{{short description|2012 studio album by Taylor Swift}} {{for|the 2021 re-recording|Red (Taylor's Version){{!}}''Red (Taylor's Version)''}} {{Featured article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox album | name = Red | type = studio | artist = Taylor Swift | cover = Taylor Swift - Red.png | alt = A closeup of Taylor Swift donning red lipstick with her face, half-covered by a brimmed hat, looking downwards | caption = Standard edition cover | released = {{start date|2012|10|22}} | recorded = {{circa}} 2011–2012 | studio = * {{hlist|Blackbird|Pain in the Art (Nashville)}} * Ballroom West (New York City) * {{hlist|Conway|Enormous|The Village (Los Angeles)}} * Instrument Landing (Minneapolis) * Marlay (North Hollywood) * MXM (Stockholm) * Garage (Topanga Canyon) * Ruby Red (Santa Monica)<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Red|last=Swift|first=Taylor|author-link=Taylor Swift|publisher=Big Machine Records|location=Nashville|year=2012|type=vinyl liner notes|id=BMR310400D}}</ref> | genre = <!-- Sourced in "Music and lyrics" --> *Pop *country pop *arena rock *country rock *pop rock | length = 65:09 | label = Big Machine | producer = * Taylor Swift * Nathan Chapman * Jeff Bhasker * Dann Huff * Jacknife Lee * Max Martin * Shellback * Butch Walker * Dan Wilson | prev_title = Speak Now World Tour – Live | prev_year = 2011 | next_title = 1989 | next_year = 2014 | misc = {{Singles | type = studio | name = Red | single1 = We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together | single1date = August 13, 2012 | single2 = Begin Again | single2date = October 1, 2012 | single3 = I Knew You Were Trouble | single3date = November 27, 2012 | single4 = 22 | single4date = March 12, 2013 | single5 = Red | single5date = June 24, 2013 | single6 = Everything Has Changed | single6date = July 14, 2013 | single7 = The Last Time | single7date = November 4, 2013 }} }} '''''Red''''' is the fourth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was released on October 22, 2012, through Big Machine Records. Inspired by a breakup that left behind emotional tumult, Swift framed ''Red'' as a breakup album that chronicles the aftermath of a failed relationship.
The songs on ''Red'' depict the complex and conflicting feelings ensuing from lost love. To convey those sentiments through music, Swift enlisted new producers to experiment with styles other than the country pop sound of her past albums. She produced ''Red'' with Nathan Chapman, Dann Huff, Max Martin, Shellback, Jeff Bhasker, Dan Wilson, Jacknife Lee, and Butch Walker. Regarded by critics as a primarily pop album, it incorporates eclectic styles of rock, folk, and country, featuring both acoustic instruments and electronic arrangements of synths and drum machines. Swift promoted ''Red'' as a country album, although music critics debated its genre classification and questioned her identity as a country artist.
Swift supported the album with the Red Tour (2013–2014) and seven singles; "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You Were Trouble" peaked at numbers one and two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and in the top 10 in several countries; and "Begin Again" and "Red" were US country top-10 singles. ''Red'' topped the charts and received multi-platinum certifications in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it spent seven weeks atop the ''Billboard'' 200—making Swift the first artist since the Beatles to have three consecutive albums with over six weeks at number one—and was certified eight-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Initial reviews of ''Red'' mostly praised Swift's songwriting for showcasing mature perspectives and sharp details, although the pop-leaning production divided critics who deemed it either bold or inconsistent. ''Red'' was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Country Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. Retrospectively, critics have regarded it as a career-defining album that reflected Swift's maturity and pushed her songwriting to greater heights. ''Rolling Stone'' placed the album at number 99 on their 2023 revision of "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Following a 2019 dispute regarding the ownership of Swift's back catalog, she released the re-recorded album ''Red (Taylor's Version)'' in 2021, and acquired the original album's master recording in 2025.
== Background == Taylor Swift's third studio album, ''Speak Now'', was released by Big Machine Records on October 25, 2010. She wrote the album entirely herself<ref>{{cite web |last=Dunham |first=Nancy |date=July 21, 2010 |title=Taylor Swift on New Album, New Home, Favorite Fan Moments |url=http://www.theboot.com/2010/07/21/taylor-swift-online-fan-chat/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522184804/http://www.theboot.com/2010/07/21/taylor-swift-online-fan-chat/ |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |access-date=July 22, 2010 |work=The Boot}}</ref> and produced it with Nathan Chapman, who had produced both of her previous albums.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tingen |first=Paul |date=February 2011 |title=Taylor Swift ''Speak Now'' |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/taylor-swift-speak-now?amp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210910113359/https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/taylor-swift-speak-now?amp |archive-date=September 10, 2021 |access-date=September 9, 2021 |work=Sound on Sound}}</ref> ''Speak Now'' expands on those albums' country pop sound with a more aggressive influence of crossover pop that was also characteristic of ''Fearless'' (2008)<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas Erlewine |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=''Speak Now'' – Taylor Swift |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-now-mw0002025410 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105185251/https://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-now-mw0002025410 |archive-date=November 5, 2017 |access-date=March 2, 2019 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> and incorporates rock styles including pop rock, arena rock, and new wave rock.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=33}} ''Speak Now'' registered in the 2010 ''Guinness World Records'' as the fastest-selling digital album by a female artist<ref>{{Cite news |title=Fastest-Selling Digital Album in the US by a Female Artist |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-selling-digital-album-in-the-us-by-a-female-artist/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622164555/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-selling-digital-album-in-the-us-by-a-female-artist/ |archive-date=June 22, 2015 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |work=Guinness World Records |publisher=}}</ref> and was nominated for Best Country Album at the 54th Grammy Awards in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grammy-awards-2012-winners-whitney-houston-death-adele-289778 |title=Grammy Awards 2012: Complete Winners And Nominees List |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 25, 2015 |date=February 12, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122045320/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grammy-awards-2012-winners-whitney-houston-death-adele-289778 |archive-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref>
After ''Speak Now'', Swift continued working with Chapman on her next album.<ref name="Gallo-2012">{{cite magazine |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=October 19, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Q&A: The Risks of ''Red'' and The Joys of Being 22 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474565/taylor-swift-qa-the-risks-of-red-and-the-joys-of-being-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224174636/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474565/taylor-swift-qa-the-risks-of-red-and-the-joys-of-being-22 |archive-date=February 24, 2013 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> By October 2011, she had written around 25 songs.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schillaci |first=Sophie |date=October 19, 2011 |title=Taylor Swift on ''Speak Now'' Follow-Up: 'I've Written 25 Songs So Far' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/taylor-swift-album-wonderstruck-perfume-250807 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223052503/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/taylor-swift-album-wonderstruck-perfume-250807 |archive-date=December 23, 2011 |work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> Although executives at Big Machine felt that the materials were sufficient and congratulated her for finishing work within one year, Swift felt that her creativity was diminished because she had been repeating the same songwriting process.<ref name="Willman-2012">{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=October 23, 2012 |title=Exclusive: Taylor Swift Talks About ''Red'', How to 'Begin Again' With New Love, And Being the World's Best-Behaved Bad-Ass |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/our-country/exclusive-taylor-swift-talks-red-begin-again-love-184143313.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120121834/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/blogs/our-country/exclusive-taylor-swift-talks-red-begin-again-love-184143313.html |archive-date=January 20, 2019 |access-date=June 12, 2025 |publisher=Yahoo}}</ref> She sought to collaborate with other producers to venture outside of her "comfort zone" of writing songs alone.<ref name="Willman-2012" /> While Swift viewed the solo-written ''Speak Now'' as her statement as a songwriter, she envisioned her fourth studio album as a statement of her "thirst for learning".<ref name="Bernstein-2020">{{cite magazine |last=Bernstein |first=Jonathan |date=November 18, 2020 |title=500 Greatest Albums: Taylor Swift Looks Back on Her 'Only True Breakup Album' ''Red'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/500-greatest-albums-taylor-swift-red-1059586/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204182537/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/500-greatest-albums-taylor-swift-red-1059586/ |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> She reworked the new album while touring on the Speak Now World Tour from 2011 to 2012.<ref name="Mansfield-2012">{{cite web |last=Mansfield |first=Brian |author-link=Brian Mansfield |date=October 17, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Sees ''Red'' All Over |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/17/taylor-swift-red-interview/1637307/ |url-access= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221175440/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2012/10/17/taylor-swift-red-interview/1637307/ |archive-date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=USA Today}}</ref>
== Writing and production == Swift recalled working on her fourth studio album within two years—she wrote songs by herself and produced them with Chapman within the first year, and engaged other producers within the second year. According to Swift, she recruited producers with whom she had not worked, but whose works had instilled curiosities in her.<ref name="Willman-2012" /><ref name="Mansfield-2012" /> While experimenting sonically, she prioritized conveying emotional sentiments through her lyrics over what particular sounds she should pursue, as with her typical approach.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gallo |first=Phil |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'': The ''Billboard'' Cover Story |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474541/taylor-swifts-red-the-billboard-cover-story |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614085411/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474541/taylor-swifts-red-the-billboard-cover-story |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |access-date=June 12, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> On songs that Swift co-wrote, she first presented her co-writers with the feelings she had been going through, played a rough version of her song on guitar, and asked for their ideas on ways to better convey the story.<ref name="Gallo-2012" /> Each track's production corresponded to the emotion it portrayed, to which Swift attributed the album's "eclectic blend of music".<ref name="Willman-2012" />
Production sessions took place in between stops of the Speak Now World Tour during 2011–2012.<ref name="Doyle-2012" /> The first song that Swift wrote was "All Too Well"; during a February 2011 rehearsal of the tour, she ad-libbed lyrics written after a broken relationship while playing a four-chord guitar riff as her touring band spontaneously played backing instruments.<ref name="Bernstein-2020" /> Swift told ''Rolling Stone'' that this relationship caused "a few roller coasters", and she channeled the tumult into the songs.<ref name="Doyle-2012">{{Cite magazine |last=Doyle |first=Patrick |date=September 13, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's Bold New Direction |magazine=Rolling Stone |pages=17–18 |issue=1165 |id={{ProQuest|1038455512}}}}</ref> She continued writing tracks like "Red" and "State of Grace" and produced them with Chapman in her creative base of Nashville, Tennessee.<ref name="Bernstein-2020" /> "Red" was a critical point during the album's formation;<ref name="Gallo-2012" /> Big Machine's president Scott Borchetta overheard the production and suggested a pop-oriented sound.<ref name="Dickey-2014">{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/3583129/power-of-taylor-swift-cover/|title=The Power of Taylor Swift|first=Jack|last=Dickey|magazine=Time|url-access=limited|date=November 13, 2014|access-date=August 8, 2020|archive-date=August 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819085008/https://time.com/3583129/power-of-taylor-swift-cover/|url-status=live}}</ref> After several failed attempts at the desired outcome, Swift asked Borchetta to recruit Max Martin, a Swedish producer known for his chart-topping pop songs.<ref name="Gallo-2012" /><ref name="Dickey-2014" /> Swift travelled to Los Angeles to work with Martin and his frequent collaborator Shellback, who produced the songs "22", "I Knew You Were Trouble", and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together".<ref name="Dickey-2014" />
Swift and Chapman produced the final version of "Red" with Dann Huff, and the three produced two more tracks: "Starlight" and "Begin Again".<ref name="Mansfield-2012" /> She engaged Jeff Bhasker because she was intrigued by his drum production, citing "We Are Young" (2011) by the indie band Fun as an example.<ref name="Willman-2012" /><ref name="Price-2012">{{cite news |last=Price |first=Deborah Evans |date=October 29, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Talks Writing, Relationships, Rejects and New Album ''Red'' |url=http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2012/10/29/taylor-swift-talks-writing-relationships-rejects-and-new-album-red/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302061136/http://www.nashcountrydaily.com/2012/10/29/taylor-swift-talks-writing-relationships-rejects-and-new-album-red/ |archive-date=March 2, 2019 |newspaper=Nash Country Weekly}}</ref> Bhasker produced two songs: "Holy Ground" and "The Lucky One".<ref>{{cite web |title=Taylor Swift – ''Red'' Album Personnel |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735/credits |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629160713/http://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735/credits |archive-date=June 29, 2017 |access-date=October 25, 2012 |website= |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> She wrote "Everything Has Changed" with the English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran and produced it with Butch Walker, and Dan Wilson co-wrote and produced "Treacherous".<ref name="Mansfield-2012" /> "The Last Time" is a collaboration of Swift with the Irish-Scottish band Snow Patrol: Gary Lightbody co-wrote and featured as a guest vocalist, and Jacknife Lee produced it.<ref name="Gallo-2012" /><ref name="Mansfield-2012" /> Swift named the album ''Red'', denoting the color to which she associated the tumultuous and extreme emotions that she was experiencing—"intense love, intense frustration, jealousy, confusion".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mckinley |first=James C, Jr. |date=August 15, 2012 |title=New Album Coming From Taylor Swift |work=The New York Times |page=C3 |id={{ProQuest|1033375755}}}}</ref><ref name="Lansky-2017">{{cite magazine |last=Lansky |first=Sam |author-link=Sam Lansky |date=November 8, 2017 |title=Why Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Is Her Best Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-red-best-album-8030142/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126142545/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/8030142/taylor-swift-red-best-album |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |access-date=December 27, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> By the time recording began, Swift had written more than 30 songs, and 16 of which made the final cut of the standard edition; Swift was the sole writer of nine tracks as well as two tracks from the deluxe edition.<ref name="Bernstein-2020" /><ref name="Price-2012" />
== Composition == === Music === ''Red'' incorporates various styles of pop, rock, and folk,<ref name="Bream-2023">{{Cite news |last=Bream |first=Jon |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Our Music Critic Ranks Taylor Swift's Albums From Worst to Best |url=https://www.startribune.com/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-aaron-dessner-grammy-folklore-1989-red-speak-now-kanye-west-harry-styles/600283837/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 21, 2023 |newspaper=Star Tribune |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721103804/https://www.startribune.com/taylor-swift-jack-antonoff-aaron-dessner-grammy-folklore-1989-red-speak-now-kanye-west-harry-styles/600283837/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="RS500" />{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=45}} namely dance-pop, indie pop, dubstep, Britrock, pop rock, and arena rock.{{efn|Attributed to publications including ''Rolling Stone'',<ref name="Bernstein-2020" /> NPR,<ref name="npr"/> ''Beats Per Minute'',<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beatsperminute.com/second-look-taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version/|title=Second Look: Taylor Swift – ''1989 (Taylor's Version)''|last=Wohlmacher|first=John|date=November 16, 2023|website=Beats Per Minute|access-date=November 23, 2023|archive-date=December 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208032646/https://beatsperminute.com/second-look-taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Atwood Magazine'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Roundtable Discussion: A Review of Taylor Swift's ''Red (Taylor's Version)''|magazine=Atwood Magazine|date=November 29, 2021|url=https://atwoodmagazine.com/red-taylors-version-taylor-swift-album-review/|access-date=October 27, 2025|archive-date=January 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240112105541/https://atwoodmagazine.com/red-taylors-version-taylor-swift-album-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> the ''Alternative Press'',<ref name="Barnes-2023"/> and ''Consequence''<ref name="Consequence-2021"/>}} The arrangements of its songs include acoustic instruments, electronic synths, and drum machines.<ref name="Bream-2023" /> Calling ''Red'' her "only true breakup album", Swift said that the diverse musical styles were a "metaphor for how messy a real breakup is".<ref name="Bernstein-2020" /> Its first half consists of country and pop songs intertwined with each other;<ref name="Billboard-2012" /> "22", "I Knew You Were Trouble", and "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" have a pop production that incorporates electronic vocal processing and hip-hop-influenced bass drums.<ref name="Caramanica-2012" />{{Sfn|Perone|2017|pp=46–48}} "State of Grace", "Red", and "Holy Ground" expand on the 1980s arena-rock stylings of ''Speak Now'',<ref name="Barnes-2023">{{cite magazine |last=Barnes |first=Kelsey |date=February 21, 2023 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked |url=https://www.altpress.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230306222932/https://www.altpress.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/ |archive-date=March 6, 2023 |access-date=November 6, 2023 |magazine=Alternative Press}}</ref>{{sfn|Perone|2017|pp=46–49}} while "All Too Well", "I Almost Do", "Stay Stay Stay", "Sad Beautiful Tragic", and "Begin Again" feature the country sound of Swift's earlier music.<ref name="Hyden-2012" /><ref name="Dukes-2012">{{cite web |last=Dukes |first=Billy |date=October 19, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift, ''Red'' |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-red/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104175536/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-red/ |archive-date=November 4, 2017 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |work=Taste of Country}}</ref>{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=52}}
