The 10 Taylor Swift Essentials

Some may dismiss Taylor Swift as basic, overdramatic, or just outright annoying. None of this makes sense if you view Taylor for her purpose: to be the essence of a bubblegum popstar. Her lyrics are supposed to be relatable and cliche. She has had staying power in the top of the charts for over a decade for several reasons. Taylor is one of the preeminent artists of the 2000s and 2010s so here are the top 10 songs that are definitively essential listens as well as the best embodiment of her intended aestethic.
10. Teardrops On My Guitar

This was Taylor's first real radio smash hit so it would be almost criminal to not include on the list. It is a pretty simple song but is an early song that establishes the roots of her pop style that is seemingly ever evolving.

9. The Story of Us

Off of Speak Now, this song is quite frankly an epic. Exploring the basic desire of wanting to have the perfect love story to tell and how that can suddenly shift. The lyrics speak of how twist of fate can change the story as chapters carry on and on. "I've never heard silence quite this loud" is an absolute dagger of a line.
8. All You Had To Do Was Stay

This song shows a typical Swift trope, taking power in a breakup while still trying to pickup the mess an ex lover made. Taylor flexes her power in this hit without a doubt, asking all the important questions that had a simple answer: all you had to do was stay.

7. I Know Places

Taylor's most underrated song is perhaps her most musically and technically sound. It features a creepy almost haunting beauty as well as some powerful vocals. Taylor does not have the best voice in the music world but this song tremendously plays to all her strengths as a musician.

6. Death By A Thousand Cuts

Taylor hits again on how hard saying goodbye to one you loved is in this hit off Lover. Everyone wants to tell themself that everything will be okay, but truly cannot know that. Echoing themes of many of her songs, Taylor ponders "But if the story's over why am i still wrting pages?" A lover touches every part of you and leaves you searching, Taylor relatable yet again here!
5. Speak Now 

In all honesty I have just listened to older Taylor a lot over recent months and this song really just keeps becoming one I hum. It makes me appreciate the evolution of Taylor and the gentleness to her voice. The tale of breaking up a wedding is also pretty enthralling too.
4. 22

22 is probably the silliest song I feature on this list but it has always been an earworm. It wasn't my intagram bio for a whole year for no reason, but I digress. 22 is fun, upbeat, and just makes you want to be young, wild, and free.
3. Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince

This song just gives me all sorts of different pop vibes. I catch a hint of Bieber vibes, but also a great classic Taylor feature of telling a story. It shows Taylor's evolution both as an artist and in her approach to writing songs about breakups or love. Call and response are a strong facet of this T-Swift jam.

2. Love Story

Love Story is the quintessential Taylor Swift song, couples have gotten engaged at her concerts to it because of the classical romance of Romeo and Juliet it presents. I do not think Taylor's version is quite as deadly as Shakespeare's however. This is simply just a classic.
1. Delicate

My appreciation for reputation as an entire album has grown more and more over time. Delicate is one of the main reasons for that. I feel this song is perfect for many reasons from relatability to the simple music and more. Vulnerability is something in these lyrics that are oh so easy to resonate with. I could go on and on with this song, but lets avoid that for now. It is pure pop perfection.