If you have been following my writing over the past four years, you know that I have done album reviews (reputation, Lover) and album rankings, but taking on Taylor’s 117 song discography is something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time. So here it goes, every Taylor Swift song ranked (from her 7 studio albums), from my least favorite to my favorite and the reasons to match. Some of the factors taken into consideration were overall sound, lyrical complexity, placement on albums, amount of times skipped, musical composition, and tone. Since this list is clearly extensive, I’ve taken the time to split it up into multiple different articles linked below so you are not scrolling forever.
80.) “How You Get The Girl”—1989
This song is cute—I feel like I’ve said that a lot but it is probably because they are all about love and I’m a sucker for love. It isn’t one of Taylor’s best songs, but this song does have one of the cutest stories in Taylor’s songs. I think that second chances are important, and if someone is willing to change their bad habits (note: not change completely as a person), then I think it is worth giving it another chance, and this song tells that story really well.
Favorite Line: “‘I want you for worse or for better, // I would wait forever and ever, // Broke your heart, I’ll put it back together. // I would wait forever and ever.’”
79.) “New Romantics”—1989
This song was one of my favorites when I first heard the album, but some of the songs on 1989 are a slow burn and have since moved higher on my list than this one. I think this song is a perfect edition to 1989 as a whole, but again, 1989 is just one of my least favorite albums so it makes liking the songs a little more difficult. I think that there are better songs on the album, but there are also worse ones too.
Favorite Line: “We wait for trains that just aren’t coming // We show off our different scarlet letters // Trust me, mine is better”
78.) “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince”—Lover
I think “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” has GREAT energy, and I mean great. This is a fun song that can hang with the best of them. However, I think that when you combine this song with the other songs on Lover, you get the same problem that you have with “ME!”: It lacks the emotional maturity that Swift proved she was capable of with reputation. Like I said, I love this song and I think it is great, but realistically, talking about high school just feels a little old at this point. I think it does have some great moments in it though, I just wish it did so with a less overused metaphor.
Favorite Line: “No cameras catch my pageant smile // I counted days, I counted miles”
Least Favorite Line: “It’s you and me, that’s my whole world // They whisper in the hallway, “She’s a bad, bad girl” (Okay)” (but mostly, just the group singing the (okay) it’s just not great)
77.) “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”—reputation
This song is another great song, and its role on reputation is so important. Every time I listen to this song, it makes me smile, especially hearing Taylor sing the line “I can’t even say it with a straight face.” I think that talking about how targeting an individual for their choices and trying to manipulate them being the reason why you can’t have a nice, long lasting friendship is really important, and nodded towards Taylor’s overall message for the era. While she might have changed some of the things she did because of what people were saying, this song explains that the reason why it’s all gone is because of the people who tried to use it in a manipulating manner. If we were all a little nicer to each other, we might be able to have nice things after all.
Favorite Line: “It was so nice being friends again // There I was giving you a second chance // But you stabbed me in the back while shaking my hand // And therein lies the issue // Friends don’t try to trick you // Get you on the phone and mind-twist you // And so I took an axe to a mended fence”
76.) “I Almost Do”—RED
This song is great, and I love it for a lot of reasons. While this might not be one of Taylor’s BEST songs, it is still better than a good chunk of them. I think this song is incredibly relatable and I love listening to it, just not every time through. While this is a skip sometimes, when you want to feel all the sadness, this is a great go to song.
Favorite Line: “I bet you think I either moved on or hate you // ‘Cause each time you reach out there’s no reply. // I bet it never ever occurred to you that I can’t say “Hello” to you // And risk another goodbye.”
75.) “…Ready For It?”—reputation
Probably the most iconic album and tour openers that Miss Swift could have ever come up with. This song has the power to excite you for the entire album and the whole two hour concert that followed it. The first time I heard it, I was certainly not ready for it, and I’m thankful for the strategic throat clearing at the very beginning of this track. It was the perfect way to break her silence and remind everyone that she has, and will continue to be, a queen.
Favorite Line: “And he can be my jailer // Burton to this Taylor // Every love I’ve known in comparison // is a failure // I forget their names now // I’m so very tame now // Never be the same now, now”
74.) “22”—RED
I’m a little biased since my favorite number is 22, and I’m about to turn 22, but this is one of my favorite “party” songs that Taylor has. I think this song is funny and entertaining and just a great one to dance to with your friends to celebrate life. It is not one of her best lyrically or musically, but it gets a lot of brownie points for being named after my lucky number and reminding me to have a good time with my friends.
Favorite Line: “It seems like one of those nights, // This place is too crowded. // Too many cool kids, uh uh, uh uh (who’s Taylor Swift anyway, ew?)”
73.) “You Are in Love”—1989
This song has grown on me more recently, again, because it tells an adorable love story. This song is about the little things in a relationship that make you realize you’re in love. It isn’t always about the grand romantic gestures, but sometimes, it’s just a matter of sharing some burnt toast…or in some cases…maybe burnt popcorn.
Favorite Line: “Morning, his place // Burnt toast, Sunday // You keep his shirt // He keeps his word // And for once you let go // Of your fears and your ghosts // One step, not much // But it said enough”
72.) “Fifteen”—Fearless
This song takes me back to high school as soon as the first note starts, and the sense of nostalgia seeps in. I love this song when I want to think back and reflect about the simpler times in life, especially knowing what I know now about my life. I think that this song is really great for that, and it is also really relatable no matter what age you find yourself coming back to it.
Favorite Line: “When all you wanted was to be wanted // Wish you could go back and tell yourself what you know now // Back then I swore I was gonna marry him someday // But I realized some bigger dreams of mine”
71.) “Hey Stephen”—Fearless
This song is along the same lines as “Stay Beautiful,” where it’s a song that highlights a specific person. This song also really captures the feeling of having a crush on someone and how when they are someone popular that a lot of people like, you want to make them believe that you are the right choice. Or, as Miss Swift says, “All those other girls— // Well, they’re beautiful, // But would they write a song for you?”
Favorite Line: “I can’t help it if you look like an angel, // Can’t help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain. // So, come feel this magic I’ve been feeling since I met you. // Can’t help it if there’s no one else. // I can’t help myself…”
Tune in again soon for the next article in this series: Songs 80-71!