If you're here, you know who Taylor Swift is, you know she's a lyrical genius, and you're probably a fan of hers.
So, without further delay, here's the best, most underrated and most overrated song of each of Taytay's albums.
1. Self-titled / Debut / However you call the first album
Best: Tied Together With a Smile
Tied Together With a Smile has incredible lyrics, a sweet melody, and an overall air of perfection. Taylor's voice is still young and vulnerable, and that's what makes it perfect for the subject she sings about. So many teenagers can relate to this song, and say that it has helped them, including me.
Most Underrated: Should've Said No
This album gave us several amazing break-up songs (Picture To Burn is an eternal favorite, and Cold As You is incredible) but I feel like this one is often overlooked. It's badass, like many Taylor Swift songs, and yet more mature than many others, including her more recent songs. I was definitely not that mature in my teens!
Most Overrated: Tim McGraw
Ok, I know I'm going to get hate for this, but it's kind of true. While it is hard to say that any song on her first record is overrated as they're all hidden gems, I would say Tim McGraw, lyrically, is not the best of the album. I know it's the song that launched her first album. I know, I know, I hate me too. But Tim McGraw goes here.
2. Fearless
Best: You Belong With Me
Some people would say it's overrated, but I say no. It's, as my friend would call it, the OG bop, the song that made everyone know Taylor, it's the first Taylor song I ever heard, and it's just. so. relatable. It definitely makes the ''best'' category.
Most Underrated: Hey Stephen
Hey. Stephen. This one almost took the top spot, but I felt it's much more than that... it's incredibly underrated, criminally so. It includes some of the cutest lyrics ever (''the way you walk, way you talk, way you say my name, is beautiful, wonderful, don't you ever change''), has Taylor Swift mmming all along and includes her little laugh! So! Cute! And it represents having a crush so accurately. A must-hear bop.
Most Overrated: Fifteen
Ok, disclaimer, I actually love Fifteen. But I couldn't find anything else to put in the Most Overrated category for the masterpiece that is Fearless, and the chorus' grammar sometimes annoys me in Fifteen. That's all I've got to say, really. Don't stop listening to this one!
3. Speak Now
Best: The Story of Us
Super catchy, witty lyrics, and flawless respect of her ''story'' theme. Not a single bad thing to say about this song. I love how Taylor Swift included tiny details (''see me nervously pulling at my clothes, trying to look busy'') to make it all seem more realistic and while she sometimes uses hyperbole (I doubt the story really is a tragedy), it all works out well and makes perfect sense.
Most Underrated: Enchanted
Sweet, romantic, imaginative, original, and somehow not a single. Enchanted is probably a fan favorite and it's easy to see why! It's slow paced, and maybe that's why it wouldn't have done perfectly on radio stations, but I honestly wish we'd had a music video for this one. A true masterpiece.
Most Overrated: Mine
Okay, so Mine is a great song, don't get me wrong. I just feel other singles could have been the first one from Speak Now, like Mean, Back to December, or The Story of Us. It is cute and the bridge is excellent, but Back to December deserved better.
4. Red
Best: All Too Well
Is anyone surprised by this choice? Can anyone say that All Too Well isn't the best song on Red? This song has the best lyrics in any Taylor Swift song, and maybe in any song, ever. It's pretty long, and yet I could take hours more of it. It is raw, unbridled, true emotion and has made me tear up more than once. And of course, who can ever forget the iconic bridge of All Too Well?
If you don't know the lyrics to All Too Well, go go go read them!
Most Underrated: I Almost Do
There are so many memorable songs on Red, and many that aren't widely known like they deserve. Red and its lyrics that are too overlooked, or Begin Again and its chic flair could have been here too, had they not been music videos, and had Red not, you know, given its name to the album. And The Moment I Knew almost stole this spot too. But back to I Almost Do! Several of the lyrics are little gems (''I bet it never ever occurred to you that I can't say "hello" to you and risk another goodbye'' is just one of those), and the overall calm melody is super nice. It managed to supplant all the other magical tracks on Red on this list for a reason, and if you don't know this song, you have to listen to it!
Most Overrated: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
I know it's not necessarily a fan favorite, and that the point of the chorus was to annoy the ex it was aimed at, but it also annoys me so it's got to come here. The rest of the song is pretty good, but the chorus is something I cannot endure. It was the single that brought attention to the upcoming album Red, but I feel once again that other songs that would become singles later on could have done well as first single too (I Knew You Were Trouble and 22 carry a great popular vibe).
5. 1989
Best: Blank Space
Blank Space is full of autoderision, a hilarious portrayal of what the media makes her appear like, smart plays on words and creates a lot of appealing visual images. It was my favorite as soon as I heard it. It also contains a lyric that Taylor has stated is her favorite she has written - '' darling I'm a nightmare dressed like a daydream'' - with which I also happened to be obsessed when it came out. Overall, Blank Space is a perfectly timed, lively song about what people see her as, without ever becoming vulgar or straight-up mean. Well done, Tay!
Most Underrated: I Wish You Would
Where is my I Wish You Would music video, Big Machine Records? Because this song totally deserves one. It's like Back to December's less depressing sister (don't get me wrong, I love Back to December). It's a fun tune, yet heart-wrenching and sadly relatable. Also, for all the other Star Wars fans out there, I always associated this song to Han and Leia, at the time of The Force Awakens, and they're my OTP so it reminds me of them and that also helps making it awesome. But Star Wars aside, I Wish You Would is superb and deserves more recognition.
I also wanted to add that I Know Places could have that spot too!
Most Overrated: Out of the Woods
Out of the Woods has some great lyrics, but the chorus can get repetitive and boring, and some of the background music is bleh. It's not a bad song per se, and it's better than some other artists' best songs, but I usually skip it when listening to 1989 and other songs deserved to be singles more than Out of the Woods did.
6. Reputation
Best: Getaway Car
Honestly, I have wanted a music video for Getaway Car since I listened to it for the very first time. The bridge is magical. I have gone days listening to no other song than Getaway Car. It is badass and romantic, sweet and mean. It's got everything. I have listened to it hundreds of times and I still get shivers every time I hear Taylor sing ''we were jet-set Bonnie and Clyde...''. There is no way in hell that any song can ever beat Getaway Car. No. Way.
Most Underrated: New Year's Day
First of all, my sister dislikes this song and that makes me personally mad. How can she? It's a super sweet, romantic song about vulnerability and being scared of losing someone because you love every trivial thing about them. Such a beautiful concept. Additionally, New Year's Day has this intimate feel about it that reminds me a bit of All Too Well, in the way that I don't want a music video of it, because it would corrupt the tender idea that this song is for fans who listen to the whole album until the end. The only visual image I could associate with it would be Taylor at the piano, tbh.
And to conclude, if you haven't noticed, most of the lyrics have two meanings, the literal one and the symbolic one. I won't analyse all of it, but imagine the party as a relationship and listen to it again, you'll get it.
Most Overrated: Delicate
I'm super happy Delicate is having so much success, because it's Taylor and she loves that song. However, I think that Dancing With Our Hands Tied would have been a better single, as it is already to me a better song. Delicate is nice and soft and fluffy, but Dancing With Our Hands Tied has the oomph that Delicate lacks. I feel that Delicate doesn't emphasize that well on Taylor's voice, which is a shame, and that the lyrics are somehow less iconic than those from DWOHT. In addition, the music video, while being beautifully done, didn't have much to do with the song itself, which was a bit of a downer. But I still really like Delicate and it's not my least favorite from Reputation!
So there you have it! All my Taylor Swift opinions! Tell me where you agree and disagree in the comments!
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