Ranking Red (Taylor's Version) AND Fixing the Tracklist 😲 *CONTROVERSIAL*

[@GB-xt7zm]

WHEN YOU MENTIONED IT IN THE LAST VIDEO I THOUGHT I'D HAVE TO WAIT LIKE 3 MONTHS

[@elidagjika8741]

Me Too!!!!!

[@bombbay7529]

Yeah lol

[@timetotalktitanic7381]

SAME

[@sburkie9]

No days off ologist strikes again

[@theswiftologist]

And here it is …

[@melissapartsafas2556]

Better man should have ALWAYS been on the album! One of the biggest mistakes she made was not including it.

[@theswiftologist]

I can see why she didn’t but I’m glad we have it now

[@matthewfontenot5157]

I don't know if Better Man would have had the stratospheric success had she kept the song for herself. Little Big Town's version is HUGE, from the instrumentation to the vocals. That felt very correct at the time. When Better Man TV came out and it was substantially stripped down, it was a gift I didn't know I needed and is equally brilliant. Both versions are different enough for both to exist simultaneously.

[@bunnidarling4887]

@@matthewfontenot5157girl,,,,,i was today years old when i realized she gave better man to LBT,,,,,,,,i knew it sounded familiar i just didn’t know from where 😭

[@meesh1872]

@@matthewfontenot5157 I legit didn't know TS had anything to do with the song, and thought it was a cover of Little Big Town's song until I read your comment! Wild!

[@SN-bk5xj]

@@meesh1872 Taylor also wrote it all by herself! It’s a great song😀

[@BlissDmonte]

Red the song is one of my stan songs, the RE-E-E-D makes me go FERAL

[@claryy8]

SAME

[@chanellopezzzz]

You know, it’s always been quite interesting how Taylor absolutely lacks creating an overall story through track listing when she MASTERFULLY can tell a story through a lyrics, which honestly is far more difficult then figuring out where to place the songs. Anyways you ate this up as always

[@dunnowhat2say566]

She doesn’t rank the albums based on the story.

[@jackielehman8945]

Or we just dont understand her reasoning ;-)

[@Rebecca-bz6ph]

I just don’t get why this is important? Never once cared about it. In fact having tracklists connect seems like something that only used to happen on 90s pop albums that had those cheesy voice intros between tracks. Do all tracklists have to be one thought leading to another? If you make artists work like that we would miss out on organically imagined and interesting music that you would have the artist remove for the sake of sticking to some narrative?

[@germywormy]

@@Rebecca-bz6phIt’s for people who enjoy albums as a listening experience and want a full story. Everyone’s just got their preferences !

[@chanellopezzzz]

@@Rebecca-bz6ph It’s not necessarily important per se, however it just seems to me that it would something she would particularly indulge in as someone who is inspired by artists such as Joni Mitchell and Carly Simon, two artists who have monumental albums in the songwriting community. Especially considering that Red is influenced by Joni’s Blue (ie they both title the album after colors which represent emotion), which so intricately creates a story. Also, creating a track list that details a story seems like something that would be generally up her alley. She credits herself as a writer first. Writers create stories regardless of the category of writing (unless we’re referring to unbiased, purely fact driven journalism). Overall it’s honestly not that important which I probably should’ve clarified more as it seems like i’m discrediting Taylor, when in reality I was genuinely wondering why it seems that she doesn’t craft a certain story arc for her albums. Especially when you consider how she indulges in the sort of specific lyrical content she does and goes even further in purposefully creating easter eggs that add to the lore of “Taylor Swift as a Persona”

[@sayanndeep]

Red is the most 'Taylor Swift' Taylor Swift album. Period.

[@crystalkadletc1944]

Still my #1 album and still the best re-record, with 1989 being a close second

[@evermoreconcepts]

please do a series on the tours and what you would change for the setlist and ideas of what she could of done differently!

[@theswiftologist]

An idea to consider in my channel memberships era for sure

[@leannewalker1422]

As a newer Swiftie in my 40’s I’m in awe of you, Zach, your knowledge of all things T.S. I appreciate your insight and wisdom and honesty!!!

