Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is a Masterpiece

I had way more thoughts about Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) than I expected, especially since this was the era where I was a bit less involved. Still, I had a lot of thoughts, especially when it came to the vault track. I do think the title, and the obsession with weddings is so fitting for a teenage romantic. It’s funny how over the years, Taylor became less and less marriage-focused, as she grew as an artist.

• Mine sounds very different to me, something about her delivery is just… a lot different. This sounds like a cover by another artists, which is weird to me. I don’t hate it, but she’s not annunciating in the same ways, and it’s so odd to my ear.
• Sparks Fly never really got me before, but this time something about her voice… jeeze, it really hit me on TV. I think her grown up voice really changed it for me. The opener had me with chills which never happened in the past 13 years.
• Back to December has always been a favourite of mine, even as somebody who wasn’t an OG Speak Now lover. Still sounds good. I also appreciate her singing it with her present day vocals. Her long notes just hit better now (for me, at least). You gave me roses and I left them there to dieeeeee. Hits different in 2023 (double meaning intended).
• Speak Now is still speak now. But, okay, this entire song feels like the music video to I Bet You Think About Me which for some reason makes me appreciate it more? I love that music video. As for the singing, I don’t notice much difference, but wasn’t one of my favourites. It’s not bad. However, I honestly would LOVE a video that is the same wedding as IBYTAM.
• Was the guitar opener for Dear John always that fucking soul-crushingly good? As I’ve said before, SN was not a big Taylor era for me (I was a debut enjoyer who sort of ran away for a bit until Red). The guitar at the beginning… my god. That just really hit me really deeply. I’m gaining a huge appreciation for this album based on the instrumentals. Her modern music, while good, is so cluttered with synth etc, but this guitar is so magical.
• I’ve always loved Mean but I’m also a country music lover, so its guitar and the whole small town vibe gets me. I grew up in a small area in Canada which is quite country lifestyle. It also has lots of people who never grow up, hate you for succeeding and just sit around angry. I was told I’d never publish a novel and would end up in an asylum (what?) by a family member. I’ve lived that. Overcame it, too. So, Mean hits the same, and it’s still a great song for me. This is a main playlist song for me.
• The Story of Us has never been a skip for me, but also never been an obsessed. However, it’s pretty much the same. It sounds good, I like it. I really don’t have a lot of thoughts. I do like it, I think it’s good story-telling, but I don’t have a lot of thoughts because I will say this sounds like a perfect recreation, no differences in my ear at least. I do sing it out loud whenever it’s on – but how do I explain it – it’s one of those easy listen songs.
• I hate Never Grow Up (hear me out) because I have existential OCD, and I hate the idea of life passing by. As a kid, I’d listen to “100 years” and just ball my eyes out because I’d die some day. It’s a good song, I’ll never dispute that, but I’ll probably go back to ignoring its existence because it hurts me too much. I am really bad at the whole life passing us by theme. But, Taylor does a beautiful job. I appreciate how soft her vocals are here, I can tell she’s really holding back so that it’s a slow burn in the best way. Trying really hard not to cry. Jesus. I really wish I never grew up lol, and I think we all know Taylor wishes the same! The world hurts us so much… ugh.
• Enchanted is a song that I never really listened to a lot when it was new, but over the years I’ve listened, and I do think it’s a good song. It’s well done, and honestly, I don’t even think it would be out of place on a 2020s Taylor album. It’s still great, and her voice suits her very well. I love the romance of it. What’s there to say? It’s never been a bad song, and her vocals are great on TV.
• Never really been a Better than Revenge lover. Not because of the original lyrics. It’s just a “meh” song for me. I won’t pass it by, but it’s just not something that I’ve ever really liked that much. I think it’s a worse Misery Business (and Misery Business is unbeatable IMO). I think the line change suits the song. It’s not terrible, but it’s just a weird song all around. I think a modern comparison is Vigilante Shit which is done WAAAAY better. Taylor evolved on her pettiness, and I much prefer her modern revenge.
• Innocent is a song that I absolutely love. The vocals here are gorgeous. I adore them. It also sounds perfect compared to the original, and I am completely in love with this. Great song, always. I cannot listen to this song without singing, ever.
• I love the opening instrumental of Haunted and always have. The orchestra feel really gets me. Also, the song itself is simply beautiful. Has anybody ever disputed that? It’s still gorgeous, but my god, something about her modern vocals really make this song truly impressive. This is going to be a daily listen for me.
• Last Kiss is a nice song. There’s nothing really notable about it for me, however. It’s a good song, I like it, but I don’t like… grab for it about all other songs if that makes sense. I think this also speaks to the fact that I wasn’t an original Speak Now fan, so this song wasn’t as influential on me over the years. No hatred for it, but it just doesn’t give me any special feelings other than, “oh pretty”.
• Long Live is another Last Kiss for me. It’s good, but it’s not a song that I really cling to. It’s a good song, and I don’t skip it if it comes on, but it’s not something that I really overly identify with. No hatred for it either, I think the vocals are better on this version than the original (less straining on her voice).
• Ours is a song I really loved for years, but kind of lost it some how? Like, “don’t you worry your pretty little mind people throw rocks at things that shine” is a classic iconic song, and I think this song suffered from being a deluxe song. Anyways, I hadn’t heard it in ages and almost forgot which song the lyric came from, but the lyric hits me just as hard as ever. It sounds so pretty.
• I don’t remember Superman like at all? I think this is a song that I either never heard, or haven’t heard in 900 years. Anyways, I think it’s really good, and it’s a shame that I haven’t heard it. Again, another song that probably shouldn’t have been deluxe. This song is much stronger than Better Than Revenge, and I think it should probably should have been on the OG album in its place. Imagine how good this would have done considering how much superheroes TOOK OFF in that era?

