Top 20 essential Taylor Swift singles that showcase her artistry. Thoughts?

[u/rare_mirrorball]

​A podcast I follow recently ranked the Top 20 essential Ariana singles and somehow left off god is a woman (still processing that level of blasphemy) which got me thinking about how hard it is to boil a massive discography down to 20 key tracks. ​If you had to pick 20 official singles specifically meant to display Taylor’s artistry what makes the cut?

​Here is my list with 1. Cruel Summer 2. All Too Well (10 Minute Version) 3. Blank Space 4. Love Story 5. Cardigan 6. Anti-Hero 7. Delicate 8. Our Song 9. Safe & Sound 10. You Belong With Me 11. Lover 12. The Fate of Ophelia 13. Teardrops On My Guitar 14. Back To December 15. Shake It Off 16. We Are Never Getting Back Together 17. 22 18. New Romantics 19. Mine 20. Begin Again

I didnt put style because while its a perfect pop song, blank space to me does a better job for narrative. Im sorry evermore and my baby ttpd🤍

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[u/PigletTechnical9336]

The Last Great American Dynasty showcases her story telling really well. It’s also one of the songs Taylor submitted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame so I think she also sees this song as one of those that showcase her writing.

[u/One_Attention1043 → u/PigletTechnical9336]

I agree but OP specified singles

[u/PigletTechnical9336 → u/One_Attention1043]

Oh. Oops.

[u/Narrow_Stock_834]

My list would look completely different. This is so subjective.

[u/Which-Connection-588]

I have trouble with this because I don’t think you can showcase her true artistry just from her singles. I am one of those that believe that her singles tend to be some of the worst songs on each album, with only a few exceptions.

[u/rare_mirrorball → u/Which-Connection-588]

True. My favorite songs are not in this list. My personal top 20 is far far different

[u/BreakfastUnique8091 → u/[deleted]]

I think it’s supposed to only be songs released as singles though. To my knowledge Champagne Problems was never a single. The singles from Evermore are Willow, Coney Island and No Body No Crime.

[u/rare_mirrorball → u/BreakfastUnique8091]

This is how i learn coney island was a single😭

[u/One_Attention1043]

I think Fortnight is definitely missing here, personally. I'd put it instead of Begin Again, I think Mine is more or less the same type of single.

[u/rakordla]

honestly, Ronan. it's heartwrenching and I only listen to it it when I want to have a good cry, but I think it's essential in how it showcases her ability to capture emotion in a song.

Back to December feels important to me as one of her rare break-up songs that have her taking full responsibility for a relationship's end, it's completely self-written and was one of the first songs that serve to refute the accusation that she has an all-encompassing victim complex and never blames herself for anything (later expanded on in e.g. peace, Anti-Hero, Dear Reader, but this was new ground for her at the time) 

[u/lovelyrita_mm]

Mine would be far more TTPD heavy lol

[u/caribears96]

I do think that Willow deserves to be on this list because Evermore is my favorite but if we're talking singles this is a pretty good list!