This Is How Taylor Swift’s Rerecorded “Speak Now” Album Stands Up Against The Original

I was 16 years old and a junior in high school when the original Speak Now album came out, and it’s safe to say that it was the soundtrack to my high school years. I have vivid memories of listening to these songs while daydreaming about crushes and talking about them with friends. I remember getting my heart broken for the first time and playing the excruciatingly sad songs on my iPod Nano on repeat, so it’s safe to say that this album means a lot to me.

Like the dedicated Swiftie that I am, I stayed up to listen to the recordings of the 14 original tracks, two bonus tracks, and six “From The Vault” tracks. Needless to say, I'm tired today. I’m also blown away that Taylor managed the impossible by making this album better than the original though, so I couldn’t help but compare every song to its original version. I also ranked the “From The Vault” tracks from my favorite to least favorite, which was pretty difficult because, spoiler alert, every single one is a masterpiece.

Grab a glass of wine, a box of tissues (you’ll need both, trust me), get ready to text your high school BFF about how cringey your taste in boys was back then, and enjoy.

Mine

Winner: Taylor’s Version 

The first time I listened to the re-recording of this song, I had a giant smile during the few moments when I wasn’t shrieking the lyrics like I was at one of her concerts. Her more mature voice adds extra meaning to the song, and I couldn’t help but remember that this song was allegedly inspired by Glee star Cory Monteith. Now that it’s been nearly a decade since his untimely death, this song has a new, beautiful, and bittersweet significance.

Sparks Fly

Winner: Original Version

I’m fully aware that I might get canceled on Twitter for this take, but I can’t help but feel like the original version of this song makes more sense. Don’t get me wrong, I love them both and will be playing this version on repeat for the next several months, but her younger voice matches the flirty, fun, and youthful vibe of this song. It was tough to decide between the two, but the original version won in the end.

Back To December

Winner: Taylor’s Version

Not to be too dramatic, but I’m pretty sure my soul left my body when I listened to this. I didn’t know she could top how beautiful and emotional the original song was, but she did it. The maturity in her voice adds a deeper layer of reflection, and she and Taylor Lautner being on good terms now makes it so much better. The production value is off the charts, and the bridge (I don’t trust anyone who has never screamed it at the top of their lungs) is an absolute masterpiece.

Speak Now

Winner: Original Version

While I love that the country instruments are still there, I can’t help but think the youthful and carefree vibe of her younger voice is a better fit for this song. Regardless, I hope she makes a music video for this because it feels like a romantic comedy where the male lead is played by Glen Powell. 

Dear John

Winner: Taylor’s Version

There are times when I think that Taylor is slowly trying to kill me through her lyrics, and this is the perfect example. It’s one of her saddest songs, and she somehow manages to make it even more heartbreaking through the layers of reflection and maturity in her voice. The bridge might be one of the greatest things I’ve ever listened to, and I hope John Mayer knows a good therapist because he’s going to need one after this.

Mean

Winner: Taylor’s Version

I know that I’m speaking for the majority (if not all) Swifties by saying that this song hits differently due to the drama with Scooter Braun. She wouldn’t be re-recording it if it weren’t for him, and I just know she was thinking about what a jerk he was while recording this, which I love for her.

The Story Of Us

Winner: Original Version

Of all of the songs, this was the hardest to pick which version I preferred. I love them both, and I like the guitar on Taylor’s version, but the bridge in the original version felt more emotional and raw due to the angst in her voice. We all know that Taylor is known for her iconic bridges, which was the deciding factor for this song. 

Never Grow Up

Winner: Taylor’s Version

This song makes me so emotional because it reminds me of my younger sisters and cousins, which is bittersweet. After all, they’re now all older than I was when the original album first came out. You can tell that life experience makes this song mean so much more to Taylor, which makes it so much sweeter.

Enchanted

Winner: Taylor’s Version

This is my favorite song on the album and second-favorite Taylor song of all time (following the 10-minute version of “All Too Well,” obviously), so the expectations for Taylor’s version were high, and my girl delivered! The song is so hopelessly romantic and perfectly describes the feeling of a teenage crush, but adult Taylor found a way to make it sweeter. It sounds nostalgic, like she’s reflecting on a happy memory, which makes the song so much more beautiful. 

Better Than Revenge

Winner: Original Version

I’ll be the first to admit that Taylor’s version absolutely slaps, and the guitar is amazing, but I’m not a big fan of the lyric change. It’s clever and creative but takes away from the messiness of the original version. The original version was iconic because it was chaotic, petty, and kind of b*tchy (in the best way), so I'm going with the original version for this one.

