Taylor Swift [1] released her first album in October 2006 and since then, she's crushed the music charts, made the transition from country superstar to pop sensation, and gracefully won Billboard's Woman of the Decade [2]. After a long-awaited break, Swift's latest album Lover, released in August 2019, gifted us with 18 new songs, and I'm just hoping we don't have to wait another two years for the next album.
As a huge Swiftie, I'm so excited to continue to watch Swift champion for not only music rights, but women in music. [3] I took a trip down memory lane and picked out what I consider to be her 10 best singles ever. Let's be honest, though, I love all of Swift's music a lot, so this wasn't easy, because if you ask me, there's no such thing as a bad Taylor Swift song! Remember, though, these are just singles and don't include her entire discography! That's a story for another day . . .
"Look What You Made Me Do" by Taylor Swift
At this point in the game, Taylor Swift [4] had already been playing around in the pop music industry for five years, and while some fans argue this is one of her more legendary songs lyrically, it's still not my absolute favourite. I'm all here for calling out the haters, but it feels like this song was made as more as an act of rebellion.
It's for this disconnect that I'm ranking it at No. 10, but, I'll be the first to admit that the end scene in her music video was killer.
"Love Story" by Taylor Swift
Everything about this song is whimsical, from the Shakespearean lyrics to the fairy-tale music video. Taylor Swift [5]'s writing style really shone in this single, receiving praise from so many people at an early place in her career.
"22" by Taylor Swift
I'm a huge fan of the album Red, but I what I'm most obsessed with is how "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling 22" is probably one of the most used Instagram captions and maybe just one of the best lyrics ever written. Taylor Swift [6]'s entrance to adulthood is wrapped up in this melodically perfect song.
"Style" by Taylor Swift
All signs point to "Style" being about Swift's relationship with Harry Styles [7], and ironically the song title is a little too similar to his last name for it not to be true. She sings a classic tale about a breakup where you know it should be over but both parties can't seem to pull away.
I appreciate her honestly and vulnerability, but it's not quite enough to put this at the very top of my list.
"Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift
"Shake It Off" walked so "Look What You Made Me Do" could run, it's as simple as that. The leading single off Swift's 2014 album 1989 was one of the earliest signs we got of Taylor Swift [8] calling out former friends and haters, straying away from her trademark of love-themed songs. It paid off — the single had a near six-month residency in Billboard's top 10. [9]
"You Belong With Me" by Taylor Swift
Arguably one of Taylor Swift [10]'s better-known music videos, "You Belong With Me" quickly became the classic girl-next-door anthem. And from it came one of the most unforgettable moments in pop music history: Kanye's onstage interruption at the MTV Video Music Awards [11].
"I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift
The lyrics behind "I Knew You Were Trouble" showed a side of Taylor Swift [12] we had never seen before. Breaking down to her more vulnerable side, Swift opened up about a nasty breakup admitting she should have known better.
This one is higher up on my list because I think it is one of the more personal singles we have gotten from her and one that a lot of her fans can relate to.
"Our Song" by Taylor Swift
This single will never not be one of my favourite Taylor Swift [13] songs to sing along to at the top of my lungs. It's just that good. "Our Song" debuted from her self-titled album and was her third single ever released. I love the nostalgia the lyrics bring back of being a teenager with your high school crush.
"You Need to Calm Down" by Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift [14] is known for her advocacy when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, artist rights, and female empowerment. "You Need to Calm Down" [15] was the second single released off her new album Lover and serves as the perfect example of the way Swift is using her platform to create change.
"We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" by Taylor Swift
Her leading single off the album Red, "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," had a heavy hand in the transition of going from the country music space to a more pop-focussed genre. I love a great lyrical puzzle, but it seems like we'll never fully know who she is singing about.
It was her first No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 [16], which is a feat in itself, so it only makes sense to be at the top of my list, too. Plus, I can't not dance every time it comes on!