Taylor Swift’s Recent Taylor's Version Releases and Leaked Tracks

Hosts Lisa and Cameron of the "Swiftly Spoken" podcast delve into a treasure trove of Taylor Swift's leaked music, discussing five tracks that surfaced over recent months. They explore the origins, speculate on the reasons behind the leaks, and consider the likelihood of official releases. "Drama Queen," a "Speak Now" era song, is analyzed for its dated sound and thematic alignment with tracks like "Better Than Revenge." They also touch on "If This Was a Movie," originally a "Speak Now" track, now philosophically repositioned to "Fearless." The hosts address the high-quality official releases of "Safe and Sound" and "Eyes Open" as part of the "More Red" chapter and "If This Was a Movie" under "Fearless," suggesting a strategic move by Swift to maintain "Speak Now" as a completely solo-written album. The conversation also touches on the potential for more releases and the implications for the eagerly anticipated "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)."

• Lisa and Cameron host the podcast, focusing on Taylor Swift's music, lyrics, and album retrospectives.
• They discuss the sudden leak of Taylor Swift's unreleased music.
• Five tracks leaked in full over the last couple of months are the subject of their analysis.
• The hosts speculate on the reasons behind the leaks and the potential for these songs to be officially released.

"Welcome to Swiftly Spoken, a fan-made Taylor Swift podcast in which we break down her lyrics, deep dive into full album retrospectives, and theorize about what may be coming next."

This quote introduces the podcast and its focus on Taylor Swift's music and the deeper analysis of her work.

• The leaked tracks include songs that were known by name but unheard, snippets, and tracks with little information available.
• Lisa and Cameron discuss the content of the songs and compare them to their officially released versions, if any.

"About a month ago now, before the tour even started, there was a sudden influx of a lot of leaked music."

This quote sets the context for the discussion, noting the timing and extent of the leaked music.

• "Drama Queen" is an unreleased track from the "Speak Now" era.
• The hosts had previously speculated about the song's content in an earlier episode.
• They describe the song as dated and compare it to "Better Than Revenge," suggesting it's a less harsh version.
• The song is seen as a product of teenage angst and may not stand the test of time.
• "Drama Queen" was a co-write with Martin Johnson.

"The first track... is 'Drama Queen,' which was a 'Speak Now' track originally."

This quote introduces the first leaked track, "Drama Queen," and its association with the "Speak Now" album.

• The hosts discuss Taylor Swift's songwriting process and the involvement of co-writer Martin Johnson.
• They debate the likelihood of "Drama Queen" being re-released or re-recorded due to its similarities with "Better Than Revenge."

"I believe that this was a co-write as well, this was a co-write with Martin Johnson who she co-wrote 'If This Was a Movie' with."

This quote reveals the collaborative nature of "Drama Queen" and its connection to another song co-written by Taylor Swift and Martin Johnson.

• Cameron expresses ambivalence towards "Drama Queen" and its potential for being re-recorded or officially released.
• They discuss the possible reasons for the song's exclusion from the original album and speculate on changes that could be made for it to fit Taylor Swift's current style.

"I understand it makes total sense why it wasn't released because 'Better Than Revenge' does the job better."

This quote explains the reasoning behind "Drama Queen" not being officially released, as "Better Than Revenge" serves a similar purpose but in a more effective manner.

• The hosts ponder the intention behind the leaks, suggesting they may sometimes be deliberate to gauge fan reactions.
• They note the pattern of leaks occurring before significant events, such as album releases or tours.

"Sometimes things leak for a reason... it seems like perfectly timed all the time whenever these things supposedly get leaked."

This quote suggests that the timing of leaks may not be coincidental and could have underlying intentions.

• Lisa and Cameron acknowledge the controversy around engaging with leaked content and respect fans who choose to avoid it.
• They emphasize that their discussion is based on theories and opinions since the true origins of the leaks are unknown.