Critics were divided on the album's genre classification. Jon Dolan's review for ''Rolling Stone'' appeared in the magazine's column for country music, but he described its musical foundation as "post-country rock".<ref name="Dolan-2012">{{cite magazine |last=Dolan |first=Jon |date=October 18, 2012 |title=''Red'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/red-20121018 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184423/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/red-20121018 |archive-date=January 15, 2018 |access-date=October 18, 2012 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> Some reviewers commented that ''Red'' blurred the divide between country and pop,<ref name="Billboard-2012" /><ref name="Lachno-2012">{{cite news |last=Lachno |first=James |date=October 19, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift, ''Red'', Album Review |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9618220/Taylor-Swift-Red-album-review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012044011/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/9618220/Taylor-Swift-Red-album-review.html |archive-date=October 12, 2016 |access-date=August 13, 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> while others called it a straightforward pop album with contemporary influences,<ref name="Hyden-2012" /><ref name="Erlewine" /><ref name="Keefe-2012">{{cite web |last=Keefe |first=Jonathan |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Red'' |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-red/2900 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012014408/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/taylor-swift-red/2900 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |access-date=December 27, 2012 |magazine=Slant Magazine}}</ref> deeming it Swift's inevitable move away from country into mainstream pop.<ref name="Roberts-2012">{{cite web |last=Roberts |first=Randall |date=October 22, 2012 |title=Album Review: Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Brims with Confidence |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-album-review-taylor-swifts-red-brims-with-confidence-20121022,0,2686298.story |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112034726/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-album-review-taylor-swifts-red-brims-with-confidence-20121022,0,2686298.story |archive-date=November 12, 2012 |access-date=December 27, 2012 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref><ref name="Hight-2012">{{Cite magazine |last=Hight |first=Jewly |date=October 26, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Red'' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-red/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726094520/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-red/ |archive-date=July 26, 2021 |access-date=December 12, 2022 |magazine=American Songwriter}}</ref><ref name="Rosen-2013" /> Jon Caramanica of ''The New York Times'' regarded Swift as a "pop star in a country context more than a country star" and argued that ''Red'' was the culmination of a gradual progress since her debut album to expand beyond the limitations of country music.<ref name="Caramanica-2012" /> In his article for ''Grantland'', Steven Hyden argued that ''Red''<nowiki/>'s broad musical styles made it a country album as much as a pop or rock one.<ref name="Hyden-2014">{{Cite web |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden |date=October 28, 2014 |title=Pop Is a Banana-Quinoa Muffin: The Artisanal Aloofness of Taylor Swift's ''1989'' |url=https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/taylor-swift-1989-review-pop-music/ |access-date=December 20, 2025 |website=Grantland |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605233118/https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/taylor-swift-1989-review-pop-music/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Some retrospective reviews labeled ''Red'' as country pop,<ref name="Bernstein-2020" /><ref name="Genre Shift">{{cite magazine |last=Dantona |first=Savannah |date=September 21, 2023 |title=From Country to Pop: 5 Taylor Swift Songs That Define Her Genre Shift |url=https://americansongwriter.com/from-country-to-pop-5-taylor-swift-songs-that-define-her-genre-shift/ |access-date=December 6, 2025 |magazine=American Songwriter |archive-date=December 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205154400/https://americansongwriter.com/from-country-to-pop-5-taylor-swift-songs-that-define-her-genre-shift/ |url-status=live }}</ref> arena rock,<ref name="Barnes-2023" /> country rock,<ref name="Genre Shift" /> or pop rock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taylor-Swift|title=Taylor Swift|website=Britannica|first=Michael|last=Ray|date=December 22, 2025|access-date=December 27, 2025|quote=…the album embraced a bold pop-rock sound.|archive-date=December 31, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251231151219/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taylor-Swift|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Lyrics === [[File:Joni Mitchell 1983.jpg|thumb|upright|left|''Blue'' (1971) by Joni Mitchell (pictured) inspired Swift's songwriting on ''Red''.|alt=Joni Mitchell, Canadian singer-songwriter, playing a guitar]]
Swift's songwriting influences on ''Red'' include the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and the Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. In the album's physical booklet, she quotes a line from Naruda's poem ''Tonight I Can Write The Saddest Lines'', "Love is so short, forgetting is so long."<ref>{{cite news |last=Farley |first=Christopher John |date=October 31, 2012 |title=The Platinum Poetry of Taylor Swift |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-72304 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122100434/https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-SEB-72304 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |access-date=November 22, 2021 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=November 2, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: 'My Confidence Is Easy to Shake' |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/11/03/164186569/taylor-swift-my-confidence-is-easy-to-shake |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428003156/https://www.npr.org/2012/11/03/164186569/taylor-swift-my-confidence-is-easy-to-shake |archive-date=April 28, 2022 |access-date=November 22, 2021 |publisher=NPR}}</ref> She was inspired by Mitchell's 1971 album ''Blue'' for how it "explores somebody's soul so deeply".<ref>{{cite magazine |date=June 22, 2016 |title=Joni Mitchell: 15 Great Artists Influenced by the ''Blue'' Singer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/joni-mitchell-15-great-artists-influenced-by-the-blue-singer-168972/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120080719/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/joni-mitchell-15-great-artists-influenced-by-the-blue-singer-168972/ |archive-date=January 20, 2021 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> Several journalists opined that ''Blue'' also influenced the cover artwork of ''Red'', which shows Swift looking downward with her face partially shadowed from her brimmed hat.<ref name="Nelson-2019" /><ref name="Consequence-2021">{{Cite magazine |date=November 9, 2021 |editor-last=Siroky |editor-first=Mary |title=Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked from Worst to Best |url=https://consequence.net/2022/10/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/9/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220328011127/https://consequence.net/2021/11/taylor-swift-albums-ranked-list/ |archive-date=March 28, 2022 |access-date=November 10, 2021 |magazine=Consequence}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Cox |first=Jamieson |date=April 1, 2015 |title=This Is Why Joni Mitchell Is Your Favorite Musician's Favorite Musician |url=https://time.com/3767182/joni-mitchell-hospitalized-taylor-swift/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200821042916/https://time.com/3767182/joni-mitchell-hospitalized-taylor-swift/ |archive-date=August 21, 2020 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |magazine=Time}}</ref> In ''The Atlantic'', Brad Nelson argued that Swift's songcraft uses details and narrative devices that resemble the styles of rock and roll musicians such as Steely Dan, Bruce Springsteen, and Leonard Cohen.<ref name="Nelson-2012" />
Using autobiographical songwriting, ''Red'' is about the aftermath of an intense breakup, detailing loss, pain, abandonment, and regrets.<ref name="Lansky-2017" /><ref name="Yoshida-2017">{{Cite web |last=Yoshida |first=Emily |date=November 10, 2017 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' and the Art of Never Seeing It Coming |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/revisiting-taylor-swifts-album-red.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525034532/https://www.vulture.com/2017/11/revisiting-taylor-swifts-album-red.html |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |access-date=August 23, 2024 |website=Vulture}}</ref>{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=43}} According to Swift, most of the album was inspired by an ex-boyfriend who later contacted her after listening to it and described the experience as "bittersweet ... like going through a photo album".<ref name="Rosen-2013">{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |date=November 25, 2013 |title=Why Taylor Swift Is the Reigning Queen of Pop |url=https://www.vulture.com/2013/11/taylor-swift-reigning-queen-of-pop.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119003714/https://www.vulture.com/2013/11/taylor-swift-reigning-queen-of-pop.html |archive-date=November 19, 2013 |access-date=February 25, 2021 |website=Vulture}}</ref> Whereas her previous albums contain fantasy-driven narratives with happy endings, ''Red'' explores the uneasy reality of how a relationship can painfully end;<ref name="Nelson-2019" /> Caramanica wrote, "Almost everything here is corroded in some way."<ref name="Caramanica-2012" /> Each song is contained within a fixed scene and narrative with defined characters, informed by the storytelling aspect of country songwriting.<ref name="npr">{{cite web |last=English |first=J. |date=August 28, 2017 |title=Shocking Omissions: Taylor Swift's ''Red'', A Canonical Coming-Of-Age Album |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/08/28/546359653/shocking-omissions-taylor-swift-s-red-a-canonical-coming-of-age-album |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412213355/https://www.npr.org/2017/08/28/546359653/shocking-omissions-taylor-swift-s-red-a-canonical-coming-of-age-album |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |publisher=NPR}}</ref><ref name="Yoshida-2017" /><ref name="Sargent-2017">{{cite web |last=Sargent |first=Jordan |date=June 16, 2017 |title=Listen to Taylor Swift's ''Red'', One of the Best Pop Albums of Our Time |url=https://www.spin.com/2017/06/taylor-swift-red-essay/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101062952/https://www.spin.com/2017/06/taylor-swift-red-essay/ |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |work=Spin}}</ref>
Reflecting Swift's personal experience, ''Red'' details her recurring themes of love and heartbreak, but from a more complex perspective gained from her early-20s adulthood.<ref name="Rosen-2013" /><ref name="Nelson-2012" /><ref name="Gallucci-2012">{{cite web |last=Gallucci |first=Michael |date=October 24, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Red'' |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-red-1798174734 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105045049/http://www.avclub.com/articles/taylor-swift-red,87872/ |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |access-date=January 8, 2015 |work=The A.V. Club}}</ref> Nelson wrote that ''Red'' sees Swift no longer putting the blame solely on ex-lovers and instead viewing heartbreak with "ambiguity",<ref name="Nelson-2012" /> while Emily Yoshida from ''Vulture'' opined that there are moments of vulnerability that "feel wise beyond the 22 years Swift was".<ref name="Yoshida-2017" /> There are allusions to sexuality on tracks like "State of Grace", "Treacherous", and "Stay Stay Stay";<ref name="Caramanica-2012" /><ref name="Lambert-2012">{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Molly |author-link=Molly Lambert |date=October 23, 2012 |title=Dark ''Red'': The Smart, Sexual, And Suddenly Mature Taylor Swift |url=https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/dark-red-the-smart-sexual-and-suddenly-mature-taylor-swift/ |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=Grantland |archive-date=December 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223041902/https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/dark-red-the-smart-sexual-and-suddenly-mature-taylor-swift/ |url-status=live }}</ref> writing for NPR, J. English regarded this new theme as Swift's coming of age and her first-hand experience and exploration in womanhood, a departure from her past albums which had hinted at sex but from an outsider's perspective.<ref name="npr" />
=== Songs === {{Listen | filename = Taylor Swift - Treacherous.ogg | title = "Treacherous" | description = "Treacherous" is a folk ballad that blends country and pop styles and features acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. | type = music }}
"State of Grace" is an arena-rock song that features chiming guitars and dynamic drums, and its lyrics are about the tumultuous feelings stemming from romantic beginnings.<ref name="Nelson-2019" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Hogan |first=Marc |author-link=Marc Hogan |date=October 16, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Reaches 'State of Grace' on Feedback-Streaked Rock Anthem |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/10/taylor-swift-state-of-grace-listen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151217033038/http://www.spin.com/2012/10/taylor-swift-state-of-grace-listen/ |archive-date=December 17, 2015 |access-date=October 19, 2012 |magazine=Spin}}</ref> According to the musicologist James E. Perone, the lyric, "Love is a ruthless game, unless you play it good and right", sets the overall theme of an album about passionate romance gone wrong.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=44}} The title track explores an intense relationship that has failed,{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=44}} relating the stages of love to colors: "losing him" is blue, "missing him" is a dark gray, and "loving him" is red.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/taylor-swift-drops-twangy-title-track-for-red-20121002|title=Taylor Swift Describes Color of Heartache on {{'}}''Red''{{'}}|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited|date=October 2, 2012|access-date=October 2, 2012|archive-date=February 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201075948/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/taylor-swift-drops-twangy-title-track-for-red-20121002|url-status=live}}</ref> It is built on an acoustic arrangement consisting of string instruments of acoustic guitar, banjitar, cello, fiddle, and bouzouki, which display a country sound,{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=44}} while also featuring electronic vocal manipulation and elements of mainstream pop, soft rock, and adult contemporary.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hogan |first=Marc |author-link=Marc Hogan |date=October 2, 2012 |title=Hear Taylor Swift's Maserati-Themed ''Red'' Title Track |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/10/taylor-swift-red-listen/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026202725/http://www.spin.com/2012/10/taylor-swift-red-listen/ |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=October 2, 2012 |work=Spin}}</ref> "Treacherous", which begins with slow guitar strumming and percussion and gradually builds up,<ref name="Billboard-2012" /><ref name="Nelson-2019" /> is a folk ballad<ref name="Lambert-2012" /> that blends country and pop styles<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Cooney |first1=Samantha |last2=Gutterman |first2=Annabel |last3=Chow |first3=Andrew R. |date=November 11, 2021 |title=Ranking the Songs on Taylor Swift's ''Red'' |url=https://time.com/6116569/red-songs-ranked-taylor-swift/ |url-status=live |magazine=Time |access-date=May 10, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112000136/https://time.com/6116569/red-songs-ranked-taylor-swift/ |archive-date=November 12, 2021 }}</ref> and features acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=81}} Its lyrics are about attempting to protect a fragile relationship.<ref name="Dukes-2012" />
"I Knew You Were Trouble" has a pop-rock production in its verses, and its refrain begins with a dubstep drop and continues with aggressive synth backing and hip hop-influenced syncopated percussion.<ref name="Nelson-2019" />{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=44}} In the lyrics of "I Knew You Were Trouble", Swift's character blames herself for a toxic relationship that has ended.<ref name="Caramanica-2012" /> Critics considered the song widely different from the music that Swift had explored on her past albums: Perone said that the track's dynamic shifts between the verses were "sudden and unexpected",{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=45}} and Caramanica wrote that the dubstep drop was "a wrecking ball, changing the course not just of the song but also of Ms. Swift's career".<ref name="Caramanica-2012" /> "All Too Well", considered by critics the emotional centerpiece of the album's narrative,<ref name="Bernstein-2020" /> has a slow-building production with overdubs of acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, drums, and harmony vocals.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=46}} It chronicles a lost relationship from the peak of romance to the lingering memories after it has ended.<ref name="Billboard-2012" /><ref name="Keefe-2012" />
"22" is about celebrating the joys of being youthful by going out and meeting new people to move on from heartbreak.<ref name="npr" /><ref name="Sargent-2017" /> Its verses are driven by acoustic guitar, and its refrain incorporates a dance-influenced arrangement consisting of electronic synths and hip hop-influenced bass drums.<ref name="Caramanica-2012" />{{Sfn|Perone|2017|pp=46–47}} According to Perone, the arrangement of "I Almost Do" is derived from Swift's early country songs: its verses are formed on short melodic motives and Swift's lower register vocals, while its refrain has a longer range in Swift's vocals. The song displays elements of country and folk via acoustic guitars and open string notes in the texture.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=47}} In "I Almost Do", Swift's character wonders what she would do if an ex-lover asked her to come back to him, and she admits she would likely agree to do so.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=47}} Her character in "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", meanwhile, promises an ex-lover that they will never rekindle their relationship.<ref name="Billboard-2012" /> Swift's vocals in the song are electronically processed,{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}} and its production features an acoustic guitar arrangement alongside filtered guitar tones, synths, and hip hop-influenced bass drums.<ref name="Erlewine" />{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}} "Stay Stay Stay", a fast-tempo song combining styles of country and 1980s pop,{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}} features toy piano, ukulele, mandolin, and hand claps, and its lyrics are about two lovers trying to reconcile after a fight.<ref name="Caramanica-2012" /><ref name="Keefe-2012" />
