Anna's Music World

November 2019: Music Recap

November has been quite a month for me (in some aspects). It was this month that I started this blog, and I have discovered quite a bit of new music, and listened to a lot of new albums. This month I’ve been branching out a little more with the types of music I listen to, instead of just listening to my usual combination of oldies + Taylor Swift. So without further ado, here is a recap of my favorite songs from November 2019.

(And yes, I am aware I’m posting this in December. I only just got the idea to do this, it’s still relatively early into December, and I’m only going to be listing songs from November, so sue me.)

1. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) – Billy Joel

If you want a full review of this song, check out my album review for The Stranger.

2. She’s Always a Woman – Billy Joel

Again, if you want my full review of this song, check out album review for The Stranger.

3. Bubbly – Colbie Caillat

4. The Sweet Escape – Gwen Stefani

5. Then She Appeared – XTC

I’ve actually known this song for a while, but I got into it again this month.

6. Man! I Feel Like a Woman – Shania Twain

7. Don’t Stop – 5 Seconds of Summer

This one is kind of a guilty pleasure. I know it’s not that good objectively, but I still enjoy it. Oh well.

8. We Belong Together – Mariah Carey

9. Hotline Bling – Drake

Again, a bit of a guilty pleasure. Also, a major throwback song. Of course I’ve heard it before because it was super popular, but I only started appreciating it recently. The main reason I like it is because the background beat and the story is a rather interesting and intriguing one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJtaKS1ARoE

10. Mona Lisa – Sabrina Carpenter

I listened to Singular Act I back when it came out, so I have heard this song before this month. However, I only added it to my playlist this month, and I wanna give Sabrina some love because I was obsessed with her a few years back.

11. I Did Something Bad – Taylor Swift

Not usually the type of song I would like, but it’s Taylor, and it’s actually a really good song.

That about wraps it up for November 2019! Hope you enjoyed!

Billy Joel: Turnstiles (1976) Songs Ranked

Rating: 8.5/10

Turnstiles by Billy Joel is an album about two places; New York, Billy’s beloved home, and Los Angeles, the place where he had lived prior to the album’s creation. Most of the songs revolve around one of the two places, and I think that makes this album pretty unique. There aren’t too many albums with a concept like that. Turnstiles also features a lot of great lyricism from Billy, which I’ll get into later.

In this post, I’ll be ranking all of the songs on Billy Joel’s classic fourth studio album, Turnstiles, from worst to best. Keep in mind, this is all based on my personal enjoyment, with a just a little bit of objectivity considered. (Also, side note: for some reason I really like the cover and name for this album. Like, turnstiles are so fun!)

8. Prelude/Angry Young Man (Track 6)

Apparently, among hardcore Billy Joel fans this song is pretty popular, which I get, because it’s a classic Billy Joel album-cut. However, as far as replay-value goes, it doesn’t have much for me, and I don’t find the melody too interesting. I will say that the piano solo at the beginning is completely awesome, though.

7. All You Wanna Do Is Dance (Track 3)

I normally like reggae music (to an extent), but I don’t think it really suits this song, or the album as a whole. This track feels a bit out of place when compared with the other tracks. That being said, I do like the story (someone being too caught up in the past – particularly in terms of music – and being unable to accept change), and it’s actually a really fun and enjoyable song. The only reason I have it so low is because all the other songs on this record are so great, and this song feels a bit out of place on Turnstiles.

6. James (Track 5)

This a rather soft and upbeat-sounding song about an old and lost friendship. I like it well enough, but it’s not too outstanding to me. During my research for this post I learned that Billy himself said that this song isn’t his favorite because he finds it too preachy, which is kind of true. I like the background instrumental, which is rather calming and pleasant, and I also really like the way he sings the word James, I find it very nice to listen to. Additionally, this song contains the wise lyric “Do what’s good for you, or you’re not good for anybody.”

5. Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway) (Track 8)

This song marks the point on this list where, from here on out, all the songs I’m going to mention are my favorites from the album. This is a rather good song, albeit somewhat depressing, as it tells the tale of someone who lives in Florida in 2017 (which, at the time of this album’s release must have seemed like ages away) describing the destruction of New York City. It’s a rather sad tale, even though NYC obviously still exists today. Despite the sad subject matter, the music is surprisingly fun and upbeat (at least for the first part). This would be higher, but I’m taking points off for the uber-creepy synths (or whatever you would call those terrible noises) at the beginning. I will say that the piano riffs at the beginning and end are rather majestic.

4. Say Goodbye to Hollywood (Track 1)

“Moving on is a chance that you take every time you try to stay together. Say a word out of line and you find that the friends you had are gone forever.” The album’s opening track is a fond farewell to Los Angeles. I really like the instrumental and the vocals on this song. I think Billy’s voice is very appealing here, and it complements the lyrics and music very well, which gives the song great replay-value. True to the topic of the song, I think Say Goodbye to Hollywood is a great song to listen to as you drive out of a town, perhaps for good. It really captures the feelings and the vibe of doing so. This track also boasts some great lyrics. “Life is a series of hello’s and goodbye’s, I’m afraid it’s time for goodbye again.”

3. I’ve Loved These Days (Track 7)

I was really pleasantly surprised by this song. From what I’d read about it prior to listening to it, I had brushed it off as a typical piano ballad, and while you could say it is just that, it would be wrong to overlook the very touching content within the song. I think this song just has a very fond feeling to it, and that makes it very moving. The vocal hooks in this song are wonderful, and the way the piano, violin, and drums all build up right before he says “but I’ve loved these days” gives me chills. Overall, this is a song that could give you a serious nostalgia-attack. It’s about moving on with your life and growing as a person while still reminiscing fondly on the memories of the past.

2. Summer, Highland Falls (Track 2)

This song is so pretty and happy sounding, which masks the sad content of the lyrics. The piano is the most outstanding part of the music, and it really go wells with Billy’s voice. The whole song makes me thing of a cool, breezy, and sunny summer day (which, like I said, is weird because the lyrics aren’t too upbeat). I’m not really sure what exactly it is that makes this song so universally loved among Billy Joel fans, but I still kind of get it. It’s just a really good song, and a crucial part of the album. “How thoughtlessly we dissipate our energies, perhaps we don’t fulfill each others fantasies. And as we stand upon the ledges of our lives with our respective similarities; it’s either sadness or euphoria.”

