Image: Beth Garrabrant.
Global superstar, the one and only Taylor Swift has finally blessed the world with the first instalment of her re-recorded albums, Fearless (Taylor's Version). Featuring six never before heard tracks from the writing sessions for the 2008 album, as well as additional tracks released during the albums cycle, including Today Was A Fairytale, the lead song for the 2010 film Valentine’s Day, which Swift also starred in.
Whilst Swift has transitioned from country musics sweetheart to worldwide pop phenomenon since the release of Fearless, the new recordings remain faithful to the original production, with slight vocal and lyrical variations throughout the collection of songs. The musician enlisted her original band members on the recordings, whilst also bringing on more recent collaborators Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner and Christopher Rowe on production duties, alongside Swift. Colbie Caillat returned for their collaboration, Breathe, with Swift enlisting Country superstar Keith Urban and Maren Morris on two previously unreleased songs.
“fearless was an album full of magic and curiosity, the bliss and devastation of youth. it was the diary of the adventures and explorations of a teenage girl who was learning tiny lessons with every new crack in the facade of the fairytale ending she‘d been shown in the movies. i’m so thrilled to tell you that my new version of fearless is done and will be with you soon. it’s called fearless (taylor’s version) and it includes 26 songs.” the musician shared in a statement on her social media platforms, and within the physical albums booklet.
In 2019, after the private sale of the masters of her first six studio albums, Swift announced she planned to re-record the albums in an attempt to devalue the original masters. Having not been offered the chance to purchase the masters herself, Swift’s former label sold their catalogue to Scooter Braun, in a move that Swift stated “Stripped me of my life’s work”. As of November last year, Swift has been able to begin re-recording her first five albums.
Fearless (Taylor's Version) is out now!