{{Listen | filename = Taylor Swift - Holy Ground.ogg | title = "Holy Ground" | description = "Holy Ground" combines an arena rock and country rock production with country pop and pop rock beats to express gratitude for a failed relationship. | type = music }} "The Last Time", a duet with Lightbody, is a melancholic power ballad that begins with piano and crescendoes with strings and electric guitars.{{Sfnm|1a1=Perone|1y=2017|2a1=Zaleski|2y=2024|1p=48|2p=90}} Perone compared its production with the music of late-1970s and early-1980s rock bands but with a muted texture.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=49}} Lightbody's and Swift's characters detail their perspectives on a failing long-term relationship in the first and second verses,{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=49}} and the refrain is backed by an orchestra playing intense strings and brass.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=48}}<ref>{{cite news |last=Roberts |first=Randall |date=October 31, 2012 |title='The Last Time' Connects Taylor Swift with Arcade Fire |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-31-la-et-ms-the-last-time-connects-taylor-swift-with-arcade-fire-20121031-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306070538/http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/31/entertainment/la-et-ms-the-last-time-connects-taylor-swift-with-arcade-fire-20121031 |archive-date=March 6, 2016 |access-date=December 27, 2020 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> In "Holy Ground", Swift's character reminisces about an absent lover and the specific memories of their past, expressing gratitude for their failed relationship.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=49}}{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=91}} It is an arena rock,<ref name="Barnes-2023"/> country rock,{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=49}} and heartland rock track<ref name="Keefe-2012" /> that incorporates country pop and pop rock beats;<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Iasimone |first=Ashley |date=August 29, 2020 |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/songs-like-taylor-swift-folklore-9438687/ |title=If ''Folklore'' Turned You On to Taylor Swift, These Are the Deep Cuts You'll Like |magazine=Billboard |access-date=May 10, 2026 |archive-date=September 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910034854/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/songs-like-taylor-swift-folklore-9438687/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=June 9, 2017 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-10-great-deep-cuts-you-can-stream-now-114840/ |title=Taylor Swift: 10 Great Deep Cuts You Can Stream Now |magazine=Rolling Stone |url-access=limited |access-date=May 10, 2026 |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921232203/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-10-great-deep-cuts-you-can-stream-now-114840/ |url-status=live}}</ref> persistent drums;<ref name="Nelson-2012">{{cite magazine |last=Nelson |first=Brad |date=November 1, 2012 |title=If You Listen Closely, Taylor Swift Is Kind of Like Leonard Cohen |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/11/if-you-listen-closely-taylor-swift-is-kind-of-like-leonard-cohen/264275/ |url-access=limited |access-date=August 31, 2022 |magazine=The Atlantic |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225063319/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/11/if-you-listen-closely-taylor-swift-is-kind-of-like-leonard-cohen/264275/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and a twangy guitar riff.<ref name="Lansky-2017" /> "Sad Beautiful Tragic", an intimate and melancholic acoustic track,<ref name="Billboard-2012" /><ref name="Dukes-2012" /> is composed of overdubs of acoustic instruments.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=50}} She wrote the song when reminiscing about a relationship that had ended "months before", which evoked wistful feelings.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=91}} Perone commented that "Sad Beautiful Tragic" extended the "lyrical impressionism" of Swift's songwriting by using various images without drawing a straightforward connection between them.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=50}} "The Lucky One" incorporates a driving drum machine and has a soft-rock,<ref name="npr" /> indie rock,<ref name="Hyden-2012">{{Cite web |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden |date=October 23, 2012 |title=The Preternatural |url=https://grantland.com/features/taylor-swift-officially-assumes-pop-center-new-album-red/ |access-date=December 27, 2024 |website=Grantland}}</ref> and 1960s pop-rock sound.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=50}} Written in third-person perspective, the lyrics tell the story of a successful singer who looked "like a '60s queen" in her high-school days, was envied by her friends after achieving fame in "the angels' city",{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=50}} and ultimately "chose the rose garden over Madison Square".<ref name="Billboard-2012" /><ref name="Keefe-2012" />
"Everything Has Changed", a duet with Sheeran, is a mid-tempo acoustic guitar-led ballad<ref name="Billboard-2012" /> that incorporates deep bass drums.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=51}} Perone commented that the song's arrangement is similar to the music from Swift's debut album, using "a high degree of syncopation" at the sixteenth note level. In the song, Swift and Sheeran sing about the beginnings of a new romance, alternating their lead vocals in the verses.{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=51}} Swift was inspired to write "Starlight" by the teenage romance of Ethel Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Farley |first=Christopher John |date=October 18, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's Kennedy Inspiration |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444734804578064780996484860 |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 23, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=November 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122042015/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390444734804578064780996484860 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the lyrics, Swift's character reminisces about meeting her lover one evening in the "summer of '45" and how they intruded a "yacht club party" and danced "like [they] were made of starlight".<ref name="Dolan-2012" />{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=51}} Containing an electric guitar solo,{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=51}} "Starlight" is a dance-pop song<ref name="Keefe-2012" /> that Perone deemed "vaguely contemporary country pop in nature".{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=51}} In the closing track of the standard edition, "Begin Again", Swift's character explores how a newfound love interest differs from her ex-lovers, giving her hopes of a new romance. According to Perone, that the genre-spanning ''Red'' concludes with a country ballad confirms country music as an integral part of Swift's musical identity.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=52}}
The deluxe edition of ''Red'' includes three extra original songs: "The Moment I Knew", "Come Back ... Be Here", and "Girl at Home"; demo recordings of "Treacherous" and "Red"; and an acoustic version of "State of Grace".{{sfn|Spencer|2013|p=a8}} "The Moment I Knew" is a somber pop-rock piano ballad;<ref name="Lambert-2012" /> its lyrics were inspired by Swift's 21st birthday: her narrator realizes that the relationship is coming to an end when she keeps staring at the door, hoping her boyfriend would appear to celebrate her birthday party, but he never comes.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=96}} "Come Back... Be Here", with a 2000s adult-contemporary-oriented sound, has lyrics about a long-distance relationship with few chances to endure.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Song |first=Jane |date=February 5, 2020 |title=All 158 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs/ |access-date=December 14, 2022 |magazine=Paste |archive-date=April 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200413001443/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-songs/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "Girl at Home", a 1980s-styled folk-pop song with elements of electronic music and country,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mylrea |first=Hannah |date=September 8, 2020 |title=Every Taylor Swift Song Ranked In Order of Greatness |url=https://www.nme.com/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724154619/https://www.nme.com/en_asia/features/every-taylor-swift-song-ranked-2747916 |archive-date=July 24, 2021 |access-date=December 27, 2020 |magazine=NME}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Nate |date=April 25, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked From Worst to Best |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-access=limited |access-date=December 14, 2025 |website=Vulture |archive-date=November 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101023643/https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=97}} details a woman's contempt for a flirtatious man who is in a relationship with another woman.{{sfn|Spencer|2013|p=a8}}
== Release and promotion == [[File:Swift outside Letterman studio 2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Swift outside the studio of ''Late Show with David Letterman'' to promote ''Red'', October 23, 2012|alt=Taylor Swift at a GMA event]] Swift and Big Machine implemented an extensive marketing plan for ''Red'', encompassing brand endorsements, multimedia promotions, and song releases.<ref name="Lewis-2012">{{cite web |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=October 30, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Raises the Bar with a Savvy ''Red'' Marketing Campaign |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-30-la-et-ms-taylor-swift-20121031-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228034534/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-oct-30-la-et-ms-taylor-swift-20121031-story.html |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |access-date=December 28, 2020 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> She announced the album on August 13, 2012, via a live webchat held on Google Hangouts.{{sfn|Lamb|Hair|McDaniel|2014|p=334}} Her corporate partnerships included album distribution deals at retail sites by Starbucks, Walgreens, Walmart, and Papa John's, and an exclusive merchandise line with Keds.<ref name="Lewis-2012" /><ref name="Caulfield-2012">{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=October 30, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Sells 1.21 Million; Biggest Sales Week for an Album Since 2002 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474400/taylor-swifts-red-sells-121-million-biggest-sales-week-for-an-album-since-2002 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611223525/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474400/taylor-swifts-red-sells-121-million-biggest-sales-week-for-an-album-since-2002 |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |access-date=October 31, 2012 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Both the standard and deluxe editions were released on October 22, 2012.<ref name="Lewis-2012" /> In the United States, the standard edition was available in digital and physical formats, and the deluxe edition was available exclusively for physical purchase at Target.<ref name="Lewis-2012" />
A day after the release, Swift began a cycle of television appearances in the United States, which included ''Good Morning America'' (October 23), ''Late Show with David Letterman'' (October 23), ''The View'' (October 24), ''The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' (October 25), ''Katie'' (October 26), and ''20/20'' (October 26).<ref name="Caulfield-2012" /> She gave interviews to as many as 72 radio stations, mostly in the United States and some from South Africa, New Zealand, Spain, Germany, and Mexico. On social media, Swift encouraged her fans to ask their local radio stations to air her songs.<ref name="Lewis-2012" /> Her live performances at awards shows included the MTV Video Music Awards,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475234/taylor-swift-performs-never-ever-at-the-2012-mtv-vmas |title=Taylor Swift Performs 'Never Ever' at the 2012 MTV VMAs |date=September 2, 2012 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |last=Maloy |first=Sarah |magazine=Billboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151128052216/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475234/taylor-swift-performs-never-ever-at-the-2012-mtv-vmas |archive-date=November 28, 2015}}</ref> the Country Music Association Awards,<ref>{{cite web |date=October 31, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Debuts at #1 |work=Umusic |url=http://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/taylor-swifts-red-debuts-at-1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322222819/http://www.umusic.ca/press-releases/taylor-swifts-red-debuts-at-1/ |archive-date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=October 31, 2012 |publisher=Universal Music Canada}}</ref> and the American Music Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474090/amas-2012-top-5-best-performances |title=AMAs 2012: Top 5 Best Performances |date=November 19, 2012 |access-date=November 2, 2017 |last=JaLipshutz |first=Jason |magazine=Billboard |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230224536/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474090/amas-2012-top-5-best-performances |archive-date=December 30, 2016}}</ref> In November 2012, she embarked on a promotional tour in Japan, appearing on Nippon Television's show ''Sukkiri'' and giving an interview to the radio station InterFM.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 21, 2012 |title= |script-title=ja:テイラー・スウィフト 全米No.1アルバムをひっさげ5度目の来日 |trans-title=Taylor Swift Visits Japan for the Fifth Time with a No. 1 Album in the United States |url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/d_news/detail/8483/2 |access-date=December 27, 2025 |work=Billboard Japan |language=ja}}</ref> On a promotional tour for ''Red'' in France in 2013, she gave a private concert to fans and journalists in Paris, and appeared at the NRJ Music Awards.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giuliani |first=Morgane |date=January 22, 2018 |title=Pourquoi Taylor Swift boude-t-elle la France, et vice versa ? |trans-title=Why Is Taylor Swift Shunning France, and Vice Versa? |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/pop-culture/pourquoi-taylor-swift-boude-t-elle-la-france-et-vice-versa-22-01-2018-2188713_2920.php |access-date=December 26, 2025 |website=Le Point |language=fr |archive-date=April 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415222039/https://www.lepoint.fr/pop-culture/pourquoi-taylor-swift-boude-t-elle-la-france-et-vice-versa-22-01-2018-2188713_2920.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was released as the lead single on August 13, 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Grady |date=August 14, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Releases Single 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together', Announces New Album ''Red'' |url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/08/14/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-red/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817051607/http://music-mix.ew.com/2012/08/14/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-red/ |archive-date=August 17, 2012 |access-date=August 14, 2012 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> It was Swift's first number-one single on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=September 12, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Never' Is Hot 100's Longest-Leading Country Song Since 1980 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475154/taylor-swifts-never-is-hot-100s-longest-leading-country-song-since-1980 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021023415/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/475154/taylor-swifts-never-is-hot-100s-longest-leading-country-song-since-1980 |archive-date=October 21, 2020 |access-date=September 12, 2012 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> After ''Billboard'' revised the Hot Country Songs chart to include downloads and streaming in addition to airplay, the single spent 10 weeks at number one due to strong digital sales.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 11, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Lands 1 and 2 on Revised Country Songs Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-lands-1-and-2-on-revised-country-songs-chart-474699/ |access-date=December 17, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=January 11, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260111021059/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-lands-1-and-2-on-revised-country-songs-chart-474699/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Asker |first=Jim |date=April 6, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Scores 25th Hot Country Songs Top 10 With 'You All Over Me' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9552192/taylor-swift-you-all-over-me-hot-country-songs-chart/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416214139/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9552192/taylor-swift-you-all-over-me-hot-country-songs-chart/ |archive-date=April 16, 2021 |access-date=July 26, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Elsewhere, it topped the Canadian and New Zealand singles charts and peaked in the top 10 in Australia, Japan, Norway, Spain, and the United Kingdom.{{Efn|Chart positions for Canada;<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/Taylor-Swift/chart-history/CAN|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 24, 2025|archive-date=August 12, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250812070834/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/can/|url-status=live}}</ref> Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Spain;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=We+Are+Never+Ever+Getting+Back+Together&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=December 24, 2025|archive-date=April 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420151523/http://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=We+Are+Never+Ever+Getting+Back+Together&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> Japan;{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=47}} the UK<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/taylor-swift-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together/|title=We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=December 24, 2025}}</ref>}} During a four-week countdown to the album's release, from September 24 to October 22, Swift previewed one album track each week via ''Good Morning America'': "Begin Again", "Red", "I Knew You Were Trouble", and "State of Grace".<ref>{{cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Alyssa |date=September 21, 2013 |title=Taylor Swift Launches ''Red'' Album Release With 4-Week Song Preview Countdown |url=https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/good-morning-america-exclusive-taylor-swift-launches-red-album-release-with-4-week-song-preview-countdown-exclusively-on-abcs-good-morning-america/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123233722/http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/09/good-morning-america-exclusive-taylor-swift-launches-red-album-release-with-4-week-song-preview-countdown-exclusively-on-abcs-good-morning-america/ |archive-date=November 23, 2012 |access-date=February 18, 2013 |publisher=American Broadcasting Company}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Montgomery |first=James |date=October 16, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's 'State of Grace' Goes Straight to #1 on iTunes |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1695625/taylor-swift-state-of-grace-red-album/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115173210/http://www.mtv.com/news/1695625/taylor-swift-state-of-grace-red-album/ |archive-date=November 15, 2020 |access-date=November 15, 2020 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref> "Begin Again" and "Red" were released to US country radio as singles,<ref>{{cite journal |date=February 25, 2013 |title=Country Aircheck Weekly |url=https://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_334%20-%20February%2025,%202013.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Country Aircheck |location=Nashville |issue=334 |page=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228161538/https://www.countryaircheck.com/pdf_publication/Issue_334%20-%20February%2025,%202013.pdf |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Going For Adds :: Country |url=http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=06/24/2013&Format=4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131015090709/http://gfa.radioandrecords.com/publishGFA/GFANextPage.asp?sDate=06%2F24%2F2013&Format=4 |archive-date=October 15, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2013 |work=Radio & Records}}</ref> and they both peaked in the top 10 of Country Airplay.<ref>{{cite magazine |date= |title=Taylor Swift Chart History (Country Airplay) |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/hsi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108210219/http://www.billboard.com/music/taylor-swift/chart-history/hot-100 |archive-date=November 8, 2017 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> "I Knew You Were Trouble" was released to US pop radio on November 27, 2012;<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Airplay Archive |url=http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101095739/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=69239 |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=October 21, 2025 |magazine=FMQB}}</ref> it peaked atop the Pop Songs chart for seven weeks, reached number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and peaked in the top 10 in Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.{{Efn|Chart positions for the ''Billboard'' Hot 100;<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=February 20, 2013 |title=Baauer's 'Harlem Shake' Debuts Atop Revamped Hot 100 |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1549388/baauers-harlem-shake-debuts-atop-revamped-hot-100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130221115231/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1549388/baauers-harlem-shake-debuts-atop-revamped-hot-100 |archive-date=February 21, 2013 |access-date=February 24, 2013 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> the Pop Songs chart;<ref name="Dickey-2014"/> Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=I+Knew+You+Were+Trouble&cat=s|title=Taylor Swift: I Knew You Were Trouble|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=December 24, 2025|archive-date=May 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527061100/http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=I+Knew+You+Were+Trouble&cat=s|url-status=live}}</ref> the UK<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/taylor-swift-i-knew-you-were-trouble/|title=I Knew You Were Trouble|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=December 24, 2025|archive-date=January 9, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260109130442/https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/taylor-swift-i-knew-you-were-trouble/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} Other singles were "22" and "Everything Has Changed", which reached the top 10 in the United Kingdom,<ref name="George Griffiths-2021">{{cite web |author=George Griffiths |date=June 21, 2021 |title=The Biggest Hits and Chart Legacy of Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Ahead of Its Rerelease |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-biggest-hits-and-chart-legacy-of-taylor-swifts-red-ahead-of-its-rerelease__33407/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621172529/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-biggest-hits-and-chart-legacy-of-taylor-swifts-red-ahead-of-its-rerelease__33407/ |archive-date=June 21, 2021 |access-date=July 5, 2021 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> and "The Last Time".<ref>{{cite web |last=Lane |first=Daniel |date=November 4, 2013 |title=This Week's New Releases 04-11-2013 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/this-weeks-new-releases-04-11-2013-2586/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325173123/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/this-weeks-new-releases-04-11-2013-2586/ |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2014 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref>