Innocent

Winner: Taylor’s Version

We all know that this song is about how Kanye West interrupted her at the 2009 MTV VMA’s, and the newer version hits differently with how much the feud has escalated since then. The original version feels more empathetic, but Taylor’s version feels more like she’s gotten closure about the situation.

Haunted

Winner: Taylor’s Version

The only thing I have written in my notes for this song is, “SHE MANAGED THE IMPOSSIBLE AND TOPPED IT!” This is one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs for personal reasons, and I always feel every note goes straight to the heart. The maturity in her voice adds to the darkness of the song, and it’s immaculate. She manages to incorporate the orchestral instruments and angst that make this song so epic, and I couldn’t be happier with it.

Last Kiss

Winner: Taylor’s Version

Similar to “Dear John,” this song confirms my theory that Taylor is trying to kill me through her music. This song hits so much harder as an adult, especially during the bridge. It’s one of her saddest songs and is believed to be about Joe Jonas, and she somehow manages to make this version even more emotional. I couldn’t help but think of her recent breakup with Joe Alwyn while listening to this.

Long Live

Winner: Taylor’s Version

This song is nothing short of epic, and somehow she still managed to outdo her previous version of it. Everything from her voice to the production seems stronger, making the epic fairytale vibe even better. This song has a whole new meaning with everything she’s been through to try to own her music and feels like a love letter to her fans, filling my Swiftie heart with so much joy.

Bonus Track: Ours 

Winner: Taylor’s Version

Like “Long Live,” this song feels like it’s dedicated to her fans. It’s so much sweeter to know that she’s had more experience with healthy and happy relationships since this song was originally released, and I love that she still kept the fun and youthful vibe of the original song.

Bonus Track: Superman

Winner: Original Version

The teenage crush vibes are strong in this song, so I can’t help but feel like the original version makes more sense. While the maturity and reflection in her voice add more depth to the song, it doesn’t beat the sweet and nostalgic vibes of the original.

From The Vault Rankings

Along with the 14 original tracks and two bonus tracks, Taylor added six songs that were unable to make the original Speak Now album. It was tough to rank them because they’re all top-tier, and I genuinely love every single one. Alas, here they are from best to worst.

1. When Emma Falls In Love

I knew this was going to be my favorite From The Vault track less than a minute in simply because it made me think of Emma by Jane Austen. I wish this made the original album because it fits the era perfectly, and I can’t get over the cute and hopeless romantic vibes. It just makes me happy and brings me back to my teenage years when I’d read classic novels and picture myself as the heroine.

2. Timeless

The hopeless romantic vibes and visit to the antique shop make this such a good song for this era. It has an Old Hollywood feel and reminded me of my grandparents (which is fitting since she has pictures of her grandparents in the lyric video), and that made me super emotional. It brought me back to asking my grandparents stories of old photos, which fills my heart with so much joy.

3. I Can See You

I love the alternative rock feel of this song, but the romantic lyrics still fit the era. It’s the classic forbidden love story with a sexy edge, perfectly capturing those intense feelings that come along with pure infatuation. It’s fun and different from most of her music from this era, but that’s one of the many reasons why it's great.

4. Castles Crumbling (feat. Hayley Williams)

This song is so beautiful, and the fairytale imagery fits perfectly. It’s emotional and sad, and the vocals hit me right in the feels. Hayley Williams of Paramore is the perfect feature for this song, and I just know I would have belted this out from the top of my lungs as a teenager alone in my room while pretending I was performing a sold-out show.

5. Electric Touch (feat. Fall Out Boy)

Not to be dramatic, but my teenage self would have died for this song. Fall Out Boy brings me right back to my high school days, which is fitting because I was 16 when the original Speak Now album came out. I love that it’s a duet that perfectly captures teenage angst and infatuation but still features Taylor’s signature hopeless romantic (and electric) touch.

6. Foolish One

Like all of the new songs, I love this one so much, but one of them had to come in last place. It’s youthful and perfectly captures the frustration that comes with an unrequited crush followed by hopeless romantic optimism. I can tell she wrote this as a teenager, and I mean that as a compliment because she does such a good job of capturing those complicated and confusing emotions.

Closing Thoughts

Like Fearless (Taylor’s Version) and Red (Taylor’s Version), Taylor Swift has done the impossible by making one of her most heartfelt albums even better than the original... on most songs, at least. I will be listening on repeat until further notice, and I know that I won’t be the only Swiftie enjoying every second of it.

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