Wikipedia

Message in a Bottle (Taylor Swift song)

"Message in a Bottle"[a]is a song by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift.It was her first writing collaboration withMax MartinandShellback.The song was intended for but excluded from her fourth studio album,Red(2012). Shellback andElvira Anderfjärdproduced the track for Swift'sre-recordedalbum,Red (Taylor's Version)(2021). "Message in a Bottle" is a 1980s-influenceddance-pop,synth-pop,andelectropopsong with lyrics about the anxiety from falling in love.

"Message in a Bottle"
Cover of "Message in a Bottle" showing Swift in a beret and trench coat; behind her is a red convertible
Fat Max G remix cover
SinglebyTaylor Swift
from the albumRed (Taylor's Version)
ReleasedNovember 15, 2021
Studio
  • Kitty Committee (Belfast)
  • House Mouse (Stockholm)
Genre
Length3:45
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Taylor Swiftsingles chronology
"I Bet You Think About Me"
(2021) 		"Message in a Bottle"
(2021) 		"The Joker and the Queen"
(2022)
Lyric video
"Message in a Bottle"onYouTube

Republic Recordsissued the song to the UShot ACandmainstream radioformats as asinglefollowing the album's release in November 2021. Music critics generally praised the song's production as catchy, although a few found it underwhelming. The song peaked at number 50 on theBillboardGlobal 200and charted in Australia, Canada, and the United States, among other countries. It also peaked in the top 20 on threeBillboardairplay charts.

Background

edit

After ending her 13-year contract withBig Machine Recordsand signing anew withRepublic Recordsin 2018,Taylor Swiftbegan re-recording her first six studio albums in November 2020.[2]The decision followed apublic 2019 disputebetween Swift and the talent managerScooter Braun,who acquired Big Machine, including themastersof her albums which the label had released.[3][4]By re-recording the albums, Swift had full ownership of the new masters, which enabled her to control the licensing of her songs forcommercial useand therefore replaced the Big Machine–owned masters.[5]

In April 2021, Swift released her firstre-recordedalbum: that of her 2008 studio albumFearless,subtitledTaylor's Version.In addition to the re-recorded tracks, it contained several unreleased "From the Vault" tracks that she had written but left out of the original album.[6]On November 12, 2021, she released her second re-recorded album: that of her 2012 studio albumRed,also subtitledTaylor's Version.[7]As with its predecessor,Red (Taylor's Version)includes "From the Vault" tracks.[8]

Composition

edit
"Message in a Bottle"
Adance-popandelectropoptune, "Message in a Bottle" has a 1980s-influenced production featuring keyboards, drums, and guitars.
Problems playing this file? Seemedia help.

"Message in a Bottle" was the first song that Swift wrote with the Swedish producersMax MartinandShellback.[9]The two produced three songs for the originalRedalbum: "22","We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together",and"I Knew You Were Trouble".[10][11][12]

"Message in a Bottle" is an uptempodance-pop,[13]synth-pop,[14]andelectropoptune[7][15][16]produced by Shellback andElvira Anderfjärd.[17]According to the album'sliner notes,both Shellback and Anderfjärd played thekeyboards;the former played guitar and the latter played thebassanddrums.[17]Some critics commented that "Message in a Bottle" could have fitted into Swift's 2014 album1989,which she described as her first official pop album.[18][19][20]NME's Hannah Mylrea said the 1980s-influenced production evoked the music ofCarly Rae Jepsen's 2015 albumEmotion.[21]Meanwhile, Laura Snapes fromThe Guardiansaid that the production evoked "tropical houseviaColdplay".[22]The lyrics are about the anxiety ensued from falling in love with somebody ( "But now/You're so far away and I'm down/Feeling like a face in the crowd/I'm reaching for you, terrified" ).[23][19]

Release and commercial performance

edit

"Message in a Bottle" is one of the vault tracks onRed (Taylor's Version),which Republic Records released on November 12, 2021; it is number 26 on the track listing.[24][8]Republic released it to UShot adult contemporary radioon November 15,[25]and the following day the song also impactedcontemporary hit radioformat, making it an official radiosingle.[26][27]A remix by Fat Max G was released to digital andstreamingservices on January 21, 2022.[28]Swift performed "Message in a Bottle" as a "surprise song" outside the regular set list at the Seattle concert on July 23, 2023, as part of herEras Tour.[29]She sang it again on the tour'sStockholmstop on May 19, 2024, as part of a medley with her songs "New Romantics"and" How You Get the Girl ".[30]