Despite ''Red''{{'s}} promotion as a country album, its diverse musical styles sparked a media debate over Swift's status as a country artist.{{sfn|Perone|2017|p=2}} Its two most successful singles, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "I Knew You Were Trouble", were successful pop hits that had little impact on country radio.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |author-link=Kelefa Sanneh |date=August 21, 2014 |title=Country Music's Taylor Swift Problem |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/country-music-shakes-taylor-swift |url-access=limited |access-date=December 24, 2025 |magazine=The New Yorker |archive-date=November 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112122013/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/country-music-shakes-taylor-swift |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Spin'' argued ''Red'' was difficult to categorize because country music was "the most dynamically vibrant pop genre of the last decade or so".<ref name="Robbins-2012">{{cite web |last=Robbins |first=Michael |date=October 25, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift, ''Red'' (Big Machine) |url=http://www.spin.com/reviews/taylor-swift-red-big-machine |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103043151/http://www.spin.com/reviews/taylor-swift-red-big-machine |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=December 27, 2012 |work=Spin}}</ref> Critics commented that Swift had always been more pop-oriented than country, and they described ''Red'' as her inevitable move to mainstream pop.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosen |first=Jody |author-link=Jody Rosen |date=August 30, 2012 |title=Top of the Pops: Taylor Swift, 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' |url=https://slate.com/culture/2012/08/taylor-swifts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-is-no-1-on-the-pop-charts-is-swift-breaking-up-with-nashville.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222130157/https://slate.com/culture/2012/08/taylor-swifts-we-are-never-ever-getting-back-together-is-no-1-on-the-pop-charts-is-swift-breaking-up-with-nashville.html |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 28, 2020 |magazine=Slate}}</ref> In an interview with ''The Wall Street Journal'', Swift said that country music "feels like home" and responded to the critical debate: "I leave the genre labeling to other people."{{sfn|McNutt|2020|p=78}}
=== Touring === [[File:Taylor Swift 2013 RED tour (8588016225).jpg|thumb|Swift on the Red Tour in 2013|alt=Taylor Swift singing on the Red Tour]]
Swift announced the first North American leg of the Red Tour on October 26, 2012. Its first 58 dates began in Omaha, Nebraska, visited Canada and the United States throughout the spring and summer of 2013, and concluded in September in Nashville, Tennessee.<ref name="Trust-2012">{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=November 13, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift to Outdo Herself on {{'}}''Red''{{'}} Tour: 'I Like for It to Be Big' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474199/taylor-swift-to-outdo-herself-on-red-tour-i-like-for-it-to-be-big |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130213024143/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474199/taylor-swift-to-outdo-herself-on-red-tour-i-like-for-it-to-be-big |archive-date=February 13, 2013 |access-date=November 14, 2012 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212163215/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474440/taylor-swift-tour-to-paint-the-road-red|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/474440/taylor-swift-tour-to-paint-the-road-red|title=Taylor Swift Tour to Paint the Road {{'}}''Red''{{'}}|date=October 27, 2012|archive-date=February 12, 2013|access-date=February 12, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> To support a high demand, Swift held the concerts in sports arenas and stadiums.<ref name="Trust-2012" /> After the North American leg, the Red Tour visited Australasia,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1560847/taylor-swifts-red-tour-to-play-stadiums-in-australia|title=Taylor Swift's Red Tour To Play Stadiums in Australia|first=Lars|last=Brandle|magazine=Billboard|date=May 9, 2013|access-date=December 9, 2013|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222061620/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1560847/taylor-swifts-red-tour-to-play-stadiums-in-australia|url-status=live}}</ref> the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite news |last=Nicholson |first=Rebecca |date=February 2, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift's Red Tour – Review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/02/taylor-swift-red-tour-london-o2-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103085932/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/feb/02/taylor-swift-red-tour-london-o2-review |archive-date=January 3, 2015 |access-date=December 2, 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Germany,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Balzer |first1=Jens |date=February 8, 2014 |title=Konzert in Berlin Taylor Swifts Blockbuster-Pop-Orgie |trans-title=Concert in Berlin, Taylor Swift's blockbuster pop orgy |url=http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/konzert-in-berlin-taylor-swifts-blockbuster-pop-orgie-1543560 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011053429/http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/konzert-in-berlin-taylor-swifts-blockbuster-pop-orgie-1543560 |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2025 |newspaper=Berliner Zeitung |language=de}}</ref> and Asia.<ref name="Welch-2014">{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Andy |date=April 6, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift Breaks China Ticket Sales Record on 'Red' Tour |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-204-1236231 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142910/https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-204-1236231 |archive-date=February 17, 2019 |access-date=December 6, 2014 |work=NME}}</ref>
The Red Tour broke several revenue records. The four shows at Staples Center in Los Angeles extended Swift's total of sold-out shows to 11, making her the solo artist with the most sold-out shows at the venue.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=August 19, 2013 |title=Taylor Swift Ties Record for Most Sold-Out Shows at Staples Center |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2013-aug-19-la-et-ms-taylor-swift-red-tour-staples-record-sellout-20130819-story.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224142946/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2013-aug-19-la-et-ms-taylor-swift-red-tour-staples-record-sellout-20130819-story.html |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |access-date=December 19, 2013 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> She was the first female artist to sell out the Sydney Football Stadium since its opening in 1988.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2013/12/5/taylor-swift-is-first-woman-to-sell-out-allianz-stadium-in-s.html|title=Taylor Swift Is First Female Artist In History To Sell Out Sydney's Allianz Stadium|date=December 5, 2013|publisher=ABC NewsRadio|access-date=December 5, 2013|archive-date=July 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724154656/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2013/12/5/taylor-swift-is-first-woman-to-sell-out-allianz-stadium-in-s.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Tickets for the Shanghai show sold out within 60 seconds, setting the Chinese record for the fastest sellout.<ref name="Welch-2014" /> When it ended in June 2014, the Red Tour had grossed $150.2 million and became the highest-grossing tour by a country artist of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Bob|last=Allen|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6150193/taylor-swift-red-all-time-country-tour|title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Wraps as All-Time Country Tour|magazine=Billboard|date=July 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150601003002/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6150193/taylor-swift-red-all-time-country-tour|archive-date=June 1, 2015|access-date=June 1, 2015}}</ref>
== Commercial performance == In the United States, ''Red'' debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 with first-week sales of 1.208 million copies. It surpassed Garth Brooks's ''Double Live'' (1998) as the fastest-selling country album and, together with ''Speak Now'', made Swift the first female solo artist to have two million-selling albums within one week.<ref name="Caulfield-2012" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Greenwald |first=David |date=September 6, 2013 |title=Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Justin Bieber Among 2014 Guinness Record-Setters |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5687212/taylor-swift-rihanna-justin-bieber-among-2014-guinness-record-setters |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150608001415/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5687212/taylor-swift-rihanna-justin-bieber-among-2014-guinness-record-setters |archive-date=June 8, 2015 |access-date=September 7, 2013}}</ref> ''Red'' spent seven non-consecutive weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, making Swift the first female artist and the first overall since the Beatles in 1969 to have three consecutive studio albums each spend six or more weeks atop the chart.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=January 3, 2013 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'', ''Les Mis'' Soundtrack Lead Billboard 200 Chart |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481616/taylor-swifts-red-les-mis-soundtrack-lead-billboard-200-chart |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925051123/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481616/taylor-swifts-red-les-mis-soundtrack-lead-billboard-200-chart |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |access-date=January 3, 2013 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>{{efn|''Fearless'' spent 11 weeks at number one in 2008–2009, and ''Speak Now'' spent 6 weeks in 2010–2011.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481312/bruno-mars-debuts-at-no-2-as-taylor-swifts-red-still-rules |title=Bruno Mars Debuts at No. 2 as Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Still Rules |magazine=Billboard |access-date=December 27, 2012 |archive-date=November 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151130100447/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481312/bruno-mars-debuts-at-no-2-as-taylor-swifts-red-still-rules |url-status=live |first=Keith|last=Caulfield| date=December 19, 2012}}</ref>}} Its number-one position for the week ending December 23, 2012, marked Swift's third consecutive time—after ''Fearless'' and ''Speak Now''—to have a number-one album during the last week before Christmas, which is traditionally the most competitive week of the year.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=December 27, 2012 |title=Week Ending Dec. 23, 2012. Albums: Swift Is First Since The Beatles |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-dec-23-2012-albums-swift-first-155717349.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030045222/https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-dec-23-2012-albums-swift-first-155717349.html |archive-date=October 30, 2014 |access-date=April 12, 2013 |publisher=Yahoo Music}}</ref>
On ''Billboard''{{'s}} Top Country Albums chart, ''Red'' spent 16 weeks at number one and was the year-end number-one album of both 2012 and 2013.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=November 21, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Scores 10th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With ''Red (Taylor's Version)'' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-tenth-number-one-album-billboard-200-red-taylors-version-1235000860/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123123924/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-tenth-number-one-album-billboard-200-red-taylors-version-1235000860/ |archive-date=November 23, 2021 |access-date=November 25, 2021}}</ref> It was the second-best-selling album of 2012 in the United States with 3.11 million copies sold after two months of sales,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=January 2, 2012 |title=Adele's ''21'' 2012's Best Selling Album; Gotye Has Top Song |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481614/adeles-21-2012s-best-selling-album-gotye-has-top-song |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221054724/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481614/adeles-21-2012s-best-selling-album-gotye-has-top-song |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |access-date=April 12, 2013 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> and surpassed 3.84 million copies after one year of release.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=October 25, 2013 |title=Chart Moves: Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Spends Year on the Charts, Eric Clapton's ''Unplugged'' Returns |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/chart-moves-taylor-swifts-red-spends-year-on-the-charts-eric/ |access-date=December 27, 2025 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The album had sold 4.582 million US copies as of January 2024,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-2-million-sales-1235584599/ |title=Taylor Swift's ''1989 (Taylor's Version)'' Surpasses 2 Million in U.S. Sales |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |magazine=Billboard |date=January 18, 2024 |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118235246/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-1989-taylors-version-2-million-sales-1235584599/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and it was certified eight-times platinum for surpassing eight million album-equivalent units by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 2025.<ref name="riaa" />
''Red'' sold 2.8 million copies worldwide after less than one month of release,<ref>{{cite web |last=Wyland |first=Sarah |date=November 23, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift Closes In on Three Million Copies of ''Red'' Sold |url=http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/11/23/taylor-swift-closes-in-on-three-million-copies-of-red-sold-worldwide/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809133551/http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2012/11/23/taylor-swift-closes-in-on-three-million-copies-of-red-sold-worldwide/ |archive-date=August 9, 2015 |access-date=December 27, 2012 |publisher=Great American Country}}</ref> 5.2 million by the end of 2012'''—'''the global second-best-selling album of the year,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Global Bestsellers of 2012 |url=https://www.ifpi.org/downloads/dmr2013-full-report_english.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409080309/http://www.aria.com.au/documents/RIN2013.pdf |archive-date=April 9, 2013 |access-date=April 10, 2014 |publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry |page=11}}</ref> and 8 million by August 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last=Vincent |first=Alice |date=August 19, 2014 |title=Taylor Swift's New Single 'Shake It Off' Shakes Up Pop Music |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/11042644/Taylor-Swifts-new-single-Shake-It-Off-shakes-up-pop-music.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127194613/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/11042644/Taylor-Swifts-new-single-Shake-It-Off-shakes-up-pop-music.html |archive-date=November 27, 2015 |access-date=November 27, 2015 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> The album reached number one on charts in Australia,<ref name="ariacharts" /> Canada,<ref name="CAN" /> New Zealand,<ref name="newzealand" /> Ireland,<ref name="ireland" /> and Scotland.<ref name="Scotland" /> It received platinum or higher certifications in Australia (five-times platinum),<ref name="ARIA-cert" /> Canada (four-times platinum),<ref name="cancert" /> and New Zealand (six-times platinum).<ref name="rmnz" /> In the United Kingdom, ''Red'' was Swift's first number-one album and had four top-10 singles, the most of her albums; it had sold 619,000 copies as of June 2021 and was certified triple platinum by the British Phonographic Industry in January 2025.<ref name="George Griffiths-2021" /><ref name="bpi" />
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | ADM = 6.6/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4968/Taylor-Swift-Red.aspx|title=''Red'' by Taylor Swift Reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=November 2, 2016|archive-date=November 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104004339/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/4968/Taylor-Swift-Red.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> | MC = 77/100<ref name="Metacritic"/> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|5|5}}{{efn|Upon ''Red''{{'s}} release, AllMusic gave the album a four-star rating.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121205055811/https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735|title=''Red'' – Taylor Swift|archive-date=December 5, 2012|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 5, 2012}}</ref> The site reassessed the album with a five-star rating since around August 2020.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803151720/https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735|title=''Red'' – Taylor Swift|archive-date=August 3, 2020|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 27, 2025}}</ref>}} | rev2 = ''The A.V. Club'' | rev2score = B+<ref name="Gallucci-2012"/> | rev3 = ''The Daily Telegraph'' | rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Lachno-2012"/> | rev4 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev4score = B+<ref name="EWReview"/> | rev5 = ''The Guardian'' | rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Mossman-2012"/> | rev6 = ''Los Angeles Times'' | rev6score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name="Roberts-2012"/> | rev7 = ''MSN Music'' (Expert Witness) | rev7score = A−<ref name="Christgau-2012"/> | rev8 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev8score = 9.0/10<ref name="Nelson-2019" /> | rev9 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev9score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="Dolan-2012"/> | rev10 = ''Spin'' | rev10score = 8/10<ref name="Robbins-2012"/> }}
