Red (Taylor’s Version) came out and everyone lost their mind. I’m not going to rank all 30 songs because that’s too much effort and I would get trashed for not having Girl At Home last.
But I WILL rank the ‘new’ songs just for a quick post.
Shit Tier – Always Skip
9. Run (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Am I the only one who finds this song horribly boring? I don’t see the appeal of this at all and would prefer never listening to it again.
8. Forever Winter
Another snoozer. The beat is a bit different than her typical songs and it doesn’t hit, plus it’s a minute too long.
Middle Tier – Worth a Listen
7. The Very First Night
Just catchy enough and just short enough to not be shit tier.
6. Message in a Bottle
This song knows it’s over-the-top poppy and it kind of works.
Top Tier – Add These to the Playlist Immediately
5. Nothing New (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)
This deserves to be higher because it’s the most unique, best lyrics, and strongest message of the new songs. It’s just slow, you have to be in the mood to listen to this.
4. Babe
The chorus is so catchy, but in a way that’s not overly poppy / annoying, and the bridge slaps. The guitar reminds me of Jesse Mccartney’s Beautiful Soul
3. Better Man
This is pure Red / Speak Now Taylor. Super reminiscent of Dear John, and although maybe not quite as good, I’d say it’s a step up from the likes of the Back to December / The Moment I Knew types.
2. I Bet You Think About Me (feat. Chris Stapleton)
For how sort of up beat and up lifting this song is, it is really mean. Super personal attacks, perhaps rightfully so! Stapleton is a great addition on vocals and the video is good too.
1. All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
Not exactly a fair fight. People have been nutting themselves for the past year about this 10 minute version so it’s hard to NOT disappoint with that much hype. But the new verses land really well. I skip the outro every time because it’s slow and redundant, but the song is always the GOAT.
Go ahead. Roast me. Whether it’s for liking Taylor at all or that you think Run is actually a good song. Bill, is this lower than the shower peeing post? Thank you all for reading.
Not lower, but less interesting.
Some thoughts:
– Move Forever Winter to middle tier, kinda snoozy I know but something about it I like
– Switch The Very First Night with I Bet You Think About Me. Not a huge fan of IBYTAM but am loving the tune of TVFN
– Switch Babe and Better Man. A close call but Babe is so good
Can you do a sep past ranking the other Red songs pls?
*post
Phoebe too low
Agree with top 2 but my number 3 would have to be Nothing New. Singing about your deep-rooted anxiety of being surpassed by the next rising star as a DUET with next rising star PHOEBE??? Talk about power moves. ALSO have to say that after reading your review of I Bet You Think About Me, I would *love* to see an IBYTAM and Mean mashup but I don’t think we’re that lucky. FINAL take is that I do like the OG All Too Well musically speaking more, but I love that the long one is an unfiltered unapologetic stream of emotions. WONDERING if the producers cut it down originally so she didn’t sound like a ~*~mad woman~*~ which then makes me love it even more.