AfterRed (Taylor's Version)was released, "Message in a Bottle" debuted and peaked at number 45 on the USBillboardHot 100chart dated November 27, 2021.[31][32]The single also charted on threeBillboardairplay charts.OnAdult Pop Songs,it debuted at number 36 on the chart dated November 20, 2021, after three days of tracing, marking Swift's record-extending 36th entry,[33]and peaked at number 10.[34]It peaked at number 11 onAdult Contemporaryand number 17 onPop Songs.[7]The track peaked at number 50 on theBillboardGlobal 200[35]and the singles charts of Australia (33)[36]and Canada (32).[37]

Critical reception

edit

"Message in a Bottle" received generally positive reviews. Mylrea called the song a "effervescent nugget of pure-pop".[21]Paul Bridgewater ofThe Line of Best Fitlabeled the track "A-grade Swift",[18]while Beth Kirkbride ofClashthought that the electronic soundscape contributed to the diverse musical styles ofRed (Taylor's Version).[38]Ranking "Message in a Bottle" third among the nine vault tracks on the album,Billboard's Jason Lipshutz described the track as "compact, propulsive" with "the same energy (and crackling charm)" as the songs that pushed Swift's artistry towards the album1989.[20]Jonathan Keefe ofSlant Magazinesaid that "Message in a Bottle" had a catchyhookas Swift's singles "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" and "Shake It Off",but he said that it did not have" the self-conscious repetitions of those hits ".[39]

Variety's Chris Willman gave the song a four-star rating; he opined that the "thoroughly infectious" track had "a strong shot for hit single status" but added that "as good as it is, you can imagine almost anyone in pop singing it".[40]Josh Kurp ofUproxxplaced "Message in a Bottle" fifth on his ranking of Swift's 26 vault tracks on herTaylor's Versionre-recordings; he predicted that it would become one of Swift's most memorable tracks thanks to itsearwormquality.[41]Time's critics ranked it 13th out of 25 vault songs; Annabel Gutterman described it as "upbeat, punchy", and "fun".[42]

Pitchfork's Olivia Horn gave a lukewarm review, complimenting the production but criticizing its "dearth of personality".[43]Snapes deemed "Message in a Bottle" generic and inferior compared to "22", another pop song that was included in the original 2012 album.[22]Rob SheffieldfromRolling Stoneagreed that "Message in a Bottle" sounded too similar to "22", which made it understandable that Swift left it out of the originalRed.[44]

Track listing

edit

All tracks are noted as "Taylor's Version".

Digital download and streaming[45]

  1. "Message in a Bottle" (Fat Max G Remix) – 3:45
  2. "Message in a Bottle" (From the Vault) – 3:47

Digital download and streaming[46]

  1. "Message in a Bottle" (Fat Max G Remix) – 3:45
  2. "Message in a Bottle" (From the Vault) – 3:46
  3. "Message in a Bottle" (From the Vault) (lyric video) – 3:46

Credits and personnel

edit

Credits are adapted from theliner notesofRed (Taylor's Version).[17]

Fat Max G Remix[47]

  • Taylor Swift – lead vocals, songwriting
  • Shellback – songwriting
  • Max Martin – songwriting
  • Fat Max Gsus – production, remixing, bass, drums, percussion, programming, synthesizer, vocal production
  • Randy Merrill – masters engineering
  • Serban Ghenea – mixing
  • John Hanes – immersive mix engineering
  • Christopher Rowe – vocal engineering

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Certification for "Message in a Bottle"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[58] Platinum 70,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

edit
Release dates and formats for "Message in a Bottle"
Region Date Format(s) Version Label Ref.
United States November 15, 2021 Hot adult contemporary radio Original Republic [25]
November 16, 2021 Contemporary hit radio [26]
Various January 21, 2022
Fat Max G remix [28]
Italy Radio airplay Original Universal [59]

Notes

edit
  1. ^Subtitled "(Taylor's Version) (From the Vault)". The song is officially titled "Message in a Bottle (Taylor's Version) (From the Vault).[1]

