On April 9, Taylor Swift released “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” the first of six albums that she plans to re-record as a way to fully claim the rights of her older music.

From the opening notes of the first song, “Fearless (Taylor’s Version),” fans are whisked back to their childhood, where many of us sat on our bedroom floors listening to the original “Fearless” CD or sang along to the radio in the backseat of our parents’ car.

While Swift kept the original lyrics to all of the songs and the musical production very similar, much has changed from “Fearless” to “Fearless (Taylor’s Version).”

Swift, now 31, released “Fearless” when she was just 18, and not only are her vocals much more mature on the re-recording, but she’s had so many more life experiences.

Young, heartbroken Swift has now grown up and experienced the love she once fantasized about in her old songs. In “White Horse (Taylor’s Version),” Swift sings “I’m gonna find someone someday who might actually treat me well,” and she has in her current boyfriend Joe Alwyn.

For Swift, the release of “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” makes her career come full circle. The original “Fearless” album is what launched her into stardom, winning her a Grammy for Album of the Year and making her a household name. 

Who knew that 13 years later she would be a worldwide sensation, named artist of the decade at the American Music Awards, with nine studio albums and enough reason to re-record the album that really started it all.

“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is a way for both Swift and her fans to look back on the original “Fearless” era and reminisce, looking at how far she’s come since then. 

In some of the lyric videos that were posted on YouTube, there are pictures and videos of Swift from back when she was recording “Fearless” and then going on tour for the album when she was 18.

Rather than just re-recording “Fearless” and releasing essentially the same album, Swift added six never before heard songs to “Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” in addition to the original songs. These new songs, which Swift says are “from the vault,” were written by her when she was making “Fearless,” but they didn’t make the final cut for the album.

The vault songs add a little something extra to the album. While you can still jam to the classics you’ve had memorized for years, there are also new songs to appreciate and learn the lyrics to. Two of the vault songs feature fellow country stars Keith Urban and Maren Morris. 

In short, Taylor Swift grew up, and so did we.

“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is a reminder of who we were 13 years ago and who we’ve become now. The album is just as enjoyable as when we were kids, but maybe in a different way. Now, we can relate to young Taylor’s heartbreak and desire to find love.

“Fearless (Taylor’s Version)” is now available for purchase, as well as on all music streaming services, and it’s without a doubt worth listening to.

Follow Grace on Twitter @GraceM123456.