[@theswiftologist]

thank you leanne

[@DaylightMidnightSZ]

Can we talk about how The Last Time, Sad Beautiful Tragic and Holy Ground are the undercover supermodels

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

Wake up, snakes! Swiftologist has updated! Happy holidays, everyone! Red came out at a time when I was dealing with a lot of anxiety in my life. It’s a very chaotic album, to be sure. Let's effing go!

[@leannewalker1422]

Similar issues here, but Red is chaotic AND cathartic

[@notyouraveragesofa3007]

I heard a take about maroon recently that changed how i felt about red. How in red she describes love as something real, passionate, and deep. And the color red is the manifestation of that love and the crash that love ends with. In maroon she's trying so hard to equate all she sees to that red (scarlet blood rushing into her cheeks, burgundy stain) but she's lost because she cant. Because all she can feel is the darker, slower burn that is maroon. Red is a fast-paced love story , maroon is the end of the fairy tale.

[@sapphic_snail]

this is a really interesting theory! i could definitely see how these two songs intertwine!

[@johnmccreay6003]

if i were to have an album with every taylor song, maroon then long live would be at the end of

[@anastasiak6111]

Thank you for this video! I really like transition from Red to All Too Well. From this burning red to heartbreaking memories. What this red love did to her. I think that “All too well” reveals how destructive red love turned out to be in the end. For me these are tracks connected to each other. Like sisters. All too well is like a continuation, revelation and consequences of red love. So in my universe Red is track 4 and All too well is track 5.

[@theswiftologist]

I can see that!!

[@tayluvofficial]

16:43 omfg not him putting the lucky one in the worst category. 😭😭 It's literally my most favorite song from the Red. WHAAAA-

[@fairycinna]

I have a really special relationship to Taylor Swift because I have audio processing disorder, which means I can't really process lyrics in songs as words. Most music with lyrics sounds like simlish to me, and has no meaning. But with taylor, I always know exactly what shes talking about because of how she delivers the lyrics with so much emotion, even if I can't really process the words exactly. This is why songs like I knew you were trouble and look what you made me do are some of my favourite taylor songs xx

[@bookishjules3215]

starlight and the lucky one are so quintessentially red to me, it's hard to imagine the album without them. but i love your reshuffle and your reasoning for ordering it in that way. it made so much narrative sense that felt very satisfying considering how all over the place the album order is

[@itspricila]

Red is simply THAT album ❤

[@theswiftologist]

💯

[@adamgrant3461]

Christmas truly must be something more to receive a treat like THIS…

[@imk3879]

lol

[@FreyaFreyaWillow]

New video! What a joy! Thank you ❤️Can you please do a track by track and deep dive about my favourite album Red? About concept, aesthetic, recording process and tracks analysis. You are so great! ❤️

[@theswiftologist]

A red video essay is inevitable for sure

[@alexnicole6806]

Oh king. I prepped for this. I rewatched your Red videos yesterday. I did my homework. I was so excited for this. Red helped me through my first major break up and ATW was my favorite song (still is and I’m really happy she is getting the love she ALWAYS deserved!), followed very closely by Holy Ground. I’m so mad she ruined the TV and similarly to you, I have no problem listening to the OG song that means everything to me ❤️

[@adamspencer8508]

I heard a theory a couple months before Red (TV) that every 2 songs told a story. Like with Stay Stay Stay and The Last Time being her wanting him to stay and then she realized she asked him to stay one too many times. Holy Ground and Sad Beautiful Tragic being her reminiscing about the good then the bad. So that's why I feel like the track list has always felt very natural to me.

[@dreamchaser7603]

For some reason, Red ❤ has always felt like a winter holiday album, so bittersweet… Christmas lights flashing ✨and you are watching the year slipping through your fingers and reflect on the past…

[@jdhs12394]

I understand how people think the tracklist is too messy because that's also how I felt when it came out. Luckily, some smart Swifties explained to me that the tracklist is actually put together very deliberately: each pair of songs is supposed to go together representing opposites. For example, State of Grace is about the beginning of a relationship and Red is about the end. All Too Well is about experiencing heartbreak turning 21, while 22 is about dancing and forgetting all about the heartbreak when she turned 22. If you think about each song this way (except maybe The Lucky One and Starlight) and find its "opposite," then the ordering makes a lot more sense. Once I understood this, Red became one of my favorites of hers too. It's so ambitious and well-crafted. Still, I always love seeing other people's rearranged tracklists, so I was excited to see this posted! I totally understand the cuts he made.