References

edit
  1. ^"Red (Taylor's Version)(+ A Message from Taylor) by Taylor Swift ".Apple Music.November 12, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on October 28, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  2. ^Melas, Chloe (November 16, 2020)."Taylor Swift Speaks Out about Sale of Her Masters".CNN.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2020.RetrievedNovember 19,2020.
  3. ^"Taylor Swift Wants to Re-Record Her Old Hits".BBC News.August 22, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on August 22, 2019.RetrievedAugust 22,2019.
  4. ^Finnis, Alex (November 17, 2020)."Taylor Swift Masters: The Controversy around Scooter Braun Selling the Rights to Her Old Music Explained".i.Archivedfrom the original on February 12, 2021.RetrievedFebruary 13,2021.
  5. ^Shah, Neil (April 9, 2021)."Taylor Swift Releases NewFearlessAlbum, Reclaiming Her Back Catalog ".The Wall Street Journal.Archivedfrom the original on October 8, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 25,2022.
  6. ^"Taylor Swift RemadeFearlessasTaylor's Version.Let's Discuss ".The New York Times.April 9, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on April 9, 2021.RetrievedApril 9,2021.
  7. ^abcLipshutz, Jason (July 6, 2023)."7 Key Stats Proving That Taylor Swift's First TwoTaylor's VersionRe-Recordings Have Been Dominant ".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on July 7, 2023.RetrievedJuly 7,2023.
  8. ^abSager, Jessica (November 12, 2021)."Taylor Swift'sRed (Taylor's Version)Is Here—Get All the Details On the Re-Release, Vault Tracks and More ".Parade.Archivedfrom the original on March 8, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  9. ^Willman, Chris (August 9, 2023)."Taylor Swift's 25 Best Bonus Tracks, Ranked".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on November 6, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  10. ^Dickey, Jack (November 13, 2014)."The Power of Taylor Swift".Time.Archivedfrom the original on August 19, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  11. ^McNutt 2020,pp. 77–78.
  12. ^Perone 2017,p. 46.
  13. ^Sheffield, Rob(November 12, 2021)."Red (Taylor's Version)Makes a Classic Even Better ".Rolling Stone.Archivedfrom the original on November 12, 2021.RetrievedJuly 24,2022.
  14. ^Zaleski 2024,p. 100.
  15. ^Weiner, Josh; Elyasi, Nasim; Schaarschmidt, Nina; Mosk, Mitch (November 29, 2021)."Roundtable: A Review of Taylor Swift'sRed (Taylor's Version)".Atwood Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  16. ^Kaplan, Ilana (November 15, 2021)."Taylor Swift'sRedRerelease Proves What Fans Always Knew ".Slate.Archivedfrom the original on November 15, 2021.RetrievedNovember 19,2021.
  17. ^abcTaylor Swift(2021).Red (Taylor's Version)(digital medialiner notes). Taylor Swift /Republic Records.
  18. ^abBridgewater, Paul (November 12, 2021)."Taylor Swift's reworking ofRedfinds even more magic in her pop blueprint ".The Line of Best Fit.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  19. ^abKing, Ariel (November 12, 2021)."Taylor Swift Bridges BetweenRed&1989With 'Message In A Bottle'".iHeartMedia.Archivedfrom the original on November 13, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  20. ^abLipshutz, Jason (November 12, 2021)."Every 'From The Vault' Song Ranked on Taylor Swift'sRed (Taylor's Version):Critic's Picks ".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  21. ^abMylrea, Hannah (November 12, 2021)."Taylor Swift –Red (Taylor's Version)review: a retread of heartbreak ".NME.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  22. ^abSnapes, Laura (November 12, 2021)."Taylor Swift:Red (Taylor's Version)review – getting back together with a classic ".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  23. ^"The Best Taylor Swift Vault Songs, Ranked".Time.October 25, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on November 5, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 11,2024.
  24. ^Mamo, Heran (August 5, 2021)."Here Are All the DecodedRed (Taylor's Version)Bonus Tracks ".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  25. ^abCantor, Brian (November 15, 2021)."Taylor Swift's 'Message In A Bottle' Ranks As Hot Adult Contemporary Radio's Most Added Song".Headline Planet.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2024.RetrievedMarch 3,2024.
  26. ^ab"A Recap of Radio Add Recaps".Hits.November 16, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on November 20, 2023.RetrievedNovember 20,2023.
  27. ^Zellner, Xander (December 14, 2021)."Here Are the Answers to the Latest Billboard x VersusGame Matchups: Taylor Swift's 'Message in a Bottle' & More".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  28. ^ab"'Message In A Bottle (Fat Max G Remix) (Taylor's Version)' - Single ".Apple Music.Archivedfrom the original on January 21, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 21,2022.