1. New York State of Mind (Track 4)

This song is six minutes long, and it feels like half of that. A timeless ode to New York City, I can’t imagine what else could possibly take the first place. Despite the fact that this was never released a single, it’s one of Billy’s most well-known and iconic songs, and I think that serves as a testament to the sheer magnificence of this song. From the saxophone to the cymbals to the grand, sweeping piano, it’s all so delightful. Honestly, even the opening piano riff makes me want to cry. If you can’t tell, I adore this song. The first time that I really listened to it was one night where I was just laying in my bed in the complete darkness, and as I closed my eyes I just listened. Let me tell you, that was an awesome experience, and ever since then my appreciation for this song has grown rapidly. Just… listen to this song if you haven’t (and I advise you do it the way I did that first time). “I don’t have any reasons, I left them all behind. I’m in a New York state of mind. I’m just taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River line, because I’m in a New York state of mind.”

Billy Joel: The Stranger (1977) Song Ranking

Rating: 10/10

The Stranger was Billy Joel’s breakthrough album, which makes sense because it’s a superb album. So many of the songs have great replay value, and the album as a whole is just timeless.

In this post, I’ll be ranking all the songs on Billy Joel’s fifth studio album, The Stranger, from worst to best based on my subjective opinions and personal enjoyment. It’s fine if you don’t share my opinions.

9. Everybody Has a Dream (Track 9)

I don’t like raking the album’s closing song as the worst, but unfortunately, it is my least favorite. I don’t find myself re-listening to it often, and I think it goes on a little longer than it should. However, I do like the gospel-influence, and I like how the whistling from the titular track comes back at the end to close off the album.

8. Get It Right the First Time (Track 8)

It’s not intentional for me to rank the last two songs of the album as the worst, but I’m pretty sure it’s the general opinion that the first seven tracks are the main masterpieces of The Stranger. I do like this song, I think it’s really catchy and I really like the background instrumental, but it just doesn’t stand out much compared to the rest of the songs.

7. The Stranger (Track 2)

The titular track, The Stranger opens with a moody, whistled melody that sets the tone for the album. The song describes how everyone has a “stranger” in their life, and how sometimes the stranger comes out at the worst, and the best, moments. I like this song, but I don’t listen to it as often as I listen to the others on the record. This track does feature some great lyricism from Billy, though: “Well, we all fall in love, but we disregard the danger. Though we share so many secrets, there are some we never tell. Why were you so surprised that you never saw the stranger? Did you ever let your lover see the stranger in yourself?”

6. Scenes From an Italian Restaurant (Track 4)

I know that I’m going to be hated for having this song relatively low on the list (although it should be noted that I really like all of the first seven songs on this album), but I can’t help it. It’s so long (7 and a half minutes!), and unlike other long songs that I really like (for example, Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and Dear John by Taylor Swift), it doesn’t really fly by for me. I do really like the story though, and I like the format of having multiple songs in one. Overall, I really do like this song, and I jam out to it whenever I do listen to it, but I don’t actually find myself listening to it that often because it’s such a commitment of a song. Please don’t hate me.

5. Only the Good Die Young (Track 6)

As a Christian, I probably like this song more than I should. However, I just look at it as a boy encouraging a girl to live her life to the fullest, to live it the way she wants to, rather than a boy encouraging a girl to abandon the basic morals of her religion. Regardless of its controversial subject matter, you can’t deny that it’s a very fun song, and very youthful. Even though I’m still a teenager, I can tell that this will be a song that I’ll listen to when I’m older to feel young again.

4. Just the Way You Are (Track 3)

This song remains one of Billy Joel’s most popular, and it was a smash hit upon its release. I understand why, as it’s a very sweet and timeless track about loving someone exactly the way they are. It’s great to sing along to, and it’s a classic wedding dance song.

3. Vienna (Track 5)

Vienna was a song that I had always heard about in relation to Billy’s catalog, but I hesitated to listen to for a reason that I don’t know. This is a wonderful song, and though I had initially thought it was going to be a love song to a woman named Vienna, it’s actually about people (specifically young people) who rush to grow up and get out into the world. I really relate to this song, and I try to take what Billy is saying to heart, as I am somewhat ambitious, and I often find myself thinking super far into the future when I should just be enjoying the present. In summation, it’s a very wise and insightful song, and it’s beautifully sung.

2. She’s Always a Woman (Track 7)

Oh, how I adore this song. It’s very sentimental, and very waltzy, but I don’t mind. I think this is one of the most genuine-sounding love songs I’ve ever heard, and I love the melody. Plus, the humming makes it 10 times better, and I love humming along with it.

1. Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song) (Track 1)

I know this is an uncommon choice for the top spot, but I’m sticking to it. The lyrics are so clever, the characters are super vivid, the story is enticing, and that bassline really slaps. The vocal hooks and melodies are so fun and catchy, and I probably listen to this song at least once a day. A great opener for the album, and I think as far as infectious melodies go, almost unparalleled.

Taylor Swift: Red (2012) Songs Ranked

Rating: 10/10

Red by Taylor Swift is one of my favorite albums of all time (if not my definitive favorite), and I think definitely one of the greatest albums of the 2010s decade. This album was nominated for Best Album at the Grammys and didn’t get it, which angers me, but whatever. The lyrical mastery she shows throughout this album and the themes of heartbreak and regret and passion that she writes about make this album so intense and wonderful and exciting to listen to.

In this post I will rank all of the songs on this record from worst to best. And just know that while, yes, some of the songs on here aren’t as strong as the others, I think they’re all fantastic in their own way, and I literally love all of them. Let’s commence the ranking now.

16. Stay Stay Stay (Track 9)

This song is super cute and fun, and very catchy (and pretty popular, too) so I feel sad about ranking it as the worst, but if I’m being honest, it definitely is the worst on the album. The background instrumental sounds like a royalty-free YouTube track, and the lyrics aren’t all that impressive. Like I said though, it’s a nice song, and it makes the album as a whole feel slightly less depressing.

15. Starlight (Track 15)

This is a really catchy song, and the story that it describes is really fun. It’s very poppy and great for dancing. However, out of all the songs on this album, it’s not one of my favorites. I do like it, though and it’s really fun to listen and dance to. It just has this upbeat and uplifting feeling, and I love how it describes a romance from the ’40s.

14. The Lucky One (Track 13)

A documentation of the experience of becoming famous, The Lucky One is a unique song in Taylor’s repertoire, as it explores themes that most of her fans won’t be able to relate to. It’s an interesting song, and it is good, but it’s just not my favorite from the album. I really enjoy the guitar and drum beat in this song, and Taylor’s vocals are really nice and suit the song super well. I would never skip this when listening to Red as a whole (I would never skip any songs, but whatever) and I always enjoy singing along to it.

