By Lupe Duran |Staff Writer|
Six-time Grammy award winner singer/songwriter, Taylor Swift lets her confidence and lyrical talent blaze through the music on her highly anticipated album Red, released on Oct. 22.
The album sold over 500,000 copies on its release date and is expected to top a million copies according to Billboard. Along with “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” the first single that’s been topping the charts since it’s release two months ago, tracks like “Everything has Changed” and “Treacherous” have claimed their spots at the top of iTunes’ charts.
With a mix of rock, pop and of course a hint of country, Swift’s fourth album features songs that carry a “tween” sound and have many listener’s tapping their foot and singing along.
“The songs are a lot more ‘real’ and really express the ups and downs in relationships,” said Swift fan, Jane Siryani.
Beginning with the strong fast-paced song “State of Grace,” Swift immediately sets the tone for the rest of the album, letting listeners know what they’re getting into.
The second track, “Red,” goes into how complicated and bittersweet it is to love someone. The song is upbeat and fun, with strong beats accompanied by powerful lyrics perfectly explaining Swift’s reason for the album’s title.
According to a journal entry on her website, Swift called the album “Red” because, “…When you experience love that’s fast-paced and out of control and mixes infatuation, jealousy, frustration, miscommunication and all of those lovely emotions. In retrospect, it all looks red.”
The album also features two powerful duets featuring alternative rock band Snow Patrol’s lead singer, Gary Lightbody and English singer-songwriter and producer, Ed Sheeran.
In the song “Everything Has Changed,” Swift and Sheeran’s voices combine in a way that’s undeniably pleasant to the ear as they sing on not being able to get someone off your mind after that first meeting.
“The Last Time,” Swift and Lightbody’s duet, takes the listener to a more somber side as they explore the act of revisiting old loves and, in the case of this song, a love that has been visited one too many times and has reached the point of finally letting go.
Overall, this album is strong. It does an excellent job of taking the listener through a journey. The tracks are varied, you don’t get consecutive happy songs nor break-up song after the other. The tracks literally go through an array of emotions making the listener feel like they ‘re actually on this roller coaster called “love.”
Swift’s dedication to this album is evident in her recent promotional appearances where she has been sporting red in many of her looks. It’s clear that since her album release Swift has been wearing Red on more than just her sleeve.