All 10 Taylor Swift album openers ranked

Photo Courtesy of Taylor Swift Official Store

Swifties, are you ready for it? After five years of a touring hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans and the general public are eagerly waiting for the launch of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour,” which will launch on Friday, March 17, in Glendale, Arizona, with two completely sold-out nights at State Farm Stadium. 

Speculation has run wild about the tour since its announcement in November; discussions of possible set lists, “Easter egg” hints in music videos and leaks from the stage set-up have run rampant on the internet across all corners of different fandoms. Before putting speculation to rest this Friday, let’s take a look at some of the other ways Swift has opened up her iconic eras of the past by ranking all 10 opening tracks from her 10 studio albums.

10. “I Forgot That You Existed” 

Coming in at number 10 is the opening track from 2019’s “Lover,” the bluntly titled “I Forgot That You Existed.” The song serves as a palette cleanser from Swift’s previous dark and gritty “reputation” era; it’s a cutesy, piano-infused bop that’s all about cutting out the memories of a toxic person in your life. Although the song helps to set the tone well for the sunny, bubblegum pop sound of “Lover,” it’s hard to see the track as anything more than surface-level, with lyrics that are just a little too on-the-nose, especially for Swift. 

9. “Tim McGraw”

At number nine is the song that started it all, “Tim McGraw.” The first song that Swift ever released under a major record label, “Tim McGraw,” is an important piece of Swift’s discography as it was her first hit with the country scene back in 2006. Although impressively well-written for a 16-year-old girl, the track is a pretty standard country guitar ballad. Hardcore fans seem to take a liking to this one for its wistful, sweet tone, but overall, the song blends in with most of the other tracks on Swift’s debut.  

8. “Welcome to New York” 

At number eight is the opener for Swift’s first fully-fledged pop album, “1989.” “Welcome to New York” is an interesting opener for Swift, especially considering it’s her first track opener that isn’t about romance or a budding relationship. Produced by Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, the track is an energetic, synthpop bop that romanticizes Swift’s move to New York City in 2014. The track is a lot of fun but suffers from the same issues as “I Forgot That You Existed,” with lyrics that are just a little too literal to fully immerse yourself as the listener. 

7. “Lavender Haze” 

Number seven on the list is Swift’s most recent album opener, “Lavender Haze.” The track is a pretty huge diversion from Swift’s typical sound, bringing in elements of R&B and bedroom pop to create a vibey, unique sound. Although the song has yet to cement itself as a classic in Swift’s discography, the sultry, atmospheric vibe of the song along with its visually stunning music video makes for a perfect introduction to the world of Swift’s juggernaut album, “Midnights.” 

6. “Fearless” 

Swift’s only song to be both the title track and opening track clocks in at number six. “Fearless” is a beautiful representation of the record that blew Swift into the popular mainstream in 2008. The track is a heartfelt, warm and welcoming thematic representation of the blissfulness of adolescence and young love, one of the overarching themes of the album it comes from. 

5. “Mine”

Number five goes to “Mine,” the opening track and lead single from Swift’s 2010 self-written record, “Speak Now.” “Mine” does an excellent job of showcasing Swift’s personal, genuine songwriting skills that shine through the rest of the tracks on her third studio album. In order to be a great album opener, an artist needs to establish the tone of the record in its first couple of minutes, and Swift does exactly that with this country classic. Not only do the lyrics of the song help make it shine, but its beautiful, wholesome music video accompaniment helps to elevate the song to a new level. 

4. “…Ready For It?”

In the number four spot is “...Ready For It?,” Swift’s explosive opening track from her controversial 2017 comeback record “reputation.” Out of all 10 opening tracks, “...Ready For It?” diverges the most from Swift’s usual style. With trap, electronic-inspired production and lyrics that could cut glass, “...Ready For It?” is an absolutely badass opener that perfectly introduces the listener to the dark, twisted world of the cultural phenomenon, “reputation.”

 3. “willow”

At number three is the opener for 2020’s “evermore,” the witchy, folk-inspired “willow.” Also serving as the sole single from its respective album, “willow” is a beautiful representation of the mystical, magic sound that Swift so seamlessly weaves into all the tracks of “evermore.” Its accompaniment with a visually stunning video and equally stunning performance at the 2021 Grammy Awards make for a memorable, perfect fit for an opening track that very much deserved its No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 2020. 

2. “the 1”

Ranked in the number two spot is “the 1,” the opening track from Swift’s contemporary classic “folklore.” Although simple in its production, its strong lyricism and earnestness make for a track that’s not only incredibly easy to listen to but also one that is equally worth revisiting after listening to the entire record. The track does an excellent job of drawing the listener in with its iconic opening line of “I’m doing good, I’m on some new shit,” a self-referential line that let Swift’s fans know she was making out all right during the height of the pandemic. 

1. “State of Grace”

Finally, at number one comes Swift’s epic opener to her 2012 country-pop sensation “Red.” “State of Grace” is one of those songs that is instantly nostalgic for fans of Swift upon hearing the booming opening drums and twangy guitar strums that follow suit. 

Although the song never saw single recognition in its initial release, the song has become a Swiftie cult classic among fans. If there was one word to describe the track, it would be “epic.” Not only is the track produced beautifully, but it also finds legs to stand on with its incredibly strong and smooth lyrics that make the listener excited to see what else is to come with the rest of the tracks on the record. Simply put, “State of Grace” is classic Taylor Swift, and it is Taylor Swift done right. 

So, there you have it – all 10 Taylor Swift opening tracks ranked from bottom to top. After such a fruitful, successful career, it’s more than exciting to see Swift continue to create classic songs and records that so beautifully capture the way that she feels and expresses herself. 

It’s safe to assume we have more classic album openers on the way in the future with more exciting tales from Swift’s personal life that we’ll have the privilege of hearing.