[@mnickrowe]

I didn’t know this! Can you comment on the rest…so I can get a clearer picture. I love this take on Red

[@aaliyahfoster2705]

@@mnickrowe Come Back Be Here and Girl At Home (yassified version) are both in the environment about having someone who's far-flung somewhere else, but CBBH has a longing tone and misses their proximity and closeness while GAH tells about avoiding becoming a mistress in a relationship.

[@mnickrowe]

@@aaliyahfoster2705 Girl At Home TV sounds like you accidentally tripped the alarm, or you walked in on a party palazza with disco and you’re like “what’s going on? Am I in the right place?”

[@mnickrowe]

@@aaliyahfoster2705 that makes sense! Thank you for sharing. What would the other songs be opposites of? And if you don’t remember where can I find this ? Has anyone written about this in depth?

[@aaliyahfoster2705]

@@mnickrowe It's something I noticed myself when listening to the re-records (I didn't realize it on the first go a decade ago either), but Treacherous and IKYWT is a good example. Cautious danger vs. going into the danger. The Last Time and Holy Ground. The negatives in a fruitless relationship and finding something good that came out of it.

[@kitchensinkchronicles3272]

as someone who cares way too much about track lists it blows me away just how GOOD all of your reshuffles are like damn i am just picturing listening to this order in the car at night and sobbing my eyes out by the time we get to Begin Again because i've gotten to hear her break and heal in real time on the record. i feel like that's truly what was missing from Red for me and why i always had trouble listening to it in one sitting rather than picking out songs from it. will be listening to this version VERY SOON (it's a tradition for me to listen to Red on Christmas Eve to mark the end of Fall and also bc i get sad during the Holidays lol)

[@luisasemerak2519]

red is also my favorite TS album of all time! great minds think alike. treacherous is my favorite TS song as the production has me seeing god herself. the line where you said trecherous is optimistic while i knew you were trouble is fatalistic is so so good!

[@madsplace27]

As a Red stan until the day I die, I thoroughly enjoyed this. I’ve been watching your content since probably September and it’s really opened my eyes to how difficult it is to have a different opinion than the rest of the fandom, and that it’s okay to have a different opinion. Thank you for saving from “the dark side” for lack of better phrasing lol. Favorite Swiftuber for sure! ♥️

[@theswiftologist]

thank you for watching!!

[@fishandfloral]

I’ve always loved Begin Again. I remember her performing it on an awards show with a Parisian cafe aesthetic and can never separate the two in my mind.

[@hasandoesstuff5770]

10:22 I swear if these songs and holy ground and 22 were in the eras tour set list I would freaking die

[@dawnsunstrider5494]

nice ranking and reshuffle, zack! although i think (personally) you couldve slotted in The Very First Night after 22 (right before Holy Ground) to kind of imply that even though the listener is out and about with their friends, deep inside they are kind of still pining over their ex. the damage has been done but there were still things left unspoken even though the party keeps going. but overall, great playlist!

[@theswiftologist]

Yes I def reconsidered that after making this months ago!

[@mnickrowe]

I’m gonna slot this in somehow when listening to Zach’s reshuffled version of Red

[@LukeAlexander]

Omg my favourite reshuffle of yours so far it makes so much sense, I tried to do it myself and struggled omg cause reds my fave but is so chaotic

[@swifties_versionl3]

I am a proud message in a bottle girl!! My first favourite taylor swift song.❤❤❤

[@christinamerry366]

Thank you for the video! It's always a pleasure to listen to your thoughts. Everything Has Changed should go. The Very First Night should stay. Everything Has Changed adds nothing to the story. It just cute little song. The Very First Night is way better and contains great storytelling and very vivid memories about past relationships. Memories about past heartbreaking relationships is one of the main themes of the Red Album. Of course, it is just my opinion 😊

[@theswiftologist]

Every has changed has muuuuuch better lyricism imo. Tvfn is cute

[@LukePrice173]

and you’re correct!

[@anastasiak6111]

I think The Very First Night is important for the Red album. It is important for storytelling of the Red album. Because despite all the parties, new life, 22, begin again, new dates and fun, Taylor still remembers her ex.

