"22" is a song by the American singer-songwriterTaylor Swift from her fourth studio album,Red (2012). It was released as the album's fourth single on March 12, 2013, byBig Machine Records. Written and produced by Swift,Max Martin, andShellback, "22" combinespop styles such asdance-pop andbubblegum withdisco and 1990srock. The track begins with an acoustic guitarriff and progresses into an upbeatrefrain which incorporates pulsingsynthesizers andsyncopatedbass drums. The lyrics celebrate being 22 years old while acknowledging the heartache that the narrator experienced in the past.
UponRed's release, critics complimented the production of "22" as catchy but some found the lyrics weak and the song repetitive. Retrospectively, some have considered it one of Swift's best pop songs. "22" peaked at number 20 on the USBillboard Hot 100 and was certifiedtriple platinum by theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It receivedplatinum or higher certifications in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, peaking in the top 10 on the singles chart on theUK Singles Chart as well as Israel and South Africa. The accompanying music video was shot inMalibu, California, depicting Swift having a house party with friends. Swift included the song in the set list ofthe Red Tour (2013–2014) andthe Eras Tour (2023–2024). She performed it live at the2013Billboard Music Awards.
Some media outlets dub "22" acultural phenomenon resulting in the prominence of 22nd birthdays. Are-recorded version of the track, titled "22 (Taylor's Version)", was released as part of Swift's second re-recorded album,Red (Taylor's Version), on November 12, 2021. It peaked at number 30 on theBillboard Global 200 and entered on the charts of Australia, Canada, Portugal, Singapore, and the United States.
Swift released her third studio album, the self-writtenSpeak Now, in October 2010.[1] Produced by Swift andNathan Chapman,Speak Now expands on thecountry-pop production style of its predecessor,Fearless (2008).[2][3] On her fourth studio album,Red (2012), Swift wanted to experiment with other musical styles.[4] To this end, she worked with producers outside of her career base inNashville, Tennessee, and went to Los Angeles to collaborate with Swedish producerMax Martin.[2][5] Swift cited Martin's ability to "just land achorus" as an inspiration.[6]
Talking about the theme of "22", Swift toldBillboard that the song captures how she felt about being 22 years old and the "possibilities of how you're still learning, but you know enough. [...] That brings about a carefree feeling that is sort of based on indecision and fear and at the same time letting loose".[6] She said during a February 2013 interview withRyan Seacrest that the song's inspiration was a group of female friends with whom she often hung out; despite the uncertainty of adulthood, "the one thing that you have is that you have each other".[10][11] On March 12, 2013,Big Machine in partnership withRepublic Records released "22" to UScontemporary hit radio as the fourthRed single.[12] A day later, it was released exclusively to Swift's official website as a limited-editionCD single, which was sold by itself or via an exclusive package withthe Red Tour merchandise.[13][14] "22" was released in the United Kingdom on March 31, 2013.[15]
Music critics described "22" as a pop song[16][17] incorporating styles such asbubblegum[18][19] anddance-pop.[20]Rob Sheffield fromRolling Stone described the genre asdisco,[21] andAnnie Zaleski in theCleveland Scene called the track a "spunky '90s-rock gem".[22] "22" begins with an acoustic guitarriff and incorporates an acoustic guitar-based arrangement in theverses.[23][24] The upbeatrefrain infuses elements ofdance andelectronic music; it incorporates pulsing 1980s-pop-influencedsynthesizers andsyncopatedbass drums that evoke influences fromhip hop andalternative rock.[24][25][26]Billboard said "22" was Swift's "most blatantly 'pop' song" up to that point,[17] and Perone commented that her vocals, processed by Martin's and Shellback's electronic production, make the track sound radically different compared to her previous songs.[27] According toThe Boot's Riane Konc, despite the pop production, "22" remains "[an] essential part of [Swift's]country years".[28] Musically it is written in key ofG major and has a tempo of 104 beats per minute.[29][30] Swift's vocals span from G3 and D5.[29]
