Nothing New (song) explained

Nothing New
Artist:Taylor Swift featuring Phoebe Bridgers
Album:Red (Taylor's Version)
Written:March 2012
Studio:
Genre:
Length:4:18
Label:Republic
Producer:

"Nothing New" is a song by the American singer-songwriters Taylor Swift featuring Phoebe Bridgers. Swift wrote the song in March 2012 and produced it with Aaron Dessner for her second re-recorded studio album, Red (Taylor's Version), which was released in 2021 through Republic Records. The track is a guitar-led folk and alternative rock tune about anxieties over romance and growing up.

Critics interpreted "Nothing New" as Swift's message about the music industry's treatment of female musicians. They lauded the song's emotional sentiments, Swift's songwriting, and Bridgers's performance. After Red (Taylor's Version) was released, the track peaked at number 43 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the top 40 on national charts in Australia, Canada, and Ireland. "Nothing New" was included on the set list of Swift's the Eras Tour at concerts opened by Bridgers, who performed the song with her.

Background

After signing a new contract with Republic Records, the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift began re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.[1] The decision followed a public 2019 dispute between Swift and the talent manager Scooter Braun, who acquired Big Machine Records, including the masters of Swift's albums which the label had released.[2] [3] By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs for commercial use and therefore substituted the Big Machine–owned masters.[4] On April 9, 2021, Swift released the first re-recorded album, Fearless (Taylor's Version), a re-recording of her second studio album Fearless (2008); the album also featured several unreleased "From the Vault" tracks that she had written but left out of the original albums' track listings.[5]

For Swift's next re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version) (2021), she re-recorded all of the 30 songs she had intended for her fourth studio album Red (2012).[6] The original album incorporated country and new styles of pop and rock, as a result of her experimenting with other styles; this prompted a debate over her status as a country artist at the time.[7] Like the previous re-recorded album, Red (Taylor's Version) features nine "From the Vault" tracks among the 30 songs.[8] One such track was "Nothing New", which she wrote on an Appalachian dulcimer in March 2012 when she was 22 years old.[9] Swift later approached Aaron Dessner to produce it with her and Phoebe Bridgers to feature vocals on the track for Red (Taylor's Version).[10] [11]

Music and lyrics

"Nothing New" is an alternative rock[12] and folk ballad.[13] Its duration lasts for 4 minutes and 18 seconds. The song features a melancholic production driven by guitar[14] and incorporates understated cello,[15] light strings, keyboard, piano, synthesizers, and violin. It was recorded at Long Pond Studios in Hudson Valley. Swift's vocals were recorded at Kitty Committee Studios in Belfast and Bridgers's vocals were recorded at Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. The song was mixed at Long Pond and mastered at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, New Jersey.

The lyrics are about anxiety over romance and growing up.[16] In the chorus, Swift sings, "How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22?" reflecting on her growing up, and "Will you still want me when I'm nothing new?"[17] In the views of Olivia Horn from Pitchfork, "Nothing New" is not only about romantic anxieties, but also about "the music business' famously fickle relationship to young women".[18] Laura Snapes from The Guardian agreed with this idea, citing the lyric "People love an ingenue" as Swift's internalized pressure to stay in the public eye.[19] In a journal entry dated March 2, 2012, Swift wrote that the song is about "being scared of aging and things changing and losing what you have".

Release and reception

"Nothing New" was released as the 23rd track on Red (Taylor's Version) via Republic on November 12, 2021.[20] The song peaked the top 40 on national charts in Australia (31), Canada (22), and Ireland (25). In the United States, "Nothing New" debuted both on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs, with peaks of number 43 and number 11 respectively.[21] On other non-national charts, it reached number 33 on the Billboard Global 200 and number 11 on the United Kingdom's Audio Streaming Chart. After the album's release, Swift embarked on the Eras Tour in March 2023, where she would perform various songs across her discography and would feature different opening acts at each concert, and Bridgers was one of them.[22] [23] At concerts opened by her, "Nothing New" was added on the tour's set list, in which both Swift and Bridgers performed the track.[24] [25]

In reviews of Red (Taylor's Version), critics generally praised "Nothing New" for its emotional sentiments, Swift's songwriting, and Bridgers's performance. They picked it as an album highlight and one of the best "From the Vault" tracks. The New York Times Lindsay Zoladz, Billboard Jason Lipshutz, Variety Chris Willman complimented Bridgers's vocals and the thoughtful lyrics.[26] [27] Carrie Battan of The New Yorker compared "Nothing New" to the "folksy poeticism" of Swift's 2020 albums Folklore and Evermore.[28] Angie Martoccio of Rolling Stone lauded the collaboration: "Swift's adult voice combines with Bridgers' honey-soaked, hushed vocals, melding together in an autumn rush that brushes against your cheek". Some critics praised Swift's double entendre message about the music industry—The A.V. Club editor Saloni Gajjar opined that its "extremely relatable even if you’re not a globally recognized musician."[29] For the Los Angeles Times, Mikael Wood highlighted its double entendre lyrics and nostalgic sentiments during the age of internet culture.

