Taylor Swift’s Red (Taylor’s Version), her fourth number one album in 16 months, was released to great acclaim. It’s been widely predicted that either 1989 or Speak Now will be re-released next, and there’s a lot of speculation that Speak Now will be the one.
As Swift’s third studio album, Speak Now shows the first hints of her developing pop sound. Songs like “Mine,” “Back to December,” and “Enchanted” were all radio hits, and, with over 100 million streams on Spotify, helped cement Swift’s status as a permanent fixture in the music industry.

Many fans have created conspiracy theories regarding the next re-release, leaning into Swift’s fondness for hiding ‘Easter Eggs’ within the content she releases. One such conspiracy theory involves Blake Lively, Swift’s longtime friend.

After directing the “I Bet You Think About Me” music video, Lively posted a picture on her Instagram account with the caption “Not a lot going on at the moment.” Notoriously, Swift used the same caption exactly one month before surprise-releasing her album folklore and again exactly one month before the surprise-release of evermore.

The post shows Lively standing at the third urinal in a bathroom, which some have taken as a nod to Speak Now being Swift’s third album. Others have pointed to the price of the Red (Taylor’s Version) CD in Swift’s online store: $20.10, in purple font, an obvious reference to 2010, the year Speak Now was released.

However, not everyone is convinced that Speak Now is next. Some Creek students believe that 1989 will be the next re-release, but most wouldn’t mind if it isn’t.

“I love Taylor Swift and any new music from her,” senior Tali Rubins said. “I’m waiting for more music.”

After the re-release of Fearless, in April, fans were certain that 1989 would be next. Swift subverted expectations when she announced Red (Taylor’s Version) seemingly out of nowhere, so it’s possible for her to drop an album that the fans aren’t expecting.

Whether or not Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is next, fans will continue to love it.

“It brings back [my] childhood,” junior Chloe Mazenko said. “It’s fun to scream in the car.”

For every wild song on Speak Now, there are just as many to cry your heart out to. Songs like “Sparks Fly” are a blend of both, providing catharsis and the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your emotions. Her lyrics are relatable even if you haven’t experienced exactly what she has—the emotions they convey are universal.

Creek students have their own connections to “Sparks Fly.” “It reminds me of my fourth-grade breakup,” freshman Jack McCloskey said. “It’s very sad.”

By expressing the ups and downs of teenage life, Speak Now makes listeners feel seen. It validates the feelings that are so often discredited by adults, and it keeps us from suffering alone. A revamped version of Speak Now is just what the teenagers need right now.

This article’s page in the winter 2021 issue won Third Place Single Page Design from CSMA.