Taylor Swift.
I can say just her name and everyone — literally everyone — can think of something. Maybe one of her 12 albums (10 originals, two re-records), or some sort of drama attached to her name. Maybe one of her famous exes, or the stunt that Kanye pulled when she won at the VMAs.
Taylor is an icon, to say the least. She has been since she was 16 years old. Now at 32, she’s completely and utterly famous.
I’ve been a Taylor fan my entire life. I’ve loved every album, every genre change and aesthetic shift. Her different eras are one of my favorite things about her as an artist. It’s become somewhat of a trend to separate her music as such — she’s even going on an “Eras” tour in the next couple of months.
When Taylor releases an album, it’s not merely new songs. It’s an entire new vibe. With that being said, I’ve taken the time to analyze the eras and attributes to each. Read more below to see which Taylor era fits you best.
Taylor Swift (2006)
The original Taylor album screams “small town love story.” Her country sound is almost foreign compared to her more recent releases, but it’s not unwelcomed to many fans.
“Teardrops On My Guitar” is the ultimate heartbreak anthem — the kind of innocent heartbreak that comes from pining for the quarterback of your high school’s football team. “Picture To Burn” is another hit for the heartbroken, though this time a whole lot more aggressive. There’s also “Our Song,” which is so first-time-love.
If you’re the Taylor Swift era, you’re innocent and wholesome. You’re fixated on young love, and you’re yet to be scarred by true heartbreak. You wear your natural hair and a bare face, and your style is simple but girly. You’re sweet, and you have a lot of hope for the road ahead.
Fearless (2008)
Here comes some of the most iconic Taylor Swift songs. “Love Story” is undeniably among the best pop songs ever written. Taylor’s happily-ever-after rendition of Romeo and Juliet is everything. “You Belong With Me” is for all of us that feel overshadowed by the more obvious choice (even though it always should’ve been us). “The Way I Loved You” is the kind of love song you want to scream until your lungs give out.
The Fearless era is all about, well, being fearless. It’s putting yourself out there even though you’re not the head cheerleader. It’s admitting you love someone else — even if the one you’re with seems much better for you. It’s dancing in a storm in your best dress.
If you’re the Fearless era, you’re breaking out of your shell. You were once shy, but you’re blossoming. You’re about to go from oversized t-shirts to glammed out dresses. You’re entering your “makeover” phase. You’ve been hiding away all this time, but now you’re fearless.
Speak Now (2010)
Here’s when Taylor’s music begins to lose that youthful innocence that it’s always had. She sticks to it a little with whimsical “Enchanted” and romantic “Mine.” The rest of the album, though, is more real. She’s regretful in “Back to December” and vengeful in “Better Than Revenge.”
The Speak Now era is characterized by two things: the “sparkling nights” as written in “Enchanted” and the “I should’ve known” in “Dear John.” If you’re Speak Now, you’re battling yourself. On one end, you’re a hopeless romantic, patiently awaiting your perfect love story. On the other hand, you’ve been hurt, and you’re scathed by reality. You’re rational, but you’re sometimes also naive. You read romance novels and indulge in rom coms, but you keep your heart locked up tight.
Red (2012)
The Red era is the most consistent of them all. The classic red lipstick, the vintage ‘50s wardrobe. The music is a perfect balance of upbeat and slow.
When I think of Red, I think of real-life love. Taylor abandoned her rose-colored glasses and wrote true, very real feelings.
If you’re in the Red era, you have a way with words. You’re able to romanticize life in a way that makes it sound pretty but also ugly. You’re constantly torn between partying until morning and figuring out the meaning of life. You’re a modern lover with a classic twist.
1989 (2014)
This is Taylor’s most pop-sounding album. This era is inspired by the ‘80s — all glittery crop tops and styled bobs. It has a “dancing in the kitchen” vibe — the kind of romance that only exists in books.
If you’re 1989, you’re “a nightmare dressed like a daydream.” You have these dreamy romances that all end in flames. But you never let that get you down. You’re confident and young, fun and flirty. You fall in and out of love like it’s your job (because why not?). You’ve had enough heartbreak that it no longer phases you. You’ll never let it stop you from becoming everything you’re meant to be.