13. 22 (Track 6)

Taylor Swift has always had the ability to churn out pop hits like it’s nothing, and 22 is a perfect example of that. While it’s not objectively better than some of the songs I have ranked below it, I have it ranked higher partially for how iconic it is, and also because it touches on a theme that I really like in Taylor’s songs: the freedom and excitement of being young. It’s a fun song for a girls night out, and the anthem for 22-year-olds everywhere.

12. I Almost Do (Track 7)

I think this is a beautiful song, and I really love the backing instrumental, as well as the lyrics. It deals with wanting with every fiber of your being to reach out to someone, but something stops you, and you end up falling hopelessly out of touch. It’s a very relatable song, and I really do like it a lot, but it’s not as memorable as a lot of the other songs on this record. Plus, it’s a little more country-influenced than I think it needed to be. “In my dreams you’re touching my face and asking me if I want to try again with you, and I almost do.”

11. Holy Ground (Track 11)

“I was reminiscing just the other day, while having coffee all alone and, Lord, it took me away. Back to a first-glance feeling on New York time, back when you fit my poems like a perfect rhyme.” This is a really nice song that describes looking back on a relationship fondly, choosing to feel happy about the good times rather than sad about the hard ones. It manages to fit relatively well into Red’s tone while still being far more upbeat than most songs on the album. I love how it describes the relationship in a really positive and mature way. This song also just has a nice feel to it, and it’s pretty infectious.

10. Red (Track 2)

The titular track that lays out the themes of the album: heartbreak, regret, recklessness, and passion. It’s a classic song from Taylor’s repertoire, and a fan-favorite, and I understand why. It’s irresistibly catchy, and while the colors-to-emotions concept isn’t new, Taylor manages to make it feel fresh, original, and natural. “Remembering him comes in flashbacks and echoes, tell myself it’s time now, gotta let go. But moving on from him is impossible when I still see it all in my head, in burning red.”

9. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together (Track 8)

This song, like I said for 22, is a perfect example of Taylor’s effortless pop hits. It’s super catchy, and I’m really fond of the specificity she uses when describing what occurred within the relationship before the many breakups. I also love Taylor’s decisiveness and self-assurance within this song. I would have it ranked higher up, but because it’s so light I have to rank it here.

8. Begin Again (Track 16)

A very withdrawn and gentle closer for the album, I think it does a great job of showing how even after enduring terrible heartbreak and going through painful relationships, love is real and one day you’ll find it, and it won’t be painful or filled with heartbreak. This song goes back to Taylor’s country sound, and I think that was a good choice. “You throw your head back laughing like a little kid. I think it’s strange that you think I’m funny, ’cause he never did. I’ve been spending the last eight months thinking all love ever does is break, and burn, and end. But on a Wednesday, in a cafe, I watched it begin again.” A great closing track, and a very uplifting reminder for everyone who has lost faith in love that it’s out there, and you can find it in the most unsuspecting of places.

7. State of Grace (Track 1)

This is a spectacular opener for the album, and similarly to the titular track, is a great representation of the album’s themes (although I’d say it shows them in a subtler way). This is a total stadium-song in all of it’s booming, drum-heavy glory (and I mean that in a good way). It’s a song that, right off the bat, shows you that Red isn’t going to be like Taylor’s previous albums. It’s going to be rougher and more intense, and State of Grace does a great job of introducing that sound. Plus, Taylor herself said that the line that most encapsulates the theme of the album comes from this song: “Love is a ruthless game unless you play it good and right.”

6. The Last Time (Track 10)

This, like Sad Beautiful Tragic, is one of the more melancholy and somber songs on the album. It’s also a duet between Taylor and Gary Lightbody, and I really like how the singers bounce off of each other throughout the song. The song describes how two people are getting fed up with the reoccurring issues within a relationship, and are giving each other one last chance before giving up completely. It’s rather sad, but I think it’s very touching and honest. I will say that the total mood-switch from Stay Stay Stay to this is a little jarring. I like the singers’ voices together, and I think it’s a great addition to the album.

5. Treacherous (Track 3)

“I can’t decide if it’s a choice, getting swept away. I hear the sound of my own voice, asking you to stay.” This song plays on the theme of recklessness that I mentioned before, comparing a fast-moving relationship to a treacherous slope. This was a track that, upon my first listen, didn’t really stick out to me, but upon further listening, is actually quite impressive. The song is a bit more grown-up and serious than her previous work, but she handles it very delicately and gracefully. The storytelling in this song is amazing, but I would expect nothing less from Taylor. I also really love her vocals, and this song is super fun to sing. This is just such a good song that I pretty much never get sick of, and I think it’s one of the best angles she’s taken to describe a relationship. “Two headlights shine through the sleepless night and I will get you, I’ll get you alone. Your name has echoed through my mind and I just think you should, think you should know that nothing safe is worth the drive…”

4. Sad Beautiful Tragic (Track 12)

“Long handwritten note deep in your pocket. Words, how little they mean when you’re a little too late. I stood by the tracks, your face in a locket. Good girls, hopeful they’ll be, and long they will wait.” I’d say this is the most sonically beautiful song on the album, which is saying a lot because all of the songs on this album are sonically fantastic. It’s one of the more melancholy tracks on the record, but I really love it. Taylor’s voice is hauntingly gorgeous, the background instrumental is lovely, and the lyrics are very atmospheric and descriptive. This song is definitely folk-inspired, and I think Taylor pulls it off really well. She keeps you captivated from the moment she starts singing until the song ends. This is actually one of my all-time favorite songs from Taylor. “In dreams I meet you in warm conversation. We both wake in lonely beds in different cities. And time is taking it’s sweet time erasing you. And you’ve got your demons and darling they all look like me.”

3. Everything Has Changed (Track 14)

A very sweet and nostalgic duet between Taylor and Ed Sheeran, I absolutely adore this song. It makes me feel warm and cozy, and it really expands on the magical jitters that come with meeting someone new who makes your heart flutter. One of my favorite songs ever released by Taylor, I think it’s very underrated, and I just really love it. “And all I’ve seen since 18 hours ago, is green eyes, and freckles, and your smile in the back of my mind making me feel like I just wanna know you better, know you better, know you better now.”

