Taylor Swift’s Red Delights and Disappoints

By Allison Ulaky

Teenage girls went crazy when they learned of an upcoming album by one of country music’s top superstars. But now that the newest soundtrack is out, is it really worth buying?

Taylor Swift’s fourth album, Red was released October 22, and so far has been a huge success. According to Billboard.com, Swift’s newest album sold 1.2 million copies in a single week, which is more copies sold in a single week than any other album since 2002. Red had also sold nearly 465,000 copies in iTunes, and stores such as Target and even Papa John’s sold tons of copies to help the 22 year old singer out.

The pizza company partnered with Swift and advertised her CD on its pizza boxes. Papa John’s also promoted different offers that included the album, such as buying a large, one-topping pizza and getting Red for $22. In total, Papa John’s sold about 8,000 copies.

The album itself consists of 16 tracks, making it a pretty long album that would be hard to listen to in one sitting. An obvious hit on her soundtrack is “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which anyone can find on their local radio station. Another popular track is “I Knew You Were Trouble,” and with a dubstep-like beat playing behind her vocals, it is ranked as one of the top songs in iTunes.

The album also features collaborations with singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran on “Everything Has Changed,” and singer of the band Snow Patrol, Gary Lightbody, on the track “The Last Time.”

Most of the other tracks on Red express Swift’s past heartbreaks and her current relationship status, which draws young, teenage girls into her music because it is so relatable. But these songs alternate from her usual country vibe to a new pop sound.

Music critic Mesfin Fekadu of the Huffington Post states that “while Red contains its share of winners, many of the songs lack the colorfulness and vitality the album title suggests, leading to an overall letdown. Lyrically and sonically, the album lacks oomph and feeling: It sounds like we’ve heard it all from her before.”

Swift branching out to try to gain new kinds of listeners was bound to have its ups and downs. Either way, everyone should expect Red to stay on the top of the charts as old and new Taylor Swift fans listen to her.