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Winning international praise and widespread media coverage, Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with. Topped with good looks and a captivating voice, it’s not hard to see why she is one of the biggest stars today. I first listened to a Taylor Swift song when I was just 10 and instantly became a Swiftie. More than a decade has passed, and I have never looked back since. Read on for my selection of the best Taylor Swift songs that have seen me through the ups and downs of life. I’ve selected two to three tracks from each album so you really get the best of the best!
Taylor Swift (born 13 December 1989) is an American singer-songwriter who is one of the biggest names in the music industry. She started her career at the young age of 14, amassing a large international fan base over the years. Taylor Swift is best known for her honest music and narrative songwriting inspired by her own personal life. She is a highly decorated artist with many accolades, including 11 Grammy Awards, 40 American Music Awards and 29 Billboard Music Awards.
| Album | Release date | Length | No. of songs | Grammy nomination & awards | |
| 1 | Taylor Swift | Oct 2006 | 40:28 | 14 |
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| 2 | Fearless | Nov 2008 | 79:19 | 19 |
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| Fearless (Taylor’s Version) | Apr 2021 | 106:20 | 26 | ||
| 3 | Speak Now | Oct 2010 | 79:26 | 17 |
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| 4 | Red | Oct 2012 | 90:28 | 22 |
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| Red (Taylor’s Version) | Nov 2021 | 130:26 | 30 | ||
| 5 | 1989 | Oct 2014 | 60:23 | 16 |
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| 6 | Reputation | Nov 2017 | 55:38 | 15 |
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| 7 | Lover | Aug 2019 | 61:48 | 18 |
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| 8 | Folklore | July 2020 | 67:00 | 17 |
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| 9 | Evermore | Dec 2020 | 68:58 | 17 |
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| 10 | Midnights | Oct 2022 | 69:20 | 20 |
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You need to calm down. While Taylor announced that the first leg of her 2023 ‘Eras Tour’ will take place in various states across the USA, there is no official announcement on when the tour will come to Europe and Asia. However, there has been speculation online that Singapore is one of the countries she will be touring. While waiting to sing all the best Taylor Swift songs live, we can only keep our fingers crossed!
This self-titled album is Taylor Swift’s debut album which was released in 2006 when Taylor was just 17. It consists of 14 tracks and takes on a country genre.
Teardrops On My Guitar was the very first Taylor Swift song I was introduced to and it has struck a chord with me from the first note. It is one of the best Taylor Swift songs about unrequited love that’s painfully honest with well-written lyrics. I can’t get the image of a wet guitar and wishing stars out of my mind!
Whoever said that the best Taylor Swift songs are all about romantic love obviously hasn’t heard I’m Only Me When I’m With You. This track is about Taylor’s best friend Abigail, and all their crazy adventures. The music video provides a visual representation of the friendship and it will tug at your heartstrings for sure!
Fearless is Taylor Swift’s second studio album which was released in 2008. The deluxe version consists of 19 tracks and takes on a country genre.
Referencing Romeo and Juliet, Love Story is one of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs that’s as classic as the Shakespearean story itself. To think that Taylor was only 19 when she wrote this, I must say that I am impressed by the storytelling of this track. It will definitely leave you fantasising about a dream wedding proposal!
What do you do when you’re on the phone with your girlfriend and she’s upset? You play You Belong With Me, of course! This is one of Taylor Swift’s top most popular songs that serves as a sweet reminder to your special someone. Other than that, it has a catchy tune that makes it a fun karaoke song.
While the song talks about Snow White’s house and the seven dwarfs, The Best Day is anything but whimsical. Instead, it is a heartfelt track that Taylor has dedicated to her mother who has supported her music career from the start. This is one of the best Taylor Swift songs that will make you cry!
The re-mastered version of Fearless was released in 2021. It consists of 26 tracks and includes several tracks from The Vault that were never released before.
Hello Mr. Perfectly Fine! This is a top Taylor Swift song that is perfectly fine for those who need a charming beat to bop to. I fell in love with this track at first listen thanks to its groovy rhythm and unique storytelling lyrics. As such, this is one of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs I often play when I’m running or at a spin class!
