Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media, Inc.
“SPEAK NOW (TAYLOR’S VERSION)” SECURES TAYLOR SWIFT’S 12TH NO. 1 ALBUM, ACHIEVING THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FIRST WEEK OF 2023.
Seventeen years following Taylor Swift’s entrance into country music with her hit “Tim McGraw,” she has achieved one of the most remarkable milestones in her career.
Her re-recorded version of the 2010 album “Speak Now” made an impressive debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart (dated July 22), boasting the highest first-week figures for any album released this year. This accomplishment also secures Swift’s 12th No. 1 album, surpassing Barbra Streisand and establishing her as the female artist with the most No. 1 albums.
According to Billboard, “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” garnered 716,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during the week ending on July 13, with 507,000 units attributed to album sales rather than streaming. Both of these figures represent the most substantial first-week statistics for any album in 2023 and are notably the best since Swift’s previous studio album, “Midnights,” which was released in October. Notably, three additional Swift albums have also claimed spots in the Top 10: “Midnights” at No. 5, “Lover” at No. 7, and “Folklore” at No. 10.
“It fills me with immense pride and happiness to reveal that my version of ‘Speak Now’ will be released on July 7 (just in time for July 9th, if you know what I mean 😆),” Swift shared on Instagram when announcing the album. “I initially crafted ‘Speak Now,’ entirely self-penned, during the period between ages 18 and 20. The tracks born from this phase of my life were characterized by their unvarnished honesty, unfiltered personal revelations, and untamed nostalgia. I cherish this album because it narrates a story of growing up, stumbling, soaring, and crashing… and surviving to recount it. Including six additional tracks that I’ve unearthed from the vault, I’m truly thrilled to join you in commemorating ‘Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)’ on July 7th.”
According to Billboard, Swift has become the first living artist to achieve four albums in the Top 10 since Herb Alpert in 1966.
“Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” constitutes the third installment in Swift’s series of re-recorded albums. The decision to commence the re-recording process for her initial six albums arose when Scooter Braun was associated with an entity that acquired her record label as well as her music catalog in 2020. The primary motivation behind this endeavor is to empower Swift with control over the latest iterations of her recorded creations. This endeavor also grants her the chance to refine certain lyrics. Notably, this approach harmonizes with her Eras tour, which pays homage to the distinct periods of her career.
