Taylor Swift Reveals New Album Plans, Premieres New Single

Taylor Swift teased her fans for a few days with the promise of "really big news" on a scheduled live chat Monday afternoon. As most guessed, the news had to do with her upcoming fourth album--for which she revealed a title, album art, and release date.

And, as you all probably guessed, it's an album about her emotions. Swift's new set will be called Red--she explains that the title came from past "tumultuous" and "semi-toxic" relationships--and it will hit the streets on October 22.

"It was crazy because it was really simple," Swift said of her title choice. "There's nothing beige about these emotions."

The singer--who was dressed appropriately for the occasion in a red dress, red earrings, and red lipstick--unveiled the cover art for the record to an approving roomful of fans, then took questions live from the web regarding her new project.

She revealed that the album will have 16 tracks, which she culled with difficulty from a prolific catalog. Although she wrote her last set entirely on her own, the new album will take a new direction with the addition of cowriters. "I decided to call all my songwriting/producing heroes, and see what happened," she explained.

Swift also noted that she used other peoples' relationships as well as her own, as inspiration for her writing. "When I'm writing, my whole world becomes a storyboard," she told her fans.

Always known for hiding messages in her songs, Swift promised that she won't be too cryptic this time: "Because I know you guys will figure it out." However, she noted that she will include some of her usual technique, because she appreciates how it calls out her fans' love of lyrics.

Swift capped the chat with a premiere of her brand-new lead single from Red, titled "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together." She admitted it was a personal ode to an ex, but didn't give any clues as to which one. The tune, an upbeat foot-stomper--much more on the pop side of things than country--came across as a girls' anthem of sorts, with an infectious chorus telling a would-be suitor that...well, just as it says. Ain't happenin'!

The single will be available on iTunes Monday night. The last lead single from an album that Swift released, "Mine" from 2010's Speak Now, was leaked early and rocketed to No. 1 nearly instantly on iTunes top songs chart.

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