Member-only story
Does the Near-Decade Between the Two Versions of Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” Make All the Difference?
In which I compare the original from 2012 to Taylor’s Version in 2021
It’s yet another week where I’m regularly listening to Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well” on repeat. I keep finding new facets of this song to love. The vocals, music, and lyrics just blend into this perfect bittersweet concoction that I can’t get enough of.
But I wondered: how do I feel about the differences between the 2012 original recording and the 2021 rerecording? Someone might not even notice the subtleties besides a quick, “Oh, yeah, her voice has matured in the new version.”
What do I hear? Let’s explore that a bit.
The 2012 Version
“All Too Well” had never really been on my radar as a “must-listen” as far as Taylor Swift music goes. Maybe that’s because I didn’t really start paying attention until her 1989 era. Either way — I was definitely missing out.
But really? I’m glad we have the rerecording because it is the superior version.
The 2012 version almost feels like too big of a song upon initial listening: you have this young girl in her twenties singing about a love affair that shook her…
