Singer and songwriter,Taylor Swift, recently made an appearance on Good Morning America to reveal that she has re-recorded her timeless country album Fearless. The album contains the classic songs: Love Story, You Belong With Me, White Horse, and Hey Stephen. For those who grew up listening to Swift, this is very special, and allows us to relive our childhood through our favorite songs.

On February 12, Love Story (Taylor’s Version) was released and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, earning her 8th Hot Country Songs No. 1. In the first week, the rerecord earned 13.7 million US streams according to MRC data. The rerecord also awarded Swift with her third No. 1 on Country Streaming Songs.

Now the important question: Why is Taylor Swift rerecording her first five albums? Swift has had multiple legal battles surrounding the ownership of her debut self-titled album, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, and 1989. Her albums under Big Machine Label Group were sold in June 2019 to Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings and Shamrock Holdings. Under her contract, she could start to re-record these albums in November 2020, however, she must wait longer to re-record her 2017 album, reputation. 

For many, Swift’s old music feels like reliving their childhood. I grew up listening to Swift, and listening to Love Story (Taylor’s Version) reminded me of all the memories I made listening to that song, screaming it in the car with my mom and friends. Swift told Billboard in 2019 that “it’s going to be fun, because it’ll feel like regaining a freedom and taking back what’s mine”.

With the announcement of her re-recordings, Swift attached a note on her social media stating, “Artists should own their own work for so many reasons, but the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.” As of right now, the people who own Swift’s work took no part in the creation of it, or the writing process. Because Swift is the one who created this work, it’s only sensible that she wants to own it. Re-recording her music is one way she can own her music, and her fans have been more than supportive of her.While Swift will likely earn millions through these re-recordings, owning her work is a much more sentimental accomplishment.

Fearless (Taylor’s Version) will be released April 9th with 26 songs including the original track list, 6 songs from the vault, and the single Today Was a Fairytale. Be sure to listen to support Swift’s effort to take back what is her’s!