2. I Knew You Were Trouble (Track 4)

This is one of Taylor’s most iconic songs, and a major step outside of her usual sound. For this track, Taylor moved away from her normal country-pop sound and moved towards a more dubstep-central sound. The song laments Taylor’s decision to pursue a boy who was obviously out-of-control and troublesome, despite her knowing that he was this way from the beginning. I think it’s a story that we can all relate to to some degree; falling for someone who you knew it would never work out with/wasn’t the best person. I think Taylor’s vocals really shine here, and they really complement the backing instrumental. This song also shows some really piercing lyricism from Taylor. “No apologies, he’ll never see you cry. Pretend he doesn’t know that he’s the reason why you’re drowning, your drowning, your drowning. And I heard you moved on from whispers on the street, a new notch in your belt is all I’ll ever be, and now I see, now I see, now I see. He was long gone when he met me, and I realize the joke is on me.”

1. All Too Well (Track 5)

“And I know it’s long gone, and there was nothing else I could do. And I forget about you long enough to forget why I needed to. ‘Cause there we are again, in the middle of the night. We’re dancing ’round the kitchen in the refrigerator light. Down the stairs, I was there, I remember it all too well.” I literally don’t know what I could say that would do this song justice. This song is so perfect and it means so much to me – I can’t even articulate it. I’ll try, though. The lyrics in this song are so poignant and moving, and they utilize my favorite form of storytelling in a song: the collage of memories (I really doubt that’s what it’s actually called, but I’ll elaborate on what I’m referring to). In this song, Taylor looks back on a relationship that has recently ended for reasons she barely even understands, and she remembers every single part of it perfectly. She describes walking through the door of his sister’s house and accidentally leaving her scarf there, and driving down an upstate road in autumn, and hearing stories about his childhood from his mom, and dancing in the light of the refrigerator in the middle of the night. All of the memories that seem insignificant while the relationship is still happening, but now that it’s over, she remembers so clearly and misses so dearly. The guitar in this song is simple but very emotionally evocative, and the way the song builds up as Taylor starts to describe the downfall of the relationship is truly incredible to listen to. You can just hear the emotion she’s feeling as she sings the lyrics. And I can never listen to this song and not feel a sense of emotional loss when the crescendo at the bridge ends and the stripped back guitar returns for the last verse and chorus, with Taylor’s mournful lyrics accompanied by a jaded and bitter and heartbroken vocal delivery. Red is Taylor’s masterpiece album, and All Too Well is her magnum opus. Also, I apologize for all the lyrics I’ve quoted, but as I said, this song is a lyrical work of art and I honestly had a hard time not quoting the entire song. “You call me up again just to break me like a promise, so casually cruel in the name of being honest. I’m a crumpled up piece of paper lying here ’cause I remember it all, all, all too well. Time won’t fly, it’s like I’m paralyzed by it. I’d like to be my old self again, but I’m still trying to find it. After plaid shirt days and nights when you made me your own, now you mail back my things and I walk home alone. But you keep my old scarf from that very first week, ’cause it reminds you of innocence and it smells like me. You can’t get rid of it ’cause you remember it all too well.”

Crying Hours Playlist

Sometimes you just need to cry, and music is one of the best things to help you get there. The right song can help you access the emotions that you’ve had trouble reaching. Whether you need to cry because you have actual problems, or you just need a nice, good emotional release, I’m here to help. Here’s a playlist full of songs that I think are great to cry to. My go-to song will be in a different color than the rest. Read at your own risk.

1. Someone Like You – Adele

“Sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes it hurts instead. You know how the time flies, only yesterday was the time of our lives.”

2. Iris – The Goo Goo Dolls

“I don’t want the world to see me, ’cause I don’t think that they’d understand. When everything’s made to broken, I just want you to know who I am.”

3. With Or Without You – U2

“My hands are tied, my body bruised. She’s got me with nothing to win and nothing left to lose.”

4. Vanilla Twilight – Owl City

“The silence isn’t so bad, till I look at my hands and feel sad, ’cause the spaces between my fingers are right where yours fit perfectly.”

5. The Scientist – Coldplay

“But tell me you love me, come back and haunt me, oh and I rush to the start. Running in circles, chasing our tails, coming back as we are. Nobody said it was easy, it’s such a shame for us to part.”

6. Belong – Cary Brothers

“I wasn’t taught this way, with a thousand things to say. I was born with a broken heart. What I’d give for that first night when you were mine, thought you were mine.”

7. Love Of My Life – Queen

“Love of my life, can’t you see? Bring it back, bring it back. Don’t take it away from me, because you don’t know what it means to me.”

8. Yesterday – The Beatles

“Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away, now it looks as though they’re here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday. Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be. There’s a shadow hanging over me.”

9. I Will Follow You Into the Dark – Death Cab For Cutie

“If there’s no one beside you when your soul embarks, then I’ll follow you into the dark.”

10. Loving You – Elvis Presley

“I could spend my whole life through, loving you, just loving you.”

11. When We Were Young – Adele

“Everybody loves the things you do, from the way you talk to the way you move. And everybody here is watching you, ’cause you feel like home, you’re like a dream come true.”

12. Moon River – Audrey Hepburn and Henry Mancini

“Two drifters off to see the world. There’s such a lot of world to see.”

13. Thirteen – Big Star

“Won’t you let me walk you home from school? Won’t you let me meet you at the pool? Maybe Friday I can get tickets for the dance, and I’ll take you.”

14. Photograph – Ed Sheeran

“We keep this love in this photograph, we keep these memories for ourselves. Where our eyes are never closing, hearts are never broken, and time’s forever frozen still.”

15. Running to Stand Still – U2

“Sweeter the sin, bitter the taste in my mouth. I see seven towers, but I only see one way out. You’ve gotta cry without weeping, talk without speaking, scream without raising your voice. You know I took the poison from the poison stream, then I floated out of here.”

U2: The Joshua Tree (1987) Song Ranking

Rating: 10/10

The Joshua Tree will always be an album that’s near and dear to my heart, as it was constantly played throughout my childhood. My dad was the person who got me into U2, and I’m very grateful, as this band has gifted me with some of my favorite songs of all time.

In this post I’ll be ranking all of the songs on U2’s iconic album, The Joshua Tree, from worst to best. This is just my personal opinion, so don’t come for me.

11. Exit (Track 10)

This isn’t a bad song (there aren’t any bad songs on this album), but I do think that it’s not as enjoyable as most of the songs on this album are. Plus, it’s definitely one of the darkest tracks on the record, so it feels just a bit out of place. All in all, not a bad song for what it was meant to be, but not my favorite, and not one that I find myself listening to often. It’s just a little too creepy and menacing for me.

10. Mothers of the Disappeared (Track 11)

I feel pretty bad about ranking this so low, considering that it’s quite a nice song. However, the subject matter is just really sad, and it, like Exit, is one of the darkest songs on the album. That’s not to say that this isn’t a great closer, though, because it is. Again, this is just my personal opinion, and for me personally, this isn’t my favorite track.

