Should You Listen To Taylor Swift’s Original Albums Or Taylor’s Versions? Taylor Swift Answered That Question

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When Taylor Swift’s master recordings were sold and she declared her intention to re-record her first six albums, fans like us (Swifties) got prepared to stand by her side. This meant discarding the original records once Taylor’s versions were released, and avoiding songs that weren’t fully owned by her. Now, however, Swift has full control over all her music. The question then arises: Which version should we listen to now? Fortunately, Taylor Swift herself addressed this issue.

We currently possess four remastered albums by Taylor Swift – “Fearless”, “Red”, “Speak Now”, and “1989”. For some time, these were the only versions that Swift fans (Swifties) preferred to hear, showing their support for the artist and her ownership of the music. However, now she owns all the rights, which leaves us a bit perplexed. Fortunately, while soaring to new heights, Jason Kelce inquired about this dilemma, and Taylor Swift offered some insightful advice on which versions we should tune into, saying:

Ultimately, it’s up to you which version you prefer since I appreciate both equally. I wouldn’t have remastered the songs if I didn’t believe they were just as good, or even better than, the originals. In fact, I think the vocals on the remasters surpass those in the original recordings. Yet, if the original versions stir up feelings of nostalgia for you, as they might have when you were a 12-year-old dancing in your bedroom, then by all means, enjoy them. We’ve got them all ready for you!

According to her boyfriend Travis Kelce, the choice of which version to listen to is essentially up to you, the listener. Now, you’re free to blend different versions, creating a unique listening experience if you desire a diverse collection.

This implies you can revisit the original release of “You Belong With Me” and also include “Long Live” (Taylor’s Version) in your playlist. You might want to consider which versions best suit your personal Taylor Swift playlists, as discussions about this choice have started among my friends since she regained ownership of her masters. Similar mixed playlists are available as well.

Instead of the original versions, I’ve chosen to stay loyal to Taylor’s Remastered Versions. The re-releases of Fearless, Red, Speak Now, and 1989 have played a significant role in reigniting my passion for Taylor Swift’s music, and a big part of that is due to this decision. From a musical perspective, I also believe they offer superior sound quality compared to the original recordings.

Earlier in the podcast, Swift had also emphasized this when discussing her re-recorded albums. Not only did she highlight the exceptional talents of her live band members, but she further praised the overall quality of the newly released albums as well.

I truly enjoy the Taylor’s Versions a lot. To me, they sound astonishing, and I’m delighted to possess them all.

As a music enthusiast, I’m thrilled to see that she now possesses the rights to every song! It means harmony and unity for each melody, free from the discomfort of disputed ownership over the original tracks.

Absolutely, it’s wonderful that Taylor Swift regained ownership of her first six albums, but there remains uncertainty regarding the fate of her re-recorded versions of “Reputation” and her debut album. When she declared she was repurchasing her music, she did touch on this topic, mentioning that the “Rep TV” project wasn’t even fully recorded, whereas “Taylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)” is already complete.

She mentioned that if Swifties are interested in her debut album and the bonus tracks from her ‘Rep’ album, she might release them. However, it’s unclear at this moment whether or when that will take place. Whenever these songs do come out, you’ll be able to listen to any version of a song whenever you prefer.

As we get ready to enjoy Taylor Swift’s latest album, titled “The Life of a Showgirl“, which Travis Kelce has referred to as “12 hits”, on October 3rd, you have the freedom to explore her entire musical catalog in any manner that appeals to you. This could include listening to all her re-recorded albums (Taylor’s Version), her original releases, or a combination of both. Taylor Swift herself emphasizes that there is no single correct approach to this, as she now has complete ownership of her music, making the choice entirely yours!

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2025-08-16 22:09