait" of the intense emotions Swift meant to express. Smith remarked that while the song was tolerable, the "poppy" production underwhelmed its emotional sentiments. [9]
Reviews of "Red" in the context of Red album reviews remained mixed-to-positive. Jonathan Keefe from Slant Magazine and Randall Roberts from the Los Angeles Times commented that the underwhelming and occasionally clumsy metaphors of "Red" were subpar for Swift's lyrical abilities. [42] [43] Billboard appreciated the lyrical sentiments, but felt that the electronic elements might not appeal to Swift's traditional country audience. [15] On a positive side, Jewly Hight from American Songwriter lauded the country-pop production as "sensory, synesthesia-style poetry", [17] and Jon Dolan from Rolling Stone selected "Red" as one of the songs on the album that proved Swift's maturity as a songwriter. [19] Jordan Sargent, in a 2017 retrospective review of Red, called the title track "perhaps the album's best pop song since Swift flirts with Fleetwood Mac". [44]
In a review of Swift's entire catalog, Jane Song from Paste wrote: "Maybe it's not the best Red cut, but it's worth remembering." [45] Rob Sheffield from Rolling Stone compared the pop/Eurodisco crossover to the music of Shania Twain and the "color-tripping lyric" to the songwriting of Prince, calling "Red" a representation of "this century's most ridiculously masterful megapop manifesto". [46] At the 2014 BMI Country Awards, "Red" was one of the award-winning "Country Awards Top 50 Songs". [47]
In the U.S., "Red" debuted and peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated October 11, 2012. It was Swift's 13th song to reach the top 10 on the Hot 100. [48] On the Hot Country Songs, "Red" peaked at number two on the chart dated October 20, 2012, and was Swift's longest-charting song, spending 42 weeks. [49] [50] By November 2017, "Red" had sold two million digital copies in the U.S. [51] The single was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in July 2018. [52]
The single reached the top 30 of record charts in English-speaking countries, peaking at number five in Canada, [53] number 14 in New Zealand, [54] number 25 in Ireland, [55] number 26 in the U.K., [56] and number 30 in Australia. [57] It was certified gold in Australia (35,000 copies sold) [58] and silver in the U.K. (200,000 equivalent units based on sales and streaming). [59] "Red" peaked at lower-tier positions on charts in Japan (number 43), [60] Spain (number 46), [61] and Italy (number 56). [62]
Adapted from the liner notes of Red [7]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [58] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [59] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [52] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
"Red (Taylor's Version)" | |
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Song by Taylor Swift | |
from the album Red (Taylor's Version) | |
Released | November 12, 2021 |
Studio |
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Length | 3:43 |
Label | Republic |
Songwriter(s) | Taylor Swift |
Producer(s) |
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Lyric video | |
"Red (Taylor's Version)" on YouTube |
Swift re-recorded the track for her re-recorded album Red (Taylor's Version) , which was released on November 12, 2021, through Republic Records. [72] Prior to the album's release, Swift posted a snippet of the re-recorded track via her Instagram on October 23. [73] Compared to the original version, "Red (Taylor's Version)" features a more refined and mellowed production. [74]
The re-recorded track peaked within the top 10 of the singles chart in Ireland and Singapore, [75] [76] and top 20 Australia, [77] Canada, [53] Malaysia, [78] and New Zealand. [79] It also charted on the Billboard Global 200 at number 13. [80]
Adapted from the liner notes of Red (Taylor's Version) [81]
Chart (2021) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [77] | 12 |
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [53] | 12 |
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [80] | 13 |
Ireland (IRMA) [75] | 9 |
Malaysia (RIM) [78] | 13 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [79] | 15 |
Portugal (AFP) [82] | 88 |
Singapore (RIAS) [76] | 4 |
South Africa (RISA) [83] | 78 |
South Korea Download (Gaon) [84] | 170 |
South Korea BGM (Gaon) [85] | 96 |
UK Singles (OCC) [86] | 22 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [66] | 25 |
US Hot Country Songs ( Billboard ) [67] | 5 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [87] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. Her versatile artistry, songwriting, and entrepreneurship have vastly influenced the music industry and popular culture, and her life is a subject of widespread media coverage. Swift is known for her philanthropic efforts and has wielded a significant political influence.
"Our Song" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the third single from her self-titled debut studio album (2006). Swift wrote "Our Song" for a high school talent show during ninth grade; the lyrics are about a young couple using the regular events in their lives to create their own song. She included the song on the track list because it was popular among her classmates. Big Machine Records released the song to US country radio on September 10, 2007. Produced by Nathan Chapman, "Our Song" is an uptempo banjo-driven country track incorporating fiddles and drums.
Fearless is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Under Big Machine Records imprint, it was released in the U.S. and Canada on November 11, 2008, and elsewhere on March 9, 2009. Written predominantly by Swift while she was promoting her 2006 self-titled debut album in 2007–2008, Fearless features additional songwriting credits from Liz Rose, Hillary Lindsey, Colbie Caillat, and John Rich. Swift wrote seven of the standard edition's 13 tracks by herself and, in her debut as a record producer, co-produced the album with Nathan Chapman.
"Change" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on August 8, 2008, to promote the AT&T Team USA Soundtrack for the United States team at the 2008 Olympics. "Change" was included in Swift's second studio album, Fearless (2008). Swift wrote the track after winning the Horizon Award at the 2007 Country Music Association Awards; its lyrics are about overcoming obstacles to achieve victory.