Believe me when I say that the best Taylor Swift songs often come in the form of duets with male artistes. Case in point: That’s When, which has the perfect harmonisation of Taylor’s vocals and Keith Urban’s soothing voice. There’s nothing like two country singers coming together for a beautiful song!
Speak Now is Taylor Swift’s third studio album which was released in 2010. The deluxe version consists of 17 tracks and takes on a country genre.
Drop everything now. If you’re searching for some of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs, Sparks Fly will definitely be up the list. With dreamy lyrics and an upbeat tune, I remember having a fun time singing this song out loud with my friends back during my teenage years. This song will truly captivate you like a firework show (wink)!
“This is me swallowing my pride standing in front of you saying I’m sorry for that night”. If these lyrics aren’t enough to make you shed a tear, the melancholic melody of Back To December will. This is one of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs that proves to naysayers that Taylor is capable of apologising unlike what is assumed about her. I’m not crying, you are!
Welcome to a world of fighting dragons ruled by a band of thieves in ripped-up jeans! Long Live is a top Taylor Swift song that I am absolutely in love with because of its inspirational lyrics and memorable tune. Written for her band and producers, this song is an ode to the hard work and achievement they have shared over the years.
Red is Taylor Swift’s fourth studio album which was released in 2012. The deluxe version consists of 22 tracks and takes on mixed genres of pop, country and rock with folk and electronic elements.
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I’m 22 all over again every time I listen to this song. As a party anthem at every youth’s 22nd birthday bash, this is one of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs that will stay iconic and timeless. Time to pop some champagne!
The best Taylor Swift songs are those that talk about love. Begin Again is a ballad that does just that, and more. With intricate details in the lyrics and acoustic instrumentals, this final track of the Red album rounds up a series of heartfelt songs that will inspire and encourage you to believe in love.
Hidden in the deluxe tracklist, The Moment I Knew is a severely underrated gem. It is one of the best Taylor Swift songs that sheds light on painfully raw anecdotes of her personal love life. I can’t help but root for her as she navigates life and grows through what she goes through. If anything, the song’s bridge will leave you in tears for sure.
The re-mastered version of Red was released in 2021. It consists of 30 tracks and includes several tracks from The Vault that were never released before.
Sometimes in the middle of the night, I just want to listen to the best Taylor Swift songs to fall asleep. And there’s no better track than Better Man, which tells the story of heartbreak in love. Originally sung by country group Little Big Town in 2016, Taylor now has the full rights as the writer and signer of this track in Red’s re-release.
I can’t write a list of the best Taylor Swift songs without including the 10-minute version of All Too Well. After all, how many 10-minute songs do you know of? Making waves all over the globe, this is one heck of a masterpiece that will be remembered for its honesty and brilliant songwriting. The accompanying short film which stars Sadie Sink and Dylan O’Brien, will also strike a chord within you.
1989 is Taylor Swift’s fifth studio album which was released in 2014. The deluxe version consists of 16 tracks and takes on a pop genre.
Taylor Swift’s top most popular songs will never go out of Style like a James Dean daydream look in one’s eye. Written about ex-beau Harry Styles, Taylor pens down her thoughts on a love that was not meant to be in the most honest way possible. I love this track for its edgy sound and upbeat tune.
Oh, the feeling of being in true love – you can hear it in the silence! As portrayed in You Are In Love, this is one of the best Taylor Swift songs that I would definitely want to play at my future wedding. It highlights the nuances of romance and shows how even the mundane things of everyday life can be attractive.
Reputation is Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album which was released in 2017. It consists of 15 tracks and takes on an electro-pop and R&B genre.
As its name suggests, This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things is one of the best Taylor Swift songs that’s badass and kickass. Not caring about the he-said, she-said, Taylor is brutally frank about how karma comes back around and how she has zero tolerance for shady people. You go, girl!
The 1st of January only comes around once a year but you can listen to New Year’s Day anytime and still get goosebumps all over. This is one of the best Taylor Swift songs from Reputation that has charmed me with its slow melody and sincere writings about parting ways with someone you truly care about.
Lover is Taylor Swift’s seventh studio album which was released in 2019. It consists of 18 tracks and takes on an electropop, pop rock and synth-pop genre.
