The Music Bechdel: Taylor Swift, Red
It is one of my favorite Taylor Swift albums and it is her next re-release coming in November, so the first album I’m putting through the Music Bechdel is Red by Taylor Swift. Red was Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album released on October 22, 2012, by her previous label, Big Machine Records. In its first week, it sold 1.21 million copies. It will be re-released on November 21, 2021.
Track 1: State of Grace
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 2: Red
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 3: Treacherous
Written by: Taylor Swift and Dan Wilson
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 4: I Knew You Were Trouble
Written by: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 5: All Too Well
Written by: Taylor Swift and Liz Rose
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 6: 22
Written by: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback
Is it about something other than a man? Yes
Track 7: I Almost Do
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 8: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Written by: Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 9: Stay Stay Stay
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 10: The Last Time (feat. Gary Lightbody)
Written by: Taylor Swift, Gary Lightbody, and Jacknife Lee
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 11: Holy Ground
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 12: Sad Beautiful Tragic
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 13: The Lucky One
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? Yes
Track 14: Everything Has Changed (feat. Ed Sheeran)
Written by: Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 15: Starlight
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 16: Begin Again
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 17 (Bonus): The Moment I Knew
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 18 (Bonus): Come Back… Be Here
Written by: Taylor Swift and Dan Wilson
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 19 (Bonus): Girl At Home
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 20 (Bonus): Treacherous (Original Demo Recording)
Written by: Taylor Swift and Dan Wilson
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 21 (Bonus): Red (Original Demo Recording)
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
Track 22 (Bonus): State of Grace (Acoustic Version)
Written by: Taylor Swift
Is it about something other than a man? No
What is the percentage of songs that are written by a woman AND about something other than a man?
2/22 Tracks or 9% of the Album
Does Red by Taylor Swift pass the Music Bechdel?
Not at all. That doesn’t mean I don’t still love the album, but I would really love to hear her sing more than just a lot of love songs. She never hid that her albums are her journal, and I mean can we expect much more from a late teen/early twenties girl than a lot of emotions about relationships? That’s not meant to be a sexist comment, I’m just saying…I’ve definitely been there.
I have artists and specific albums for this series planned through the end of the year, but I would love to keep it going longer than that. Artists will be measured on an album-by-album basis. If at least 50% of the songs on an album meet the criteria, that album passes The Music Bechdel. Use my contact form, email me, or message me on social media to make album requests for me to test.
Order it on Amazon or listen to it wherever you stream music.