page_title: Begin Again (Taylor Swift song)
section_title: Critical reception
hierarchical_section_title: Begin Again (Taylor Swift song) / Critical reception
caption_attribution_description: English: Taylor Swift on Good Morning America for the launching of her Red Album, in October 2012.
context_page_description: "Begin Again" is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her fourth studio album, Red. Swift co-produced the song with Nathan Chapman and Dann Huff. Initially released as a promotional single on September 25, 2012 by Big Machine Records, the song served as the second official single from Red on October 1, 2012. "Begin Again" is a country song, with the lyrical content finding Swift falling in love again after a failed relationship.
  The song was widely acclaimed by music critics, many of whom praised Swift's songwriting and complimented for coming back to her country roots for the close of the album. The song's accompanying music video was directed by Philip Andelman, who also directed the music video for Swift's "Safe & Sound". "Begin Again" was commercially successful, and it became Swift's second top ten hit from Red on both the US and Canadian music charts following the hit single "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", debuting and peaking at numbers seven and four respectively. The single has been certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
context_section_description: "Begin Again" received universal acclaim from music critics, many of whom praised Swift's songwriting. Writing for Taste of Country, Billy Dukes gave the song a four star rating out of five, describing it as "a cleansing breath that hopefully foreshadows the true tone of her album". Grady Smith of Entertainment Weekly wrote the song is "a well-crafted love story" and noted Swift's talent "at taking a single moment in time and letting it unfold like a pop-up storybook." Jessica Sager of Popcrush gave the song 4 out of 5 stars, saying that "Swift paints a vivid picture of a first date following a rough breakup in ‘Begin Again’ — and she sounds like a young woman...She’s not settling, whether in her love life or her studio sessions. And for that, Taylor Swift, we salute you." Matt Bjorke gave four out of five stars as well for Roughstock, complimenting that "The song is a vast improvement for Taylor. A ballad that's neither in-your-face or sounding like its from a twelve year old".
  The Boot noted that the story Swift painted was "sweet" and it's a "beautiful ballad". Justin Proper of Under The Gun Review praised Swift for knowing "how to keep her core audience happy, and that is exactly what “Begin Again” accomplishes", also saying that the song gave him a "sensation of relief". MuchMusic lauded Swift, stating "while she is more than capable of releasing the carefree, jump-around-your-room-with-a-hairbrush break up songs like "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," she also has the pen of a poet and knows how to craft emotionally gut-wrenching songs that speak to her millions of fans." However, Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave a mixed review, giving the song a grade "B". He lamented how Swift's songs never leave the topic of boys, saying "as Swift continues to grow older, it’s becoming more troublesome that her sense of self-worth and happiness is always inextricably linked to whatever man is currently the object of her affection." "Begin Again" was included in Billboard's list of Best songs of 2012 where it was ranked at number six.
caption: Swift during her appearance on Good Morning America, where she talked about "Begin Again", and also previewed the song
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