9. Trip Through Your Wires (Track 8)

What can I say, I just love that harmonica. While this song is objectively not among the best of the album, I really do like listening to it. It has a very fun sound, and, to repeat what I said before, that harmonica really gets me. It’s a simple song, but I like it quite a bit.

8. In God’s Country (Track 7)

This song has a very specific quality to it that I can’t quite name, but I find it very infectious. Maybe it’s that it really fits into the album’s themes of yearning and searching for meaning in seemingly dull or despair-filled places. Apparently the members of the band weren’t that impressed with themselves in this song, which I guess is somewhat understandable, as this track is lighter than a lot of the others on the album, but I still think it’s quite a good addition to the album. And as mentioned before, it’s completely infectious.

7. One Tree Hill (Track 9)

This song marks the point where all the songs from here on out are my favorites from the album, and all of which I think are wonderful and delightful in their own way. And I just know that I’m going to be hated for putting this song relatively low in the ranking. I’m sorry, okay. I know that this song is fantastic, and that it deserves better than the #7 spot. The only reason I have it as the lowest of my favorites is that I don’t find myself listening to it as often as I listen to the songs that will be mentioned later in this list. Still, don’t get me wrong; I really like this song. The message is totally inspiring, the lyrics are very poignant, the vocals are great, the backing instrumental is awesome, and the gospel elements towards the end are really cool. Really, I wish I could rank this higher, as it is truly a highlight and standout of the record.

6. Bullet the Blue Sky (Track 4)

This song is probably the most rock and roll out of the album, and I love it for that. If I’m being honest, this song should probably be in the seventh spot, and One Tree Hill should be in this spot, but I’m going to stick to my current ranking. The main reason I have this song higher than One Tree Hill is because I’m biased towards it. This was the first U2 song that I ever actually liked and enjoyed listening to. I heard it for the first time at a very young age, and it was a song that all of my siblings and I agreed was very good. For that reason, I will always associate it with fond memories, and it’ll always be one of my personal, subjective favorites off the album.

5. Red Hill Mining Town (Track 6)

I love this song mostly for the backing instrumental and the vocals. I feel like they just really capture the message and tone of the song, and they make the song a complete joy to listen to. The chorus really makes the song for me. It’s also weird because the first time that I listened to this album all the way through, I don’t remember thinking that this song was anything special, but the more I listen to it, the more I have steep increases in my enjoyment of it. I don’t know what else I can really say, so overall, I’ll just say that this is a truly fantastic track.

4. Running To Stand Still (Track 5)

When I first listened to this album I remember thinking, “Wow, how could this album get better than those first four tracks?” and then I heard this, and I just fell in love with it. This song is so exciting in all the ways you wouldn’t expect it to be. It’s a very slow song, with an even slower beginning, and yet it keeps you interested and hooked all throughout. It never drags, and it never feels repetitive. It stops right where it needs to, and it says all it needs to say. It’s heartbreaking and beautiful. This song is really touching to me, and it was such a pleasant surprise from the album. Bonus points for the harmonica.

3. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For (Track 2)

“I have climbed highest mountains, I have run through the fields, only to be with you. I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls, these city walls, only to be with you. But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for…” Ah, and here we arrive at the singles. The three songs that most encapsulate the optimistic message of the album (With or Without You isn’t exactly optimistic, but still), as opposed to the disappointed message. I love this song. It’s so inspiring and uplifting, and I also love the biblical themes that are found within the lyrics. Fun fact, when I first heard this song I wasn’t all that crazy about it. I didn’t like the vocals much and I wanted my dad to skip it. I don’t know what changed, but I’m just glad that I have a new perspective. The lyrics, the vocals, the backing instrumental, it’s all so perfect. I really can’t choose which of the three I like the best, but if I had to, I would say that the lyrics steal the show on this track. The yearning, the mission to find something, even if you’re not sure what it is. It’s brilliantly conveyed in this song. and “I believe in the kingdom come, that all the colors will bleed into one, bleed into one, but yes I’m still running. You broke the bonds and you loosed the chains. Carried the cross of my shame, oh my shame. You know I believe it.” Utterly magnificent.

2. Where the Streets Have No Name (Track 1)

“We’re still building and burning down love.” This is one of the best openers I’ve heard in my entire life. It’s so sweeping and grand, and the way it builds up in the beginning is so magical to listen to. This song is the best representation of the album’s theme. It showcases the hungering, seeking, passion, and fascination that is constantly shown throughout this record. For me, it was an unexpected decision that I ranked this at #2 with ISHFWILF at #3, considering that I listen to ISHFWILF more often. However, as I was listening to this album, I realized just how truly fantastic this song is. The feeling it evokes is really something else, and it’s a total anthem. “The city’s a flood, and our love turns to rust. We’re beaten and blown by the wind, trampled in dust. I’ll show you a place, high on a desert plain, where the streets have no name.”

1. With Or Without You (Track 3)

“See the stone set in your eyes, see the thorn twist in your side. I’ll wait for you. Sleight of hand and twist of fate, on a bed of nails she makes me wait. And I wait without you. With or without you.” This is U2’s most famous song for a reason, and that reason is that it’s impossibly beautiful. Even the opening chords touch my emotions, so it goes without saying that the actual words sung speak to my heart. I don’t even know what I can say to articulate how much I love this song. It’s a very devastating song, but still full of passion. I think that’s what I like most about it. The passion. You can hear it in the backing instrumental, and you can hear it in the lyrics, and you can hear it in Bono’s voice as he sings them. The way the song builds is absolutely breathtaking. It starts out calm and steady, and starts to continually pick up speed and power until that climax at just over 3 minutes, where it all comes bursting out. The lyrics are so raw and powerful and personal, and there’s too many of them that I love for me to quote them all here, so I’ll just list some of the best ones. “My hands are tied, my body bruised. She’s got me with nothing to win and nothing left to lose.” Ah, this song is so perfect. It’s no wonder it’s in first place, as it’s at the very top of my favorite songs of all time.

Taylor Swift: Speak Now (2010) Song Ranking

Rating: 8.5/10

Speak Now was, at the time of it’s release, Taylor Swift’s most experimental album. With several punk influences in some of the tracks, it certainly has a rougher feel than her previous two albums. That being said, I actually adore this album. It was written entirely by her, and I think because of that, we get some of her most personal, lyrically honest songs to date.

In this post I will be ranking all of the tracks on Taylor Swift’s third album (minus the deluxe tracks, because, yet again, I can’t be bothered) from worst to best.

