The motel will now start sharing a new segment, titled “Radio,” which will consist of music recommendations. These are a selection of tunes that would most certainly be heard in the lobby of the motel, enjoyed throughout all seasons of the year.
Last week, a day after my birthday, the amazing Taylor Swift released her version of her iconic 2012 album, Red. Though it’s nearly been 10 years since its initial release, the album still remains so well loved at the motel to this day.
The thing about so much of Swift’s music is that it has a sense of timelessness. Her music goes with the trend just enough, but still maintains her own personal sound and style. Such uniqueness in music manages to sound pleasing to the ears and the heart even after time goes by.
There are so many things to love about this album, both artistically and musically. The title itself is bold and straight to the point, epitomizing the entire emotional state of the album with just a single word. It is simplicity at is finest and yet, manages to be so emotionally complex and satisfying.
There is also a vintage, retro vibe to this entire album. Swift sings of handwritten notes, scarves, doorsteps, and being lost in translation. This album makes us reminiscent of Swift’s more vintage outfits, the emergence of her iconic red lipstick look, and her 50’s inspired dresses, bathing suits, and oxford loafers.




This is an album you put on when you want something calming, but also moderately upbeat and at the same time, retrospective. Compared to Swift’s Folklore and Evermore, which are also a bit slower on the tempo scale, Red is deeply personal. Red was when Swift was at her most vulnerable, and it really shows in her slower tracks, Sad Beautiful Tragic, The Moment I Knew, and of course, All Too Well. At the same time, there are more slightly upbeat tracks such as We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, I Knew You Were Trouble, and Stay Stay Stay.
Though Swift has been criticized for writing one too many songs about her exes, ironically enough, that is also what makes people love her. She knows how to share these intensely personal and intimate parts of her life in such a clever, but mysterious way. And that, my friends, is the beauty of Taylor Swift. She is unique in her own right, and is truly so incredibly amazing at her craft.
Now I am going to force myself to choose my 5 top favorite tracks on this album:
- The Last Time
- Treacherous
- Come Back…Be Here
- I Almost Do
- Holy Ground
The motel is so excited to be putting this album on repeat for the rest of the year, which perhaps was Taylor’s intention from the start. We never know with this woman, honestly, but one thing’s for sure: she knows what she’s doing.
