It’s a little funny, isn’t it, how life can sometimes make you feel like nothing ever changes and yet at the same time everything is different. Looking back, I have had many different versions of myself. Some of them I visit from time to time, others I buried in an unmarked grave. I think my sense of self, my identity, has always felt a little shaky. I’ve had a hundred passing interests, countless different obsessions. My “when I grow up”’s have spanned everything from an actress to a social worker. At one point, I even wanted to be a marine biologist, which is particularly confusing because I’m terrible at science and I don’t even like fish.
It took me a while to notice it, but I’ve realised I seem to attract the temporary. Temporary styles, temporary interests. Even temporary people. The only major thing that seems to have stood the test of time is my love for Taylor Swift.
I still remember the first time I heard Taylor Swift. I was on my Dad’s Limewire account, scrolling through bootleg Dixie Chick files to upload to my brand new hot pink i-nano. I heard the opening lines of ‘Our Song’ sung in that now long gone Southern Twang and was immediately hooked. Even now, there’s just something about Taylor’s music that feels like home to me. It feels safe, warm… like there’s no chance of being misunderstood. Taylor seems to have a song for almost every experience, feeling or situation possible. Even the really ‘niche’ ones. Earlier this year, my heart was broken on my birthday by a guy who promised to show up for me but never did. On her fourth album, Red, Taylor Swift has a song called The Moment I Knew which is literally about being heartbroken when her boyfriend doesn’t show up for her birthday party… It’s uncanny, really. I only realised it recently, perhaps because her debut album recently had it’s thirteen year anniversary, but Taylor Swift is the longest friendship I’ve ever had. Maybe that sounds a little sad to you, but I think if anything it’s really a testament to the talent, passion and dedication Taylor Swift exudes. I love everything about her, especially how unapologetically herself she is. In fact, I can’t imagine ever not loving her. I’ve seen her perform every time she’s toured in New Zealand, and when I eventually save enough to move to North America, I’ll see her any time I can there too. Most recently, Taylor performed at Mt Smart Stadium for her reputation Stadium Tour and even though no one was able to come with me, I wasn’t going to let the fear of being alone stop me. So I went by myself. And it was arguably the highlight of my year. Stay Beautiful, Taylor 💖
So in honour of my beloved 'American Queen', here are my top favourite thirteen songs by Taylor Swift, in no particular order:
1. All Too Well Despite never being a single, All Too Well is easily one of Swift’s best songs, and is much beloved amongst fans for the deeply poetic lyrics and the sheer emotion in her voice. Album – Red Favourite Lyrics: You call me up again just to break me like a promise So casually cruel in the name of being honest I'm a crumpled up piece of paper lying here 'Cause I remember it all, all, all too well 2. Begin Again I love this song because of the way it so sweetly describes growing feelings for someone new after being epically hurt by love, and all that hopefulness that brings. Album – Red Favourite Lyrics: And you throw your head back laughing like a little kid I think it's strange that you think I'm funny 'cause he never did I've been spending the last eight months Thinking all love ever does is break and burn and end But on a Wednesday in a cafe, I watched it begin again 3. Cornelia Street To me, Cornelia Street is a song about how our minds can attach certain places to the person you made a specific memory with there, and how easy it would be for such places to become tainted or too painful if things ended poorly. Album – Lover Favourite Lyrics: And I hope I never lose you, hope it never ends I'd never walk Cornelia Street again That's the kinda heartbreak time could never mend I'd never walk Cornelia Street again And baby, I get mystified by how this city screams your name And baby, I'm so terrified of if you ever walk away I'd never walk Cornelia Street again 4. Red This is the title song of Taylor’s fourth studio album, Red. It compares the emotions she had in a relationship to colours. On her episode of VH1 Storytellers, Taylor explains that the song is about “this relationship that I had that was, like, the worst thing ever and the best thing ever at the same time.” Favourite Lyrics: Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes Tell myself it's time now, gotta let go But moving on from him