Upon its release, ''Red'' received generally positive reviews from music critics, although there were a mix of complimentary and dismissive reviews.<ref name="Lewis-2012" /><ref name="Burgham-2021">{{Cite news |last=Burgham |first=Lydia |date=November 12, 2021 |title=''Red (Taylor's Version)'' Review: Why ''Red'' Is Taylor Swift's Magnum Opus |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/red-taylors-version-review-why-red-is-taylor-swifts-magnum-opus/76IGAQWYNVPFQ3PGGYFNRVGPM4/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230711213929/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/red-taylors-version-review-why-red-is-taylor-swifts-magnum-opus/76IGAQWYNVPFQ3PGGYFNRVGPM4/ |archive-date=July 11, 2023 |access-date=June 3, 2025 |newspaper=The New Zealand Herald}}</ref> On the review aggregator website Metacritic, the album received a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 23 reviews in mainstream publications.<ref name="Metacritic">{{cite web |title=Reviews for ''Red'' by Taylor Swift |url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/red/taylor-swift |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729020609/http://www.metacritic.com/music/red/taylor-swift |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |access-date=October 20, 2012 |publisher=Metacritic}}</ref>
Many reviews praised Swift's songwriting for its emotional exploration;<ref name="Dukes-2012-2">{{cite web |last=Dukes |first=Billy |date=October 24, 2012 |title=What Are People Saying About Taylor Swift's ''Red''? |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-red-reviews/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026030312/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-red-reviews/ |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=October 25, 2012 |work=Taste of Country}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kaplan |first=Ilana |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Rerelease Proves What Fans Always Knew |url=https://slate.com/culture/2021/11/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review.html |url-access=limited |access-date=December 27, 2025 |work=Slate |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115233505/https://slate.com/culture/2021/11/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> they regarded ''Red'' as a pivotal album for Swift, citing its themes of adulthood and real-life experiences as a representation of her maturity.{{efn|Attributed to reviews in ''Billboard'',<ref name="Billboard-2012" /> ''The New York Times'',<ref name="Caramanica-2012" /> ''Rolling Stone'',<ref name="Dolan-2012" /> and ''Spin''<ref name="Robbins-2012" />}} Dolan highlighted the "stark-relief emotional mapping" that recalled the singer-songwriters Joni Mitchell and Carole King,<ref name="Dolan-2012" /> while ''Entertainment Weekly'''s Melissa Maerz hailed the detail-heavy narratives of songs like "All Too Well",<ref name="EWReview">{{cite magazine |last=Maerz |first=Melissa |date=October 18, 2012 |title=''Red'' – Review – Taylor Swift |url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/26/red-review-taylor-swift/ |access-date=December 27, 2025 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402174026/https://ew.com/article/2012/10/26/red-review-taylor-swift/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''The Observer''{{'s}} Alex Macpherson remarked that Swift was able to "pull you inside her break-up narratives" with her use of language.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Macpherson |first=Alex |date=October 21, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Red'' – Review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/oct/21/taylor-swift-red-review |access-date=December 27, 2025 |work=The Observer |archive-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201214155/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/oct/21/taylor-swift-red-review |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Guardian''{{'s}} Kate Mossman commented that the many emotions on ''Red'' made it "one of the finest fantasies pop music has ever constructed".<ref name="Mossman-2012">{{cite web |last=Mossman |first=Kate |date=October 18, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Red'' – Review |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/oct/18/taylor-swift-red-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109220046/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/oct/18/taylor-swift-red-review |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |access-date=October 18, 2012 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> Nelson opined that Swift's songwriting on ''Red'' became sharper and more nuanced;<ref name="Nelson-2012" /> in his retrospective review for ''Pitchfork'', he highlighted a "newfound patience" to her perspectives that resulted in multi-dimensional songs.<ref name="Nelson-2019">{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-red/|title=Taylor Swift: ''Red'' Album Review|first=Brad|last=Nelson|work=Pitchfork|date=August 19, 2019|access-date=August 21, 2019|archive-date=August 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820002611/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-red/|url-status=live}}</ref> In a more measured praise, Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic opined that the lyrics were at times "on the nose".<ref name="Erlewine"/> ''American Songwriter'''s Jewly Hight commented that although Swift's songwriting outlook was occasionally one-sided, it was still more accomplished than "plenty of songwriters twice her age".<ref name="Hight-2012" />
The production received mixed reviews, with the pop-leaning tracks being particularly divisive.<ref name="Dukes-2012-2"/><ref name="Barnes-2025"/> ''Consequence of Sound''{{'s}} Jon Bernstein likened this reaction to the controversy when Bob Dylan "went electric".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/10/album-review-taylor-swift-red/|title=Taylor Swift Review: ''Red''|last=Bernstein|first=Jon|website=Consequence of Sound|date=October 24, 2012|url-status=deviated|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028165704/http://consequenceofsound.net/2012/10/album-review-taylor-swift-red/|archive-date=October 28, 2012|access-date=December 27, 2025}}</ref> On a positive side, ''Billboard'' opined that the album pushed Swift to artistic heights with successful experimentations.<ref name="Billboard-2012">{{cite magazine |date=October 19, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift, ''Red'': Track-By-Track Review |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066798/taylor-swift-red-track-by-track-review |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129071359/http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1066798/taylor-swift-red-track-by-track-review |archive-date=January 29, 2013 |access-date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> Erlewine highlighted the "pristine pop confections" and remarked that she deftly executed the diverse musical styles,<ref name="Erlewine">{{cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735|title=''Red'' – Taylor Swift|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=November 16, 2019|archive-date=November 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171126153103/https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mw0002414735|url-status=live}}</ref> while Caramanica and Randall Roberts of the ''Los Angeles Times'' commented that the genre-spanning styles showcased a bold and worthwhile transition.<ref name="Caramanica-2012">{{cite web |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |date=October 24, 2012 |title=No More Kid Stuff for Taylor Swift |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/arts/music/no-more-kid-stuff-for-taylor-swift.html?_r=0 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200423032437/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/arts/music/no-more-kid-stuff-for-taylor-swift.html?_r=0 |archive-date=April 23, 2020 |access-date=June 29, 2016 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="Roberts-2012" /> Less complimentary reviews from ''Slant Magazine'''s Jonathan Keefe and ''The A.V. Club'''s Michael Gallucci deemed the broad musical styles ambitious but inconsistent, which prevented ''Red'' from being a truly great pop album.<ref name="Keefe-2012" /><ref name="Gallucci-2012" /> On a more critical side, Mesfin Fekadu of the Associated Press wrote that the experimentations did not always succeed, resulting in an "empty" sound compared to ''Fearless'' and ''Speak Now'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fekadu |first=Mesfin |date=October 24, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Fades to Mediocrity |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966343/taylor-swifts-red-fades-to-mediocrity/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724154608/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81966343/taylor-swifts-red-fades-to-mediocrity/ |archive-date=July 24, 2021 |access-date=July 22, 2021 |newspaper=The Des Moines Register |pages=E10 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> while James Lachno of ''The Daily Telegraph'' deemed the production bloated and commented that it would be better had Swift abandoned country altogether.<ref name="Lachno-2012" />
Within weeks after the initial reviews, several critics defended the album. Channing Freeman of ''Sputnikmusic'' opined that the criticism towards the pop-leaning production was due to sexism, citing several online reviews that focused on Swift's love life and undermined her musicianship. He wrote that by embracing "pure pop sensibilities", the album became a distillation of all the conflicting emotions she had explored in her lyricism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=Channing |date=January 20, 2013 |title=Review: Taylor Swift - ''Red'' |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/54503/Taylor-Swift-Red/ |access-date=December 27, 2025 |website=Sputnikmusic |archive-date=April 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409181416/http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/54503/Taylor-Swift-Red/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In ''PopMatters'', Nathan Wisnicki commented that the mixed reviews were a result of music journalism's tendency to pigeonhole Swift into a specific genre. He argued that ''Red'' showed Swift as both a deft songwriter and a great pop artist, which made her worthy of being representative of her generation, Millennials.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wisnicki |first=Nathan |date=October 29, 2012 |title=In Defense of Taylor Swift and Gen-Y Pop Music |url=https://www.popmatters.com/164733-taylor-swift-red-2495802583.html |access-date=December 27, 2025 |website=PopMatters |archive-date=February 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201091844/https://www.popmatters.com/164733-taylor-swift-red-2495802583.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The rock critic Robert Christgau viewed ''Red'' as Swift's attempt to approximate Stephin Merritt on ''69 Love Songs'', writing that while she "hits the mark less often than Merritt – 65 or 70 percent", the ambitious reach "forces her to aim higher" and resulted in songs that "hit just as hard", like "Begin Again", "Stay Stay Stay", and "the feisty ones".<ref name="Christgau-2012">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=ecfb3591-0586-469f-a06d-02ae904b641c|title=Taylor Swift/Donald Fagen|work=MSN Music|date=November 13, 2012|access-date=October 18, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723134433/http://social.entertainment.msn.com/music/blogs/expert-witness-blogpost.aspx?post=ecfb3591-0586-469f-a06d-02ae904b641c|archive-date=July 23, 2013}}</ref>
== Accolades == In 2013, ''Red'' was nominated for Album of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, and the Libera Awards,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodd |first=Sophie |date=December 13, 2019 |title=10 Years, 5 Albums & 1 Artist of the Decade: Birthday Girl Taylor Swift's Record-Breaking Career by the Numbers |url=https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-career-highlights-record-breaking-decade/ |access-date=December 26, 2025 |website=People |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125005539/https://people.com/music/taylor-swift-career-highlights-record-breaking-decade/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Alabama Shakes, M83, The Lumineers Top Artist Nominees for 2nd Annual A2IM Libby Awards |date=April 24, 2013 |publisher=Shore Fire Media |url=https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/alabama-shakes-m83-the-lumineers-top-artist-nominees-for-2nd-annual-a2im-li |access-date=December 25, 2025 |archive-date=January 4, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260104143844/https://shorefire.com/releases/entry/alabama-shakes-m83-the-lumineers-top-artist-nominees-for-2nd-annual-a2im-li |url-status=live }}</ref> and it won Favorite Country Album at the American Music Awards,<ref>{{cite web |title=American Music Awards 2014 Winners – AMAs The Complete List |url=http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/winners/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222141109/http://abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards/winners |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |access-date=January 25, 2015 |publisher=American Broadcasting Company}}</ref> and Top ''Billboard'' 200 Album and Top Country Album at the ''Billboard'' Music Awards.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 19, 2013 |title=2013 Billboard Music Awards Winners and Nominees — Complete List |url=http://www.hitfix.com/news/2013-billboard-music-awards-winners-and-nominees-complete-list |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701060115/http://www.hitfix.com/news/2013-billboard-music-awards-winners-and-nominees-complete-list |archive-date=July 1, 2015 |access-date=June 15, 2015 |work=HitFix}}</ref> Internationally, the album won Top Selling Album at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pacella |first1=Megan |date=September 2, 2012 |title=Taylor Swift to Receive First-Ever Generation Trophy at 2012 Canadian Country Music Association Awards |url=http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-2012-canadian-country-music-association-awards/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630002533/http://tasteofcountry.com/taylor-swift-2012-canadian-country-music-association-awards/ |archive-date=June 30, 2015 |access-date=June 12, 2015 |work=Taste of Country}}</ref> helped Swift earn a nomination for Best International Artist at the Australian ARIA Music Awards,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moskovitch |first=Greg |date=December 1, 2013 |title=ARIA Award 2013 Winners – Live Updates |url=https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/aria-award-2013-winners-live-updates/ |access-date=December 26, 2025 |website=Music Feeds |archive-date=November 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251108043355/https://musicfeeds.com.au/news/aria-award-2013-winners-live-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and was nominated for International Album of the Year at the Canadian Juno Awards.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 19, 2013 |title=The 2013 Juno Award nominations |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/the-2013-juno-award-nominations/article11429254/ |access-date=December 26, 2025 |work=The Globe and Mail |archive-date=July 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702020920/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/the-2013-juno-award-nominations/article11429254/ |url-status=live }}</ref> At the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014, ''Red'' was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Country Album.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Nordyke |first=Kimberly |date=January 26, 2014 |title=Grammy Awards 2014: Winners List |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grammys-2014-winners-list-674152 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221004024/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/grammys-2014-winners-list-674152 |archive-date=February 21, 2015 |access-date=December 20, 2014 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>
Various publications featured ''Red'' on their lists of the best albums of 2012. The album was ranked in the top 10 by ''Billboard'', ''Newsday'', MTV News;<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 17, 2012 |title=10 Best Albums of 2012 Critic's Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481349/10-best-albums-of-2012-critics-picks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208040914/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1481349/10-best-albums-of-2012-critics-picks |archive-date=February 8, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Gamboa |first=Glenn |date=December 27, 2012 |title=Best of 2012 |url=https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/best-of-2012-albums-10-6-y74721 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207021949/https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/best-of-2012-albums-10-6-1.4375029 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |newspaper=Newsday}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Montgomery |first=James |date=December 12, 2012 |title=Best Albums of 2012 |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1698825/best-albums-2012/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207021958/http://www.mtv.com/news/1698825/best-albums-2012/ |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref> top 20 by ''The Guardian'' and ''Stereogum'';<ref>{{cite web |last=Boult |first=Adam |date=December 14, 2012 |title=The Best Albums of 2012 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2012/dec/14/readers-best-album-2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207021956/https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2012/dec/14/readers-best-album-2012 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=December 5, 2012 |title=Stereogum's Top 50 Albums Of 2012 |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1210661/stereogums-top-50-albums-of-2012/franchises/listomania/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207021952/https://www.stereogum.com/1210661/stereogums-top-50-albums-of-2012/franchises/listomania/ |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |website=Stereogum}}</ref> top 30 by ''PopMatters'',<ref>{{cite web |date=December 9, 2012 |title=The 75 Best Albums of 2012 |url=https://www.popmatters.com/166270-the-75-best-albums-of-2012-2495792334.html?rebelltitem=6 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207021956/https://www.popmatters.com/166270-the-75-best-albums-of-2012-2495792334.html?rebelltitem=6 |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |website=PopMatters}}</ref> and top 50 by ''Rolling Stone'' and ''Spin'', who additionally included it in their list of the year's best country albums.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 5, 2012 |title=50 Best Albums of 2012 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-152493/taylor-swift-red-68377/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207021949/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-152493/taylor-swift-red-68377/ |archive-date=February 7, 2020 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 3, 2012 |title=Spin's 50 Best Albums of 2012 |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-albums-2012/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115124551/https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-albums-2012/ |archive-date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |magazine=Spin}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Harvila |first=Rob |date=December 17, 2012 |title=Best Country Albums of 2012 |url=https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-country-albums-2012/121217-1-taylor-swift/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002202604/https://www.spin.com/2012/12/best-country-albums-2012/121217-1-taylor-swift/ |archive-date=October 2, 2019 |access-date=December 31, 2012 |magazine=Spin}}</ref> On the mass critics' poll Pazz & Jop by ''The Village Voice'', it ranked 17th based on aggregate scores of all voters, earning votes from 34 critics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pazz & Jop 2012: All Votes |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/albums/2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513130351/http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/albums/2012 |archive-date=May 13, 2017 |access-date=May 13, 2017 |website=The Village Voice}}</ref> Caramanica ranked it second on his list of 2012's best albums (behind Emeli Sandé's ''Our Version of Events'').<ref>{{cite web |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |date=December 12, 2012 |title=Jon Caramanica's Top 10 Albums of 2012 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/arts/music/jon-caramanicas-top-10-albums-of-2012.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216203126/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/16/arts/music/jon-caramanicas-top-10-albums-of-2012.html |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>