14. Mean (Track 6)

This song is so iconic, and it’s an absolute bop, but the banjo doesn’t do much for me. I think if she had gone for a less country-styled sound in this song I would like it more. Nonetheless, it’s very uplifting and a great reminder that being kind is always more rewarding in the long run.

13. Innocent (Track 11)

This song is actually really good. The lyrics are very sharp, the vocals are strong, and the background instrumental is very good at capturing the mood of the song. However, it’s not the most memorable, and it seems just a bit condescending.

12. Back to December (Track 13)

I think this is one of Taylor’s most mature songs to date. People really love to criticize her for always blaming her boyfriends for the problems in relationships (and I’ll admit that there is some truth to that), but here is a great example of Taylor owning up to her mistakes and taking accountability for her actions. In this song Taylor is apologizing to an ex-boyfriend who was very devoted and loving with her, who she didn’t appreciate or treat very well. In summation, a great addition to the album, but because of the overall quality of this record, I have to place it near the bottom.

11. Mine (Track 1)

Oh, here come the pitchforks. I know, okay. I know that this should be ranked higher. It’s a truly good song, and an excellent choice for lead single/opening track. It does a superb job of conveying the feel of the album and showing Taylor’s progression as an artist. However, I have heard it about a million times (that’s not to say I’m sick of it, but I am just less enthusiastic about it) and it’s not too relatable for me personally (because I’m lonely). I will say that “You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter” is an awesome lyric.

10. Speak Now (Track 4)

I’ve actually known this song for years, which is weird considering that it’s not one of her most popular songs. Anyway, I really like the storytelling here. I think this song shows how well Taylor can write story-songs. I would like to rank it higher, since it’s one of my personal favorites from the album (plus it’s easy to sing, which is nice), but objectively it’s not as strong as some of the other tracks, so I will keep going. Bonus points for “…a gown shaped like a pastry.”

9. Long Live (Track 14)

This is such a wonderful closing track, arguably the best she’s ever done. This song is a love letter to her fans and band, thanking them for all the support they’ve given her over the years, and it really shows how genuinely she loves them. Her vocals are excellent and the lyrics are as well. I really want to rank this higher, but from here on out just know that all the songs are very close together. This song will forever be a timeless anthem.

8. Enchanted (Track 9)

This song is so magical and fairy-like, I’m really in love with it. It’s one of the most popular songs from the album, and for good reason. This was originally going to be the titular track, but apparently her managers told her to leave her princessy album themes behind. While I do think that this was a good decision, I’ll also say that this song is delightful and very much worthy of being a titular track. “Please don’t be in love with someone else, please don’t have somebody waiting on you” is such an honest sentiment that I’m sure we’ve all experienced at some point.

7. Last Kiss (Track 13)

Oh, the beauty of this song. Her voice and lyrics are very emotional here, and you can tell just how personal this song is for her. The way she takes the small things that seem insignificant about a relationship/person and expands them and shows how much they meant to her is completely amazing. “I love your handshake meeting my father, I love how you walk with your hands in your pockets. How you kissed me when I was in the middle of saying something, there’s not a day I don’t miss those rude interruptions.” That’s so specific and it’s my favorite part of her songwriting style. “And I hope the sun shines and it’s a beautiful day, and something reminds you, you wish you had stayed. You can plan for a change in the weather and time, but I never planned on you changing your mind.” That’s one of the most beautiful lyrics on the entire album.

6. Never Grow Up (Track 8)

What an absolutely beautiful song, am I right? This one of those songs that, if listened to at a young age, won’t be appreciated much, but if listened to as you grow older, will start to really affect you. I know that, while I’m still young, I would love to be able to go back to the days where I had nothing to worry about and could be completely blissfully happy. This is one of the most honest and genuine non-romantic songs we’ve ever gotten from Taylor, and I think she does a great job of capturing the intense nostalgia that can come with looking back on childhood memories.

5. Sparks Fly (Track 2)

This track is a classic upbeat Taylor song. Bubbly and passionate with impressive lyrics that put figurative language into great use: “The way you move is like a full-on rainstorm, and I’m a house of cards.” I don’t know exactly what makes me rank this so high. Maybe it’s just that the opening instrumental gets me super pumped up for a reason that I do not know. The more I listen to this song, the more I enjoy it.

4. Better Than Revenge (Track 10)

This may be a controversial pick for fourth place, as it’s a controversial song, but I’m gonna stick with it. This is yet another punk/rock-influenced track, and it’s one of the songs that shows Taylor being petty without shame. And I just love it. Sure, some people say that the song has a lot of girl-hate going on, and I guess that is true, but to be honest, I don’t really care. I think this is just a fun song that has Taylor indulging her anger and frustration and really saying what’s on her mind with no filter. And it’s a complete bop, so fight me.

3. Haunted (Track 12)

This is one of the songs that I was talking about that has a bit of a punkish sound to it. It’s not exactly what you would expect from Taylor, but she pulls it off quite well. Her vocals are truly impressive here. It’s very different, but it adds a nice edginess to an otherwise fairy-like album. This song is such a blast to rock out to. Plus, the lyrics are very cutting.

2. The Story of Us (Track 7)

This song is such a bop, and it’s definitely one of the more intense tracks on the album. I wouldn’t say it’s punk-influenced though, I’d say it’s more rock-influenced. Nonetheless, her storytelling here is very good, and I really like the whole comparison of the love story being… a story. The way she sings the lyrics, and the lyrics themselves, really communicate the feelings of desperation that come when you can tell that a relationship is starting to end, but you’re still not ready for it. Despite the sad subject matter, it’s a very fun song that I love listening to. It’s great for a dance party, and it’s a unique sound that we don’t hear much from Taylor, but it really pays off.

1. Dear John (Track 5)

What else could take the top spot? This is a classic Track 5, and a classic Taylor breakup song. I would say it’s the second best Track 5 she’s ever done, simply because of how personal and raw it is. You can hear the hurt and anger and brokenness in her voice and even more so in her lyrics. It’s almost seven minutes long but it doesn’t even feel like it. I think what distinguishes it from the other really sad breakup song on this album (Last Kiss) is that it’s not just her lamenting the end of the relationship, it’s her lamenting the relationship itself. She’s mad at the other person for manipulating her, and she’s mad at herself for not knowing better. I don’t know what else to say, so I’ll just put in some of the best lyrics (there’s so many though). “You paint me a blue sky then go back and turn it to rain, and I lived in your chess game but you changed the rules everyday. Wondering which version of you I might get on the phone tonight…” and “Maybe it’s me and my blind optimism to blame, or maybe it’s you and your sick need to give love and take it away. And you’ll add my name to your long list of traitors who don’t understand, and I’ll look back and regret how I ignored when they said run as fast as you can.” as well as “Don’t you think nineteen’s too young to be played by your dark, twisted games when I loved you so? I should’ve known.” and finally “You are an expert at sorry and keeping lines blurry, never impressed by me acing your tests. All the girls that you run dry have tired, lifeless eyes ’cause you burned them out. But I took your matches before fire could catch me so don’t look now. I’m shining like fireworks over your sad, empty town.”