is impossible When I still see it all in my head In burning red Loving him was red 5. The Man This song is both a call for female empowerment and the sort of anthem that makes you want to dance everywhere and anywhere. No doubt if you'd looked back through the supermarket security cameras, you'd find me acting like I'm in a music video! Album – Lover Favourite Lyrics: I’d be a fearless leader I'd be an alpha type When everyone believes ya What's that like? I’m so sick of running as fast as I can Wondering if I'd get there quicker if I was a man And I'm so sick of them coming at me again' Cause if I was a man, then I'd be the man. 6. Getaway Car Getaway Car uses lyrical metaphors about criminals to describe her doomed romance. I like that rather than romanticising her comparison Bonnie and Clyde like many other pop culture references, she acknowledges that romances like these are built to fall apart. Album – reputation Favourite Lyrics: The ties were black, the lies were white And shades of grey in candlelight I wanted to leave him I needed a reason "X" marks the spot where we fell apart He poisoned the well, I was lyin' to myself I knew it from the first Old Fashioned, we were cursed We never had a shotgun shot in the dark 7. Call It What You Want Placed towards the end of what is arguably a rather 'angry' album, this song felt like a return to the lighter, happier versions of Taylor seen earlier. I love it so much, I hand-painted a denim jacket to wear at the concert. I especially love the verses in this song, the second shown on my jacket. Album – reputation
Favourite Lyrics: My castle crumbled overnight I brought a knife to a gunfight They took the crown, but it's alright Additional Favourite Lyrics: All my flowers grew back as thorns Windows boarded up after the storm He built a fire just to keep me warm 8. Fifteen
Something about fifteen has always managed to make me cry. I think it’s because I feel Taylor so perfectly describes young girls suddenly holding themselves accountable to such high expectations of how their high school experiences, and really, the rest of their lives should play out. Album – Fearless Favourite Lyrics: But in your life, you'll do things
Greater than dating the boy on the football team
But I didn't know it at fifteen 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
And Abigail gave everything she had to a boy
Who changed his mind and we both cried. 9. Clean This is a beautiful song about losing yourself in someone else and then having to find yourself again. Despite this many fans including myself have likened the lyrics to their feelings on overcoming struggles with mental illness, addiction or abuse. Album – 1989 Favourite Lyrics: Rain came pouring down
When I was drowning, that's when I could finally breathe
And by morning
Gone was any trace of you, I think I am finally clean
10. The Best Day This was a sentimental choice as it highlights the beautiful relationship Taylor Swift shares with her mother Andrea or, as the fans call her, Mama Swift. Album – Fearless Favourite Lyrics: And I love you for giving me your eyes
For staying back and watching me shine
And I didn't know if you knew
So I'm taking this chance to say
That I had the best day
With you today 11. Tim Mcgraw Like we attach memories to places, we might also do the same with music which is what Taylor is referencing in this song. It was her debut single and first-ever published song, and therefore obviously means a lot to Taylor especially since she said it actually only took her fifteen minutes to write, but these were some of the best fifteen minutes of her life! Album – Taylor Swift Favourite Lyrics:
When you think happiness
I hope you think that little black dress
Think of my head on your chest
And my old faded blue jeans
When you think Tim McGraw
I hope you think of me 12. Stay Beautiful This song also holds a lot of sentimentality for me as it has become something my mother has said to me almost every day. It's cute and lyrically reminiscent of an early Taylor Swift when she was still classified as a country music artist. Album – Taylor Swift Favourite Lyrics: You're beautiful
Ask anyone 13. Daylight The final track on Taylor's most recent album, this song really exemplifies how much Taylor has grown throughout her thirteen-year career. In addition to the beautiful lyrics, Taylor also included a spoken outro explaining that she does not want to be defined by what she hates, or what she's afraid of because she believes "you are what you love." Album – Lover Favourite Lyrics: I once believed love would be burning red
But it's golden
Like daylight, like daylight
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