• Electric Touch is fantastic! I am a Fall Out Boy fan who basically worships their music and lyricism. Pete’s lyrics are great always, but so are Taylor’s. Having a song with them both feels like two worlds colliding. I do agree with the opinion on the Fall Out Boy threads about the song that Patrick’s voice is a bit odd here, and I think that is a bit aggressive, but it does not ruin the song for me. I love Taylor, I love Patrick. I love this song. This is going on my main playlist. It’s interesting to have this on the modern Speak Now since it was a country album, but this song is decidedly in a more punk rock genre. Also, as a side note, I loved ME! And more mixes with punk rock singers is something I am looking forward to from Taylor. I fist bumped during this. Literally. Alone in my room.
• Okay, that piano intro on When Emma Falls in Love and the opening line… what the fuck? This is absolutely gorgeous. Why is this a vault track? This song is basically Folklore/Evermore. I’m so sad that Taylor didn’t think that this was good enough to release at the time. This song is so amazing… it really shows her artwork. It’s basically pre-Betty Betty. This song is fantastic and I fell in love with it on the first line, it feels like being wrapped in a big beach blanket. I’m going to marry it. This is also a really good country song. I hope that it gets a single release on country radio. “Like if Cleopatra grew up in a small town”… oh my god. This song. This song. Oh my god.
• I Can See You is a great follow up to When Emma Falls in Love, I like the more pop-punk intro for it. It’s a good balance. This song reminds me of being a little drunk and emotional, in a good way. The ethereal vibes are fantastic. You can really see later Taylor come out in the production of this vault-track. Very, Midnights in my opinion. I love the fever dream feel here. I picture a hazy room for it (Lavender haze vibes a bit).
• Castles Crumbling is pretty but I find it a bit quiet. Like, I barely noticed that I Can See You was over because this was just so whispery? I also really dislike that Taylor absolutely needs to have her background vocals every single time she has a female singer on a verse. STOP IT TAYLOR. Please. God. This has been her biggest sin on features, hands-down, and has not gone away. You’re the most accomplished female pop singer to ever live, let other women have a verse! Otherwise, this is pretty- and weird comment but this gave me almost a vibe of Owl City, which is so damn random, but that’s my honest thoughts. The bridge does pick up and it’s really good. Slow burn, but powerful!
• Foolish One is quite playful, which really tracks with the title. I like it. “You are not the exception, you will never learn your lesson”, well thanks for the pre Dear Reader. I like that this sounds quite upbeat, yet the message is still poignant. I also like that the music isn’t overpowering her voice her. It’s a great beat, but her vocals are carrying the song.
• Timeless starts so beautifully: “Down the block there’s an antique shop and something in my head said stop,” I really like this line. It’s so lyrical and pretty. This is another song. Yet another showing of early on writing that is so gorgeous, and Evermore/Folklore/Midnights worthy. The fact that this song and WEFIL weren’t on the original album shows how insecure Taylor was about pure storytelling, which she really should not have been! This reminds me of The Last Great American Dynasty and Starlight (and The Great War). It’s pure magic, like those songs. Taylor really shines with her storytelling and ballads.