A Love Letter to Lover: Taylor Swift Lover Album Ranking

By Kayla Harper 

On the eve of August 23, 2019 my sister and I were wearing our Taylor Swift Lover album merch, sitting in our grandparents attic, about to hit play on the Swift’s seventh studio album, Lover for the first time.  After an exciting summer of livestreams, merch drops and single releases anticipating the new album, it was time.

Of course we were obsessed with the first listen, tears were shed and jaws were dropped. Since Lover Swift has released many albums I like better, but that doesn’t change the fact that it still holds a special place in my heart.  Lover was surprisingly difficult to rank, although it’s not one of my most-listened to albums, it is a generally cohesive project and each song seems to hold it’s own. With my current ranking of the album I’ve included my first-listen thoughts from all those years ago as well as my current thoughts towards each song.

Unranked: “Soon You’ll Get Better”

I’ve decided not to rank “Soon You’ll Get Better” out of respect for Swift and her family.  “Soon You’ll Get Better” was written for Swift’s mom and her battle with cancer.  I sobbed the first time I heard this song and have never listened to it with dry eyes since.  I, like most people, have watched people very close to me battle and lose their lives to cancer so “Soon You’ll Get Better” hits home.   Swift did an amazing job at capturing what it feels like to watch someone close to you fade away at the hands of this awful disease, from specific details in the imagery to the delicate way she sings it, “Soon You’ll Get Better” never fails to illicit an intense emotional response.

 

17. “You Need To Calm Down” 

Starting off the ranking at the bottom of the list is what I believe to be Swift’s worst song, “You Need To Calm Down”.   There is a wonderful message rooted in equality behind “You Need To Calm Down” however the song itself is intolerable -the production is boring, the lyrics are a downgrade from anything else in Swift’s discography.

 

16. “I Forgot That You Existed” 

Like the song title suggests, I consistently forget this song exists. However, I do love the way it opens the album, it’s the perfect segue out of the reputation album and into the Lover era.  Again, the production is simple, but becomes redundant.  I do love the “duh-duh-duh-duh” in the background and her laughing throughout the track though!   The way Swift sings on “I Forgot That You Existed” is the best part because you can hear how over it she is.

 

15. “The Man” 

From here and onwards is where the songs become really hard to rank because I love them all and just like some better than others. “The Man” is one of the political songs on the record and one that’s really important to me as a woman who’s desperate to be successful in male-dominated industries.  Even in the two decades I have been alive I’ve already experienced so many double standards because of my gender that are completely unfair.  Swift says what needs to be said exceptionally in “The Man”.  It’s amazing how she can make a song about such a serious topic so danceable and fun!  It’s true that many successful women like Swift herself would not receive the same backlash if they were men.

 

14. “London Boy” 

“London Boy” is one of my favourites to sing and dance to, however, it took the lower rank because unless you love or have loved a London boy, it’s just simply not as fun or relatable.  I think it’s really clever the way Swift uses British slang throughout the track as well as all the British literary allusions. and that all the places she mentions actually make a heart when marked out on a map -because it’s a love song!   She’s a lyrical genius even in songs like this one that seem less serious.

 

13. “Afterglow” 

It feels wrong for “Afterglow” to be so low!  “Afterglow” is one of my favourites and probably one of the most underrated Swift songs.  The drums on the track stand out to me as they’re different from anything I’ve heard on a Swift track previously.  They really elevate the vocals especially in the chorus, the vocals on this track are some of Swift’s best in her discography.

 

12. “I Think He Knows” 

“I Think He Knows” is such a fun track because of the sass in the lyrics and the bass-driven beat and drums.  It’s another one that really highlights Swift’s vocals with amazing vocal layering, harmonies, and fun adlibs.  The lyrics and overall vibe of this track reminds of a Sabrina Carpenter song if it was written by Swift.  The choruses and post-choruses are really strong on this record, especially this track. “I Think He Knows” should’ve been a single.

 

11. “Daylight” 

While I really love the overall message and character development presented in “Daylight” it’s one I don’t find myself listening to often.  However, its a beautiful album closer for Lover.  I love the way Swift is able to come to terms with life’s challenges and make room for growth on the track.  As a Red girly I got really excited during my first listen six years ago when Swift made the lyrical reference to her album Red on this track, “I once believed love would be burning red”. 

 

10. “Death By A Thousand Cuts” 

“Death By A Thousand Cuts” is the only song on Lover that explores the heartbreak aspect of love.  I’ve always had mixed feelings about the intro, I love the way it builds up to the chorus and mimics the bridge, however, sometimes it annoys me.  The guitar is one of my favourite parts of this track and the lyrics.  There’s some really interesting play on words such as “dressed to kill my time” and an interesting use of personification, “asked the traffic lights if it would be alright”.   The bridge is one of Swift’s best and truly demonstrates the pain experienced in the aftermath of such a vulnerable connection with someone else.