"Love Story" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released as the lead single from her second studio album, Fearless, on September 15, 2008, by Big Machine Records. Inspired by a boy who was unpopular with her family and friends, Swift wrote the song using William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet as a reference point. The lyrics narrate a troubled romance that ends with a marriage proposal, contrary to Shakespeare's tragic conclusion. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, the midtempo country pop song includes a key change after the bridge and uses acoustic instruments including banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and guitar.
"Fifteen" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her second studio album, Fearless (2008). Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, it is a country pop song with narrative lyrics inspired by Swift's freshman year of high school: the track details how she and her high-school friend Abigail Anderson, both at 15, go through teenage love and heartbreak together. Swift included the track on Fearless after Anderson consented to the personal references. The lyrics mentioning Anderson's disappointment after she "gave everything she had to a boy who changed his mind" received criticism from feminist authors for its allegedly sex-negative connotation.
Speak Now is the third studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on October 25, 2010, through Big Machine Records. Swift wrote the album entirely herself within two years while touring to promote her second studio album, Fearless (2008).
"Mine" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album Speak Now (2010). Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, it combines country pop and pop rock and has lyrics about the ups and downs of a young love, inspired by Swift's tendency to run away from love for fears of heartbreak. Big Machine Records released "Mine" for download as Speak Now's lead single on August 4, 2010, two weeks earlier than intended because of an unauthorized internet leak. In the United States, the single impacted country radio on August 16, 2010.
"Sparks Fly" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her third studio album Speak Now (2010). Swift had written the song before she released her self-titled debut album in 2006, but she only included it on her third album after she received fan requests to release the song. Produced by Swift and Nathan Chapman, "Sparks Fly" is an uptempo pop rock track combining elements of arena rock and country with a production incorporating dynamic electric guitars and subtle fiddles. The lyrics are about a temptation to resist a dangerous love affair.
Red is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on October 22, 2012, by Big Machine Records. The album's title refers to the tumultuous, "red" emotions Swift experienced during the album's conception; its songs discuss the complex and conflicting feelings resulting from fading romance.
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the lead single from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Big Machine Records released the song for download and to U.S. pop radio on August 13, 2012. Written and produced by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" is an upbeat incorporation of many pop styles. Its production contains pulsing synthesizers, processed guitar riffs, bass drums, and a spoken-word bridge. Its lyrics express Swift's frustration with an ex-lover who wants to rekindle their relationship. An alternate version was released to U.S. country radio on August 21, 2012.
"Begin Again" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was released as the second single from Red on October 1, 2012, by Big Machine Records. Produced by Swift, Dann Huff, and Nathan Chapman, "Begin Again" is a gentle country and soft rock ballad with acoustic guitar, steel guitar, and percussion. Its lyrics are about falling in love again after a failed, toxic previous relationship.
"I Knew You Were Trouble" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Swift wrote the song with its producers, Max Martin and Shellback. A dance-pop, pop rock, and teen pop song with a dubstep refrain, "I Knew You Were Trouble" features electric guitars and synthesizers, with lyrics that talk about self-blame after a toxic relationship. The dubstep production divided music critics, who noted it as a radical move from Swift's previous country pop songs.
"22" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was released as the album's fourth single on March 12, 2013, by Big Machine Records. Written and produced by Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback, "22" combines pop styles such as dance-pop and bubblegum with disco and 1990s rock. The track begins with an acoustic guitar riff and progresses into an upbeat refrain which incorporates pulsing synthesizers and syncopated bass drums. The lyrics celebrate being 22 years old while acknowledging the heartache that the narrator experienced in the past.
"Everything Has Changed" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran from Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012). It was released as the sixth single from the album on July 14, 2013, by Big Machine Records. A music video for the song was released earlier on June 6, 2013. Produced by Butch Walker, "Everything Has Changed" is a guitar-led folk-pop ballad. Its lyrics are about wanting to know a new lover better. The song received mixed reviews from critics, who either complimented or criticized the production.
"The Last Time" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring the Northern Irish singer Gary Lightbody from Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012). Swift wrote the track with Lightbody and the producer Jacknife Lee. A power ballad, the song sees Swift's and Lightbody's characters expressing their perspectives on a failed relationship, torn between heartbreak and forgiveness. The production combines alternative rock and folk over dramatic string instruments and an orchestral background in the refrain. "The Last Time" was released in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2013, as a single from Red.
"Holy Ground" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fourth studio album, Red (2012). Produced by Jeff Bhasker, "Holy Ground" is an upbeat song combining country rock and heartland rock with insistent drums. In the lyrics, the narrator reminisces about a good moment in a failed relationship; she describes where she and the ex-lover once stood as "holy ground".
"Better Man" is a song by American country group Little Big Town. It was released on October 20, 2016, as the lead single from the group's eighth studio album, The Breaker (2017). American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift wrote the song, intending to include it on her fourth studio album, Red (2012), but the song did not make the final track list. She passed the song to Little Big Town in 2016, believing the group's vocal harmonies suited it.
"Babe" is a song recorded by American country music duo Sugarland, featuring guest vocals from American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released by Big Machine Records on April 20, 2018, as the second single from Sugarland's sixth studio album, Bigger (2018). "Babe" is a midtempo country pop ballad and breakup song. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart, number 8 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, and at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Red (Taylor's Version) is the second re-recorded album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Released via Republic Records on November 12, 2021, as a part of Swift's countermeasure against the purchase of the masters of her back catalog, the album is the re-recording of Swift's fourth studio album, Red (2012), and follows the first re-recording, Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021).
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