[@adityasikdar1678]

My fav album is here guys ive waited for this video for so long thank you for blessing us 🙏

[@theswiftologist]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@theswiftologist]

Speak on it

[@adityasikdar1678]

​@@theswiftologist tysm for replying zach !

[@lu-th2nq]

how message in a bottle sounds more 1989 than all of 1989 vault

[@maryem9225]

You always nail these re arangments! Such a compelling story you craft with everyone and you have a very clear sense of narative structure. I especially love the folkevermore one. The very first video of yours I watched was a redoing the tracklist video!

[@bombbay7529]

When you say soon I didn’t know it’s this soon lol. I agree with ur tracklist and thank god state of grace is stayed as an opening track. It’s such a brilliant song to sum up the album like what’s written in the back of the book (idk a word for that in English sorry) it’s one of her greatest opener imo. I would have put come back be here between babe and I almost do tho. And if this album doesn’t have begin again I think Red can be a good closer too

[@danichiong6727]

You had your work cut out for you with how chaotic Red is! Your track reshuffles always give me a lot to think about ❤

[@Gabreyes093]

I knew you were a real one. Holy Ground and Red are also my #1s, and I have the same sentiments towards the re-recordings. Also can’t not mention your honest, fair, and amusing analyses. Great reshuffle!

[@verycool6022]

Wake up babe ! Swiftologist’s ranking just dropped FINALLY❤

[@jetoplatypus]

"weeeeheeee" was literally sung by smurfs

[@theswiftologist]

And she’ll go to prison for that

[@SaltierMermaid]

I Stan for Red and I nearly fainted when I saw this vid existed ❤️ your reshuffle was exhilarating just to hear the explaination. I cannot wait to listen to the playlist 😍

[@efstathiakositzidou2490]

Red was the album that made me a Taylor Swift fan❤❤

[@twilightfox2559]

Despite some songs imo being massively fucked up (WANEGT, IKYWT, Holy Ground) Red remains my favourite album! I’ll never forget how I felt when I first heard We Are Never on the radio, and my love for Red never changed!

[@makenzielehto9393]

Oh you know Red like I know Red. You GET it. That tracklist is absolutely perfect.

[@nickwysocki8052]

this made me love you & your work even more. i’ve always said red is my favorite taylor album & it seems to be a very unpopular opinion among most swifties.

[@theswiftologist]

thank you for watching!!

[@claryy8]

I‘m so excited (and also kinda nervous) for this video! Red is my all time favorite Taylor album - I still remember listening to all these songs for the first time when I was 11. These songs have stayed with me through all these years and I still love them all so much! (And I also loved the journey of understanding them more and more the older I got. The excitement I felt when I turned 22 earlier this year, just because I could finally *really* vibe to the song 😂) Very excited what you come up with for the re-shuffled tracklist! You’re right, the Red tracklist IS messy af, though I feel that it actually kinda fits the overall theme of the record - the confusion and excitement of being in your early 20s, going through crushing heartbreaks whilst also making lasting memories with your friends - really well. But then, I kind of always get emotional whiplash when listening to Red in order, going from ATW to 22 to IAD to WANGBT is a WILD ride 😂

[@philjan23]

Nobody's brave enough to say it, but I'm gonna speak now and never hold my peace: _Girl @ home is the first song she wrote about Scooper Brown_ 💃🏻😘 There. The beginning of Tay-voodoo was right there in front of our eyes, and the story only keeps getting better, cuz she gave the Gitl at Home an envelope and now she keeps the house, keeps the kids and keeps the pride 🥷🏻

[@burgundy16]

"i loved you from the very first day" - comes from a superman-slander stan 🤣🤣😂

[@abbyfortune]

I was scared to watch this because I didn’t want the book ends to be changed. I should know to trust the swiftologist. Truly spot on reshuffle I loved it

[@TaylorTaylor1989]

The Last Time is the BEST. God tier.

