My Definitive Ranking Of Every Song on Folklore and Evermore (COMBINED)

A few months ago, I put out a blog post ranking all 117 of Taylor Swift's songs (albums Taylor Swift through Lover) -- I don't know if the universe is just playing with me, but a few short months later, Taylor decided to release another 17 songs that would COMPLETELY throw off that entire list. I got many messages asking if I would be redoing my ranking to include Folklore!

I tried going back and adding Folklore into the entire discography in the previous list, but I found it too difficult to compare. Try as I may, there is just no way for me to integrate this new set of songs into that massive ranking. I think that's because Taylor has reached a new milestone and place in her career, and the Folklore era feels entirely different (very fitting for 2020, I might add).

So I set it aside for a while. But then, of course, Taylor blessed us with Evermore, Folklore's sister album (and don't even get me started on the conspiracy theory about the 3rd album, Woodvale, I'm not emotionally prepared for another release yet). With a more plentiful track list to go off of, I feel it's officially time for another list.

With that being said, I've decided to take this new era of Taylor's music and create a new ranking, which will include the 17 tracks on Folklore (deluxe version), and the 15 tracks on Evermore (non-deluxe version, is there a deluxe version? LMK). By combining these, I will also calculate which of these two albums, statistically, is my favorite. Each ranking will be worth an equivalent number of points (first place is worth one point, 15th place is worth 15 points, etc.), and like golf, whichever album has less points will prevail.

*DISCLAIMER* both albums are incredible works of art and this is not meant to demean one album or the other, I'm simply putting myself to the test of making this list to determine which one my brain statistically prefers. I hate the comparison game and I think both albums should be celebrated til the end of time!

Without further ado, here is my definitive ranking of every song on Folklore and Evermore.

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#32 Closure

I mean no hate towards Closure, but it definitely feels like it belongs on a different album (though I'm not sure which one). The rhythm is very disjointed and I find it to be repetitive. However, some people suspect that's directly reflecting the meaning of the song -- going back and forth, starting and stopping, feeling uneasy about needing/having closure from a situation. Great in concept, but I'm not sure if it translated for me, maybe would've fit better on a previous album.

#31 The Last Great American Dynasty

I'm sure I will get some side eyes for this, but I do NOT enjoy this song -- it has been my number one skip on Folklore since the album came out. I really love the story, but I don't find it all that enjoyable to listen to or sing. The fact that it's a historical take on her house is incredible, and the way it all ties together in the bridge is really cool. However, I don't feel that much of a connection to it.

#30 Long Story Short

Alright here's the tea, apparently this song is about her brief fling with Tom Hiddleston (allegedly, TS lawyers don't come for me), and it feels like this song is a blip on the album. The vibe fits other albums of hers and when listening to the album in order, this one falls towards the end, almost feeling like we're taking 3 steps back in the story of the entire record.

#29 Hoax

This song, and the next one on this list, feel like a weird fever dream thrown into the end of Folklore to provide resolution. However, this song takes me out of the album a bit -- it's beautiful, but it just feels like a little bit of a sour ending. Does anyone else feel like Peace would've been the better choice for the last track? Let me know.

#28 Epiphany

I will fully admit, the first time I listened to this song, I was having a lot of trouble piecing together what the heck it was about and why it was taking so many different story routes in each verse -- after watching the Long Pond Sessions special on Disney+, the story pieced itself together because she drew inspiration from other peoples' experiences. Folklore seemed to experiment with a lot of external, non-personal stories, but this one felt the most out of place for me.

#27 Peace

No hate towards Peace, cuz I like the song, but it just doesn't feel like a standout anymore when I put all of these tracks together. The bridge takes a little bit of an experimental approach with the disjointed chords, but I find this one the hardest to sit and listen to without feeling my finger hovering over the skip button.

#26 The Lakes

I think The Lakes is at a disadvantage, because it was fit in as the bonus track on the deluxe version that I didn't hear until much later. I do love the writing, and I think this one taps into the master level story telling and interconnectedness that actually belongs more on Evermore. I like the song a lot, but once again, lots of competition, so it falls towards the bottom.

