Few artists have the ability to create an award winning album that revolutionizes the way that the world views country music, even fewer have the ability to do this twice. With the release of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” Taylor Swift (“evermore”) has managed to do just that. 

With nine studio albums under her belt, the 31-year-old singer-songwriter has proven time and time again that she is a force to be reckoned with. In 2020 she released two albums a mere five months apart, starred in a Netflix documentary, “Miss Americana,” as well as a Disney+ special (“Taylor Swift: folklore: the long pond studio sessions”). 

On April 9, Swift released her latest album, the re-recorded version of her 2009 Grammy, winning album “Fearless.” The 26 song album features the re-recorded original album songs as well as six never-before-heard “From The Vault” songs, “You All Over Me (feat. Maren Morris) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “We Were Happy (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “That’s When (feat. Keith Urban) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” “Don’t You (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” and “Bye Bye Baby (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” as well as piano version of “Forever & Always.” 

This re-released album comes after an intense legal battle between Swift and her previous record company, Big Machine Records. After the recording company was sold in 2019, a debate over the masters began. Masters refer to the original recordings of songs which give the owner the legal rights and therefore money-making rights to songs. After losing these masters, Swift vowed to re-record her first six albums in order to retain the rights to her music. 

While only few instrumental differences and slight pronunciation differences are featured in the  re-recorded versions of the songs, the real excitement for most Swifties, the self-given nickname for die-hard Swift fans, lies in the “From The Vault Songs.” 

“You All Over Me (feat. Maren Morris) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” was the first of the six vault songs fans heard. With a surprise release on March 26, “You All Over Me” returns to Swift’s humble beginnings as a pop/country artist, featuring fiddles and an acoustic guitar. Originally written in 2008, this song was scrapped from the original release of the “Fearless” album but was able to make the cut for the re-release, for good reason. With lyrics like “But like the dollar in your pocket, it’s been spent and traded in / You can’t change where it’s been / Reminds me of me,” Swift describes regret and past experiences with a grace and eloquence that few are able to replicate. When you take into account that this song was originally written when Swift was just 19 years old, it is impossible to not be impressed. Maren Morris’ (“My Church”) contribution to the track adds to the overall depth of the song, as her more raspy vocals perfectly compliment Swift’s, leaving listeners in suspense between the two. The tension created through the vocalizations and harmonization of the women is what ultimately makes this track one to remember. 

Surprising fans again, Swift released her second “From The Vault” song just a day before the rest of the album was released. “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)” again brings listeners right back to the early-2000s Swift era. “Mr. Perfectly Fine” displays Swift’s humanizing quality of feeling bitter after a breakup. Juxtaposing these first two “From The Vault” tracks was a strategic move on Swift’s part. Showcasing her ability to reach soulful depths with “You All Over Me,” Swift dives into her more playful side with “Mr. Perfectly Fine.” The chorus of “Hello, Mr. Perfectly fine / How’s your heart after breakin’ mine?” is the perfect “pick yourself back up again” breakup anthem that listeners never knew they needed. 

In recent years, Swift has gained recognition for her bridges, which are generally regarded as the best demonstration of her lyrical abilities. Swift again proves this mode of thinking to be correct with “We Were Happy (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault).” The song features those same acoustic sounds that were heard in “You All Over Me” and the same lilting lyrics and instrumentals. Swift reminisces over memories made with a former flame eventually belting: “Oh, I hate those voices telling me I’m not in love anymore / But they don’t give me choices and that’s what these tears are for” at the bridge. By giving tears a power that the mind does not, Swift demonstrates a heartbreaking emotional realization in such a subtle way it would be a disservice to ignore it. Her ability to weave shared human experiences effortlessly into her lyrics is yet again a testimony to her abilities as an artist and songwriter.

Featuring another big country artist on the track “That’s When (feat. Keith Urban) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault),” Swift showcases her most compelling return to country. Intertwining Keith Urban’s (“Blue Ain’t Your Color”) rustic, refined voice with Swift’s ballad-oriented performance creates the perfect dynamic between light and dark that is reflected in the lyrics. The song is a narrative between two individuals attempting to reach an understanding on when to reconcile, eventually coming to the understanding that they are ready to reunite “…when, when it’s sunny or storming / Laughing, when I’m crying.” Through sun or storm, they may reunite and who better to depict these lyrical elements than Swift and Urban. 

Each “From The Vault” song continues Swift’s relevancy, a relevancy that has been continually challenged throughout her career. From the 16 year-old making her start as a country artist, moving through genres, eras and her fair share of hate, Swift proves herself time and time again 15 years later. “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is not only an album of reminisce, it is an album of defiance and strength in an industry that has been less than kind to Swift. To disregard this album in favor of the old would neglect over a decade of growth and struggle. Swift’s “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” truly lives up to its name, unapologetic and entirely hers. 

Image from Taylor Swift via YouTube