This may have been my toughest project yet.....ranking Taylor Swift's catalog to come up with this list. My set number was arbitrary, and in the end I was able to come up with a top 115. Her catalog is so vast, that there were a lot of tough cuts. To make things a bit easier on myself, I judged each song on lyricism, musicality....and just a general vibes check. I based these on studio recordings (hence why songs like 'Clean' for example may not be as high). Obviously this is a subjective list, and if I repeated this again in a few months this list would probably look different. I tried best as I could to balance this out across her discography, hence some omissions. There were certain songs (Soon You'll Get Better, Bigger Than The Whole Sky, Ronan, etc) that I didn't feel right judging based on their personal nature.
All rights to Taylor Swift (Productions) and Republic Records.
115) "Paper Rings" Lover (2019)
114) "How You Get The Girl" 1989 (2014)
113) "...Ready For It" Reputation (2017)
A fun, anthemic start to the album, I just had to include it.
112) "I Forgot That You Existed" Lover (2019)
Another enjoyable album opening track.
111) "All You Had To Do Was Stay" 1989 (2014)
The first 'track 5' on this list.
110) "Clean" 1989 (2014)
As I mentioned up top, this is a really good song...but if the piano version that she does on tour (as seen in the documentary 'Miss Americana') was made available as an official recording, this would have vaulted even higher.
109) "Breathe" ft/Colbie Caillat Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
108) "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
I guess this track can be polarizing to some? I don't know, I just enjoy it when you know Taylor is having fun.
107) "Fifteen" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
106) "Cold As You" Taylor Swift (2006)
The very first 'track 5', lyrically this song is really underrated. This would be one to look forward to if Taylor re-records her debut album.
105) "I Did Something Bad" Reputation (2017)
104) "Wonderland" 1989 (2014)
In retrospect, "1989" was an album just loaded with depth.
103) "Teardrops On My Guitar" Taylor Swift (2006)
Her song catalog is so loaded, that it almost feels blasphemous to have this so relatively low (there are songs I really enjoy that didn't make this list...had to save myself by not making this list even bigger). I have a distinct memory of where I was in the car when I first heard this on the radio.
102) "Our Song" Taylor Swift (2006)
101) "22" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
100) "Mine" Speak Now (2010)
At the time of this posting, 'Speak Now (Taylor's Version)' is around 2 months away.
99) "Midnight Rain" Midnights (2022)
Taylor and producer Jack Antonoff really started to experiment with 'Midnights', using different synths and with this track a vocal modulator.
98) "Glitch" Midnights (3am Edition) (2022)
97) "Miss Americana & the Heartbreak Prince" Lover (2017)
96) "Dear Reader" Midnights (3am Edition) (2022)
This is a really fitting closing to the 3am edition of 'Midnights'.
95) "Fearless" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
94) "The 1" Folklore (2020)
93) "High Infidelity" Midnights (3am Edition) (2022)
92) "Red" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
91) "Tim McGraw" Taylor Swift (2006)
Taylor started off strong with this debut single (also, check out Maggie Rogers' cover).
90) "Vigilante Shit" Midnights (2022)
An interesting twist, giving off "Reputation" along with Billie Eilish vibes.
89) "Back To December" Speak Now (2010)
Another 'earlier' twist, where Taylor displays regrets.
88) "Sparks Fly" Speak Now (2010)
87) "Forever & Always" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
I've included the piano version.
86) "Better Than Revenge" Speak Now (2010)
Is there a certain dodgy lyric...related to mattresses? Sure, but this song is just so, so catchy. This is like a mix of Paramore and Avril Lavigne.
85) "Wildest Dreams" 1989 (2014)/(Taylor's Version) (2021)
Its interesting that we've gotten a couple of 'TV' releases from "1989".
84) "Bejeweled" Midnights (2022)
83) "Long Live" Speak Now (2010)
A really good non-deluxe closing track to "Speak Now", the Gillette rain show performance is iconic.
82) "This Love" 1989 (2014)/(Taylor's Version) (2022)
Mentioned with "Wildest Dreams", this is another '1989' track that's gotten a 'TV' recording.