== Legacy ==
=== Critical recognition === Although its diverse styles were met with mixed reactions upon release from critics and fans, who took issue with the pop-leaning direction, ''Red'' has been considered by critics as a career-defining album for Swift.<ref name="Barnes-2025" /> They highlight the genre-blending sound as a bold and successful endeavor that laid the groundwork to Swift's full transition to pop music.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="RS500" /><ref name="Sargent-2017" /><ref name="Johnson-2025" /><ref name="Barnes-2025"/>}}—''Pitchfork'' opined that the eclectic production expanded Swift's songcraft to reach higher standards,<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2021 |title=The 200 Most Important Artists of Pitchfork's First 25 Years |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/most-important-artists/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007054522/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/most-important-artists/ |archive-date=October 7, 2021 |access-date=October 4, 2021 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> while some critics opined that the pop songwriting influenced Swift's more streamlined writing on her later albums.<ref name="Barnes-2025">{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Kelsey |date=October 7, 2025 |title=Songbook: An Era-By-Era Breakdown Of Taylor Swift's Journey From Country Starlet To Pop Phenomenon |url=https://grammy.com/news/taylor-swift-albums-guide-eras-discography |access-date=December 21, 2025 |website=Grammy.com |archive-date=December 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251221172632/https://www.grammy.com/news/taylor-swift-albums-guide-eras-discography |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's 'All Too Well' and the Weaponization of Memory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/arts/music/taylor-swift-all-too-well.html |url-access=limited |access-date=September 13, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115183910/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/arts/music/taylor-swift-all-too-well.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to ''i-D'', the album turned the "arena-rock-meets-country-pop" sound into her signature.<ref name="George-2023">{{Cite web |last=George |first=Tom |date=December 13, 2023 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album, Ranked |url=https://i-d.co/article/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/ |url-access=limited |access-date=December 26, 2025 |website=i-D |archive-date=December 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218163225/https://i-d.co/article/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Meanwhile, Hyden opined that it solidified Swift's status as a genre-agnostic musician capable of turning any sound into her own.<ref name="Hyden-2014" /> ''Red''<nowiki/>'s themes of heartbreak and sexuality during early adulthood marked her evolution to embrace more complex and subtle songwriting perspectives on relationships in subsequent albums.<ref name="npr" /><ref name="Barnes-2025" />{{Sfn|Perone|2017|p=53}}
Several critics have regarded ''Red'' as Swift's ''magnum opus'''',''<ref name="Burgham-2021" /><ref name="Barnes-2025" /> and it has frequently been ranked by publications in the upper tier of her entire discography,{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Masley |first=Ed |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Best Taylor Swift Albums: We Rated and Ranked Them All |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/04/26/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/73456389007/ |access-date=September 13, 2024 |newspaper=The Arizona Republic |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913083951/https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/04/26/taylor-swift-albums-ranked/73456389007/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite podcast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/arts/music/taylor-swift-album-rankings-popcast.html |title=Ranking Every Taylor Swift Album, Worst to Best |date=July 17, 2024 |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Caramanica |last2=Joe |first2=Coscarelli |series=Popcast |website=The New York Times |url-access=limited |access-date=September 13, 2024 |archive-date=September 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240901110201/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/arts/music/taylor-swift-album-rankings-popcast.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 23, 2024 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/every-taylor-swift-album-ranked/ |access-date=September 13, 2024 |magazine=Slant Magazine |archive-date=September 13, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240913073144/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/every-taylor-swift-album-ranked/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shipley |first=Al |date=May 5, 2024 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album, Ranked |url=https://www.spin.com/2024/05/best-taylor-swift-albums/ |access-date=September 13, 2024 |website=Spin |archive-date=September 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921102148/https://www.spin.com/web/20240921102148/https://www.spin.com/2024/05/best-taylor-swift-albums/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} being ranked as her best album by ''The A.V. Club'', ''i-D'', the ''Star Tribune'', and ''Paste''.{{efn|References:<ref name="Bream-2023" /><ref name="George-2023" /><ref name="Johnson-2025">{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ellen |date=October 21, 2025 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked |access-date=December 21, 2025 |website=The A.V. Club |archive-date=November 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251116195552/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-albums-ranked |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 21, 2024 |title=Every Taylor Swift Album, Ranked |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-albulms-ranked |access-date=September 13, 2024 |magazine=Paste |archive-date=December 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212135621/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/best-taylor-swift-albulms-ranked |url-status=live }}</ref>}} The critic Rob Sheffield wrote that the album established Swift as both the representative pop songwriter of her generation and one of the greatest songwriters of all time.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=November 12, 2021 |title=''Red (Taylor's Version)'' Makes a Classic Even Better |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-red-taylors-version-1255956/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112050416/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-red-taylors-version-1255956/ |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> Publications that ranked ''Red'' among the best albums of the 2010s include ''Atwood Magazine'', ''The Independent'', and ''Pitchfork'';<ref>{{cite web |date=October 25, 2019 |title=Our Favorite Albums of the Decade |url=http://atwoodmagazine.com/aotd12-2012-albums-of-the-decade/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226124626/http://atwoodmagazine.com/aotd12-2012-albums-of-the-decade/ |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |access-date=December 13, 2019 |website=Atwood Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=November 18, 2019 |title=The 50 Best Albums of the Decade, From Frank Ocean's ''Blond'' to Adele's ''21'' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/best-albums-decade-2010s-frank-ocean-adele-taylor-swift-kanye-west-ranked-a9204121.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221103130/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/best-albums-decade-2010s-frank-ocean-adele-taylor-swift-kanye-west-ranked-a9204121.html |archive-date=December 21, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |newspaper=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 8, 2019 |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-2010s/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215000855/https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/the-200-best-albums-of-the-2010s/ |archive-date=February 15, 2020 |access-date=October 8, 2019 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref> it was ranked within the top 10 by ''Billboard'', ''Rolling Stone'', ''Stereogum'', ''Uproxx'', and the ''Tampa Bay Times'',{{efn|References:<ref>{{cite magazine |date=November 19, 2019 |title=The 100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s: Staff Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8543722/best-albums-of-the-2010s-top-100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218234627/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/8543722/best-albums-of-the-2010s-top-100 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 2, 2019 |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-2010s-ranked-913997/taylor-swift-red-album-917422/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203150948/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-2010s-ranked-913997/taylor-swift-red-album-917422/ |archive-date=December 3, 2019 |access-date=December 3, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=November 4, 2019 |title=The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s |url=https://www.stereogum.com/featured/best-albums-of-the-2010s-list/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191106033315/https://www.stereogum.com/featured/best-albums-of-the-2010s-list/ |archive-date=November 6, 2019 |access-date=November 20, 2019 |website=Stereogum}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 7, 2019 |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s |url=https://uproxx.com/music/best-albums-2010s-ranked-decade/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101194048/https://uproxx.com/music/best-albums-2010s-ranked-decade/ |archive-date=January 1, 2020 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |website=Uproxx}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=December 26, 2019 |title=The 10 Best Albums of the 2010s |url=https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/music/2019/12/26/the-10-best-albums-of-the-2010s-kanye-kendrick-beyonce-and-more/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226135907/https://www.tampabay.com/arts-entertainment/music/2019/12/26/the-10-best-albums-of-the-2010s-kanye-kendrick-beyonce-and-more/ |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |access-date=December 26, 2019 |newspaper=Tampa Bay Times}}</ref>}} while ''Taste of Country'' ranked it as one of the best country albums of the decade.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 18, 2019 |title=The 50 Best Country Albums of the 2010s |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/best-country-albums-2010s/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219004314/https://tasteofcountry.com/best-country-albums-2010s/ |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |access-date=December 18, 2019 |website=Taste of Country}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' ranked it at number 99 on its 2023 revision of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" and number 36 on its 2025 list of "The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far",<ref name="RS500">{{cite magazine|date=December 31, 2023|title=The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-of-all-time-1062063/taylor-swift-red-2-1063134/|access-date=January 1, 2024|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=January 10, 2025 |title=The 250 Greatest Albums of the 21st Century So Far |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-21st-century-1235177256/taylor-swift-red-3-1235188001/ |access-date=May 15, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=May 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250515154330/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-21st-century-1235177256/taylor-swift-red-3-1235188001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''Paste'' featured the album at number 171 on their 2025 list "The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time".<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2024 |title=The 300 Greatest Albums of All Time |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/greatest-albums/the-300-greatest-albums-of-all-time-2 |access-date=December 21, 2025 |website=Paste |archive-date=June 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603155414/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/greatest-albums/the-300-greatest-albums-of-all-time-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Popular culture === ''Red'' was released when Swift's popularity became increasingly intertwined with tabloid gossip that routinely publicized her love life and associated her songs to her ex-boyfriends, leading to misogynistic criticism that trivialized her songwriting.<ref name="Barnes-2025" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Chang |first=Bee-Shyuan |date=March 17, 2013 |title=Taylor Swift Gets Some Mud on Her Boots |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/fashion/for-taylor-swifts-image-erosion-is-a-danger.html |url-access=limited |access-date=December 24, 2025 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=March 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130322110003/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/fashion/for-taylor-swifts-image-erosion-is-a-danger.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the music critic Jessica Hopper, the criticism of Swift's music in relation to her public image was a natural product of how young female artists engaged with their fans through music.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopper |first=Jessica |author-link=Jessica Hopper |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Pazz & Jop: Taylor Swift, Grimes, and Lana Del Rey: The Year in Blond Ambition |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-01-16/music/pazz-jop-taylor-swift-grimes-and-lana-del-rey-the-year-in-blond-ambition |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118220711/http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-01-16/music/pazz-jop-taylor-swift-grimes-and-lana-del-rey-the-year-in-blond-ambition |archive-date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=December 24, 2025 |website=The Village Voice}}</ref> By constructing an image that reflected her transition from "pop's Virgin Queen" into a sexually-aware woman, but with an implicit and feminine approach, she conflated her songs with the tabloid gossip to create a greater narrative, which showcased a deft manipulation of her own image, "a cultural prescience that speaks to [her] ambition and interest in being understood".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopper |first=Jessica |author-link=Jessica Hopper |date=January 16, 2013 |title=Pazz & Jop: Taylor Swift, Grimes, and Lana Del Rey: The Year in Blond Ambition |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-01-16/music/pazz-jop-taylor-swift-grimes-and-lana-del-rey-the-year-in-blond-ambition/2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214025444/http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-01-16/music/pazz-jop-taylor-swift-grimes-and-lana-del-rey-the-year-in-blond-ambition/2 |archive-date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=December 24, 2025 |website=The Village Voice |page=2}}</ref>
''Red''{{'s}} successful pop singles influenced Swift to work again with Martin and Shellback on her fifth studio album, ''1989'' (2014), which recalibrated her artistic identity from country to pop.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Light |first=Alan |author-link=Alan Light |date=December 5, 2014 |title=''Billboard'' Woman of the Year Taylor Swift on Writing Her Own Rules, Not Becoming a Cliche and the Hurdle of Going Pop |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music-2014/6363514/billboard-woman-of-the-year-taylor-swift-on-writing-her |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226012450/https://www.billboard.com/articles/events/women-in-music-2014/6363514/billboard-woman-of-the-year-taylor-swift-on-writing-her |archive-date=December 26, 2014 |access-date=December 27, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Eells |first=Josh |date=September 8, 2014 |title=Cover Story: The Reinvention of Taylor Swift |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-reinvention-of-taylor-swift-116925/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816144402/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-reinvention-of-taylor-swift-116925/ |archive-date=August 16, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2019 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> Critics have regarded ''Red'' as a classic breakup album that had a generational impact on both Millennials and Generation Z,<ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Tom |date=November 11, 2021 |title=How Taylor Swift's ''Red'' became Gen Z's first big breakup album |url=https://i-d.co/article/red-taylors-version/ |url-access=limited |access-date=December 26, 2025 |website=i-D |archive-date=December 15, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251215185757/https://i-d.co/article/red-taylors-version/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ellen |date=October 21, 2022 |title=A Decade Later, Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Still Sounds Like a New Beginning |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/red-10-year-anniversary |access-date=December 26, 2025 |website=Paste |archive-date=March 18, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250318144302/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/red-10-year-anniversary |url-status=live }}</ref> and cited it as an influence on confessional singer-songwriters including Halsey, Kacey Musgraves, Troye Sivan, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Conan Gray.{{efn|Attributed to multiple references:<ref name="Barnes-2025" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Harbron |first=Lucy |date=November 11, 2021 |title=Why Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Is Her Turning Point |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/why-taylor-swifts-red-is-her-turning-point |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112032019/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/why-taylor-swifts-red-is-her-turning-point |archive-date=November 12, 2021 |access-date=November 12, 2021 |magazine=Clash}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mlnarik |first=Carson |date=February 25, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Found Its Power And Legacy In The Details |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3184016/taylor-swift-red-legacy-new-retro/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423023112/https://www.mtv.com/news/3184016/taylor-swift-red-legacy-new-retro/ |archive-date=April 23, 2022 |access-date=February 25, 2022 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref>}} In the view of Hyden, the album inspired a generation of "indie" artists to create pop-friendly music without being confined by the "underground" rock scene.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden |date=March 10, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift, Indie-Rock Star? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/10/magazine/taylor-swift.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413142455/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/10/magazine/taylor-swift.html |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |access-date=April 13, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> In 2019, an indie rock tribute album titled ''ReRed'', featuring Wild Pink, Adult Mom, Chris Farren, among others, was released with all of its proceeds going to the Equal Justice Initiative.<ref>{{cite web |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=December 13, 2019 |title=Stream The Taylor Swift Tribute Album ''ReRed'' Feat. Wild Pink, Adult Mom, Chris Farren, Future Teens, & More |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2067908/taylor-swift-red-tribute-album-rered/music/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514011419/https://www.stereogum.com/2067908/taylor-swift-red-tribute-album-rered/music/ |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=Stereogum}}</ref>