Reputation (2017)
This is the “bad bitch” era. Reputation is all about learning to be confident in yourself, no matter what other people say or do. It’s “I don’t care what you think” and “don’t try to tell me who to be.”
It’s also much more shameless than the other albums. Reputation has sexy songs like, “So It Goes…” and “…Ready For It?” Her aggressive, no-filter songs are refreshing, considering her normal style. Every good girl has a “bad” side, and Reputation is Taylor sharing hers.
If you’re Reputation, you’re a baddie. Whether a phase or not, you’re over the gossip, the drama and the immaturity. You’re through with pointless relationships. You just want to have fun (unless it’s the real thing). You never hide an eye roll or laugh at a joke that isn’t funny. You’re over niceties. You are who you are and if someone doesn’t appreciate it, they’re not worth it.
Lover (2019)
When I think of Lover, I think of that glitter heart around Taylor’s eye and the pretty sunset behind her. I think of her dreamy-like state and the blue streaks in her hair.
The Lover era is a direct contrast to Reputation. It’s all bright colors, rainbows and daylight. It’s learning from your mistakes and choosing to be happy despite the past.
If you’re a Lover, you’re romantic, but you’re not hopelessly romantic. You’ve lost your faith in love before, but, somehow, you’ve restored it. You feel like “you’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year darkness,” but now you’re stronger than you ever were. You’ve “stepped into the daylight, and let it go.”
Folklore & Evermore (2020)
This combined era came out of the blue. Taylor’s folk songs take us back to the early 1900s.
Those in this double album era are old souls. You love vintage music and clothes. You dream about lost love stories and the kind of dating that people used to do back before technology ruined everything. You think you were maybe born in the wrong time period, and you’d do anything to experience the good parts of life back then. You probably read poetry and love plaid patterns, winter snow and warm fires.
Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (2021)
The first of the re-recorded eras is much different than the original Fearless. Taylor carried on some aesthetics from Folklore and Evermore with the cover for this album. Her frilly shirt and saturated filter make it feel much more vintage than the original.
The vault songs, like “Mr. Perfectly Fine” and “Don’t You” are heartbreak tracks that give the era a more grown-up feel. The original Fearless felt innocent, whereas the re-recorded version makes Taylor seem like she went through more than she once led us to believe.
It’s hard to distinguish the re-records from the originals. I will say that supporters of Taylor’s Version are true, die-hard fans.
Red (Taylor’s Version) (2021)
This Taylor’s Version is more of a defined era. The 10-minute “All Too Well” changed history forever. This Red album centers the aesthetics in the Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink short film: fallen colored leaves, sweaters and scarves, cozy nights in. There are also vault tracks like “Forever Winter” and “Run” that further this fall-winter vibe.
This era is all slow songs and cool weather. Red (Taylor’s Version) is the epitome of autumn. If you’re a fall girl, this era is all you.
Midnights (2022)
When I first heard the concept of Midnights, I was ecstatic. I’m such a “midnight thoughts” girl. I’m a firm believer in the influence of nighttime.
Lyrics like “He was sunshine, I was midnight rain” and “You’re on your own kid, you always have been” are the kind of intrusive thoughts that plague you just as you’re trying to fall asleep.
Midnights is for the overthinkers. This era is all about vulnerability and being honest with yourself. You’re Midnights if you dwell on things; if you squash down your feelings only to be overwhelmed by them later. You thrive in the nighttime. You live for the feeling that only night drives can bring. You’re fascinated by nighttime and the way it holds everyone’s secrets.
More than likely, you’re not just one of these eras. Or, maybe, you are right now, but you’ll enter a new phase soon. Taylor was every single one of these eras at one point or another. Maybe the best of us have to go through a number of different versions of ourselves until we land on the right one — or maybe we never stop changing eras.
Either way, Taylor’s music will always be there to support us. 12 albums and counting, there’s nothing quite like a Taylor Swift album.
And the best part is, I’m sure Taylor has several more surprise eras up her sleeve. We best believe she’s still bejeweled.