Taylor Swift’s 10 best (and worst, if that’s even possible) songs of all time

Our beloved Taylor Swift turns 32 today! The genius singer-songwriter was born Taylor Alison Swift on December 13, 1989 in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Tennessee. And what an incredible 32 years she’s had. 

She’s sold 200 million records worldwide, won 32 American Music Awards (the most wins by any artist), and has 23 Billboard Music Awards (the most wins by any woman). Yep, she’s clearly a force to be reckoned with.

Tay is unapologetic, fearless, talented, funny, loyal, kind and the queen of reinvention. The eras! The easter-eggs! The clapbacks! The performances! The friendships! The outfits! There isn’t a star out there like her, and we are forever grateful she has graced the world with her talent.

At GLAMOUR, we are die-hard Swifties, so we wanted to pay homage to her by ranking the best (and worst-but-not-really-as-they’re-all-great) songs she’s ever created, according to our very humble but well-researched opinion. 

Every fan has a different list, and I’m sure some of you will venomously disagree with ours – but that’s the beauty of Swift, in her repertoire there’s something for everyone but nothing we can all 100% agree on – because every lyric shows off a different kind of genius; a different heart string that’s pulled; a different hidden meaning to uncover. 

So in honour of Taylor Swift’s 32nd birthday today, we’re counting down her all-time best and err, less-than-best songs. 

Best

10. Should’ve Said No, Taylor Swift

Naturally, we had to include a bop from Taylor’s first album, and Should’ve Said No really encapsulates the very best from her debut. From the country-inspired riff to the accusatory lyrics, this song manages to channel all the residual anger from our failed relationships over the years into a cathartic karaoke sesh. 

9. Cardigan, Folklore

Last Christmas, the second track on Taylor’s eighth studio album had us all buying cosy cardigans to huddle up and feel sad in. Its undoubtedly one of the best tracks on folklore, which cemented Taylor’s status as the queen of #SadGirlAutumn. The line “I knew you’d miss me once the thrill expired,” practically haunts us. As for Peter losing Wendy? Don’t even go there. 

8. The Man, Lover

I know, I know: The Man practically exudes #GirlBoss feminism. Except no, actually, it doesn’t. If The Killers and Aloe Blacc can sing about being ‘The Man’, then why can’t Taylor? The line “And they would toast to me, oh / Let the players play / I’d be just like Leo / In Saint-Tropez” may be tongue-in-cheek but it’s also a pretty astute observation. It’s very uncomfortable looking back on how Taylor was slut-shamed by the press as a teenager, and it’s frankly so powerful that she’s able to reflect on this period AND create a certified bop out of it.  

7. You Belong With Me (Taylor’s Version), Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

It’s tempting to dismiss You Belong With Me as the original ‘pick me’ girl anthem. After all, it sees Taylor pitting herself against a romantic rival with lyrics like, “She wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts, she’s cheerleader captain and I’m on the bleachers.” For this reason, you may think it deserves a spot on the ‘Worst’ list, but it’s important to remember we were all ‘pick me’ girls once.