"These leaked tracks... are just theories, opinions; we don't really know the truth behind any of it."

This quote underscores the speculative nature of their discussion regarding the leaked tracks and their origins.

• The hosts discuss the leak of the original demo recording of "Forever Winter" from the "Red" album.
• They compare the leaked version to the Taylor's Version release, noting minimal changes in the lyrics.
• The conversation touches on the authenticity of the Vault tracks and the creative process behind re-recording older songs.

"Forever winter is basically 99.9% the same as what was released as Taylor's version."

This quote points out the similarity between the leaked demo of "Forever Winter" and the officially released Taylor's Version, suggesting consistency in Taylor Swift's songwriting.

• "Red" is considered unsonically cohesive, a common opinion during its initial release period.
• "Forever Winter" fits better in its original production than in Taylor's Version.
• Taylor's Version of "Forever Winter" is appreciated for its horns and trumpet additions.
• Lyrical content remains mostly unchanged between versions, with the exception of the ending.

"I know that red is very unsonically cohesive which is you know the meme and the beaten to death phrase from that time but forever winter kind of does fit more in its original production than it does in its Taylor's version production having said that I really really love the horns and the you know the little trumpet in Taylor version."

The quote discusses the perception of "Red" as lacking sonic cohesion and how "Forever Winter" aligns with the original album's production style. The speaker also expresses their fondness for the new musical elements in Taylor's Version.

• Cameron does not have a preference between the original and Taylor's Version of "Forever Winter."
• Both versions are liked for different reasons: the original for its fit with "Red" and Taylor's Version for fuller production.
• The production of "Better Man (Taylor's Version)" is preferred over Little Big Town's production.

"I don't have a preference I quite like the original because it feels along with her vocals just feels very red. and I can just pitch yeah. on red whereas I like definitely I do really like the kind of slightly more Fuller production of the Taylor's version."

Cameron explains their lack of preference for either version of "Forever Winter," appreciating the original's alignment with "Red" and the fuller production of Taylor's Version.

• Original backing vocals in "Forever Winter" are missed in its re-recording.
• There's a discussion about unauthorized releases and the ethics surrounding them.
• Speculation exists about the release of certain tracks by insiders.

"What I do like in Forever winter original recording is that we do get some backing vocals which are very interesting and I wish you would have kept them for its re-recording."

Lisa expresses a preference for the original backing vocals in "Forever Winter" and wishes they were retained in the re-recording.

• "Lover" tracks that were rejected or not officially released are being discussed.
• Taylor's Inner Circle provided information about unreleased tracks.
• The songs "Need" and "All of the Girls" from the "Lover" era are analyzed in terms of their potential fit with the album.

"The next thing that was released um leaked sorry is a lover track we which is a lover reject that we actually do know of thanks to Taylor's Inner Circle."

Cameron introduces a leaked track from the "Lover" era, which was known about due to information from Taylor's Inner Circle.

• The speakers discuss how rejected tracks like "Need" and "All of the Girls" tell stories that may overlap with released songs.
• The lyrics of these tracks have similarities with other songs from Taylor's discography.
• There is a sense of surprise and regret that these tracks were not included in the "Lover" album.

"And in the case of need I guess I can see it kind of being in full Squad and Afterglow a mix of those kind of songs in lava and that's why we didn't need it however I love I love it love it love it can't believe it."

Cameron speculates why "Need" might have been omitted from "Lover," suggesting thematic overlap with other tracks, but still expresses love for the song.

• Taylor's demo for "This Is What You Came For" is highly anticipated and discussed.
• The demo's leak and Taylor's contribution to the song under a pseudonym are noted.
• The speakers discuss the rights and potential for Taylor to re-record the track.
• There is excitement over finally hearing Taylor's vocals on her demo version.

"This is obviously the this is what you came for Taylor's demo so flashback if anyone isn't aware back when back in 2016 Taylor co-wrote under the suit under a pseudonym uh this is what you came for with Calvin Harris obviously it was released with Rihanna as the feature."

