In the Taylor’s Version re-recording journey of her first six albums,Taylor Swiftonly has two more left to go, and it’s clear which one she should release first. Swift famously began withFearless (Taylor’s Version)in the early part of 2021, reclaiming the album that changed absolutely everything for her and her career first while adding special new songs “From the Vault.” Ever since, Swift has gone on to release three others, includingRed (Taylor’s Version),Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), and1989 (Taylor’s Version). That leaves only two others:Reputation (Taylor’s Version)andTaylor Swift (Taylor’s Version).
With the Taylor’s Versions of bothSpeak Nowand1989being announced on the first leg of Swift’s juggernaut The Eras Tour, fans reasonably assumed that Swift would go on to announce her next Taylor’s Version during the latter part of the tour. Now thatThe Eras Tour has officially ended, however, it’s clear that Swift has a different plan for the final two Taylor’s Version re-releases. While much of this plan remains a mystery to her fans, it’s glaringly clear which album of hers ought to arrive first:Reputation (Taylor’s Version).
Taylor Swift Releasing Reputation (Taylor’s Version) Builds On The Eras Tour
One Of The Tour’s Best Sets
While the opportunity for Swift to announceReputation (Taylor’s Version)on The Eras Tour has since passed, Swift can still build on the momentum of the tour for her next re-release. TheReputationset on The Eras Tour was one of the most highly praised parts of the entire show;this section was repeatedly one of the loudest, if not the loudest, in terms of audience participation and reception during each and every concert. This is evidenced by the reaction the crowd had in Miami when Swift changed her red snake bodysuit to gold.
Every Song In Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (& Which Were Cut)
Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour movie captures most of the artist’s record-breaking three-hour concert, all three film versions featuring over 40 songs.
With incredible costuming, choreography, and song selections,Reputationcemented itself as perhaps the most entertaining part of the entire Eras Tour show, and that momentum it gained can continue into the new Taylor’s Version era.Swift ought to carryReputation (Taylor’s Version)on this wave of hype, especially because Debut doesn’t have a similar experienceon The Eras Tour. The latter album didn’t even have its own dedicated section, making it the only one of Swift’s albums to be excluded regularly. Swift should take advantage of The Eras Tour’s benefits while she still can.
Reputation (Taylor’s Version) Is The Album That Most Deserves A Better Reputation
The Circumstances Surrounding Its Release Prevented Its Proper Success
BetweenReputationandTaylor Swift, the former is the album that easily deserves better, given how it was initially received when it was released in 2017. The album was, of course, named for the way Swift’s reputation had been marred by her infamous feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, andthough this album acted as a powerful comeback, Swift still hadn’t been able to clear her reputation enough to make this album stick the landing the way it deserved to. As a result, the desired hype was difficult to garner, andReputationeven received zero Grammy nominations.
Swift’s feelings aboutReputation’s reception, particularly where the Grammy nominations are concerned, were revealed in her 2019Taylor Swift:Miss Americanadocumentary.
This is a complete shame, given how incredibleReputationreally is - and how experimental it was for Swift at the time. The reality is thatthe world wasn’t ready for Swift to branch out in this way and prove her true versatility with the sounds on this album that were so differentfrom what she had done in the past. Now, however, it’s certainly a fan-favorite, and it deserves to receive the praise it always should have had with its Taylor’s Version. There’s no better time than the present for Swift to seek that by releasing it first.
Taylor Swift Ending Her Re-Releases With Debut Brings Everything Full Circle
Ending With What Was Once Her Beginning
There’s no doubt, though, that the biggest reason why Swift should releaseReputation (Taylor’s Version)beforeTaylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)is because saving the latter for last would bring this entire Taylor’s Version project full circle. Swift would get to end right where she started by closing the Taylor’s Version journey with her first-ever album, which is so meaningful in the grand scheme.She’s already poetic in the way she’s literally saved her name and her reputation for last, reclaiming the most precious parts of herself.
Every Taylor Swift Album In Release Order (And Which Are Taylor’s Versions)
The Taylor Swift album release order was complicated by the onset of her Taylor’s Version series, but it represents the artist reclaiming her legacy.
Given that her name no doubt carries more weight than her reputation, as Swift has proven how she feels about her reputation with the album of the same name, Swift ought to lead withReputation (Taylor’s Version)so thatTaylor Swift (Taylor’s Version)can have its moment. It’s worth noting that this seems to be the likeliest outcome for several reasons, but above all else, this is the biggest - along with the fact that Swift has already teasedReputation (Taylor’s Version)on many occasions.Taylor Swiftreally can’t go wrong with either, butReputationought to be her next re-release.