In the lyrics, the narrator celebrates the experience of being 22 years old, inviting friends to dress up, hang out, and "make fun of [their] exes" after having gone through a heartbreak.[24][31] When she and the friends are at the party, she realizes the place has "too many cool kids" (who murmur, "‘Who's Taylor Swift anyway, ew?").[20][32] The group then decides to "ditch the whole scene". Towards the song's conclusion, the narrator dances with a man who "looks like bad news", but whom she "has to have".[24]
Critics observed the conflicting emotions of early adulthood. Jordan Sargent ofSpin said the refrain's bass has a "fleeting upward sweep" that reflects the lyrical sentiment of "feeling young and invincible" while facing the impending "doom of growing up".[33] ForBillboard, although the production is upbeat with "the most sugaryhooks available", the lyrics are rather contemplative.[17]NPR Music's J. English wrote that the contradictory feelings ("We're happy, free, confused and lonely at the same time / It's miserable and magical") serve as a mission statement forRed's depiction of a wide array of emotions, from the wide-eyed optimism on "Begin Again" to the cautionary tale of celebrity on "The Lucky One".[34] Perone otherwise found the track to beescapist and carefree; whereas the narrators of Swift's previous songs ponder about lost love in her own headspace, the narrator of "22" hangs out at parties and gets along with a man she just met.[24]
Billboard's review ofRed appreciated Swift's songwriting on "22" for "succinctly communicating conflicting emotion" despite the upbeat production.[17]Digital Spy's Lewis Corner deemed the single another "pop smash" for Swift's career.[35] Reviewers that highlighted "22" as one of the album's best tracks includedIdolator'sSam Lansky,[36]USA Today's Jerry Shriver,[37] and theTampa Bay Times' Max Asayesh-Brown, all of whom complimented the production.[38] Mesfin Fekadu of theAssociated Press found it better than the lead single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" but deemed the lyrics weak.[39] Some viewed the song as derivative of the chart hits by Swift's contemporaries such asKaty Perry andKesha, includingThe Boston Globe's James Reed,[40]Telegram & Gazette's Craig S. Semon,[41] andSlant Magazine's Jonathan Keefe, who labelled it as a "shrill, deliberately vapid Ke$ha [sic] knockoff".[42]AllMusic'sStephen Thomas Erlewine dubbed it a "cheerfully ludicrous club-filler".[43]
At the 2015 Pop Awards held byBroadcast Music, Inc., "22" was one of the three songs (with "Everything Has Changed" and "Shake It Off") that helped Swift earn recognition as one of the "Songwriters of the Year".[44] Retrospective reviews have been generally positive, with welcoming comments from Lansky, who highlighted the "millennial pink fizz" and "neutered naughtiness",[45] and Sheffield, who said the song is "[approximately] 22,000 times more fun than actually being 22".[21] Nate Jones fromVulture hailed "22" for simultaneously being "absurdly catchy" and having "enough personality",[46] and Nick Levine fromTime Out's deemed it "far smarter" than an average dance-pop song.[20] In a 2019 ranking of Swift's 44 singles,The Guardian'sAlexis Petridis placed the song at number four, and lauded its catchiness and contemplative lyrics about early adulthood.[32] Perone nonetheless deemed "22" not as sophisticated and grounded as Swift's previous songs about heartbreak, specifically "Fifteen" (2009).[24]
Some media publications dubbed "22" acultural phenomenon resulting in the prominence of 22nd birthdays;[47] according toNME's Hannah Mylrea, "Before '22' nobody cared when you celebrated your 22nd birthday [...] and somehow Swift turned it into a milestone."[19]
For the week ending October 28, 2012, "22" debuted at number 44 on the USBillboard Hot 100 and number seven onHot Digital Songs with first-week sales of 108,000 digital copies; it was the week's highest debut position.[48] After its single release, the song peaked at number 20 on theBillboard Hot 100 and was the sixth track fromRed to reach the top 20.[49] TheRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the singletriple platinum, denoting three million track-equivalentunits based on digital sales and streaming.[50] In the United Kingdom, "22" peaked at number nine on theUK Singles Chart and was certified platinum by theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI).[51] The single also received sales certifications in Australia (four-times platinum),[52] Canada (platinum),[53] New Zealand (gold),[54] and Japan (gold),[55] and peaked within the top 30 in the first three countries.[56][57]
