In 2012, the year of her fourth studio album’s release, Taylor was reaching her expiration date as the girl who “Never Saw It Coming” as a personal brand; in fact, you can hear the shift happening on “RED” itself. You hear Taylor’s preoccupation with other people’s perception of her start to take hold, both in terms of the public at large but also how she looks in her all-but-named ex-lover’s eyes.

In August 2012, Taylor released “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” as the album’s lead single. An international success, it became her first number-one in the US and New Zealand. The song reached the top slot on an iTunes chart 50 minutes after its release, earning the “Fastest Selling Single in Digital History” listing in the Guinness World Records. She released the album’s second single, “Begin Again”, in October 2012. It reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Other singles released from the album included: “I Knew You Were Trouble”, “22”, “Everything Has Changed”, “The Last Time”, and “Red”. “I Knew You Were Trouble” was a major commercial success, peaking at number two in the United States.

SHIFTING FROM COUNTRY TO POP

“RED” was released on October 22, 2012, incorporating new genres, such as heartland rock, dubstep and dance-pop. The album was a critical and commercial success, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 1.21 million copies. This marked the highest opening sales in a decade, and made Swift the first female to have two million-selling album openings, a record recognized by Guinness World Records. She dated British singer Harry Styles from December 2012 to January 2013.

Promoting the album, Swift embarked on the “RED Tour”, which ran from March 2013 to June 2014 and grossed over $150 million. “RED” earned several accolades, including four nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. Its single “I Knew You Were Trouble” won “Best Female Video” at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Swift was named “Best Female Country Artist” at the 2012 American Music Awards and “Artist of the Year” at the 2013 ceremony. She received the Nashville Songwriters Association’s “Songwriter/Artist Award” for the fifth and sixth consecutive years in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Swift was also honored by the Association with a special “Pinnacle Award”, making her the second recipient of the accolade after Garth Brooks.

SIDE PROJECTS

In 2013, Taylor co-wrote “Sweeter Than Fiction” with Jack Antonoff for the “One Chance” soundtrack, and received a “Best Original Song” nomination at the 71st Golden Globe Awards. She provided guest vocals for the Tim McGraw song “Highway Don’t Care”, featuring guitar work by Keith Urban. Swift performed “As Tears Go By” with The Rolling Stones in Chicago as part of their “50 & Counting” tour. She also joined Florida Georgia Line on stage during their set at the 2013 Country Radio Seminar to sing “Cruise”.

Outside of music, Taylor voiced Audrey, a tree lover, in the animated film “The Lorax” (2012), made a cameo in the sitcom “New Girl” (2013), and had a supporting role in the film adaptation of “The Giver” (2014).