Trivia / Red (2012)

• Creator-Chosen Casting: When Taylor Swift released her re-recording, she not only included the legendary, original ten-minute version of "All Too Well," but released a short film to go with it, which she wrote and directed herself. She wanted Dylan O'Brien and Sadie Sink to play the couple from the very start, and even said in an interview that if Sink hadn't been on board, she might've considered it a sign and not done the film. Luckily, both Sink and O'Brien were very enthusiastic about being involved, and the film was made to Taylor's vision.
• Inspired by…: "Starlight" was written about Bobby and Ethel Kennedy, grandparents of Connor Kennedy, whom Taylor was dating at the time. The lyrics are from Ethel's POV, starting out with "I met Bobby on the boardwalk summer of '45..."
• Refitted for Sequel: "Refitted for Re-recording" would be a better term, but the re-recorded version of the album features every single song that was meant for the original 2012 release but did not make the cut because of time and restrictions set by Big Machine Records. Of note is the full ten minute version of "All Too Well", which features additional lyrics that further detail a breakup Taylor was in.
• Similarly Named Works:
  • The album shares its name with another one by King Crimson.
  • The Taylor's Version track "Message in a Bottle" shares its name with a song by The Police.
• What Could Have Been:
  • "Babe" by Sugarland was written for this album, but Taylor decided not to include it. Though her version of both it and "Better Man" by Little Big Town were released on the 2021 re-recorded version.
  • During an interview with Rolling Stone, Taylor states that "All Too Well" was initially ten minutes and also included a Precision F-Strike in there, but had to be cut down due to time and her label's restrictions. Subverted later on, as the re-recorded version of the album includes the full ten minute song.

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