 

09. “Paper Rings” 

“Paper Rings” has a fun rock sound that I love, it quite literally sounds like a high school band getting together for band practice in their garage.  The rhythm in the drums and guitar as well as the way Swift sings the verse gives it an almost punk-rock sound if it was more pop.  Overall it’s tone is lighthearted, but the devotion runs deep, “I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings”.  The production on this track really allows it to stand out.

 

08. “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” 

When Lover first came out “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” was one of my top favourite tracks off the album, something about the melody, production and lyrics felt very Lana Del Rey to me.  Although it’s moved down in my ranking I still really love this song.  It’s got a completely different vibe to it than any other in Swift’s discography and is sonically interesting the way it changes as the song progresses.

 

07. “False God” 

THE SAXOPHONE?  “False God” proves we need more saxophone on Swift songs!   The production and lyrics on this track give it such a sensual, sultry vibe that blends really well with the thematic element of religion to describe the sacred feeling of this relationship.  It feels delicate, fleeting, but leaving a permanent mark.

 

06. “Lover” 

“Lover” it’s one of the best love songs, if not the best love song in Swift’s discography.  The production is perfect as it simulates the feeling of a wedding band, the way the drums and guitars work together to build up to certain parts and release at others.  Vocally it’s impressive as the harmonies add a beautiful undertone that makes it feel like you’re floating. Lyrically it paints a picture of a comfortable, simple life we all wish to share with someone we love, full of jokes, literary allusions and silly innuendos, Lover is the perfect love song.  “Lover” was the last promotional single released prior to the full album, I believe the week of, I listened to it on repeat until my aux privileges were taken away.

 

05. “The Archer” 

“The Archer” was the third promotional single released from Lover.  I remember the day it was released well, my sister and I were painting rocks while watching Swift’s livestream in which she officially announced the Lover album and “The Archer”.  The production on this track is genius in the way it mimics an anxiety attack with the percussion and tempo building throughout the track, getting more intense before releasing right at the end.  The song is about anxiety about oneself and how it impacts relationships with others so it works really well.

 

04. “Cruel Summer” 

It’s crazy now to think there was a time when “Cruel Summer” was just our little secret.  It took nearly three years for the track to be acknowledged by casual listeners and radio stations, then it took over the world and now everyone knows it!  However, this doesn’t change the fact that “Cruel Summer” is one of the best songs Swift and Jack Antonoff have made together, the track was co-written by St. Vincent who did the guitars!   I remember hearing the song for the first time and being so mad I didn’t think of it first -it’s a perfect summer pop song with a classic Swift bridge, the kind that needs to be screamed while speeding on the highway with the windows down.

 

03. “ME!” 

“ME!” is the lead single from Lover and received very mixed reviews from listeners at the time and a lot of backlash from the media causing Swift to permanently change the song (removing the part before the bridge where she used to shout “Hey Kids! Spelling is Fun!”) which I personally thought was really fun and silly in context of the song.   Yes, “ME!” is a bit childish, it’s not Swift’s best work lyrically, but sonically it’s so catchy!  I love the marching band vibes in the production and honestly the lyrics too.  As a songwriter myself, I find it way more difficult to write a song that is simple meant to put you in a good mood and have fun (Like “ME!”) than a lyrically complex and deep song.  I remember loving “ME!” when it first came out, I was in grade eight and being bullied by most of the girls in my class (sometimes for like Taylor ironically) but listening to “ME!” genuinely put me in a good mood and made me feel confident and forget their mean words.

I don’t listen to it as much anymore, but when I do I’m reminded of how it helped me overcome the insecurity those girls tried to create and I fall in love with it all over again.

 

02. “It’s Nice To Have A Friend” 

There is no song in Swift’s discography like “It’s Nice To Have A Friend”.  It’s so different from anything she’d done previous and anything she’s done since.  I love how simplistic it feels, the choir really brings out the innocence of falling in love.  The storyl ine progressing from childhood best friends to lovers ending in the pair getting married is a wholesome arc to follow.

 

01. “Cornelia Street” 

“Cornelia Street” is my absolute favourite song on Lover, –it has been basically since my first listen of the album and was the title I found most intriguing when the tracklist was announced before it’s release.   At the time of Lover’s release the Swiftie fandom was a lot simpler, but overall it was agreed upon that “All Too Well” was the best song in terms of storytelling, and I argued that “Cornelia Street” was equal to it if not better.  The specific detail in the imagery paints the scene perfectly, inserting the listener into the narrator’s perspective evoking so much emotion.  The way it’s sung and the production elevates the story so well, it brings me to tears a lot of the time.  During my first listen on release night I sobbed to this one.

 

Thanks for reading!  Of course there is no best or worst track on this album, or any album. This was based on my personal preferences and opinion.  I would love to hear yours in the comments!