Red by Taylor Swift, despite being originally released in 2012, it remains one of her most popular and reflective albums. Taylor herself described ‘Red’ as her one true breakup album. Her other albums include breakup songs, but I’m here to talk about why Red is THE ultimate breakup album.
When speaking of breakups, there are different stages, also referred to as the stages of grief, in relationships. These include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The reason “Red” is a true breakup album is that all of these stages are shown in this album, especially with the addition of the vault tracks when Taylor re-released the album in 2021.
A lot of critics of this album say it’s all over the place sonically. For example, ‘All Too Well’ and then ‘22’ as the next track. However, I disagree. Although sonically, things can seem out of place, every track is a puzzle piece that adds to paint the full picture of what a heartbreaking loss feels like. I think of trying to build a puzzle. You pick up one piece or song, and it can be extremely depressing. Then the next one can be very angry. Seems like a switch, but really, it helps paint the full picture of the mixed emotions one gets during such a crazy time in your life. Let’s discuss how the songs on this album represent the stages of grief in relationships.
State of Grace:
This song is a great way to open this album. In this track, Taylor describes the beginning stages of a new relationship. All the uncertainty that comes with it, but also the hope that this can be something amazing. She is building the foundation of the relationship in this song to help the audience begin to understand this relationship.
Red:
What a great title track. In this song, Taylor uses metaphors to describe this relationship by comparing it to colors. “Losing him was blue. Missing him was dark gray. But loving him was red. Burning red.” Taylor herself chose this song as the title of the album because every song is very passionate and intense, like the color red. Everything she felt was heightened, whether it was positive or negative.
Treacherous:
This song really starts to show a shift. The first two tracks were fairly positive still, but this song is where Taylor starts to realize that maybe this relationship might not be it. Something treacherous is something that is possibly deceptive. The relationship is starting to have doubts and the relationship is moving at a rate that might not be healthy.
I Knew You Were Trouble:
Truly a classic. This song expands on that shift, but more from an angry side. This song talks about falling in love with someone, knowing that they’re not good for you. The song is extreme and angry, which perfectly matches the feelings the lyrics show.
All Too Well:
Arguably her best track, and one of her best songs. This song is truly devastating. Taylor describes how this relationship felt, making the audience feel as though they were with the couple. This shows the depression stage of grief. She is heartbroken in this song and is lost.
22:
Hello, fun! After having an awful 21st birthday, waiting all night for her boyfriend to be there for her, 22 is a different feeling. Hence, the mood switch. This shows a shift in moving on and entering a new stage of life. She’s truly happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time, and I think that perfectly sums up the transition from All Too Well to 22.
I Almost Do:
Truly one of my favorites. This song is about reminiscing on the relationship. You want to give it another try, but you know you can’t and shouldn’t. This song is one of the most relatable on the album because it truly shows that internal conflict of missing this person and almost calling them, but you stop yourself.
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together:
As you can tell, anger is back. This relationship is very on-and-off, and Taylor is officially done. She’s accepted that the relationship is over and also hopes her ex listens to this song and understands the message. What a bop.
Stay Stay Stay:
Don’t let the happy beat fool you; this song is very much in the denial stage. In this song, Taylor is daydreaming about how she felt she and him should both stay together, despite having issues. I want to be with you forever and ever, and I think everything will be fine if we both just stay together. A bit delusional, but also so relatable and a great example of the denial stage.
The Last Time:
This song is very similar to the ones already mentioned. This track talks about how this relationship is on and off, but how this is going to be the last time. The last time I asked you to put me first. The last time I’m asking you to stop breaking my heart. Truly a devastating track told from both perspectives with the feature of Gary Lightbody.
Holy Ground:
This is one of our acceptance songs. Holy Ground is truly magical. In this song, Taylor is reflecting on this relationship and is saying how, although it had good and bad moments, every moment was still sacred. Every moment was a lesson learned. This is a great song to include here because it shows a shift in how she has started to accept the end of the relationship and is now learning about it.
Sad Beautiful Tragic:
Wow. One of the saddest songs ever, but also accepting. In this song, Taylor talks about the aftermath of this failed relationship. But instead of focusing on the angry emotions here, she’s highlighting the pain of realizing how a magical love became a tragic one. Truly amazing
The Lucky One:
This song is a bit of a mix-up, but also so telling of what Taylor was feeling at the time. This song is about fame and how you can have everything, but when your secrets are leaked, you move away and live a life out of the spotless and nobody knows where you went. This song explores the fears Taylor has with not ending in a good place or having fame be a scary thing instead of something she loves. Years later, this is refreshing to look back on, as she is still one of the biggest artists today.
Everything Has Changed:
We are moving on stage. This song explores the wonders of falling in love again with someone new, and suddenly, everything has changed. Your world has now become your new relationship, and your previous one doesn’t matter because everything has changed for the better. Ed Sheeran truly adds to this song, and this is such a highlight on this album.
Starlight:
Starlight is inspired by Bobby and Ethel Kennedy. This is a great song to have right after ‘Everything Has Changed’ because it draws imagery from having a nice, fresh love. There’s optimism and freedom in this relationship, and they are dancing together, like they’re made of starlight.
Begin Again:
What a great album closer. This is THE reflection song. Taylor looks back at her previous relationship and is now going on a date with a new person. She thinks this new person is going to be late and not going to laugh at her jokes, because her previous guy never did. But she is surprised. This new guy actually shows care. She says in the song, “I’ve been spending the last eight months thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end. But on a Wednesday, in a cafe, I watched it begin again,” and I was truly never the same
With the bonus tracks and vault tracks with the re-recording, it continues to paint the picture, and in some ways, fill in some questions her audience may have had while listening. ‘Red’ is truly a work of art and a true breakup album. With a denial song like ‘Stay Stay Stay’ or an anger song like ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ or a bargaining song like ‘I Almost Do’ or a depression song like ‘All Too Well’ or lastly, an acceptance song like ‘Begin Again,’ this album really delivers on the mixed emotions you get during a breakup, and this is why it remains one of her most beloved albums to this day.