Elizabeth Goldman
Social Media Manager/Staff Writer
“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is an incredible country-pop album re-recorded by talented singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. This album maintains everything wonderful about the original version while also enhancing it through slight lyric changes, an improved production quality and matured vocals.
This re-recorded album is very similar to the original, possessing the same brilliant and relatable lyrics along with the same beloved music. However, with Swift’s matured vocals and the six newly released vault tracks, this album proves to be even more addicting than the spectacular original.
After a toxic record deal with Big Machine Records expired in 2020, Taylor Swift is now able to re-record her first six albums in an effort to own her music. While this record deal was beneficial for her when she originally signed it at the age of 16, as her career grew to what it is today, it became increasingly problematic.
“Fearless” is Swift’s second studio album and was originally released in 2008, ranking first on Billboard for eleven weeks. “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)”, released on April 9 of this year, had the biggest first week for any album this year or any country album since 2015. Additionally, this album is the only re-recorded album to ever reach the number one Billboard spot and makes Swift the first women to have three number one albums within a year.
The beautiful vocals in each song are richer, with more tonal substance, than they are in the original. As Swift matured, so did her voice, and it is extremely evident in this re-recording. She uses a fuller, heavier tone while still keeping a light, airy feel. Additionally, everything is sung with more conviction, making each song even more captivating and addicting than before.
The lyrics to each song have always been impeccably relatable, however, thirteen years later, the lyrics resonate differently than they did originally. The listeners hearing these songs for the first time can still relate as they would to any other song, while long-time listeners and fans can explore new meanings, or just enjoy listening with their original or enhanced interpretations.
Six songs that had been written for this album, but never made it onto the original, were released with the re-recording. These songs bring long-time fans back to the Fearless era as they get to re-experience hearing a “Fearless” song for the first time. All six are sensational, but the two most popular are “Don’t You” and “Mr. Perfectly Fine”.
Overall, the music is less twangy, but still has the same country vibes. While there were no added instruments or lines of music in an effort to keep each song as similar to the original as possible, the balance of instruments is enhanced in such a way to create a fuller, louder and more balanced sound.
With more time, money and materials to invest in this album than in 2008, when Swift was still starting her career, the overall production quality is greatly improved with a cleaner and clearer sound. Each song sounds deeper with the edge taken off of it, for an overall improved sound quality.
“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” maintains the charm of the original album, while still improving it through matured vocals, enhanced production quality, and the six newly released vault tracks.
“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” was released on April 9, 2021 and is available to stream on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and more.
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