Imagine you're introducing the biggest artist of our time, Taylor Swift, to someone who has never heard her music before. If you could only point this person to THREE tracks that objectively capture Swift's essence as an artist, what songs are you choosing, and why? Not necessarily your faves, but objectively the best songs that scream SWIFT. 

 

I'd probably choose:

Fearless -- Demonstrates her ability to take a small, relatable moment (first date/kiss) and paint a vivid picture. Shows her skill in being able to do that at such a young age! Shows her country prowess. 

Blank Space -- Great example of how she's able to create a very catchy pop song, with sharp lyrics pointing fun at the critics and her naysayers (truly lyrics that cut like glass!). I think this song proved she was a heavy hitter in the pop field. 

August -- Showcases her ability to paint a vivid scene like in Fearless, but this time with fictional characters and a story (though I guess, we don't know if Fearless was inspired by true events). Also shows that she's able to create a song like that with a small team in secret! She can do indie as well! 

Edited July 19, 20233 yr by sciencemagic

I'm cheating and doing 4

 

Our Song - establishes her roots in country music, self-penned at a very young age, element of relatability, anthemic quality

 

All Too Well - ability to take very specific details and connect them to a universal experience, themes of heartbreak and lovelorn that run through every album

 

ivy - showcases her skill for storytelling from perspectives other than her own, "quill pen" masterpiece, one of her most finely crafted songs lyrically ever

 

Anti-Hero - brings in her pop side, insanely catchy and well crafted pop song however the lyrics are peculiar in moments that retain their Swiftian charm

 

Edited July 19, 20233 yr by Kyle-x

Depends from person to person

 

I personally would recommend 

 

LS

YBWM

Style

Wildest Dreams

Enchanted 

Closure, Mean, Shake It Off.

 

If they can’t appreciate these, they don’t deserve

 

Right Where You Left Me, Mad Woman and Delicate.

• All Too Well
• Blank Space
• Dorothea

I feel like Love Story, Blank Space and cardigan capture her three main genres best, and the versatility of her song writing is displayed well by these

Limiting it to 3 songs is so annoying because it basically compels you to pick one country song, one pop song, and one “indie” pop-rock song to showcase her versitility and accurately “capture her essence.”

 

But I’m not going to do that.

 

 

All Too Well

Enchanted

cardigan

 

They get the genre-blending, immortalization of miniscule details, fixation on deeply personal thoughts and feelings that are then blown up to become universal, the narrative storytelling, several of her songwriting “quirks” (ie: alternate choruses, shifting POV, GOAT bridges), and are all widely recognized as some of her very best songs.  

Cardigan, Right Where You Left Me and Timeless (her best song x)

I’ll go with more than 3, but:

 

Enchanted

All Too Well

Blank Space

cardigan

Anti-Hero

Enchanted

Blank Space

the last great american dynasty

 

One from the country era, one from pop and one from alt.

Should've Said No

Today Was a Fairytale

Stay Stay Stay

ME!

Enchanted: Country Rock and lyricism 

 

Safe & Sound: folky and sweet melody and lyricism

 

False God: sensual smooth pop sound and lyricism 

Cardigan

ATWTMVTVFTV

Love Story

Shake It Off

Enchanted

When we think of Taylor Swift, there's 1 of 3 main things that might come to mind: She's a girly country artist, she's a singer-songwriter, she's a pop star.

 

With that being said, these are the 3 quintessential Taylor Swift songs in my opinion:

 

1. You Belong With Me (2008)

You Belong With Me I think showcases her strength as a country singer in running the gamut of emotions using very vivid background details across a very linear story littered with hyper-specific details about time, place and objects, a key hallmark of country music writing. What's more girly than a pining love song set in a high school? You Belong With Me encompasses the instrumentation of her debut record with strong banjo influences and accented vocal delivery, the big borderline country borderline pop-rock production during the hook which would be even more prominent in Speak Now and Red.

 

2. All Too Well (2012)

All Too Well is production-wise, a combination of her country roots but more in line with a soft-rock almost pop-rock sound. Songwriting-wise, All Too Well is the epitome of her songwriting savant tbh. A story told across a linear timeline with minute details honed from years of country songwriting, a strong power ballad hook she would soon use to master her control over making pop music and the number one thing Taylor Swift's songwriting is highlighted for, a powerful and emotional bridge, one that would be found across her entire discography.

 

3. New Romantics (2014)

Above all else, Taylor Swift will be a popstar. Has been, will always be one. And a pop star is never complete without a plethora, an arsenal of perfectly crafted pop songs meant to infiltrate the deepest of our psyche. From songs like I Knew You Were Trouble, Shake it Off, Cruel Summer, Delicate, Anti-Hero, all amazing, dare I say perfect pop songs. But in my opinion, her most pop star-esque track has always been 2014's New Romantics. Carefree, tongue-in-cheek and sassy vocal delivery set behind an overly produced loud deep-bass'd synthpop banger. The best people in life truly are free

Edited July 19, 20233 yr by MingYouToo

cardigan - alternative

august - pop

betty - country

I played „Blank Space” to my friend who wasn’t familiar with Taylor’s music. He didn’t know it. I played IKYWT then, he recognized the sound. So I’ll go with Trouble trouble trouble.

Lovestory

Blank Space 

Cardigan 

1) "You Belong With Me" - such a fun country-pop song that is just a blast to sing.

2) "Blank Space" - easily one of the strongest pop songs ever in the lyrics department. that combined with Max Martin's wizardry is a recipe for an excellent song.

3) "Tolerate It" - the lyricism is excellent and transports you into the world of the character. the music itself is also beautiful and profound in how understated it is.

 

Honourable Mentions:

1) "Fearless" - one of Taylor's best abilities is how she tells a story in a way that makes you feel like you were a part of it, and this country-pop song highlights that well, alongside it just being a fun song.

2) "All Too Well" - one of lyrical masterpieces and a song you can scream in your car.

All Too Well

Style

Champagne Problems

Renegade

cardigan

State of Grace

Timeless 

This is what you came for

Love Story, All Too Well and Style should be enough to give an overview of Taylor's different facets. I'd add Our Song and Cardigan if I could add more songs.

Edited July 19, 20233 yr by Virgos Groove

Me!

You Need To Calm Down

Gorgeous 

 

Duh

Edited July 19, 20233 yr by Insanity