81) "Maroon" Midnights (2022)
80) "I Knew You Were Trouble" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
"I Knew You Were Trouble" was among the first definitive steps away from Country.
79) "The Story Of Us" Speak Now (2010)
Along with "Better Than Revenge" and a future song to appear from 'Speak Now', this was an interesting blend of pop/country & rock.
78) "Lover" Lover (2019)
77) "Shake It Off" 1989 (2014)
A fun, group sing-along kind of song.
76) "Come Back...Be Here" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
75) "The Best Day" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
A very touching ode to Taylor's family.
74) "Style" 1989 (2014)
73) "Call It What You Want" Reputation (2017)
72) "no body, no crime" ft/HAIM Evermore (2020)
A dip back into Country, this track lays out a whole story really effectively.
71) "State Of Grace" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
The 'TV' acoustic version is stupendous.
70) "If This Was A Movie" Speak Now (2010)/(Taylor's Version) (2023)
69) "Haunted" Speak Now (2010)
There are hints of a Paramore/Evanescence sound.
68) "Dress" Reputation (2017)
Lets just say in terms of subject matter, this takes quite a turn.
67) "Blank Space" 1989 (2014)
Taylor effectively parodies some of the media's views of her.
66) "Don't Blame Me" Reputation (2017)
This song shows how Taylor's voice is just getting stronger and stronger.
65) "You Belong With Me" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
64) "Lavender Haze" Midnights (2022)
A tone-setter for "Midnights".
63) "Delicate" Reputation (2017)
"Delicate" is the point where things start to evolve on 'Reputation' (More on this later).
62) "Out Of The Woods" 1989 (2014)
I haven't really mentioned bridges yet, but this one hits incredibly hard.
61) "Invisible String" folklore (2020)
60) "New Romantics" 1989 (2014)
It's wild that this was initially a deluxe track. Luckily it would go on to become a single.
59) "coney island" ft/The National evermore (2020)
We'll get into a couple other duets from 'folklore', but Matt Berninger and Taylor's vocals mesh so well together.
58) "King Of My Heart" Reputation (2017)
57) "Mastermind" Midnights (2022)
This really works as a closer to the initial album.
56) "The Archer" Lover (2019)
55) "White Horse" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
Its quite powerful how 'White Horse' strips away the fairytale notion of a relationship.
54) "willow" evermore (2020)
53) "I Bet You Think About Me" ft/Chris Stapleton Red (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
This vault track could act as an addendum to "All Too Well".
52) "cardigan" folklore (2020)
This is the first of a trilogy of songs on 'folklore' (Those tracks will appear later on).
51) "Should've Said No" Taylor Swift (2006)
Just such a strong track from her debut.
50) "Karma" Midnights (2022)
This is such a fun track.
49) "the last great american dynasty" folklore(2020)
Taylor has an effective way of telling a whole story, as she does here with Rebekah Harkness.
48) "Mr. Perfectly Fine" Fearless (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
47) "Hey Stephen" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
From her vocals, to the laugh (of course), this re-record vaulted this song to among the top tier in my opinion.
46) " 'tis the damn season" evermore (2020)
45) "Love Story" Fearless (2008)/Fearless (Taylor's Version) (2021)
Just an iconic Taylor song, it says a lot about her more recent discography that it finds its spot here.
44) "Dancing With Our Hands Tied" Reputation (2017)
43) "Sad Beautiful Tragic" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
You can spot the lyrical ties to some of her work on 'folklore' with this 'Red' track.
42) "Getaway Car" Reputation (2017)
The way that 'Getaway Car' just keeps building and building towards the end, simply outstanding.
41) "Bye Bye Baby" Fearless (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
There's just something about her voice in 'Bye Bye Baby' that really hits for me.
40) "The Lucky One" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
Given her time in the music industry, this song takes on an interesting new light.
39) "You All Over Me" ft/Maren Morris Fearless (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
38) "this is me trying" folklore (2020)
This is a great perspective on mental health. It can mean something different to everyone.
37) "peace" folklore (2020)
36) "Treacherous" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
As I mentioned previously, lyrically you can see the threads here that would lead to 'folklore' & 'evermore'.
35) "gold rush" evermore (2020)
Her rhyming scheme really flourishes.