Critics have ranked "Nothing New" highly among Swift's bonus/vault tracks. Willman and Josh Kurp from Uproxx both ranked it sixth among over 25 vault tracks that Swift released; they praised Bridgers's appearance and the emotionally resonant lyrics.[30] [31] Time writers ranked it first in their list; the critic Rachel Sonis wrote: "It's interesting, if a little sad, that Swift was plagued with this thought at only 22 when she wrote this song, knowing where she is now."[32]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Red (Taylor's Version) album liner notes[33]

References

Journal

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Melas . Chloe . November 16, 2020 . Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201118064935/https://www.ctvnews.ca/entertainment/taylor-swift-speaks-out-about-sale-of-her-masters-1.5191925 . November 18, 2020 . November 19, 2020 . CNN.
  2. News: August 22, 2019 . Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits . . live . August 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190822202321/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49432817 . August 22, 2019.
  3. Web site: Finnis . Alex . November 17, 2020 . Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210212170953/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-masters-scooter-braun-selling-rights-music-rerecording-row-explained-762411 . February 12, 2021 . February 13, 2021 . i.
  4. News: Shah . Neil . April 9, 2021 . Taylor Swift Releases New Fearless Album, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog . . live . subscription . September 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211008111731/https://www.wsj.com/articles/taylor-swift-releases-new-fearless-album-reclaiming-her-back-catalog-11617945524 . October 8, 2021 .
  5. Espada . Mariah . 2023-07-06 . Taylor Swift Is Halfway Through Her Rerecording Project. It's Paid Off Big Time . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231027074519/https://time.com/6292599/taylor-swift-speak-now-rerecord-project/ . October 27, 2023 . 2023-11-06 . Time.
  6. Lipshutz . Jason . 2021-06-18 . Taylor Swift Announces 'Red' As Next Re-Recorded Album, Shares Release Date . 2023-11-17 . Billboard . en-US.
  7. Eells . Josh . 2014-09-08 . Cover Story: The Reinvention of Taylor Swift . 2023-11-17 . Rolling Stone . en-US . August 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180816144402/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-reinvention-of-taylor-swift-116925/ . live .
  8. Web site: Al-Heeti . Abhar . November 11, 2021 . Red (Taylor's Version): Release date, tracklist, why Taylor Swift is rerecording her albums . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231002193825/https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainment/red-taylors-version-release-date-tracklist-why-taylor-swift-is-rerecording-her-albums/ . October 2, 2023 . September 30, 2023 . CNET . en.
  9. Swift. Taylor. Taylor Swift. August 23, 2019. Lover Deluxe. 2nd.
  10. Web site: Taylor Swift recalls texting Phoebe Bridgers to ask her to collaborate. NME. Tom. Skinner. November 13, 2021. November 19, 2021. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319145108/https://www.nme.com/news/music/taylor-swift-recalls-texting-phoebe-bridgers-collaborate-red-3094565. live.
  11. Phoebe Bridgers 'Got Teary' Recording Her Part on Taylor Swift's Red (Taylor's Version). Billboard. Nolan. Feeney. November 10, 2021. November 19, 2021. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319145053/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/phoebe-bridgers-taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-nothing-new-9657454/. live.
  12. Web site: Red (Taylor's Version) (+ A Message from Taylor). Apple Music. August 23, 2022. She wrestles with change on 'Nothing New,' an alt-rock duet with Phoebe Bridgers. October 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028082008/https://music.apple.com/us/album/red-taylors-version-a-message-from-taylor/1590368448. live.
  13. Web site: Taylor Swift's Red Rerelease Proves What Fans Always Knew. Slate. Ilana. Kaplan. November 15, 2021. November 19, 2021. November 15, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211115233505/https://slate.com/culture/2021/11/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review.html. live.
  14. Web site: Okon . Wongo . November 12, 2021 . Taylor Swift And Phoebe Bridgers Team Up For The Emotional 'Nothing New' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320230136/https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-phoebe-bridgers-nothing-new/ . March 20, 2023 . November 19, 2021 . Uproxx.
  15. Lipshutz. Jason. November 12, 2021. Every 'From The Vault' Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's Red (Taylor's Version): Critic's Picks. Billboard. live. November 18, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211118013138/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-from-the-vault-songs-ranked-9659077/. November 18, 2021.
  16. Congratulations, Indie Fans: We Finally Manifested a Taylor Swift/Phoebe Bridgers Duet. Angie. Martoccio. Rolling Stone. limited. November 12, 2021. November 19, 2021. March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230326105843/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/taylor-swift-phoebe-bridgers-nothing-new-red-1256954/. live.
