The artist dropped six fresh tracks as part of the extended edition of her 2010 album last Friday. Taylor Swift shared insights into the additional songs featured on her reimagined record, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
The musician, who is 33 years old, released her latest songs on Friday and opened up about how she made the tough decisions about which tracks to include in a candid Instagram post shortly after. “I had to be really selective in my choices, even though there were some songs that I still love and am proud of. That’s why you now have 6 exclusive tracks from my vault!” Swift explained about the process of choosing the songs that were initially omitted from her album in 2010.
In addition to the original 16 songs, the new additions to the album include tracks called “Electric Touch,” “When Emma Falls in Love,” “I Can See You,” “Castles Crumbling,” “Foolish One,” and “Timeless.” Swift shared that this album was a personal journey she embarked on in her late teens and early twenties, exploring themes of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery through her own unique lens.
“I vividly recall creating playlist after playlist, fixating on finding the perfect way to convey the narrative,” she reminisced about the process of finalizing the structure of her third studio album, released after Taylor Swift and Fearless. Grateful for her dedicated fans, she went on to reveal that she re-recorded the album at 32, reflecting on how “the flood of memories it unleashed filled me with nostalgia and gratitude. Gratitude for life, for all of you, for the opportunity to reclaim ownership of my music.”
“Grateful beyond words for the moments that soften our landings,” she expressed, with a whimsical picture of herself resting among pink petals beneath a tree. Initially launched in October 2010, Swift’s third album drew heavily from her personal experiences and artistic development as she transitioned into adulthood. “Creating Speak Now, entirely penned by me, was a journey I undertook between 18 and 20 years old,” Swift shared on her Instagram post announcing Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
The music that emerged during this period of my life was characterized by its raw honesty, personal confessions, and a sense of longing. I have a special connection to this album because it chronicles the journey of growing up, struggling, succeeding, and failing… and learning to reflect on it all. Swift hinted in an interview with Songwriter Universe magazine that each song in this loose concept album represents a unique confession directed towards a specific individual.
Swift not only writes songs about her loved ones and supporters, but she also crafts tunes centered on her personal heartaches and enemies.