[@palomathereptilian]

I know right, it's my favorite Taylor track and it deserves way more love 🥺💖

[@jmallnhismonkeysidekick6347]

I wish you would put your tracklist on screen while you were saying it

[@palomathereptilian]

As a Red fan (my favorite album and re-recording), I agree with you 100% with both the rankings and the tracklist you made ❤ It's actually so nice to finally find a fellow swiftie that has the same opinions as me in so many things, idk if it's bc we are both fans for a very long time and we are close in age (I'm from 1997), it's so refreshing to me! ❤ And I'm living for the The Last Time appreciation, I love this song in so many ways and it's possibly my all time favourite from Taylor ❤ It makes me so sad it's so underrated in the fandom 😔 Will try to listen to the reshuffling later, but got truly excited with the tracklist you made 🥺 Happy Holidays Zack! ❤

[@theswiftologist]

Thanks for watching!! ❤️❤️

[@palomathereptilian]

And about Safe & Sound, I might be biased bc it was one of the surprise songs of the Eras Tour show I went to (btw 1st time seeing Taylor live, after waiting 14 to see her in my country 🥺💖) but I definitely think it's more of a Red era to me... I would say I would love to see it on Red tracklist instead of Run (I really don't like it and pretend it doesn't exist lmao) ❤

[@wwpetko-6760]

This video was like a lil Christmas present to us! Thought we’d have to wait for another! 😊

[@angelmili3093]

You're the only other person I've seen say that Holy Ground is their favorite Taylor song and I feel SOOO validated so 🤝 thank you because it's just got such a perfect vibe that grabs me every time and it's so slept on

[@leilasimon4094]

I love the new RED tracklist!! I rearranged a few songs for my own playlist but it makes SO much more sense 😍

[@Swiftly-13]

20:36 YES!

[@sburkie9]

So excited for this. I've listened to your other track lists especially the reputation one. Red is such a messy album it NEEDS the Zach treatment

[@butimartistic]

I think for me Red is also one of my top TS albums that is very "I will jam to almost the whole album all the time". Fearless/speak now/debut has it's gems, but the bulk of the albums I have to be in a certain mood to listen to them, but Red is .... TIMELESS.

[@claryy8]

babes, wake up, Swiftologist Red tracklist re-shuffling just dropped! 💅🏻

[@olitaxoxo]

saw this long ago, still cant believe u quoted superman.

[@_megcreations_]

Amazing content as always Zach!! Loving him was Reh eh eh eh Red ❤❤

[@doctordd-ey]

RED is my favorite Taylor Swift album currently. Just enjoy it so much. Thank you for the video

[@JennyFrancis-e4x]

OMG! I love, love, love EVERYTHING you publish! As a "new" Swiftie (only really started following her during the pandemic when Miss Americana, Folklore and the Disney+ show came out) I am LOVING your insight and critical opinions of her work, fashion, relationships, etc. My sister likes to tell me you talk too fast, but I love the extensive thought and research that goes into every video, and as you are always mentioning, you are the last critical, true-to-yourself (and true to Taylor) opinion we can get from someone. Anyway, your videos are what I look forward to EVERY DAY and think you are KILLING IT! Keep it up! Plan on listening to Evolution of a Snake in 2024 as my workout soundtrack.

[@sacredsunflower8930]

I am with you, Red stan here! I was 21/turning 22 when red came out. I was in an offf and on again relationship with my college sweetheart. It was all I played in my car during that time.

[@sacredsunflower8930]

I’ve always been the age Taylor is writing the albums when they are released and it just hits so damn hard

[@dadstealer101]

i love your taylor opinions,you actually help me sleep, not in a ASMR way, & i def do not find u boring . your voice just has this relaxing quality idk

[@elidagjika8741]

Red Is The Best Rerecorded Song In My Opinion

[@theswiftologist]

Def a contender

[@hasandoesstuff5770]

I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOREVER FOR THIS

[@reginanewport-so3du]

I am completely down for the track listing you just posted. All my favorites, the progression makes sense. I am also a RED Stan for life, so I'm very pleased.

[@BrnntToast1115]

Ahhh! I love holy ground and your ranking was perfect, but the Ed Sheeran collab above nothing new scares me.

[@BeckywiseTheDancingClown]

This is your best reshuffle yet! ❤

[@andresbecerra1183]

I really love the idea of having holy ground as the next to last song.