  17. Web site: November 12, 2021. Taylor Swift Remakes Heartbreak Odyssey with Red (Taylor's Version). November 12, 2021. Spin. November 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211112141505/https://www.spin.com/2021/11/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-album-review/. live.
  18. News: Horn . Olivia . Taylor Swift: Red (Taylor's Version) Album Review . November 18, 2021 . . November 15, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211118011827/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version/ . November 18, 2021 . live.
  19. News: Snapes . Laura . Taylor Swift: Red (Taylor's Version) review – getting back together with a classic . November 18, 2021 . . November 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211118022220/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/nov/12/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review-republic . November 18, 2021 . live.
  20. Web site: Swift . Taylor . Taylor Swift . November 12, 2021 . Red (Taylor's Version) [+ A Message From Taylor] ]. September 30, 2023 . Apple Music (US) . October 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211028082008/https://music.apple.com/us/album/red-taylors-version-a-message-from-taylor/1590368448 . live .
  21. Taylor Swift Charts 26 Songs From Red (Taylor's Version) on Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. Xander. Zellner. November 22, 2021. January 27, 2022. November 24, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211124035344/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-26-songs-hot-100-red-taylors-version-1235001484/. live.
  22. Web site: 2023-03-20 . Taylor Swift's Eras tour is a career-defining spectacle full of surprises – review . 2023-08-27 . The Independent . en . July 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705125732/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-eras-tour-review-b2303820.html . live .
  23. Web site: Willman . Chris . 2022-11-01 . Taylor Swift Announces 2023 'Eras Tour' of U.S. Stadiums . 2023-08-27 . Variety . en-US . December 4, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221204082745/https://variety.com/2022/music/news/taylor-swift-announces-2023-tour-1235419454/ . live .
  24. Web site: Armstrong . Megan . 2023-05-06 . Taylor Swift And Phoebe Bridgers Performed 'Nothing New' In Nashville . 2023-08-27 . UPROXX . en-US . May 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230506135228/https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-phoebe-bridgers-performed-nothing-new-nashville/ . live .
  25. Web site: Kickham . Dylan . 2023-05-07 . Taylor's Eras Tour Set List Gets An Extra Song When Phoebe Bridgers Is The Opener . 2023-08-27 . Elite Daily . en . May 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230507213125/https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/phoebe-bridgers-set-list-taylor-swift-eras-tour-nothing-new . live .
  26. Web site: Zoladz . Lindsay . November 12, 2021 . Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers's Red Duet, and 14 More New Song . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321000201/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/12/arts/music/taylor-swift-red.html . March 21, 2023 . November 19, 2021 . The New York Times.
  27. News: Willman . Chris . November 11, 2021 . On Red (Taylor's Version), Taylor Swift's Vault Tracks Are All Too Swell: Album Review . . live . November 18, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211113040229/https://variety.com/2021/music/album-reviews/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-album-review-all-too-well-1235110634/ . November 13, 2021.
  28. Battan . Carrie . November 17, 2021 . Taylor Swift's Quest for Justice . . November 20, 2021 . limited . July 13, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220713154812/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/11/29/taylor-swifts-quest-for-justice . live .
  29. Web site: Gajjar . Saloni . November 15, 2021 . Album Review: Red (Taylor's Version) Is An Epic Time Machine . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211116212915/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-s-red-taylors-version-is-a-sweeping-pro-1848067892 . November 16, 2021 . November 16, 2021 . The A.V. Club.
  30. Web site: Willman . Chris . 2023-08-09 . Taylor Swift's 25 Best Bonus Tracks, Ranked . 2023-11-06 . . November 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231106080704/https://variety.com/lists/taylor-swift-best-bonus-tracks-ranked-deluxe-vault/ . live .
  31. Web site: Kurp . Josh . 2023-10-27 . Every Taylor Swift 'From The Vault' (Taylor's Version) Song, Ranked . 2023-11-06 . . November 4, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231104202516/https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-taylors-version-from-the-vault-songs-ranked/ . live .
  32. Cooney . Samantha . Gutterman . Annabel . Mendes II . Moises . Sonis . Rachel . 2023-10-25 . The Best Taylor Swift Vault Songs, Ranked . 2023-11-05 . . November 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231105054343/https://time.com/6327597/taylor-swift-best-vault-songs/ . live .
  33. Red (Taylor's Version). Taylor Swift. 2021. Taylor Swift / Republic Records. digital media liner notes.

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