Taylor Swift debuts first re-recorded hit after losing rights to her back catalogue and fans are blown away
Taylor Swift. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for MTV)
Taylor Swift gave the world its first teaser of her re-recorded back catalogue in a Match.com advert by Ryan Reynolds which features her hit “Love Story”.
The singer has been busy re-recording her first six albums after record executive Scott ‘Scooter’ Braun bought and sold the rights to her masters catalogue, or the original recordings of her music.
Fans heard the first fruits of her labour Wednesday (2 December) in a Match advert written by Reynolds which sees Satan go on a date.
Swift and Reynolds both took to Twitter to announce the advert for the dating website.
The Folklore hitmaker wrote: “Okay so while my new re-records are NOT done, my friend [Reynolds] asked me if he could use a snippet of one for a LOLsome commercial he wrote so… here’s a sneak peak of ‘Love Story’!
“Working hard to get the music to you soon.”
Okay so while my new re-records are NOT done, my friend @VancityReynolds asked me if he could use a snippet of one for a LOLsome commercial he wrote so…here’s a sneak peak of Love Story! Working hard to get the music to you soon!! https://t.co/0vBFXxaRXR
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 2, 2020
The version of “Love Song” heard in the ad leans heavily into the swoony country instruments of the original, answering the question of whether Swift’s re-recordings would be soundalikes or complete reinterpretations.
Elsewhere, Reynolds introduced the world to the minute-and-a-half-long ad that sees Satan, the personification of evil and 2020 itself, match with someone online and spend a date in a deserted city – showing that love can be found even under quarantine.
As the pair pose in front of a literal dumpster fire as flaming fireballs pelt the earth at the end, Satan says: “I just don’t want this year to end.”
Likewise, fans didn’t want the snippet of Taylor Swift’s polished-up “Love Song” to end, with the re-record proving an immediate hit with fans craving even a crumb of happiness.
#2020LoveStory isn’t just a rerecording, it’s a lifestyle, a reason to breathe, an escape from this cruel world filled with thieves. it’s art, the first gift you open on christmas, a hug from a loved one, everything you’ve ever wanted, everything you’ve ever needed. https://t.co/3UBLP0JBcj— emily (@safeandstyle13) December 2, 2020
LEGEND(ary)….!!!! https://t.co/K50GPatI78— Rosario Dawson (@rosariodawson) December 2, 2020
Taylor sounds absoultely melodious #2020LoveStory gosh she is love https://t.co/HuccWalj35— ILY TAYLOR? (@TSReputationn) December 2, 2020
OMG!!! THIS IS INSANELY GOOD @taylorswift13 CAN'T WAIT FOR YOU TO FINISHED THE RE-RECORDING ?? #2020LoveStory https://t.co/FmEn6d5fTm
— CLAIRE (@znnyclr) December 2, 2020
BITCH I JUST WOKEUP https://t.co/BKi0bUhv2Z— samta (@exiIesus) December 2, 2020
Taylor Swift says re-recording ‘Love Story’ was ‘the most fun’.
Taylor Swift, 30, recently told Good Morning America that re-recording her back catalogue – which spans more than a decade – has been an emotional journey for her.
“So far, of the ones I’ve recorded, I think it’s been the most fun doing ‘Love Story’ because the older music, my voice was so teenaged and I sometimes when I hear my older music and my older young teenage voice, it makes me feel like I’m a different singer now,” she said.
“So it’s been the most fun to re-record ones that I feel like I could actually possibly improve upon the song.”
