Music chart princess Taylor Swift returns with her fourth studio album, “Red.” The highly anticipated album shows a very different side of the country music starlet with its extremely experimental arrangement, which is saying a lot since Swift is a well-known crossover artist.
The celebrity that is Taylor Swift has become a pop culture phenomenon over the last few years, and it looks as if her brand won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
Wielding her outrageous power to bottle teenage feelings — heartbreak, new romance and surface level relatablity — into often annoyingly catchy songs has ensured that Swift breaks records every time she puts out a new album.
Swift’s musical appeal is undeniable; she’s fantastic at creating songs that have everyone on the face of the planet awed by her talent to “understand” our lives. Whether that means she’s singing about an awful boyfriend, reminiscing about a past relationship or swooning over new love, Swift’s normality and relatability has entranced the masses.
Not only does Swift have a massive fanbase, she also has countless awards that prove her musical firepower. Since her splash onto the music scene in 2006 with her first studio album, appropriately self-titled “Taylor Swift,” she has won six Grammy Awards for her work, specifically on the albums “Fearless” and “Speak Now.” Swift has then gone on to win ten American Music Awards, thirteen BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.) awards, seven CMA (Country Music Association) awards, and countless others.
The highly decorated Swift hasn’t let all the wins go to her head. Swift’s humble, girl-next-door persona is what adds to her charm and relatability and makes the Taylor Swift brand even more potent. And with the release of “Red,” Swift’s trademark qualities are once again in full force.
The 16-track album explores a new side of the country-pop star and reveals Swift isn’t afraid to take some musical risks. Her album utilizes influences from genres such as dub step and amps up her usual country-pop with significantly more mainstream pop.
The album is by far Swift’s riskiest effort and walks the fine line between her familiar sound and a more mature sound.
The leading single from “Red” is “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” The track is a major departure from Swift’s usual country pop sound, but she still possesses her skill for her catchy lyrics and girl power anthems.
The song is outrageously sassy and utilizes Swift’s tried and true breakup formula that catapulted the track to the top of the charts.
Swift’s first official single gave fans a taste of what was to come when her new album dropped and for most fans, although it was incredibly different, made the anticipation for the album raise.
Another track from the album that goes back to the more traditional sounding Swift from her “Fearless” and “Speak Now” albums is “Everything has Changed.”
A duet with British musician Ed Sheeran, the track is an intimate song that takes a different approach to relationships. Rather than a breakup song, the track looks to the future promise of a budding romance. It’s a sweet track that shows Swift’s power as a songwriter and highlights her knack for catchy tunes.
The song is mellower and goes back to a more acoustic Swift. Although not entirely country, the ballad incorporates Sheeran’s folk music and is heavily acoustic guitar driven. The song’s chorus mixes Swift’s vocals and Sheeran’s amazing voice to create a mellifluous harmony. It’s one of the best tracks off the album and really underscores her talent.
“Begin Again” is another track that showcases Swift’s more traditional sound. Another ballad, the song is bittersweet and hopeful; it wraps all the emotions of going from a bad relationship to finding something new unexpectedly into a catchy, sweet package.
Swift’s talent as a songwriter is exemplified in this song because she captures the beauty of youth and the innocence that comes from that. “Begin Again” is a perfect example of Swift’s ability to write about experiences that most people can relate to.
Taylor Swift’s album “Red” is undoubtedly a musical risk for the country star, but it reveals a yearning to expand and explore on Swift’s part.
Although she still incorporates all the elements that have worked for her, Swift really makes a solid effort to experiment with her fourth album and does an admirable job.
Her album is just as catchy and relatable as her previous records and will no doubt manage to rein in fans. “Red” is a fun record that explores all the emotions and experiences of young adulthood and relationships and brings them to life in song.