Swift travelled toMalibu, California, in February 2013, and filmed the music video for "22" there a day after she attended the55th Annual Grammy Awards.[11] She premiered the video on March 13, 2013, onGood Morning America.[58] Directed byAnthony Mandler, the video for "22" departs from the narrative-driven video for Swift's previous single, "I Knew You Were Trouble"; it features scenes of Swift and her friends baking in the kitchen, sunbathing on the beach, bouncing on trampolines, and throwing a house party which ends with Swift diving into the pool, clothes on.[59][60][61] Some media publications noticed Swift's fashion ashipster-inspired, particularly herchambray shirt and plastic glasses,[62] whileCosmopolitan andEntertainment Weekly deemed the aesthetics reminiscent ofInstagram's.[58][63]
Before the release ofRed on August 13, 2012, Swift performed an acoustic rendition of "22" for her "YouTube Webchat" in Nashville.[64]It was later included on the set list to Swift's private concert held on apéniche on theSeine on January 28, 2013.[65] Her first televised performance of "22" was on May 19, 2013, at the2013Billboard Music Awards.[66] Dressed in silver shoes, black high-waisted shorts, and a unicorn T-shirt saying "Haters Gonna Hate", Swift sang the first verse and chorus, and the second verse in the dressing room backstage. She appeared onstage for the rest of the song, joined byAmerica's Got Talent winners and the dance crewJabbawockeez; the performances ended with red balloons falling from the ceiling.[67][68] The song was part of the set list to the Red Tour (2013–2014), where Swift performed it with a dance troupe.[69]
Swift later included "22" as part of the set lists to her other concerts and shows, including at theiHeartRadio Music Festival in September 2014,[70] at theFormula 1 United States Grand Prix at theCircuit of the Americas in October 2016,[71] and at theDirecTV Super Saturday Night, as part of a series of pre-Super Bowl concerts, in February 2017.[72] She performed "22" on theReputation Stadium Tour (2018) as a "surprise song" for the second show in Chicago, the first show inFoxborough, and the show in Sydney.[73] On December 8, 2019, Swift performed the song atCapital FM'sJingle Bell Ball 2019 in London.[74] In March 2023, Swift embarked onthe Eras Tour, as a tribute to her discography.[75] The tour consisted of ten acts, including theRed set, where "22" was the opening track.[76] Swift performs the song while wearing a version of the white T-shirt and black hat from the song's music video.[76] Towards the end of the song, she greets a fan pre-selected from the audience and gives them the hat.[77]
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
Swiftre-recorded "22" for her second re-recorded album,Red (Taylor's Version) (2021). She posted a snippet of the re-recorded song, titled "22 (Taylor's Version)", on herInstagram on August 5, 2021.[107]Red (Taylor's Version) was released on November 12, 2021, by Republic Records; it is part of Swift's move to claim the ownership to hermaster recordings after apublic dispute with her former labelBig Machine and talent managerScooter Braun.[108]
"22 (Taylor's Version)" was produced by Swift, Shellback, andChristopher Rowe.[109] In reviews ofRed (Taylor's Version), some critics remarked that "22" was one of Swift's best pop songs, with Olivia Horn fromPitchfork deeming it one of her "great masterpieces".[110][111] InSlant Magazine, Jonathan Keefe commented that though the 2012 version was indiscernible from the music of other pop stars of the era, the 2021 re-recorded version improved with a wistful tone.[112]
Commercially, "22 (Taylor's Version)" entered the countries of Singapore (17),[113] Australia (27),[114] theCanadian Hot 100 (33),[115] and Portugal (151).[116] In the United States, the song debuted and peaked at number 52 on theBillboard Hot 100, where it extended her record of most chart entries among women.[97][117] On non-national charts, the song reached number 36 on New Zealand'sHot Singles Chart[118] and number 49 on the United Kingdom'sAudio Streaming Chart.[119] It also peaked at number 30 on theBillboard Global 200.[120]
^Decant, Charles (January 29, 2013)."Taylor Swift a brillé sur la Seine" [Taylor Swift shined on the Seine].Pure Charts (in French).Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. RetrievedDecember 10, 2022.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 22. týden 2013 in the date selector. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
.jpg)