[@Swiftabella]

Yessss another video from swiftologist this is simply the best Christmas present

[@KateCat420]

Workologist thank you so much for blessing us continously with such good content - truly doing the Lords work ❤

[@aaden222]

OMG I AM SO HAPPY YOU POSTED!!!! I NEEDED A NEW VID FROM YOU TODAY

[@sbpts08]

i thought i was gonna have to wait years for this when you talked about it

[@rodellwarrabindahhh4541]

This is a Christmas treat! Thanks Zack

[@ErraticGoofball]

While the tack listing is usually not so great, I believe in this album it was done right to convey the craziness one can experience after heartbreak. One second we are balling our eyes out, the next we are trying to get over it by trying to go out with friends, next we are holding on to hope but end up coming back to the sadness not long after. It feels confusing and chaotic probably because that’s how she was feeling while making this record.

[@brandon_04]

ITS FINALLY HERE it's truly been a long time comin

[@510.nick_7]

omg u pulled thru in red tv season let’s go

[@lynnemc1424]

Another reason I love Zach, his fave album is RED!! My fave album is RED!!!

[@jh20043]

I love your content so much ! when I first heard this album as a first time Swiftie, I did have the complaint of the track list being all over the place and somewhat unlistenable but once I understood the lore, the track list kinda made sense generally as it would feel like any breakup. the emotional emphasis and messy track list play into that “chaotic” feeling of what it feels like to be in love then come crashing down the second it’s over. regardless tho I agree with your rearrangement ! It paints the picture so much better

[@chelsea3247]

I thought I was crazy for loving the last time, I cannot tell you how much I wish I could relisten to it for the first time

[@burgundy16]

"and i know theres a better man in there and i really try to get him to come out and he just didnt and you're a flop and i cant be with you anymore" this is the thesis statement of RED! 😂❤

[@baylor._.c]

THE LAST TIME BEST COLLAB YUUUUUUUP

[@TaylortheBarbie13]

Why is this so right? Just topping exile for me ❤

[@piscesmoon9055]

Love this! Will you ever do a Fearless Swiftologist version and TV ranking?

[@gracie12622]

yes!!! red is my favorite album too and everyone thinks i’m crazy when i say that idk why but a lot of people like to hate on red 😭

[@Rheynna]

This is my favorite of your rearranged tracklists and my new preferred way of listening to Red, excellent choices 👏

[@reginanewport-so3du]

Thank you for moving Treacherous up, lol. My fave 😉

[@emilykie8874]

It’s finally out of the vault!

[@FraserM27]

Ooooh im very excited for this one!! Thank you Zach for all your hard work

[@bettyo8417]

Love this ranking! Makes a lot more sense! Great video as always! Merry Christmas! Oh and I wanted to say I haven’t heard the prayer in a while and I miss it cause it always brings a chuckle 🤣

[@Benspoetsdepartment]

This is the perfect christmas gift from THE swiftologist

[@hasandoesstuff5770]

Zach you’ve been feeding us like 1989 release week

[@robertafilippo7502]

the new track list is just perfect

[@willmcnally3388]

I am begging you to give Forever Winter another go - We share so many faves and opinions that Forever Winter - the Lakes of Red - not being up their is shocking

[@theswiftologist]

The lakes of red is an insane comparison that does not hold up doll…..

[@willmcnally3388]

@theswiftologist Poetic writing, with acoustic lead instrumentations, both share a dark undertone to an otherwise lighter sound, with constant double entendre, focused around mental health, both written from the perspective of hindsight and longing and both deep cuts not on the original album. Personally see a huge connection between those who love the Lakes and Forever Winter.

[@garyowens777]

Lu so much happy Xmas Taylor needs you to pick the playlist when she picking out album tracks I love everything about red

[@robertafilippo7502]

MY GOD NOTHING NEW BELLOW BABE… hahahaha

[@sapphic_snail]

it causes me physical pain, but everyone has different opinions ig 😂

[@peytonjames]

I feel like I’ve waited for this video for a year 😭 it’s finally here

[@santiago_torres_2892]

FINALLY!! we've been waiting for this video for MONTHS zachary HAHAHAJAHAJAJ

[@monnbg]

yayyyy finally! i was waiting for your red tv tracklist

[@TomUniverse]

I did not expect it this quickly. ❤

[@britneyc.3341]

Please do a ranking of all tour outfits!!