On Feb. 12, Taylor Swift released a re-recorded version of her hit single “Love Story.” The single is from Swift’s sophomore album “Fearless,” which won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2010. “Fearless” is also the most-awarded country album of all time.
Swift has re-recorded the entire album and will be releasing it as “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” soon. The new album will also include six never-before-heard songs from the vault.
“Taylor Swift definitely saved 2020 with her multiple album releases,” said junior Carly Niemiec. “She only continues to make 2021 better with her announcement of her re-recordings.”
“I’m thrilled to tell you that my new version of ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ is done and will be with you soon. It has 26 songs including six never-before-released songs from the vault,” said Swift in an Instagram post on Feb. 11.
Swift has not announced a release date for the new version of the album yet. However, according to Mark Kennedy of AP, “A statement she posted on Twitter included a hidden message using only the capital letters which reads: April Ninth.”
“I am excited for her to re-release her albums,” said senior Rachel Bates. “I hope this shows young artists that are looking to be signed by record companies to be careful.”
During the summer of 2019, Scooter Braun, who manages artists such as Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande, purchased Big Machine Records, which was led by Scott Borchetta. Taylor Swift was previously signed to this label and recorded her first six albums with them. Therefore, Scooter Braun now owns the master rights to Swift’s first six albums.
“I feel sad for Taylor Swift, she is so talented and inspiring, and her ownership of her music was taken away from her at such a young age,” said Bates.
In a Tumblr post from June 23, 2019, Swift said, “When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever.”
“This is so wrong; artists should be able to own rights to their creations. The record label owner would never be able to create something like ‘Love Story,’ so he should not be able to own any of it,” said senior Shayna Finocchiaro.
“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is just the first of all six albums that Swift plans to re-record and re-release so that she will own the masters to those recordings.
“This process has been more fulfilling and emotional than I could’ve imagined and has made me even more determined to re-record all of my music. I hope you’ll like this first outing as much as I liked traveling back to recreate it,” said Swift in her Feb. 11 Instagram post.
Even though the release date of the new version of the album has yet to be confirmed, when you download the single of “Love Story (Taylor’s Version),” you can automatically preorder the new album to your library wherever you listen to music.
“I like the new song better than I like the original and I do like the whole idea of her taking charge and redoing her old music and reinventing it,” said sophomore Ellie Kiernan. “It seems like she’s making it all for her. I also can’t believe she made it even more catchy.”
“‘Love Story’ was one of my favorite songs and her new revival of it has easily joined my favorite playlist,” said Niemiec. “It’s the first song I play when I get into the car and I can’t wait for more to come.”