Lisa recounts the background of Taylor Swift's involvement in writing "This Is What You Came For" under a pseudonym and the subsequent leak of her demo version.

• The discussion includes fan theories and the dynamics surrounding leaked music.
• There is an acknowledgment of the unofficial nature of leaks and the lack of clarity about their origins.
• The speakers consider the potential reasons behind the leaks and speculate about the strategy involved.

"But you know that kind of points to a reasoning behind maybe why this may have got out there somehow because then what's interesting is then when we get into the recent releases there's a very specific reason why those were released as well."

Cameron suggests that there may be strategic reasons behind the leaks of certain tracks, hinting at a larger narrative or purpose behind these unofficial releases.

• Artists experience privacy breaches when unreleased music leaks.
• Leaks can occur even within exclusive circles, such as the "Inner Circle."
• The spread of leaked content seems inevitable once it reaches one person outside the intended private audience.
• Fans engage in gatekeeping, which has both positive and negative aspects.
• There is sympathy for artists whose work is leaked, as they may have never intended for certain songs to be public.
• The fandom's role in perpetuating leaks is significant, with some fans willing to pay large sums for unreleased tracks.

"Obviously realistically if it's leaked even to something as exclusive as the Inner Circle it's still leaked like it's still oh definitely broken out there has recorded it in studio or whatever."

This quote discusses the inevitability of leaks spreading once they reach even a small, exclusive group, highlighting concerns over privacy and the control artists have over their work.

• The relationship between artists and their fandoms is complex, involving gatekeeping and the unauthorized distribution of music.
• Fans often feel conflicted, enjoying exclusive content while recognizing the potential harm to the artist.
• The fandom's internal dynamics can influence the spread of leaked content.
• Fans may pay significant amounts for leaked songs, indicating a high level of engagement and interest in unreleased work.

"It's kind of bittersweet because you can't help but feel bad for these artists who have gone in and never expected any of these songs to see the light."

This quote captures the mixed feelings fans have about leaks, where there's excitement for new content but also empathy for artists whose privacy has been breached.

• Leaked songs often have unofficial titles that may change upon official release.
• Title changes can clarify the song's message or align with the artist's vision.
• Fans may become accustomed to unofficial titles and continue to use them even after official releases.
• The interpretation of a song's title can influence public perception and expectations.

"The name change thoughts about that I think what's always interesting is obviously when these with these lead songs I don't really know how they're obtained or anything like that but realistically they're probably not really given much of an official name so the name is often chosen like say for example battle slash let's go that's very contentious lots of people say it's battle lots of people say it's let's go so it's kind of given both names."

This quote discusses how leaked songs may receive unofficial titles from fans, which can differ from the artist's chosen title upon official release, highlighting the disconnect that can occur between artist intention and fan interpretation.

• Taylor Swift's leaked song "All of the Girls" was officially released with the changed title "All of the Girls You Loved Before."
• The song was included in the "Lover" era as an extra track.
• The release quality was improved, and discussions about the name change were prominent among fans.
• The official release process can bring clarity to a song's title and its place in an artist's discography.

"The only leaked song and that is all of the girls which was now the name had been changed to all of the girls You Loved Before and was included in what she is now calling the more lover chapter."

This quote indicates that Taylor Swift's leaked song was officially released with a new title, showing how artists can reclaim control over their work and present it as they originally intended.

• Taylor Swift re-recorded "Safe and Sound" and "Eyes Open" for her Taylor's Version albums, originally part of The Hunger Games soundtrack.
• These re-recordings suggest the possibility of other movie soundtracks being included in future Taylor's Version releases.
• The re-recordings are faithful to the originals, indicating a respect for the past work and a desire to maintain its integrity.
• Collaborations with other artists, like The Civil Wars, are revisited in these re-recordings.