=== 2021 re-recording === Following the 2019 dispute over the ownership of the masters to her back catalog, Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums including ''Red'' in November 2020.{{Sfn|Wickman|Weiss|McAvoy|2025|p=126}} By re-recording those albums, Swift had the ownership to the new master recordings, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs for commercial use and therefore devalued the Big Machine-owned masters.{{Sfn|Tribulski|2020–2021|p=95–96}} The re-recording of ''Red'', titled ''Red (Taylor's Version)'', was released on November 12, 2021.{{Sfn|Wickman|Weiss|McAvoy|2025|p=126}} In addition to the re-recordings of the 19 tracks on the original ''Red'', the re-recorded album features re-recorded versions of the charity single "Ronan", the songs "Better Man" and "Babe" that Swift had written for the country groups Little Big Town and Sugarland, the 10-minute version of "All Too Well", and six previously unreleased tracks.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Strauss |first1=Matthew |date=August 5, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Cheekily Reveals Phoebe Bridgers Feature on New ''Red (Taylor's Version)'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-cheekily-reveals-phoebe-bridgers-feature-on-new-red-taylors-version/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805225750/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-cheekily-reveals-phoebe-bridgers-feature-on-new-red-taylors-version/ |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |access-date=August 6, 2021 |work=Pitchfork}}</ref> The ownership of the original album's master recording, alongside her other five albums released under Big Machine, was acquired by Swift on May 30, 2025.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=May 30, 2025 |title=Taylor Swift Shocker: Singer Buys Back and Will Reissue First Six Albums — Even as 'Reputation (Taylor's Version)' 'Can Still Have Moment to Reemerge' Later |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/taylor-swift-buys-rights-first-six-albums-shamrock-1236413964/ |access-date=May 30, 2025 |magazine=Variety |archive-date=June 1, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250601011240/https://variety.com/2025/music/news/taylor-swift-buys-rights-first-six-albums-shamrock-1236413964/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = Standard track listing | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 65:09 | title1 = State of Grace | writer1 = Taylor Swift | extra1 = {{hlist|Swift|Nathan Chapman}} | length1 = 4:55 | title2 = Red | writer2 = Swift | extra2 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman|Dann Huff}} | length2 = 3:43 | title3 = Treacherous | writer3 = {{hlist|Swift|Dan Wilson}} | extra3 = Wilson | length3 = 4:02 | title4 = I Knew You Were Trouble | writer4 = {{hlist|Swift|Max Martin|Shellback}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Martin|Shellback}} | length4 = 3:39 | title5 = All Too Well | writer5 = {{hlist|Swift|Liz Rose}} | extra5 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length5 = 5:29 | title6 = 22 | writer6 = {{hlist|Swift|Martin|Shellback}} | extra6 = {{hlist|Martin|Shellback}} | length6 = 3:52 | title7 = I Almost Do | writer7 = Swift | extra7 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length7 = 4:04 | title8 = We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together | writer8 = {{hlist|Swift|Martin|Shellback}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Martin|Shellback| Swift{{efn|The album's liner notes credit Martin and Shellback as producers, but the Recording Academy, in a list announcing nominees for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2012, additionally credits Swift as a producer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/awards/55th-annual-grammy-awards|title=55th Annual Grammy Awards Winners & Nominees for Record Of The Year|publisher=The Recording Academy|access-date=March 21, 2022|archive-date=March 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170310025104/https://www.grammy.com/awards/55th-annual-grammy-awards|url-status=live}}</ref>}}}} | length8 = 3:13 | title9 = Stay Stay Stay | writer9 = Swift | extra9 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length9 = 3:25 | title10 = The Last Time | note10 = featuring Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol | writer10 = {{hlist|Swift|Lightbody|Jacknife Lee}} | extra10 = Lee | length10 = 4:59 | title11 = Holy Ground | writer11 = Swift | extra11 = Jeff Bhasker | length11 = 3:22 | title12 = Sad Beautiful Tragic | writer12 = Swift | extra12 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length12 = 4:44 | title13 = The Lucky One | writer13 = Swift | extra13 = Bhasker | length13 = 4:00 | title14 = Everything Has Changed | note14 = featuring Ed Sheeran | writer14 = {{hlist|Swift|Sheeran}} | extra14 = Butch Walker | length14 = 4:05 | title15 = Starlight | writer15 = Swift | extra15 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman|Huff}} | length15 = 3:40 | title16 = Begin Again | writer16 = Swift | extra16 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman|Huff}} | length16 = 3:57 }}
{{Track listing | headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 25:19 | title17 = The Moment I Knew | writer17 = Swift | extra17 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length17 = 4:46 | title18 = Come Back... Be Here | writer18 = {{hlist|Swift|Wilson}} | extra18 = Wilson | length18 = 3:43 | title19 = Girl at Home | writer19 = Swift | extra19 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length19 = 3:40 | title20 = Treacherous | note20 = original demo recording | writer20 = {{hlist|Swift|Wilson}} | extra20 = Wilson | length20 = 4:00 | title21 = Red | note21 = original demo recording | writer21 = Swift | extra21 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length21 = 3:47 | title22 = State of Grace | note22 = acoustic version | writer22 = Swift | extra22 = {{hlist|Swift|Chapman}} | length22 = 5:23 }}
=== Notes === * "I Knew You Were Trouble" is stylized as "I Knew You Were Trouble." (with a period).
== Personnel == '''Musicians''' {{Div col|colwidth=25em}} * Taylor Swift – lead vocals, background vocals, acoustic guitar * Nathan Chapman – bass guitar, drums, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, mandolin, percussion, piano, soloist, synthesizer, background vocals * Peggy Baldwin – cello * Brett Banducci – viola * Jeff Bhasker – bass guitar, keyboards, piano, background vocals * J. Bonilla – drums, percussion * Nick Buda – drums * Tom Bukovac – electric guitar * David Campbell – string arrangements, conducting * Daphne Chen – violin * Lauren Chipman – viola * Eric Darken – percussion * Marcia Dickstein – harp * Richard Dodd – cello * Paul Franklin – steel guitar * Eric Gorfain – violin * Dann Huff – bouzouki, electric guitar, high strung guitar, mandolin * Charlie Judge – accordion, Hammond B3, piano, upright piano, strings, synthaxe, synthesizer * Gina Kronstadt – violin * John Krovoza – cello * Marisa Kuney – violin * Jacknife Lee – bass guitar, guitar, keyboards * Max Martin – keyboards * Grant Mickelson – guitar * Anders Mouridsen – guitar * Jamie Muhoberac – cello * Neli Nikolaeva – violin * Owen Pallett – conductor, orchestration * Radu Pieptea – violin * Simeon Pillich – contrabass * Wes Precourt – violin * Bill Rieflin – drums * Shellback – bass guitar, guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards * Jake Sinclair – bass guitar, background vocals * Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass guitar * Aaron Sterling – drums * Jeff Takiguchi – contrabass * Andy Thompson – guitar, electric piano * Ilya Toshinsky – mandolin * Butch Walker – drums, guitar, keyboards, percussion, background vocals * Patrick Warren – string arrangements * Amy Wickman – violin * Dan Wilson – bass guitar, electric guitar, piano, background vocals * Rodney Wirtz – violin * Jonathan Yudkin – cello, fiddle, violin * Caitlin Evanson – background vocals * Liz Huett – background vocals ("The Moment I Knew") * Tyler Sam Johnson – background vocals * Gary Lightbody – featured artist, background vocals * Ciara O'Leary – background vocals * Ed Sheeran – featured artist {{div col end}}
'''Production'''
{{Div col|colwidth=25em}} * Taylor Swift – songwriting, production * Nathan Chapman – production, engineering * Joe Baldridge – engineering * Sam Bell – engineering * Matt Bishop – engineering * Delbert Bowers – assistant * Chad Carlson – engineering * Tom Coyne – mastering * Leland Elliott – assistant * Jeff Bhasker – production * Eric Eylands – assistant * Greg Fuess – assistant * Chris Galland – assistant * Şerban Ghenea – mixing * Matty Green – assistant * John Hanes – mixing engineering * Sam Holland – engineering * Dann Huff – production * David Huff – digital editing * Michael Ilbert – engineer * Tyler Sam Johnson – guitar engineer * Jacknife Lee – engineering, production, songwriting, programming * Gary Lightbody – songwriting * Steve Marcantonio – engineer * Manny Marroquin – mixing * Max Martin – production, songwriting * Seth Morton – assistant * Justin Niebank – mixing * Chris Owens – assistant * John Rausch – engineering * Matt Rausch – engineering * Tim Roberts – assistant * Eric Robinson – engineering * Liz Rose – songwriting * Pawel Sek – engineering * Shellback – production, songwriting, programming * Ed Sheeran – songwriting * Jake Sinclair – engineering * Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing * Andy Thompson – engineering * Butch Walker – production * Hank Williams – mastering * Brian David Willis – engineer * Dan Wilson – production, songwriting {{div col end}}
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
'''Visuals and design''' * Taylor Swift – creative director * Sarah Barlow – photography * Austin Hale – designing * Jemma Muradian – hair stylist * Bethany Newman – art direction * Josh Newman – art direction * Lorrie Turk – make-up artist {{col-2}}
'''Managerial''' * Scott Borchetta – executive producer * Leann Bennett – production coordination * Jason Campbell – production coordination * Mike "Frog" Griffith – production coordination * JoAnn Tominaga – production coordination {{col-end}}
== Charts == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} === Weekly charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2012–2013 weekly chart performance}} !Chart (2012–2013) !Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|1|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 1, 2014|refname="ariacharts"}} |- ! scope="row"| Australian Country Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/country-albums/329 |title=ARIA Australian Top 40 Country Albums|publisher=ARIA Charts|access-date=November 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108200049/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/chart/country-albums/329 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 1 |- {{album chart|Austria|3|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2022|refname="austria-21"}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|2|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="flanders"}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|25|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=March 1, 2019|rowheader=true|refname="CAN"}} |- ! scope="row"| Chinese Albums (Sino Chart)<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924102029/http://www.sino-chart.com/chart/201305/626.html|url=http://www.sino-chart.com/chart/201305/626.html|title=Comprehensive Chart for Week 21, 2013|language=zh|publisher=Sino Chart|access-date=June 23, 2023|date=May 26, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"| Croatian Albums (HDU)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hdu-toplista.com/index.php?what=albumi&w=details&id=2098 |title=Taylor Swift – Red| publisher=Top of the Shops| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130722145010/http://hdu-toplista.com/index.php?what=albumi&w=details&id=2098| archive-date=July 22, 2013| url-status=dead}}</ref> | 27 |- {{album chart|Denmark|3|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="denmark"}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|7|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="dutch"}} |- {{album chart|Finland|49|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012}} |- {{album chart|France|30|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012}} |- {{album chart|Germany|5|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|id=202666|access-date=October 28, 2023|rowheader=true|refname="germany"}} |- ! scope="row"| Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref name="ireland">{{cite web |title=Top 75 Artist Album, Week Ending 8 November 2012 |url=http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2012&year=2012&week=45 |publisher=GfK Chart-Track |access-date=August 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502210853/http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p%2Fmusicvideo%2Fmusic%2Farchive%2Findex_test.jsp&ct=240002&arch=t&lyr=2012&year=2012&week=45 |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 2, 2018}}</ref> | style="text-align:center" | 1 |- {{album chart|Italy|3|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="italy"}} |- {{album chart|Oricon|3|date=2012<!-- avoid MDY fix -->-11-05|access-date=November 2, 2012|rowheader=true|refname="Oricon"}} |- ! scope="row"| Japanese Albums (''Billboard Japan'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2012&month=11&day=05|title=Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=December 27, 2025|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028120510/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=top_albums&year=2012&month=11&day=05|url-status=live}}</ref> | 5 |- {{album chart|Mexico2|4|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6C143psKO?url=http://www.centrodedesarrollodigital.com/amprofon3/Top100.pdf|archive-date=November 8, 2012|refname="MX"|access-date=November 8, 2012|rowheader=true}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="newzealand"}} |- {{album chart|Norway|2|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="norway"}} |- {{album chart|Portugal|8|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="portugal"}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|1|date=20121028|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="Scotland"}} |- ! scope="row"|South African Albums (RISA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rsg.co.za|title=South African Top 20 Albums Chart|publisher=RSG (Recording Industry of South Africa)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206205920/http://www.rsg.co.za/|archive-date=December 6, 2012}}</ref> | 4 |- ! scope="row"|South Korean Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211080533/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2012&targetTime=44&nationGbn=T|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2012&targetTime=44&nationGbn=T|title=Week 4 of 2012|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref> | 12 |- ! scope="row"|South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211082038/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2012&targetTime=44&nationGbn=E|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=week&hitYear=2012&targetTime=44&nationGbn=E|title=Week 4 of 2012|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 11, 2015}}</ref> | 1 |- {{album chart|Spain|4|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="spain"}} |- {{album chart|Sweden|8|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 8, 2012|refname="swed"}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|9|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2021|refname=swi-2021}} |- {{album chart|UK2|1|date=20121103|access-date=June 25, 2013|rowheader=true|refname="UK"}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 9, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCountry|1|artist=Taylor Swift|access-date=November 9, 2019|rowheader=true}} |- |} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2019–2024 weekly chart performance}} ! scope="col"|Chart (2019–2024) ! scope="col"|Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Austria|4|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=May 1, 2022|refname="austria-21"}} |- ! scope="row"| Croatian International Albums (HDU)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-51-tjedan-2021//|title=Lista Prodaje 51. Tjedan 2021. (13 December 2021. – 19 December 2021.)|publisher=HDU|date=December 28, 2021|language=hr|access-date=January 3, 2022|archive-date=December 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228211557/http://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-51-tjedan-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 4 |- {{album chart|Germany|8|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|id=202666|access-date=October 28, 2023|rowheader=true|refname="germany"}} |- ! scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI)<ref>{{cite web |title=Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 08/2024) |url=https://ifpi.gr/charts_el.html |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=February 28, 2024 |publisher=IFPI Greece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216182950/https://ifpi.gr/charts_el.html }}</ref> | 1 |- ! scope="row"| Hungarian Physical Albums (MAHASZ)<ref>{{cite web |title=Album Top 40 Slágerlista (Fizikai Hanghordozók) – 2024. 36. Hét |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/36 |publisher=MAHASZ |access-date=September 11, 2024 |archive-date=November 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241130104227/https://slagerlistak.hu/album-top-40-slagerlista-fizikai-hanghordozok/2024/36 |url-status=live }}</ref> | 33 |- {{album chart|Switzerland|7|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Red|rowheader=true|access-date=November 21, 2021|refname=swi-2021}} |- {{album chart|BillboardIndependent|3|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=November 16, 2021}} |} {{col-2}}
=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"<!-- default listing is by Region/Country name per WP:CHARTS & References should be as specific as possible.--> |+ {{sronly|2012 year-end charts}} !Chart (2012) !Position |- !scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2012.htm|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums 2012|publisher=ARIA Charts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307023544/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2012.htm|archive-date=March 7, 2013}}</ref> | 7 |- !scope="row"|Canadian Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-canadian-albums|title=Canadian Albums – Year-End 2012|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712084409/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-canadian-albums|archive-date=July 12, 2013}}</ref> | 10 |- ! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist2012.asp?list=Album%20100 |title=Album Top-100 2012 |language=da |publisher=Hitlisten.NU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914212631/http://www.hitlisterne.dk/yearlist2012.asp?list=Album%20100|archive-date=September 14, 2013 |access-date=December 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> | 84 |- !scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2012/musicrank1220/index07.html |title=2012 Year-End Oricon Album Charts|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|date=December 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121224011556/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2012/musicrank1220/index07.html|archive-date=December 24, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 64 |- !scope="row"|Mexican Albums (AMPROFON)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/Archivos/PDF/top_anual/Top_100_Album_2012.pdf |title=Los Más Vendidos 2012 |language=es |publisher=Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6DuDuXGkh?url=http://www.amprofon.com.mx/Archivos/PDF/top_anual/Top_100_Album_2012.