Taylor Swift: Fearless (2008) Songs Ranked

Rating: 9/10

Fearless was Taylor Swift’s crossover from pure-country to pop-country, and one could say that the transition was well-received. Fearless ended up winning the Best Album Grammy, and was the best-selling album of 2009.

The album boasts some of the most iconic songs in Taylor Swift’s catalog, so without further ado, let’s get into my subjective ranking of the Fearless tracks (minus the platinum edition tracks because I can’t be bothered).

13. Tell Me Why (Track 8)

Fearless is honestly such a good album that even the song that I’m ranking as the worst is an absolute bop. This song features a rather salty Taylor, who, even in her anger, has managed to give us some great vocals. However, this song is a little too country for me, which is a weird complaint, considering that some of my favorite songs from her other albums are just as country as this one. Maybe it’s that the opening instrumental sounds like something from an Irish jig.

12. Breathe (Track 7)

This song is written about a friendship, not a romance, which adds a new layer to the lyrics. The harmonies between Colbie and Taylor are beautiful, the humming in between the verses is pleasant, and the lyrics are poignant, but it’s just a little too sad for me and it blends in with a lot of her other songs.

11. Change (Track 13)

This is a great closer for the album, and it’s quite inspirational. However, it doesn’t stand out much, and I don’t find myself listening to it often.

10. The Best Day (Track 12)

Oh, how I wish I could rank this higher, as it is so incredibly sweet. Taylor Swift’s ode to her mother is truly moving, and it really shows just how strong the bonds of family can be. It makes you reminiscent and nostalgic for the somewhat quiet moments that defined your childhood, and I genuinely appreciate that she put this song on her album. I really do want to rank this higher, but I must keep going before I reorder this whole list.

9. You’re Not Sorry (Track 9)

This song is so honest and emotional, but very empowering. Here we find Taylor deciding to stop giving someone chances after they’ve hurt her time and time again. This song is pretty heartbreaking, and I’m sure it’s very relatable for people who have endured frustrating relationships filled with apologies and undeserved forgiveness. However, it doesn’t have much replay-value for me.

8. Love Story (Track 3)

Here’s where we transition into the stand-out tracks of the album. I’m really sorry. I know I have a lot of nerve to place what is quite possibly the most iconic Taylor Swift song ever created at the half way mark of this list. I don’t even know why I have it ranked so low (although, it’s not that low) but it’s probably because I’ve heard it so many times that I’m almost numb to it’s utter magnificence. Moving past all that, this song is a great retelling of Romeo and Juliet, but with a happy ending! Yay! Add in a country-pop background instrumental, and you’ve got yourself a seriously good song.

7. White Horse (Track 5)

Ah, White Horse. I’d say that, at the time of it’s release, this was the most heartbroken we had ever heard Taylor. This song is a great representation of what Taylor Swift’s Track 5 has come to be: a hugely impactful punch to the emotional-gut. I love the metaphors (they’re not metaphors but I can’t think of what to call them) that she makes throughout the song. For example, “I’m not a princess, this ain’t a fairy tale. I’m not the one you’ll sweep off her feet, lead her up the stairwell. This ain’t Hollywood, this is a small town” is quite a sad sentiment (although the song gets slightly uplifting at the end).

6. Hey Stephen (Track 4)

This song is so cute, and it’s pretty relatable for me amidst my current situation of serious crushing. Lyrics such as “I can’t help it if you look like an angel” and “Can’t help it if there’s no one else, I can’t help myself” really highlight the infatuation that can come with crushing on someone. The humming after the chorus also adds a facet of girlishness and youthfulness to the song that is very nice to listen to. Overall, I really love this song.

5. Fearless (Track 1)

The opener for the album tells you right away that Taylor’s second album is going to be much more mature than her first. Fearless is definitely a great choice as the titular song, as it encompasses the magical jittery feelings of the honeymoon phase. The whole song sounds like something out of a fairy tale, and her vocals are really great. Every time I listen to this song it gets me pumped.

4. Fifteen (Track 2)

This is such a wise song, I love it so much (especially considering that Taylor was still a teenager when she wrote this). It’s very country, but I don’t mind it at all in this case. This song, similarly to A Place In This World from her debut album, is a total anthem for young girls. It really captures the magical moments that everyone remembers from their teenage years with lyrics like “And then you’re on your very first date and he’s got a car and you’re feeling like flying. And your Mama’s waiting up, and you’re thinking he’s the one, and you’re dancing ’round your room when the night ends.”

3. Forever and Always (Track 11)

What an absolute bop of a breakup song, am I right? The passion and frustration that Taylor feels in this track is palpable, and it’s one of those songs that makes me mad at the nonexistent person who has done me oh-so-wrong. I still don’t really understand the whole “It rains in your bedroom” thing, but in a way I kind of do. It doesn’t make sense, but at the same time, it just does.

2. The Way I Loved You (Track 10)

This song really surprised me, because I was expecting it to be some sad ballad about how much she loved someone and how much they hurt her. That’s not what it is at all. I love the way the verses sound, and I love the way the chorus sounds. And I love how distinctly different they are. In any other song I would probably find it off-putting for the verses and the chorus to sound like two separate tracks, but in this I really do love it. Also, whenever I hear this song I think of The Notebook, so that’s cool. This song really takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and makes you feel like you’re experiencing what she’s singing about, and it sounds so amazing. This is honestly such a fantastic song.

1. You Belong With Me (Track 6)

Words cannot describe how deep the love I have for this song goes. If I could marry a song, it would be this one. I really don’t know where to begin. This song is so utterly relatable it astounds me. Like I said in the debut album ranking, Taylor just really knows how to take things are commonly experienced, and put them into words in a way that everyone, within their separate and unique situations, can relate to. From “You’ve got a smile that could light up this whole town” to “I’m in my room, it’s a typical Tuesday night, I’m listening to the kind of music she doesn’t like, and she’ll never know your story like I do” I really can’t understand how anyone could possibly dislike this song.

