We Never Go Out of Style: 10 of Taylor Swift’s Most Iconic Tracks
Few artists have achieved the level of cultural significance and musical prowess that Taylor Swift has. Over the years, she has cemented her place as one of the most influential and beloved artists of our time, captivating audiences with her raw emotions, relatable storytelling, and a voice that resonates with millions around the world. From country beginnings to pop superstardom, Taylor Swift’s journey has been one of evolution and reinvention, each step paving the way for some of the most iconic tracks in contemporary music.
Whether you’re a lifelong Swiftie or a curious listener, this exploration of Taylor Swift’s most iconic tracks promises to unveil the essence of an artist who has left an indelible mark on the world of music.
Back to December (Taylor’s Version)
July 6th was a great day for Swifties worldwide when Speak Now TV was released. This song makes us think about that one person that you wished you never lost and if you could go back, you would. It has been said that this track is about when she dated Taylor Launter and wished she had appreciated him more when they were dating. I mean the lyric, “Maybe it was wishful thinking, but if we loved again, I swear I’d love you right” says it all. It was the first song that Taylor wrote that was essentially apologising to someone in a song rather than the other way around.
Style
Need I say more? I’m joking. There have been rumours flying around since its release on who this song could be about. If you really listen to the lyrics you will have a pretty good idea of who it could be. I mean come on the lyric, “You got that James Dean daydream look in your eye”. Who do we know that has a stare that is hypnotising? That’s right. Mr. Harry Styles. The pair dated between 2012-2013 and this song was released in early 2015 and that’s when fans started speculating that it was about the British fruit man. This isn’t the first song by Swift where fans haven’t connected the lyrics to Harry. Wildest Dreams and I Wish you ould have also been talked about as well. To me personally, it’s one of her best songs, regardless of who it’s about.
This Love (Taylor’s Version)
If you haven’t been watching The Summer I Turned Pretty series on Amazon Prime, what are you doing with your life? This song perfectly encapsulates the love between Conrad and Belly. There were times during the first season when no matter how much Conrad loved Belly he would push her away because he was scared that he would hurt her, “Currents swept you out and you were just gone and gone”. Standing on the beach at the end of the first season when they finally kissed was the epitome of the lyric, “This Love came back to me.”
All Too Well (10-Minute Version/TV)
I don’t think there’s a person on earth who hasn’t seen the short film that preceded the release of the song. There’s no doubt that Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink had an Oscar-winning performance. It’s known to everyone that Taylor is singing about her relationship with actor Jake Gyllenhaal. From the mention of the Red scarf to line, “It’s supposed to be fun turning 21.”
London Boy
I couldn’t make a list of iconic Taylor Swift songs and not include this one. Written for the British boyfriend, Joe Alwyn she states everything she loves about the British actor. From Bond Street to the West End, Taylor gushes about how much she loves him and everything about him. This song went viral across all social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram where people would make edits of their favourite British men (Harry Styles, Tom Holland, Louis Partridge, Louis Tomlinson) to name a few.
The Best Day
The one that has me crying each time I listen to it. Off her sophomore album, Fearless, this song is a tear-jerker, to say the least. She wrote it about her family but more so for her mother who also happens to be her manager. If the song itself didn’t make you cry, then the music video sure did.
The music video is comprised of many home videos of Taylor when she was younger with her father, playing with her brother and then videos from when she first started in the industry.
I Knew You Were Trouble
Another classic. Released in 2012 and performed at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2013, this song has also been added to the list of Styles-inspired songs. We’ve all had in some form or another that one person who we know before they even spoke that they were trouble. Something about them makes us intrigued and keeps us coming back. Now trouble doesn’t necessarily mean the bad kind. They could be trouble in the sense of their devilish personality, they are addictive, and you know that you shouldn’t, but you do it anyway. No one can resist a bad boy, can they?
Bad Blood feat. Kendrik Lamar
What can I say about this song? This track basically says in a nutshell, “You messed up and now you have to pay for the consequences of your actions. When you have a bad break-up, sometimes even the good times are tainted by the bad ones because you start to question everything they did. The lyrics, “I was thinking that you could be trusted” and “Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes, you say sorry just for show”. We’ve all had those relationships where they give you a lame apology for whatever they’ve done wrong just so you can forgive them. When really, they’re not sorry. The video for this song was simply incredible and so Women empowered with an A-list cast. Anyone who’s anyone was in this video. The bigger question was who WASN’T in the video? Everyone from Lily Aldrige, Karlie Kloss, Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Martha Hunt, Cindy Crawford, Hailee Steinfeld, to Zendaya, Hayley Williams, Selena Gomez, Ellie Goulding.
Love Story
Taking it back to Old School T-Swift, this is by far in my Top 5 favourite Taylor Swift songs of all time. The song, the lyrics, the video, I love everything about it. Every girl has always dreamt of finding their Romeo. Me included. I haven’t found mine…. yet. This song has been at the centre of many proposals ever since the song came out in 2008. The most notable was when two fans went to a Taylor show and during the breakdown of the song, they got down on one knee and proposed and everyone in the crowd went wild. It even gained national news! The video was so magical with Justin Gaston playing Romeo, flowy dresses, and the Renaissance-esque vibe too, it just made it that much more magical.
Teardrops on My Guitar
The second from her debut album. We’ve all been there at some point in our lives. Being in love with our best friend and wishing they were with us, but they have no idea. Her first album is so nostalgic and iconic for so many reasons. Love and Heartbreak basically sums up Taylor’s music. The music video which was released back in 2007 and then onto Youtube in 2009 starred Taylor herself but also actor and musician Tyler Hilton who played Drew (the guy who Taylor writes about). One comment on the video said that this was the original “I wish I was Heather” and it’s true. We all wish we were that one girl that every guy wants, and everyone talks about.