"We have safe and sound and eyes open Taylor's version both of them and both of them were originally released as The Hunger Games uh soundtrack songs."

This quote highlights Taylor Swift's efforts to re-record past works associated with movie soundtracks, demonstrating her commitment to owning all versions of her music and possibly setting a precedent for future re-recordings of soundtrack contributions.

• The Hunger Games franchise is experiencing a resurgence.
• "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" is being adapted into a film.
• The Hunger Games series was recently added back to Netflix.
• Taylor Swift re-released two songs from The Hunger Games soundtrack, coinciding with the resurgence.

"The Hunger Games has been having a bit of resurgence obviously um The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes... that is going to be now made into a film... a lot of chatter about The Hunger Games and a Resurgence alongside these."

This quote highlights the renewed interest in The Hunger Games franchise with the upcoming film adaptation and the availability of the series on Netflix.

• Taylor Swift released two songs from The Hunger Games as part of her "more red chapter."
• The songs "Safe and Sound" and "Eyes Open" did not originally belong to any album.
• "If This Was a Movie" was previously part of the "Speak Now Deluxe" album but is now associated with the "Fearless" album.

"Taylor's then re-released two Hunger Game songs... they have been included in what Taylor has again named the more red chapter... if this was a movie obviously Taylor's version so this was quite a left of field release."

The quote discusses Taylor Swift's strategic release of songs, particularly "If This Was a Movie," which is now associated with a different album era than its original release.

• Cameron and Lisa discuss their differing views on which era "Safe and Sound" and "Eyes Open" belong to.
• Cameron associates them with the "Red" era, while Lisa feels they are more "Speak Now" era.
• The conversation touches on the fluidity of music eras and how songs can cross over between them.

"Safe and sound and eyes open... I kind of always felt they were more like red era... I feel like they speak now... just because she's like performed them on the speak now tour."

This quote captures the debate over the classification of songs into Taylor Swift's album eras, illustrating the subjective nature of music categorization.

• Taylor Swift may want "Speak Now Taylor's Version" to be known as an entirely self-written album.
• "If This Was a Movie" has a co-writer, which may be why it was moved to the "Fearless" album.
• The move could be a strategic decision for marketing and preserving the legacy of "Speak Now" as a solo-written album.

"Speak now is a completely solo written album... she wants to really speak now Taylor's Version and for that to be an entirely self-written solo written album."

This quote suggests that Taylor Swift's decision to move "If This Was a Movie" to another album era may be part of a larger strategy to maintain the solo-written status of the "Speak Now" album.

• "If This Was a Movie" had limited availability on streaming platforms in the UK.
• The song's streaming history is not extensive, which may give Swift more flexibility in reassigning it to a different album era.

"If this was a movie for like example sorry wasn't on Spotify until like a year ago... it's not even like it's really had much of a streaming life."

The quote indicates that "If This Was a Movie" had limited streaming presence, which could influence decisions about its placement within Taylor Swift's discography.

• Fans speculate about future releases from Taylor Swift, including the possibility of "Speak Now Taylor's Version."
• Leaked songs like "Drama Queen" and "This Is What You Came For" are discussed in the context of their potential inclusion in future albums.
• The hosts discuss how fan classification of songs can influence their perception and expectations for album releases.

"I hope that we get more things like this... we should potentially get a couple more here and there if not a whole certain album beginning with s... speak now soon fingers crossed."

This quote reflects the anticipation and theories among fans regarding future releases from Taylor Swift and the potential inclusion of previously unreleased or leaked songs.

• The hosts encourage listeners to share their thoughts on the topics discussed during the podcast.
• They invite the audience to engage with them on social media and to rate the podcast on various platforms.

"Let us know all of your thoughts on both leaked and the kind of release tracks your opinions on just everything we've mentioned because we just love hearing what you guys say."

The quote is a call to action for listeners to engage with the podcast hosts and to contribute their own perspectives on the music and topics discussed.