Taylor Swift (2006) Songs Ranked

Rating: 7.5/10

Taylor Swift has undoubtedly grown and developed as an artist since 2006, when she made her debut as a 16-year-old country artist. And while it’s safe to say that her first album is not objectively her best, it’s still very sweet, and quite advanced for the age it was written at.

In this post I am going to be ranking all of the songs from her debut album from worst to best. Now, keep in mind, some songs will be ranked higher than other songs that may be objectively better than them. That’s because all of my rankings are based off a mix of lyrics, vocals, relatability, meaningfulness, and my own personal enjoyment and connection to the song.

14. A Perfectly Good Heart (Track 14)

It makes me slightly sad to rank the closing track as the worst, but unfortunately that’s just how I see it. This song, while not awful, is pretty generic and boring. The lyrics are rather bland, and they make the topic of the song sound meaningless. This song also doesn’t have much replay-value, and I can’t imagine ever adding it to my Taylor Swift playlist. Definitely the worst closing track of any album Taylor has released as of now.

13. I’m Only Me When I’m With You (Track 12)

This song is apparently written for Taylor’s family, which is very sweet. However, this track, similarly to A Perfectly Good Heart, feels rather generic, and it doesn’t have much replay-value (for me, at least). It kind of sounds like the theme song for an early 2010s Disney Channel show.

12. Stay Beautiful (Track 8)

This song is very cutesy and the lyrics are actually quite relatable, but it does come across as very immature and naive (although that fits with the whole theme of the album). Again, it’s not terrible, but it’s just a little too sugary for me.

11. Should’ve Said No (Track 9)

This should probably be ranked higher, but I’m sticking it here. This song is filled with emotion, and you can really tell how much the incidents that it was based on affected Taylor. Additionally, the vocals are really good. I can’t really relate to it though, so I’m not going to rank it any higher. Sorry. Also, it’s kind of burned out for me over time.

10. Picture to Burn (Track 2)

This song is so sassy and fun, it’s honestly just a blast to listen to. It really showcases the theme of Taylor being shamelessly angry and petty that reoccurs quite a lot throughout her discography, and I love it.

9. The Outside (Track 6)

Now, some could say that I’ve ranked this song too high, and to be honest, I’d probably agree. It is a little on the whiny side, but that is excusable, considering that, according to Genius, this song was written when Taylor was 12 years old, and it was meant to describe her feelings of isolation and rejection. The main reason I have it ranked so high is because I actually relate to it quite a bit. In case any of you readers didn’t know (you can probably tell just from my writing ), I’m currently a teenager, and I have dealt with feelings of isolation and rejection myself. Plus, considering that she was 12 when she wrote this, it’s quite impressive.

8. Invisible (Track 13)

This is, yet again, a song that is probably ranked too high. And, frankly, I don’t even listen to it as much as I listen to some of the songs that are ranked below it. However, this song is so accurate to what it feels like to pine for someone who you feel like you’ll never be able to reach. This is definitely one of the best unrequited love songs in Taylor’s entire discography. Some of the most piercing lyrics are “There’s a fire inside of you that can’t help but shine through“ and “All I think about is how to make you think of me, and everything that we could be.”

7. Cold As You (Track 5)

Ah, the first ‘Track 5’ to ever be. And boy is it a good one. The vocals on this track are great, and the lyrics are stunning. For example, “You put up walls and paint them all a shade of gray, and I stood there loving you and wished them all away. And you come away with a great little story of a mess of a dreamer with the nerve to adore you.” That’s absolutely beautiful.

6. Tim McGraw (Track 1)

We’ve now transitioned into the part of this list where every song from here on out has good replay-value for me. And it saddens me that I have to rank this track relatively low, because I actually really like it. The lyrics are very Swift-esque, and the vocals are very pleasing. However, compared to the rest of the tracks on the album, it’s not mind-blowing. I do like the story quite a bit though. It’s a refreshingly mature ode to a love who has left you, where there isn’t any animosity or hatred, just feelings of longing for the times of the past. The lyrics I really like in this song are “Just a boy in a Chevy truck that had a tendency of getting stuck” and “And then the time we woke up to find that summer gone” as well as “In a box beneath my bed is a letter that you never read.”

5. Mary’s Song (Oh My My My) (Track 10)

Oh my my my, I adore this song. It’s probably the most heartwarming on the album, and the fact that it was written about Taylor’s elderly neighbors makes it even more touching. I can’t listen to it without swooning, and it does a great job of showing that not all high-school relationships are meaningless, and that just because a love starts at a young age doesn’t mean that it can’t be real.

4. Our Song (Track 11)

Everyone behold the most iconic song on this album. This song is so completely charming and youthful, and it’s practically impossible to not sing along to it. It’s hard to think that this song wasn’t even going to be on the album at first (it was written for a school talent show). In fact, I originally had this in the number two spot, but alas, what can I do? The top 3 songs of this album are neck-and-neck.

3. Tied Together With a Smile (Track 7)

This song was written for a friend of Taylor’s, who, while being a beautiful and popular girl, was struggling with an eating disorder. The song uses excellent imagery to convey the situation, such as, “the water’s high, you’re jumping into it and letting go” as well as “I guess it’s true that love was all you wanted, ’cause you’re giving it away like it’s extra change. Hoping it will end up in his pocket, but he leaves you out like a penny in the rain.” As someone with decently good self esteem, it’s not too relatable to me in the most literal way, but I think the feelings of insecurity and desperation are ones that everyone experiences at one time or another.

2. A Place In This World (Track 4)

This may seem like a strange choice for the number two spot, but I actually used to have it at number one. This song is such an anthem for young girls, and when I first heard it, I listened to it on repeat for literally hours. I just feel like Taylor did a great job of capturing the uncertainty yet excitement of not quite knowing where your life is going. It’s also not about boys (no shade to the songs that are about boys, because I love them) which is nice considering that the ratio of romantic to non-romantic songs on this album is 10/4. Some of the more cultured readers of this list may recognize this song from Ramona and Beezus.

1. Teardrops On My Guitar (Track 3)

I actually used to have this in the third spot. The reason for this I cannot fathom. This song is so incredibly relatable and accurate for what it’s like to be so utterly infatuated with someone who somehow just can’t tell. This song is a perfect demonstration of why so many people love Taylor Swift. She takes things that everyone goes through in different ways, and puts them into words that everyone can relate to. This is certainly one of my favorite songs she’s ever made. “The only one who’s got enough of me to break my heart” is quite possibly the most accurate description of my current crush-situation I’ve heard in my entire life.