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 24, 2013 }}</ref> | 56 |- !scope="row"|New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2012-12-31 |title=Top Selling Albums of 2012 |publisher=Official New Zealand Music Chart|url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030002440/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=2131| archive-date=October 30, 2013}}</ref> | 6 |- !scope="row"|South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406111754/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2012&targetTime=12&nationGbn=E|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2012&targetTime=12&nationGbn=E|title=2012 Album Chart|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 6, 2015}}</ref> | 36 |- !scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20120108/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2012|publisher=Official Charts Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302052122/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20120108/37502/|archive-date=March 2, 2019}}</ref> | 42 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/the-billboard-200|title=''Billboard'' 200 Albums – 2012 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222025258/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/the-billboard-200|archive-date=February 22, 2013}}</ref> | 4 |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-country-albums?begin=1&order=position |title=Year-End Top Selling Country Albums|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140831000040/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-country-albums?begin=1&order=position|archive-date=August 31, 2014}}</ref> | 1 |} {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2013 year-end charts}} !Chart (2013) !Position |- !scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2013.htm|title=End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Albums 2013|publisher=ARIA Charts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209170525/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2013.htm|archive-date=February 9, 2014}}</ref> | 24 |- !scope="row"|Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2013&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2013|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=November 8, 2020|archive-date=November 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116003356/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2013&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 140 |- !scope="row"|Canadian Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-canadian-albums|title=Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2013|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 12, 2020|archive-date=April 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190416142342/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-canadian-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> | 8 |- !scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2013/musicrank1215/index06.html |title=2013 Year End Oricon Album Charts|publisher=Oricon|language=ja|url-status=dead|date=December 15, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226191124/http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/special/2013/musicrank1215/index06.html|archive-date=December 26, 2013}}</ref> | 38 |- ! scope="row"| Japanese Albums (''Billboard Japan'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=albums_year&year=2013|title=Billboard Japan Top Albums Sales Year End|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=December 27, 2025|archive-date=June 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630000739/https://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=albums_year&year=2013|url-status=live}}</ref> | 60 |- !scope="row"|French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-annuel/top-albums-fusionnes/?ye=2013|title=Le Top De L'année : Top Albums Fusionnés|date=June 10, 2013 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214142253/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-annuel/top-albums-fusionnes/?ye=2013|archive-date=February 14, 2015}}</ref> | 194 |- !scope="row"|New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/annual-albums/2013-12-31|title=Top Selling Albums of 2013|publisher=Official New Zealand Music Chart|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703062000/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=4181|archive-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> | 17 |- !scope="row"| South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402143853/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2013&targetTime=13&nationGbn=E|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2013&targetTime=13&nationGbn=E|title=2013 Album Chart|publisher=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> | 98 |- !scope="row"|UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20130106/37502/|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2013|publisher=Official Charts Company|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150620140218/http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20130106/37502/|archive-date=June 20, 2015}}</ref> | 27 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/the-billboard-200|title=''Billboard'' 200 Albums – 2013 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221085325/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/the-billboard-200|archive-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref> | 2 |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-country-albums |title=Country Albums: 2013 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220002716/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2013/top-country-albums|archive-date=February 20, 2014}}</ref> | 1 |} {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2014 year-end charts}} !Chart (2014) !Position |- !scope="row"|Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2014.htm|title=End of Year Charts – ARIA Top 100 Albums 2014|publisher=ARIA Charts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227152559/http://aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2014.htm|archive-date=February 27, 2015}}</ref> | 96 |- !scope="row"|Chinese Albums (Sino Chart)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sino-chart.com/chart/rank201501/75017.html|script-title=zh:2014年度 唱片销量排行榜 年终榜|trans-title=2014 Year-End Comprehensive Albums Chart|language=zh|publisher=Sino Chart|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122224043/http://www.sino-chart.com/chart/rank201501/75017.html|archive-date=January 22, 2015|access-date=January 22, 2015}}</ref> | 18 |- !scope="row"|South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2014&targetTime=3&nationGbn=E&year_time=3 |title=2014 Gaon Album Chart |language=ko |access-date=May 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710215816/http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?termGbn=year&hitYear=2014&targetTime=3&nationGbn=E&year_time=3|archive-date=July 10, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> | 86 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-billboard-200-albums|title=''Billboard'' 200 Albums – 2014 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429025559/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-billboard-200-albums|archive-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> | 106 |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-country-albums |title=Country Albums: 2014 Year End Charts|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726071122/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/top-country-albums|archive-date=July 26, 2015}}</ref> | 24 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sronly|2015 year-end charts}} !Chart (2015) !Position |- ! scope="row"|Japanese Albums (''Billboard Japan'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums_year&year=2015|title=Hot Albums 2015 Year End|language=ja|work=Billboard Japan|access-date=March 29, 2022|archive-date=August 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805135754/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums_year&year=2015|url-status=live}}</ref> | 94 |- !scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2015|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 29, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211210130/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> | 111 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2017 year-end charts}} !Chart (2017) !Position |- ! scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=June 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622032815/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> | 48 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2018 year-end charts}} !Chart (2018) !Position |- ! scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506053437/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> |28 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2019 year-end charts}} !Chart (2019) !Position |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=July 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706161551/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> |25 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2020 year-end charts}} !Chart (2020) !Position |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2020|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 13, 2020|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210211209/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2020/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> |25 |} {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2021 year-end charts}} !Chart (2021) !Position |- !scope="row"|Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/3020714/|title=Ö3-Austria Top40 Longplay-Jahrescharts 2021|date=November 8, 2019 |publisher=Ö3 Austria Top 40|access-date=January 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220101195807/https://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/3020714/|archive-date=January 1, 2022}}</ref> |70 |- ! scope="row"| US Independent Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/independent-albums|title=Independent Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021|archive-date=December 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202231859/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/independent-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 28 |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 12, 2021|archive-date=April 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417064814/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-country-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> |15 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2022 year-end charts}} !Chart (2022) !Position |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-country-albums/|title=Top Country Albums – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 4, 2023|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201162045/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-country-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> |62 |} {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|2024 year-end chart}} !Chart (2024) !Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Country Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/country-albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 50 Country Albums for 2024|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 14, 2025|archive-date=January 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113134146/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/country-albums-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> | 33 |}
=== Decade-end charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sronly|2010s decade-end charts}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2010–2019) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/end-of-decade-albums-chart|title=ARIA End of Decade Albums Chart|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 15, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111005803/https://www.ariacharts.com.au/annual-charts/2019/end-of-decade-albums-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> | 23 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-top-100-biggest-albums-of-the-decade-2010-2019__27937/|title=The UK's Official Top 100 Biggest Albums of the Decade|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Copsey|first=Rob|date=December 11, 2019|access-date=December 12, 2019|archive-date=December 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211082651/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-uks-official-top-100-biggest-albums-of-the-decade-2010-2019__27937/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 96 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200|title=Decade-End Charts: Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 15, 2019|archive-date=March 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320084752/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200|url-status=live}}</ref> | 32 |- !scope="row"|US Top Country Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-country-albums|title=Top Country Albums – Decade-End|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 19, 2020|archive-date=December 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216073554/https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/top-country-albums|url-status=live}}</ref> | align="center"| 11 |}
=== All-time charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ {{sronly|All-time charts}} !scope="col"|Chart !scope="col"|Position |- ! scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' 200{{efn|Compiled by ''Billboard'' for albums 1963–2015<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums : Page 1|magazine=Billboard|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-date=October 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001122709/http://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/adele-the-beatles-billboard-200-albums-artists-all-time/|title=Greatest ''Billboard'' 200 Albums & Artists of All Time: Adele's ''21'' & The Beatles Are Tops|magazine=Billboard|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=November 12, 2015|access-date=June 16, 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609205250/https://www.billboard.com/pro/adele-the-beatles-billboard-200-albums-artists-all-time/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} | 140 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200 (Women){{efn|Compiled by ''Billboard'' for albums 1963–2017<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Greatest of All Time Billboard 200 Albums By Women|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women|magazine=Billboard|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=July 13, 2020|archive-date=February 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201173545/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-billboard-200-albums-by-women|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-barbra-streisand-leann-rimes-adele-greatest-of-all-time-charts-hot-100-billboard-200/|title=Madonna, Barbra Streisand, Adele & LeAnn Rimes Are Hot 100 & ''Billboard'' 200's Leading Ladies|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=November 30, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616015401/https://www.billboard.com/pro/madonna-barbra-streisand-leann-rimes-adele-greatest-of-all-time-charts-hot-100-billboard-200/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} | 37 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Country Albums (''Billboard''){{efn|Compiled by ''Billboard'' for albums 1963–2016<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-country-albums/|title=Greatest of All Time Top Country Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 26, 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-date=June 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626093616/https://www.billboard.com/charts/greatest-country-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} | 72 |} {{col-end}}
== Certifications == {{Certification Table Top|caption={{sronly|Certifications, with pure sales where available}}}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Platinum|number=5|certyear=2021|access-date=March 12, 2021|refname="ARIA-cert"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Platinum|relyear=2012|certyear=2023|access-date=August 10, 2023}} {{certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2012|certyear=2022|access-date=August 30, 2022}} {{certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Gold|relyear=2012|certyear=2012|access-date=July 3, 2014}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|title=Red|artist=Taylor Swift|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2012|access-date=June 12, 2013|refname="cancert"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Colombia|certref=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://los40.com.co/los40/2013/03/20/actualidad/1363758060_862168.html|title=Taylor Swift obtiene disco de oro en Colombia con ''Red''|trans-title=Taylor Swift Achieves Gold Disk in Colombia with ''Red''|publisher=Los 40 Principales|date=March 20, 2013|access-date=May 6, 2021|language=es|archive-date=May 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506191041/https://los40.com.co/los40/2013/03/20/actualidad/1363758060_862168.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>|award=Gold|nosales=true}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Platinum|id=10436|type=album|relyear=2012|certyear=2021|access-date=August 23, 2022}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|title=Red|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|award=Gold|relyear=2012|certyear=2019|access-date=December 26, 2020}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Platinum|relyear=2013|certyear=2023|access-date=November 11, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Ireland|type=album|award=Platinum|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|relyear=2012|certyear=2012|access-date=June 12, 2013}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|award=Platinum|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|certmonth=4|access-date=June 12, 2013}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|digital=true|type=album|award=Gold|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|relyear=2012|certyear=2016|certmonth=4|refname="digitalcertJP"|note=Digital download}} {{certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award= Gold|relyear=2012|certyear=2013|refname=AMPROFON|access-date=June 12, 2013}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2012|title=Red|artist=Taylor Swift|type=album|award=Platinum|number=6|source=radioscope|certyear=2024|access-date=December 17, 2024|refname="rmnz"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2012|certyear=2024|access-date=June 19, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Singapore|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2021|access-date=January 23, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|award=Gold|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|type=album|relyear=2012|source=artist}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Taylor Swift |title=Red |type=album |award=Platinum |relyear=2012 |certyear=2024 |access-date=April 15, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United Kingdom|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2012|certyear=2025|id=5407-1598-2|access-date=January 24, 2025|refname="bpi"}} {{Certification Table Entry|type=album|region=United States|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Red|award= Platinum|number=8|certyear=2025|relyear=2012|access-date=September 30, 2025|refname="riaa"}} {{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
== See also == * List of ''Billboard'' 200 number-one albums of 2012 * List of ''Billboard'' 200 number-one albums of 2013 * List of ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums number ones of 2012 * List of ''Billboard'' Top Country Albums number ones of 2013 * List of number-one albums of 2012 (Australia) * List of number-one albums of 2012 (Canada) * List of number-one albums from the 2010s (New Zealand) * List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2010s
== Footnotes == {{Notelist}}
== References == === Citations === {{Reflist}}
=== Cited literature === * {{cite book |last1=Lamb |first1=Charles W. |first2=Joe F. |last2=Hair |first3=Carl |last3=McDaniel |title=MKTG 8: Principles of Marketing |publisher=Cengage |year=2014 |isbn=978-1-305-43699-2}} * {{cite journal |last=McNutt |first=Myles |title=From 'Mine' to 'Ours': Gendered Hierarchies of Authorship and the Limits of Taylor Swift's Paratextual Feminism |year=2020 |journal=Communication, Culture and Critique |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=72–91 |doi=10.1093/ccc/tcz042}} * {{cite book |last=Perone |first=James E. |title=The Words and Music of Taylor Swift |publisher=ABC-Clio |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-4408-5294-7 |series=The Praeger Singer-Songwriter Collection |pages=43–54 |chapter=''Red''}} * {{cite book |last=Spencer |first=Liv |title=Taylor Swift: The Platinum Edition |year=2013 |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=978-1-77041-151-7}} * {{Cite journal |last=Tribulski |first=Emily |date=2020–2021 |title=Look What You Made Her Do: How Swift, Streaming, and Social Media Can Increase Artists' Bargaining Power |journal=Duke Law & Technology Review |volume=19 |pages=91–121}} * {{Cite book |last1=Wickman |first1=Kase |title=Taylor Swift: Album by Album |last2=Weiss |first2=Joanna |last3=McAvoy |first3=Moira |publisher=Motorbooks |year=2025 |isbn=978-0-7603-9750-3}} * {{Cite book |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |title=Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-6672-0845-9 |pages=76–105 |chapter=The ''Red'' Era}}
== External links == * {{Discogs master|type=album|488435|name=Red}}
{{Taylor Swift}} {{authority control}}
Category:2012 albums Category:Taylor Swift albums Category:Albums produced by Taylor Swift Category:Albums produced by Nathan Chapman (record producer) Category:Albums produced by Max Martin Category:Albums produced by Shellback (record producer) Category:Albums produced by Dan Wilson (musician) Category:Albums produced by Dann Huff Category:Albums produced by Jeff Bhasker Category:Albums produced by Jacknife Lee Category:Albums produced by Butch Walker Category:Big Machine Records albums Category:Canadian Country Music Association Top Selling Album albums Category:Country albums by American artists Category:Pop albums by American artists Category:Rock albums by American artists Category:Albums about heartbreak