For the first time since she married Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July, Taylor Swift is back with new music. The 14-time Grammy Award-winning artist is dropping four new songs – Patient Zero, Cleveland!, Pink Clouding and Babylon – as part of The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore. In honor of those fresh tracks, let’s take a look back and rank the best songs of Taylor Swift’s storied career thus far.
Best Taylor Swift Songs Ranked
10. Don’t Blame Me, reputation
In the moment, Taylor’s reputation era was pretty divisive. She took a step back from the public eye and constructed a more vengeful, emotional persona. That shined through in her music, too. Jack Antonoff actually didn’t get a writing credit on Don’t Blame Me, but it is still representative of how her sound and style changed in this era. Don’t Blame Me starts slow and echoey, then builds into a synth-heavy pop song. As for the final chorus, it is perhaps the most unleashed Taylor has ever been vocally, making Don’t Blame Me one of the most cathartic songs in her entire discography.
9. Karma, Midnights
Midnights is a very sonically consistent album, sometimes to a fault, but Karma still manages to stand out as a great track in its own right. The lyrics are catchy, the bridge is well-constructed and the harmonizing is particularly satisfying. But beyond that, the production is just really engaging, with every beat, synth and effect justifying its inclusion and then some.
8. Cruel Summer, Lover
Cruel Summer is one of the most beloved songs on Lover, and for good reason. But in classic Taylor Swift fashion, Cruel Summer’s bridge elevates it to elite status. It makes the final chorus hit even harder, all before looping back to the bridge to cap it all off.
7. New Romantics, 1989
This is going to be one of the hottest takes on this list, in part because 1989 features so many massive hits and fan-favorites alike. New Romantics didn’t even make the cut for the original 13-song album, instead only appearing on the Deluxe Edition. But this song’s energy and progression pair so perfectly with the lyrics, flowing as well as – or better than – any other song on its album. If we’re getting really granular with things, the Taylor’s Version rendition is actually a tad superior in terms of both vocals and production. And in the spirit of full transparency, I’m giving New Romantics a bump because the Boston Red Sox used it for an incredible pregame hype video at Fenway Park during the 2024 season. I’m not ashamed to admit that said video improved this song’s reputation in my books.
6. All Too Well (10 Minute Version), Red (Taylor’s Version)
Speaking of Taylor’s Version songs that out-do the original, All Too Well has to be at the top of that list. Against all odds, not a single verse of a 10-minute song feels redundant or out of place lyrically. The melody builds fast enough so it isn’t boring or drawn out, but doesn’t overstay its welcome either. The emotions are on full display, without dipping too far into the tropes of so many sappy “serious” songs from popstars. On top of all that, All Too Well: The Short Film starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien reeled in a treasure trove of awards and demonstrated Taylor’s skills as a director
5. Our Song, Taylor Swift
Going all the way back to the beginning, Our Song has aged the best from Taylor’s self-titled debut album. It is certainly much more country than every other song on this list, down to the banjo and references to prayers and God. At the same time, it’s just such a fun and catchy tune lifted by a joyful vocal performance. Our Song also shows off Taylor’s abilities as a songwriter even as a teenager, going really meta without losing its earnestness.
4. Daylight, Lover
Daylight is a pretty simple song, but one that feels especially representative of the second half of Taylor’s career to this point. Its lyrics are full of positivity and confidence, addressing a tumultuous past in a mature way. That meshes perfectly with the slow build and comfy synth instrumentals. The voice memo over the piano solo at the end puts a bow on the song’s message without overdoing it, marking a poignant end to Lover as an album.
3. the last great american dynasty, folklore
Amid her synth-pop reinvention, Taylor’s detour into indie folk music was a pretty successful one. But with two albums and 34 songs coming out in a span of just five months, a lot of the tracks kind of got lost in the shuffle. And yet, the last great american dynasty managed to assert itself as the crowning achievement of the brief era. There isn’t a single song that highlights Taylor’s abilities as a storyteller more than this one, successfully capturing the life of a complicated woman while also personifying a house and detailing an entire community. The voice layering really deepens the impact of the circular narrative, as does the blend of classical instruments with electronic beats.
2. You Belong With Me, Fearless
Now we’re really getting into the heavy hitters for the Millennials and elder Gen Z out there. The music video? Iconic. The lyrics? Ubiquitous and unforgettable to an entire generation. While so many other songs from Taylor Swift and Fearless have been pushed aside over the years, You Belong With Me continues to live on. From a sweet, albeit short, guitar solo to a great bridge and relatable lyrics, this one has it all. You Belong With Me is, pardon the overused terminology, a banger. This is record label-mandated country music done to a tee in every way possible.
1. Love Story, Fearless
Okay, now this is a banger – perhaps the banger to end all bangers. A bop or a jam, if you will. Love Story is perhaps the most singular and defining track of Taylor Swift’s career, thanks to her signature melodic progression and lyrical mastery. At just 36 years old, Taylor was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She simply does not get there without Love Story, both in terms of its singular achievement and how it set the stage for everything else that came after it. You don’t need me to tell you why Love Story, a country music adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, is so great – just give it a listen. The nostalgia is palpable, but not a necessity. It’s a great song on so many levels, and in my opinion, the best Taylor has ever recorded.
