Outside of the Swiftie community, way too many of Taylor’s outstanding songs go unnoticed — IYKYK. To all those underappreciated songs, I see you.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Taylor’s many hit songs like “Shake it Off,” “Bad Blood” and “Anti-Hero” are undoubtedly amazing. But so are many of her other underrated songs. So my mission is to shed light on one song from each album that deserves its time in the spotlight.
1. “Should’ve Said No” from Taylor Swift
Her more popular songs from this album include “Picture to Burn,” “Teardrops On My Guitar,” and “Our Song.” But “Should’ve Said No,” totally gives the 2000s, head-rocking, scream-singing, Camp Rock vibes.
While I am more of a fan of “pop” Taylor than her “country days” (don’t cancel me, Swifties), this song is shamefully underrated! It is so sassy and angry for baby Taylor as it was basically the prequel of Speak Now’s “Better than Revenge.”
“You should’ve said, ‘No.’ Baby, and you might still have me”
Whoever this song was directed at must have been rethinking all of their decisions, as they respectfully should. I am sure this song was the anthem of every broken-hearted teenage girl in 2006, and rightfully so.
2. “Forever & Always” (Taylor’s Version) from Fearless (Taylor’s Version)
Emphasis on “Taylor’s Version,” as Blondie deserves to own her own music! This song foreshadowed Taylor’s versatility as she released both the regular and piano versions. The regular version again gives angry-teen-girl, especially when she says:
“Did I say something way too honest, made you run and hide? Like a scared little boy”
But, the piano version expresses her deep-cut pain:
“And then you feel so low you can’t feel nothing at all. And you flashback to when he said, ‘Forever and always.'”
She was only 19 when she released such an emotional song. Who hurt you, Taylor? This time it was not John Mayer or Jake Gyllenhaal; this was ahead of their time.
3. “The Story Of Us” from Speak Now
This song had me jumping around and singing into my hairbrush growing up! While it is technically on one of her country albums, it definitely has hints of pop. It is one of those songs you hear once and immediately press repeat. If you don’t know this song, RUN to watch the music video.
4. “The Last Time” (feat. Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol) (Taylor’s Version)” from Red (Taylor’s Version)
This duet with Gary Lightbody does not get talked about enough, and it definitely deserves to be on the radio. In this song, both parties of a relationship talk about trying to salvage their romance. Although they both express hurt, they still want to fix their relationship. It is gut-wrenching! And the harmony between Taylor and Gary Lightbody? Absolutely fantastic. Period.
Taylor: “This is the last time you tell me I’ve got it wrong”
Gary: “This is the last time I say it’s been you all along”
Taylor: “This is the last time I let you in my door”
Gary: “This is the last time, I won’t hurt you anymore”
5. “Clean” from 1989
“Clean” shows Taylor’s incredible songwriting abilities. The way she strings words together is unmatched.
“Rain came pouring down. When I was drowning, that’s when I could finally breathe”
The juxtaposition she uses is phenomenal! Somehow, even though the words together make no sense, we all know what she means. Cheat sheet: She is saying when she was in the thick of heartbreak (“drowning”), that was when she could finally breathe. She means that she needed to get out of that relationship. “Clean” is about realizing that you are no longer heartbroken, that you are completely over a relationship and on to better things — please and thank you.
6. “Call It What You Want” from reputation
This song screams happy Taylor. It is about her being in love and confident in a healthy relationship.
“I’m laughing with my lover, making forts under covers. Trust him like a brother, yeah, you know I did one thing right. Starry eyes sparkin’ up my darkest night”
Yes, Taylor! She supposedly tells critics off as she tells them to “call it what you want to.” The confidence is amazing! She explains that she has found someone who really understands her, and she’s finally happy with someone who treats our queen well! Thank you, Joe Alwyn; this is why Swifties stan you!
7. “Death By A Thousand Cuts” from Lover
Although this song is about saying goodbye to someone, she managed to create such an upbeat song! It is about ending a relationship and trying to find out who you are without them. It is very deep, but it gets you dancing along. Leave it to Taylor to get us singing and dancing about our pain! There is also a part where Taylor almost raps, which makes the song 1000 times better. Fast forward from minute 1:53 to 2:27, and you will know exactly what I am talking about.
8. “hoax” from folklore
I mean, with the emotion from this song, you can feel the pain, hurt and sadness in her voice. This is not a drill; this song will give you chills. Taylor recounts a person at their lowest point after continually getting played, cheated and hurt by the same person which seems to be the person they love.
“Your faithless love’s the only hoax I believe in”
It pulls on your heartstrings in a way that very few songs can do. Taylor uses her songwriting skills and emotion in her voice to really make you feel her hurt.
“You knew it still hurts underneath my scars from when they pulled me apart. But what you did was just as dark”
She shows her skill in a powerful yet malicious way. Seriously Taylor, why did you have to do this to us?
9. “dorothea” from evermore
“dorothea” is such a relatable song. It is about missing someone who used to be such a big part of your life. In this case, “dorothea” is about a friend who forgets all about you. This song is about drifting apart; there is no animosity, just genuine longing and missing your friend.
“Hey Dorothea, do you ever stop and think about me?”
Relatable? Yes.
10. “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” from Midnights (3am Edition)
In this song, Taylor supposedly comes for her ex John Mayer. By calling him “the devil,” saying that “the pain was heaven,” and making religious references, she explains that the relationship was hell. The two dated when he was 32 and she was just 19 — a child, as she says.
“And if I was a child, did it matter if you got to wash your hands?”
In this song, she accuses him of taking her “girlhood” and explains that she regrets him. She reclaims her power in this song, saying that they should never have dated and he should have known better since she was a child. You tell him, Taylor!
Honourable Mention: “Bigger Than The Whole Sky” from Midnights (3am Edition)
This song is also from Midnights (3am Edition), but it deserves to be mentioned too. Many listeners found it relatable from the perspective of suffering a miscarriage, which lead to speculation that it could be dedicated to an unborn child. Taylor lets us into her heart in a way she has never done before. The kind of heartbreak she felt when writing songs about sour romances is completely different than the one she felt in this scenario, and she shows it through the song.
“I’m never gonna meet what could’ve been, would’ve been, what should’ve been you”
Also, Taylor has been known to always shed light on unspoken topics like LGTBQ+ rights, politics, and now potentially with this song, women’s health, which is why this song had to be mentioned.
In conclusion, Taylor Swift is a legendary artist who has countless hits but even more hidden gems. Let’s give those songs the appreciation they deserve too!