#25 Mad Woman

I love this song for all that it is, I love when Taylor finds clever ways to roast her haters, but it's one of those tracks that falls by the wayside when I am forced to stack them up all together -- Taylor sweetie I am so sorry!

#24 Willow

I really like Willow, and I think it fits as the opener for this album, very similarly to how The 1 opens Folklore well, but it also sits in the middle for me. She has obviously used it as the big intro to this new album, but as many people have been saying, it definitely isn't like THE title track of the album (more on that later).

#23 Cowboy Like Me

Now this track gives me all the chill country vibes, but those country chill vibes usually do not connect me to a song the same way that some of these other tracks do. There are some real standout lyrics in this one, but it still falls low on the charts for me.

#22 Seven

When Folklore first came out, I was skipping this song like crazy. The first verse is a little bit unsettling until you're at the chorus, but it slowly draws me in once the first chorus comes in. And by the time we're at the bridge, I'm HOOKED and I stay with it, hence why it was on my Top 100 Songs of 2020 Spotify playlist.

#21 No Body, No Crime (feat. HAIM)

Now THIS is a STORY song that I can get behind. This song feels like a mature return to form for Taylor, and when you layer in a murder mystery and some HAIM vocals... yeehaw I'm fully sold. We are officially getting into the weeds and the next 10 or so tracks were the hardest to differentiate, so buckle up.

#20 Coney Island (feat. The National)

This track is truly excellent. I tend to gravitate towards duets like this, especially when there's some excellent story-telling and callback to other songs and past relationships that she's spoken on before. Major bonus points for looping in 4 different relationship/previous track easter eggs in the bridge, like HELLO who else could do that so seamlessly??

#19 'Tis The Damn Season

Okay, I feel like this song is getting a little bit of hate, and I'm not entirely sure why. I have no insight on if this is about a specific relationship or time of her life, but I really do vibe with this track. More of the chorus than the verses themselves, but I do like it a lot! Maybe it's one of those songs that unless you feel you have a personal connection based on your own experiences, it doesn't translate as well.

#18 Ivy

This song, very similarly to what happened with Invisible String when Folklore was released, is probably going to creep up on my list if you ask me a month from now. I have trouble discounting this one and putting it below others, because I really do love the track, but for now, it falls in this slot.

#17 The 1

THIS was a hard one (haha get it). Putting the opening track to this entire era below so many others was really confusing to me, because this was one of my top songs of Folklore for the first few weeks it was out, but unfortunately, it has been slowly overshadowed. There was a lot of pressure on this song, and I do think it did its job well.

#16 Gold Rush

When I was listening to this song, at 11:30pm, for the first time, wearing headphones, and she got to the key change and went "WHAT must it be like to grow up that beautiful", I think I jumped 6 feet out of my chair and I swear I saw God. That was a MOMENT. I'm sorry it falls this low on the list, cuz it really is a great song. The beginning gave me very similar vibes to Mirrorball, but between the two, this one falls lower on my list. Does anyone else think it's about Harry Styles?

#15 Marjorie

Dear Lord, if you let this song take hold of you and you relate to it, it will bring you to tears. SOBS. So gentle, so good, and such a beautiful tribute.

#14 This Is Me Trying

This song became more amazing and equally heart-breaking after watching the Long Pond Studio sessions because I understood the intricacies of it much more after hearing Taylor explain the deepness of the lyrics. Truly incredible and also something I'm sure a lot of people feel personal connections to, which is awesome.

#13 Happiness

I think Happiness is going to emerge as a favorite of mine down the line, and I'm sorry that is has to fall in the double digits area of this list, because I think over time I will grow to like it even more. However, I will say, the peacefulness and the resolve jam-packed into the lyrics of this track are truly magical. So many strong, stand-alone lines. This is one of those tracks where I feel like she's reaching a whole new level of songwriting. *chef's kiss*

#12 Illicit Affairs

This is one of her tracks that I listen to and I get like sad about a made up situation that I have not personally experienced...? But it's just that good and that powerful, and this is one of those bridges that she just absolutely goes IN on. I will never skip this song.