34) "Mean" Speak Now (2010)
Such a well-crafted tell-off kind of song.
33) "Holy Ground" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
From the driving beat to start it off, this song really has everything. If Taylor ever wades back into the Country genre, I hope this is a sort of template.
32) "Cornelia Street" Lover (2019)
This song just hits different now. While factoring in the studio version, given that it got an official release, I used the 'Live From Paris' version.
31) "Better Man" Red (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
This song was a big hit for 'Little Big Town', but it was such a blessing that we got this original version.
30) "exile" ft/Bon Iver folklore (2020)
By the end of 'exile', its just art how Justin Vernon and Taylor's voices mesh together. I used the official long pond studio session recording.
29) "You're On Your Own Kid" Midnights (2022)
I just love the autobiographical nature of this.
28) "Begin Again" Red (2012)/Red (Taylor's Version) (2021)
27) "mirrorball" folklore (2020)
26) "Enchanted" Speak Now (2010)
Along with "gold rush", "Enchanted" gives a perspective of what it can feel like to have a crush on someone.
25) "Only The Young" (From "Miss Americana") (2020)
There's just something special about this politically motivated song, especially in that 2nd verse.
24) "New Year's Day" Reputation (2017)
"New Year's Day" is a perfect closing on 'Reputation', as you see Taylor coming out through the other side. I've included her 'Tonight Show' performance along with the studio recording because of just how touching of a tribute it was for Jimmy Fallon.
23) "Nothing New" ft/Phoebe Bridgers Red (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
The fact that Taylor was already thinking about whether she'd be replaced during the 'Red' era, such a poignant song.
22) "Dear John" Speak Now (2010)
One of the quintessential track 5's, I really can't wait until we get to hear the 'TV' version.
21) "Carolina" (From "Where The Crawdads Sing") (2022)
20) "Forever Winter" Red (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
Such a powerful song dealing with mental health.
19) "marjorie" evermore (2020)
An incredibly moving tribute to her late grandmother.
18) "mad woman" folklore (2020)
I love how biting and pointed these lyrics are.
17) "august" folklore (2020)
The 2nd part of the 'folklore' trilogy.
16) "Anti-Hero" Midnights (2022)
A song that just about anyone can relate to.
15) "Safe & Sound" ft/The Civil Wars (From "The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond) (2012)/(Taylor's Version) (2023)
There's just a way with how this track flows, and how delicate Taylor is able to get with her voice.
14) "False God" Lover (2019)
"False God" is something I don't think many would have expected from Taylor. Such a cool song. I used her 'Saturday Night Live' performance.
13) "the lakes" folklore (2020)
12) "betty" folklore (2020)
The final part of the 'folklore' trilogy, I love the country feel on this song.
11) "right where you left me" evermore (2020)
You could write a whole screenplay solely based around this track.
10) "champagne problems" evermore (2020)
Her phrasing really shines here.
9) "illicit affairs" folklore (2020)
8) "tolerate it" evermore (2020)
Just heartbreaking lyrics.
7) "evermore" ft/Bon Iver evermore (2020)
Thematically, this is one of Taylor's best closing songs to an album. Within the song lyrically, we see the speaker coming out on the other side of a depressive state.
6) "Death By A Thousand Cuts" Lover (2019)
An all-time bridge.
5) "ivy" evermore (2020)
From top to bottom, this song has so many interesting facets to it.
4) "Cruel Summer" Lover (2019)
If this had been the lead single, it would have easily been the song of the summer for 2019 (and probably for 2020 as well).
3) "Would've Could've Should've" Midnights:3am Edition (2022)
This is almost like a retrospective sequel to 'Dear John'.
2) "my tears ricochet" folklore (2020)
This song is absolutely gorgeous. Its really hard to quantify in just a few sentences.
1) "All Too Well" (10 Minute Version) Red (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) (2021)
I mean, #1 had to be "All Too Well". She took an already great song, and just created an all-time epic. To make this list fair, I only allowed this version to make the list.
And there you have it, my top 115. If I did this over in a year, or even in a few months (with "Speak Now TV" approaching) this list would look quite different. It just depends on what kind of a mood you're in during that given time, but right now, this list is where I'm at.
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