  29. ^Ruggieri, Melissa (July 24, 2023)."Taylor Swift is adding surprise songs to every Eras tour stop. See the list so far".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on March 25, 2023.RetrievedJuly 25,2023.
  30. ^West, Bryan (May 19, 2024)."Taylor Swift Performs 'Max Martin Medley' in Sweden on Final Night of Stockholm Eras Tour: Watch".USA Today.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2024.RetrievedMay 20,2024– viaYahoo! News.
  31. ^Zellner, Xander (November 22, 2021)."Taylor Swift Charts 26 Songs FromRed (Taylor's Version)onBillboardHot 100 ".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024.
  32. ^ab"Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  33. ^Asker, Jim; Trust, Gary (November 16, 2021)."Taylor Swift Debuts These Two Songs FromRed (Taylor's Version)on Airplay Charts ".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on November 17, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  34. ^ab"Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  35. ^ab"Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)".Billboard.Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  36. ^ab"ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart".Australian Recording Industry Association.November 22, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on November 19, 2021.RetrievedNovember 19,2021.
  37. ^ab"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  38. ^Kirkbride, Beth (November 12, 2021)."Taylor Swift -Red (Taylor's Version)".Clash.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  39. ^Keefe, Jonathan (November 17, 2021)."Review: Taylor Swift'sRedRedux Flaunts the Singer's Refined Pop Instincts ".Slant Magazine.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  40. ^Willman, Chris (November 11, 2021)."On 'Red (Taylor's Version),' Taylor Swift's Vault Tracks Are All Too Swell: Album Review".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on November 13, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  41. ^Kurp, Josh (October 27, 2023)."Every Taylor Swift 'From The Vault' (Taylor's Version) Song, Ranked".Uproxx.Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024.
  42. ^"The Best Taylor Swift Vault Songs, Ranked".Time.October 25, 2023.Archivedfrom the original on November 5, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 13,2024.
  43. ^Horn, Olivia (November 15, 2021)."Taylor Swift:Red (Taylor's Version)Album Review ".Pitchfork.Archivedfrom the original on November 18, 2021.RetrievedNovember 18,2021.
  44. ^Sheffield, Rob(October 28, 2023)."'Message in a Bottle' (2021) ".Rolling Stone.Archivedfrom the original on May 20, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  45. ^"Message In A Bottle (Fat Max G Remix) (Taylor's Version)".Tidal.January 21, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2022.RetrievedMarch 3,2022.
  46. ^"Message In A Bottle (Fat Max G Remix) (Taylor's Version)".Tidal.January 21, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on March 3, 2022.RetrievedMarch 3,2022.
  47. ^"'Message in a Bottle' (Fat Max G Remix) (Taylor's Version) ".Tidal.January 21, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on April 4, 2022.RetrievedApril 4,2022.
  48. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada AC)".Billboard.Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  49. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)".Billboard.Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  50. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Canada Hot AC)".Billboard.Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  51. ^"Billboard Japan Hot Overseas [2022/02/02 công khai ]".Billboard Japan(in Japanese).Archivedfrom the original on February 2, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 2,2022.
  52. ^"NZ Hot Singles Chart".Recorded Music NZ.January 31, 2022.Archivedfrom the original on January 28, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 29,2022.
  53. ^"Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  54. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Contemporary)".Billboard.Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  55. ^"Taylor Swift Chart History (Pop Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  56. ^"Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2022".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on December 1, 2022.RetrievedDecember 2,2022.
  57. ^"Adult Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2022".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on December 1, 2022.RetrievedDecember 2,2022.
  58. ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.RetrievedApril 4,2024.
  59. ^"Taylor Swift 'Message in a Bottle' | (Radio Date: 21/01/2022)".radiodate.it(in Italian).Archivedfrom the original on January 20, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 19,2022.

Sources

edit


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Message_in_a_Bottle_(Taylor_Swift_song)&oldid=1258525920"