"Red" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fourth studio album of the same name (2012). It was one of the tracks released during the four weeks preceding the release of the album. It was released on October 2, 2012, in the United States by Big Machine Records as the second promotional single from Red and eventually served as the album's fifth official singleon June 21, 2013. Musically, "Red" is a country song, and its lyrics use colors and metaphors to describe an inte… Taylor Swift designed her 2012 album Red as her breakthrough into the pop market -- a crossover she pulled off with ease, elevating her to the rarefied air of superstars who can be identified by a single name.