It’s not hard to see why Lover is one of Taylor Swift’s top most popular songs! As the album’s title track, it is the perfect blend of sing-song acoustic pop and folksy storytelling sung with a newfound bliss. Unlike most of her older tracks, Taylor revels in the security of her new relationship with a “magnetic force of a man”. I stan a confident queen!
Have you ever loved someone so much that you’d be okay even if you married them with Paper Rings? TayTay sure would! As one of the best Taylor Swift songs, this track is a toe-tapper from the get-go, filled with tambourine jingles and background vocals of “uh-huhs” and “that’s right’s”. Definitely a beat you’ll want to sing along to!
Another frontrunner on this list of top most popular Taylor Swift songs is Afterglow, which takes on a different stance from her usual disses on her exes. Here, she belts out a straightforward apology power anthem that’s grounded by a slow bass. Her unabashed contrition is so refreshing that I could play this track all night long.
Folklore is Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album which was released during lockdown in 2020. It consists of 17 tracks and takes on an indie folk genre.
If you’re all for piano-driven duets, then Exile would be right up your alley right from the very first note. Justin Vernon’s (from the band Bon Iver) deep voice, coupled with Taylor’s enchanting vocals, will instantly sweep you off your feet and transport you to a dreamy wonderland. Lyrics-wise, this best Taylor Swift song touches on complex emotions that ex-lovers face.
It’s no secret that TayTay is a talented songwriter but she definitely upped her game with August as she writes fictional tales about make-believe characters. Telling the story of a typical summer romance, I love how she makes interconnected references to other tracks on the Folklore album like Betty and Cardigan. These are undoubtedly some of Taylor Swift’s most popular songs!
Evermore is Taylor Swift’s ninth studio album which was released during lockdown in 2020. It consists of 17 tracks and takes on an indie folk and alternative rock genre.
As Evermore’s lead single, Willow is one of Taylor Swift’s top most popular songs that is folksy and whimsical all at once. I appreciate how the lyrics depict the complexities of wanting someone to love you back without sugarcoating anything. Taylor’s stunning vocals also effectively capture the essence of falling in love.
The number of streams of No Body, No Crime don’t do it any justice. Taking on a darker tone with supporting vocals from rock band HAIM, this is one of the best Taylor Swift songs that I fell in love with instantly. It took me numerous listens to fully comprehend the narrative but its chilling refrain makes it one of the most unapologetically authentic songs ever.
Midnights is Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album which was recently released in October 2022. The full version consists of 20 tracks and takes on an electronica and synth-pop genre.
Having held the #1 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart for four consecutive weeks now, Anti-Hero seems to be shaping up to be one of Taylor Swift’s top most popular songs. And it is not without reason. Its self-reflective lyrics are a candid truth that many can relate to. What’s more, it has extra recognition for trending all over TikTok. It’s me, hi!
Karma is a relaxing thought? This is one of the best Taylor Swift songs that captured my attention right from the very first second. Its punk upbeat style reminds me of the rebel tracks from Reputation and serves as a proof that TayTay knows how to switch things up a notch while retaining her own personal flavour.
Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye. Bigger Than The Whole Sky is one of the top most popular Taylor Swift songs that will resonate with you in many ways. Speculated to be about a friend’s miscarriage, Taylor effectively highlights the heart-wrenching themes of grief and loss in this poignant bonus track. Pass me the Kleenex, please!
When I first heard The Joker & The Queen by Ed Sheeran, I was mesmerised by his pleasant vocals and it became my favourite song by the English singer-songwriter. When he released a duet version with Taylor Swift, the song jumped from best to bestest – I am a Swiftie, after all. Their vocal chemistry is off the charts and I don’t think I can name a stronger collaboration!
With an entire library of over 200 songs, you’ll definitely fall in love with some (if not all) of these top most popular Taylor Swift songs. All that’s left is to head down to the best karaoke bars in Singapore or buy the best home karaoke systems so you can scream out the lyrics of All Too Well with your friends. For other music recommendations, check out the upcoming concert acts in Singapore in 2023 and snag your tickets now!
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