REVIEW: Taylor Swift's Speak Now (Taylor's Version)

...I was right.


So... Speak Now (Taylor's Version) is finally here. I have some pretty fond memories of this album, as its original was the latest album released by Taylor when I first became a Swiftie.

All of the rerecorded songs sounded great, and I only have a few things to say on certain ones.

- Speak Now (the song) sounds the most accurate to its original for me.
- The guitar in Dear John sounds amaaaaaazing. However, the sadness in her voice is missing.
- I have mixed feelings on The Story of Us. I thought the guitar in the opening sounded great but I'm not a fan of the way she sang "next chapter," it sounded too happy and not annoyed enough.
- I'm really impressed by their ability to get the guitar strumming just right in the Enchanted opening.
- The lyric change in Better Than Revenge doesn't bother me that much. It feels like listening to a clean version. It's just something I'm going to have to get used to. I also really love all of the additional adlibs, I feel like that really elevates the song and makes up for the lyric change.
- Haunted was disappointing for me on initial listen. I wasn't a fan of the echoey vocals. I felt like there was a lack of emotion in the chorus and bridge, especially the "I just knooow." Though after a lot of relistens it began to grow on me.
- RIP post-bridge shaky breath in Last Kiss you will be forever missed.

Also, here are my thoughts on each vault track.

Electric Touch - So good. I love the 2000's/2010's emo rock style. Fall Out Boy's feature honestly made this track even better than it would've been without. [Rank 3/6]

When Emma Falls In Love - I'm really not a fan of this one. Lyrically it's fine but the production just does not fit on this album, it feels like something you'd expect to hear on Fearless or Debut. [Rank 6/6]

I Can See You - SO UNEXPECTED. Absolutely amazing song. I love that alternative/indie rock Arctic Monkeys vibe. The music video was also so amazing. [Rank 2/6]

Castles Crumbling - My personal favorite Speak Now vault track. I am so in love with the production, its almost exactly what I was expecting from a song with a title like that (I was kinda thinking a production similar to HAIM's Running If You Call My Name). Taylor and Hayley's vocals sound so good together. [Rank 1/6]

Foolish One - It's cute. Very 00's pop influenced. It’s giving soundtrack to an ‘08 teen chick flick. Not much else to say about this one. [Rank 4/6]

Timeless - I kinda have the same thoughts on this one that I do When Emma Falls In Love. Not my favorite, but I don't dislike it as much as that one. [Rank 5/6]

Favorites: Haunted, Safe & Sound, Eyes Open (Taylor cannot convince me those songs belong on Red nope)

Least Favorites: When Emma Falls In Love

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