About the “From the Vault” songs:
The six vault songs included in Taylor Swift’s re-recorded album “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” received praise from critics for aligning well with the pop-rock sound of the original album.
“Electric Touch,” featuring Fall Out Boy, is a soaring, cinematic pop-punk track with distorted guitars and crescendo drums, showcasing a juxtaposition of Swift’s creamy vocals with Patrick Stump’s sharp voice. The song explores themes of anxieties, pessimism, and self-doubt surrounding a first date.
“When Emma Falls in Love” takes on a mellow tone, led by piano and banjo, and presents Swift’s third person perspective of a friend’s life and character. It is believed that American actress Emma Stone, a longtime friend of Swift since 2008, served as the inspiration for the song.
“I Can See You” offers a groovy indie rock vibe, incorporating elements of funk and surf rock. The song is characterized by a “choppy” guitar riff and sinuous bass, with flirtatious and sexually suggestive innuendos.
“Castles Crumbling” is a duet featuring Swift and Hayley Williams, presenting a smooth ballad that deals with paranoia over losing the interest of fans. The song reflects on the vulnerability of the empires they built as teenagers, fearing they could collapse at any moment.
In “Foolish One,” Swift confronts her “hopeless romantic” side with reality, chastising herself for her naivety. The song is a country pop ballad driven by acoustic guitar strums and programmed drums.
In the ballad “Timeless,” Swift discovers old photos of couples in an antique shop and envisions herself in their lives. The song’s arrangement mainly features acoustic guitars and organ, with occasional accents of ukulele and flute.
Speak Now: Songs from the Vault (Easy Piano Songbook)
These easy piano arrangements (for late beginners and early intermediates) are all abridged versions that catch all the main sections of the songs, and are between 3-5 pages each. They minimize position shifts, but keep the rhythms mostly intact. Students who know the songs will be able to power through any of the trickier rhythms. When necessary I’ve transposed the songs to easier (but close-by) tonal centers. You can browse the music and hear samples here:
Full Video Performance of the entire songbook:
Speak Now: Songs from the Vault (Intermediate Piano Songbook)
These intermediate piano arrangements are all abridged versions that catch all the main sections of the songs and have consistent run-times of about 3-4 minutes. In most cases I have omitted the bridge and sometimes an extra verse of the original song. The chordal textures are also a bit thinner in these arrangements to accommodate pianists with smaller hands. You can browse the music and hear samples here:
Full Video Performance of the entire songbook:
Speak Now: Songs from the Vault (Advanced Piano Songbook)
Last, but not least, these advanced piano arrangements are all full-length and include all of the verses, the bridge, transitions, solos, etc. For pianists looking for dazzling stage-ready renditions of the vault songs this book is your jam! You can browse the music and hear samples here:
Full Video Performance of the entire songbook:
About the Songbooks:
The three “Speak Now: Songs from the Vault” piano solo songbooks, featuring arrangements by Jennifer Eklund, are sold exclusively through Musicnotes.com. The singles are also available individually if you would like to pick and choose your favorites. However, you’ll get the best value by purchasing the entire collection!
Do you have a favorite in this batch? Personally, I am most fond of “Timeless” and “When Emma Falls in Love,” because they harken back to Taylor’s older writing style featuring lilting melodies and beautifully poetic storytelling through the lyrics.
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