The infamous pop star Taylor Swift is in the process of re-recording her first six albums after they were sold without her consent in 2019. The six albums sold include “Taylor Swift,” “Fearless,” “Speak Now,” “Red,” “1989,” and “Reputation.” Swift has already re-recorded “Fearless,” “Red,” “Speak Now,” and most recently “1989.” Many Swifties have supported the re-records, which are called “Taylor’s Versions.” As a bonus, Swift’s re-records also include additional never released songs “from the vault.” However, many people don’t know why Swift is going through this process or fully understand the importance of Swift owning her work.
When Swift first started her musical career at the age of 14, she signed a record deal to Big Machine Records. In 2019 Big Machine Records was sold to music manager Scooter Braun. Bruan has been known for bullying and manipulating Swift early in her career, and was at one time the manager to Swift’s rival Kanye West. Swift was shocked that her old music was sold, especially to someone she was so at odds with. “Now Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy,” Swift stated, “Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.”
Swift decided that in order to gain control of her music again she would re-record all of her albums that were sold. In April 2021 the first “Taylor’s Version” began with a new recording of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).” The project was a massive success, and Swift received critical acclaim as well as praise from her fans for this bold new endeavor. Swift has now re-recorded four of the six stolen albums, with “1989 (Taylor’s Version)” being released on October 27. Now, Swift only has two more albums take ownership of and will soon own all her music again.
To give old fans an incentive to buy and stream the new versions, the re-records have songs that have never been heard before. Swift likes to say the songs are “from the vault.” Vault songs are songs she wrote when she was originally making an album, but for one reason or another they weren’t on the finished product.
Swift has also made the releasing of her re-recordings fun by leaving easter eggs and little clues. She has left them in music videos, songs, and on her Instagram posts. Many fans have enjoyed taking part in trying to find Swift’s clues to what she is going to release next. The easter eggs have influenced Swfiftes to think of theories or predict what Swift will do next.
The re-recording have been bigger than even Swift expected, and set an important precedent for artists looking to own their creations in the future. Once the “Taylor’s Versions” have been completed, Swift will finally be able to own her creative legacy.
