Taylor’s first real foray into straight pop—and she killed it! I have loved all of Taylor’s phases and evolutions, from country to pop country to pop to darker pop to indie pop and then back to pop. And 1989 is many people’s favorite album by Taylor, and it’s easy to see why. This whole album is solid.

I skipped ranking “Red” for now because with 40 songs, it’s going to take me some time to go through. So far out of the albums I’ve done (“Taylor Swift,” “Fearless,” and “Speak Now”), this is the first album where I really like every song on the album. It’s also out of the ones I’ve done so far, her best album from top to bottom. It has catchy, great singles. It has depth—no skips songs here. From top to bottom, this album is phenomenal.

While it’s not my favorite album of hers, it’s definitely among her best. And holistically, it is definitely one of her strongest from top to bottom, especially when you take in the deluxe songs.

I’m very curious about the vault songs. I don’t expect the re-recordings will sound much different than the originals. She’s released a few, and they sound very similar. There are, of course, differences, but less noticeable than her prior ones. But the vault songs, count me in for.

These rankings are based on the original album with the two re-recordings she’s done. I will update as vault songs and re-recordings require.

15. How You Get the Girl. As I said above, I enjoy every song on the album, but this is my least favorite from the album. Lyrically and musically, it’s not as strong as some of the others on the album, but it’s enjoyable. It’s catchy, and it definitely has its moments. The strongest part is the bridge.

14. I Wish You Would. My commentary here is very similar to the one above and the next one. It’s not that this one is bad; it’s just not as good as the others on the album. I think the verses are stronger than the chorus on this one. This one and the one below are neck and neck though. I think #12 is a hair better, but it’s close.

13. All You Had To Do Was Stay. This one is also a solid song. I think the chorus is the weakest part of this song, but I still really enjoy it. The verses are very well done. There are some great lyrics here. Not her best on the album, but it is still very well done.

12. This Love. This is one we have the new re-recording for! I think the background instrumentals are slightly more muted than they were in the original, but otherwise, it’s pretty close. I love the lyrics on this one. It’s not a pop anthem like some of the others on the album, but this is one I truly enjoy. While the ones above are good, this is one that I actively seek to play. I enjoy the lyrics on this one quite a bit. I may have liked the old version a hair better than the re-recording, but I will be listening to the new re-recording.

11. Welcome to New York. I wanted to rank this song much higher. I love this song, and it’s on my current playing rotation more than some of the ones I ranked higher. However, when I really analyze the songs, there are stronger ones on the album. I do, however, really like this song. It’s the song on the album where I’m perhaps most surprised to see it ranked at #11. It’s solid but just doesn’t have the same punch as some of the later ones do.

10. Out of the Woods. Similar to “Welcome to New York,” I’m shocked to see it ranked so low. It’s also one of my most played now. I love how the chorus captures the feeling of anxiety and self-talk with anxiety so well. I love the lyricism in this one. I think there are stronger ones on the album, but this is a great song by Taylor. The fact it’s ranked so low again demonstrates the depth of this album. Another reason why I’m so curious to see the vault songs.

9. I Know Places. My commentary for this one is very similar to the ones above. Shocked to see it ranked so low, one of my most played currently, and the album is just so stacked. I really like the musicality and lyricism of this one. That’s what propels this one slightly ahead of “Out of the Woods” and “Welcome to New York” for me.

Numbers 8-4 are all pretty much neck and neck for me. On any given day, one might pull slightly ahead or slightly behind. But I think this is most accurate for the majority of days.

8. New Romantics. This one didn’t even make the main album, but I love it. It’s one of my most played from this album. Partly because I mostly listened to the singles on the radio and overplayed them. I love the vibe of this song, the lyrics, and the music. I wanted to rank this one higher because it’s such a gem! However, many of the singles edge it out. I think the lyrics mark this as one of the best songs on the album, but you just can’t deny the pure musicality and “bop-ness” of some of the others on the album.

7. Bad Blood. I’m still not convinced this one should be ranked higher than “New Romantics”. They are so close and neck and neck. I’ve gone back and forth several times. I think the lyrics on “New Romantics” are better, but the music on this just makes it such a bop. Even writing this, I’m tempted to put “New Romantics” ahead of this one. But I think this one should be ahead.

6. You are In Love. And then we slow it down to this one. I love the imagery, the storytelling, and the lyricism in this one. It’s just a flicker of small scenes that make up the feeling of being in love. I enjoy the music and lyrics to this one. There are some really great lines here. Taylor has said she loves to take simple phrases and flip them; she does so expertly here. I love the warm, cute feelings that accompany this song. It’s very well done. It’s another one I wanted to rank higher.

5. Shake It Off. This song gets SO MUCH hate, so much undeserved hate. Is it a deep song? No. Is it lyrically genius? No. Is it an absolute bop? Yes. This song makes you immediately want to get up and dance and turn up the volume. It’s just an undeniably fun song. I thought this one should be ranked lower, but it’s just too much of a bop not to give it the credit it’s owed. And the lawsuit against her was ridiculous here. It’s such a common phrase.

4. Clean. I discovered this song later than many of the others on the album. When it first came out, I didn’t have the emotion and experience to connect to it. Then I discovered it later, and it perfectly captured a moment and set of memories for me. The lyricism here is great as is the analogy of sorts she weaves throughout this song. Again, on another day, this might be lower. But on the whole, I think it’s number 4.

These next three are also neck and neck. I think this captures my overall sentiments, but again it’s neck and neck.  

3. Blank Space. I overplayed this song so much that I originally had it lower. But I have to give it the respect it’s owed. It’s lyrically very well done as is the musicality. I think this is a true bop! It’s another that’s a whole vibe. I know people say Taylor is bad at choosing singles, but I think she got it right on this album. I love the meaning behind this song, and how Taylor used it to reclaim a narrative. It’s so overplayed for a reason.

2. Style. This is a song that never felt overplayed for me, which is saying something, considering how much I listened to and still listen to it. I love this one. The music, the lyrics, the imagery, and the storytelling—this one has it all. It’s a bop, and I think it’s great writing. This album is deep, and the top of the album is solid.

1. Wildest Dreams. Luckily, I love the re-recording every bit as much as I did the original. This song like “Style” has it all. It has the music, the lyrics, the imagery, and the storytelling. And it’s also a bop. I love to belt this song. Getting the top spot on this album is no small feat. I haven’t ranked “Red” yet officially, but “Red” has a clear top favorite and then a bunch of songs battling below. But 1989 doesn’t have a clear top favorite, there are a bunch of songs that are more or less neck and neck. Songs where any song on any given day may top the album. But on the whole, for me, “Wildest Dreams” barely edges out “Style” to gain that spot most days. But really, much of the album is neck and neck.  

Basically, 1989 has what “Fearless” and “Speak Now” didn’t. “Fearless” had a great top and middle of the bottom and a weaker bottom of the album. “Speak Now” didn’t have the punchy jamming singles and strong top and middle of the album, but it did have a really deep album. This has both. One of her best.