#11 Exile (feat. Bon Iver)

I cried the first time I heard this song, specifically when Bon Iver takes over at the bridge, because THAT was powerful. I love this song very much, and I think it also ushered in a new era of Taylor's writing for me as a listener. Also a nice surprise with Bon Iver coming in as the first collabed track on Folklore (more on him later).

#10 My Tears Ricochet

As another song that I wasn't initially drawn to, I'm very surprised to see this song at this slot in the list. I feel like as far as transcending multiple meanings for one track, this is a top Taylor song if you enjoy picking out easter eggs in the lyrics! As the 5th track on the album, which is a very significant placement for Taylor on every single record, you can tell how much this song means to her.

#9 Invisible String

Invisible String was one of those songs that took me a while to love, but the more I listened to the lyrics, the more I found myself playing it on repeat. It was one of the first songs where I noticed Taylor changing the chorus every time and I thought that was so unique for her song-writing, and it reminded me a lot of All Too Well in that regard (aka, the Taylor Swift song to end all other Taylor Swift songs, and that's that on that).

#8 Mirrorball

Mirrorball is that song that my little ennegram 3 self relates to VERY deeply, and I find it to be one of those light, airy tracks that is incredibly calming, and simultaneously a bop. How does she do that? Let me know.

#7 Dorothea

This song came as a TOTAL surprise to me -- I don't think I would've guessed it would fall into my top 10, but my goodness it is SO catchy. I will be singing this in the car for a long time, and sometimes that's all it takes for it to last in my brain. Those ooooooOO!'s (if you know, you know) really get me. Apparently, according to the TS fan investigative team, it's about Selena Gomez, so try to piece that one together!

#6 Betty

I will be the first to admit, when Folklore came out, the first time I heard this song I thought it was stupid. Please do not drag me. It is now one of those bops that will live in my head rent free for the rest of time. I find myself whistling it and singing it all the dang time. I'm sorry it doesn't fall higher on the list honestly.

#5 Champagne Problems

I think everyone knew when this album released that this song was going to be the heartbreaker hit -- this story is incredibly well-told, the lyrics are intertwined and so well-crafted. Does anyone else think there is a direct parallel to New Years Day? Feeling that similar chord progression?

#4 Cardigan

Cardigan was an instantaneous hit for me on Folklore, and it has held strong as my second favorite song on the album. As the introduction to the connection between itself, August, and Betty, it is such a strong stand-alone track. So many references tied together, and as the face of the album, I think it does its job times ten.

#3 Tolerate It

I am dying to know exactly what this song is about, cuz I haven't quite cracked it or seen anyone talk about it online, but it is so great. Probably my favorite example on this list of a bridge taking things to a new level, and I think the song-writing on display here is top notch, and that's saying a lot becuse this is Taylor Swift we're talking about. This is also the 5th track on the album, and this is such a perfect pick for that important spot.

#2 Evermore (feat. Bon Iver)

This is, without a doubt, in my opinion, the absolute

best.

collab.

Taylor.has.ever.done.period.

This song provides all of the resolution that I have ever needed at the end of an album. Who knew that Bon Iver would end up being the perfect collaborator for Taylor? This is what I think The Last Time (featuring Gary Lightbody) and Everything Has Changed (featuring Ed Sheeran) tried to be and achieve. The best title track, the absolute best cherry on top of any album she has ever produced. I have never felt more whole and at peace than when this album, Evermore, concluded with this track, Evermore.

And finally, the moment you've been waiting for, to unveil the number one track.

*DRUMROLL...*

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#1 August

Here we are, at number one. I knew the second I heard August for the first time that my Leo soul would be connected to it and I would gravitate towards it over all others. I fully expect it to be at the top of my Spotify Top Songs of 2021 List (it was #4 on my 2020 list and I only had a few months to enjoy it)! This is one of those songs that I think every single person listening has a connection to, and add the layers with the story between itself, Betty, and Cardigan, and you've got the best song to come out of this Taylor Swift era. Plus, the bridge? Scream-worthy.

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Now for the fun part: which album prevails as the best? As a reminder, we will be aiming for a low score -- whichever album scores lower is considered to be best. Each ranking is worth the equivalent amount of points, so how do these stack up?

Folklore: 280

Evermore: 248

Well, I am super surprised to say that Evermore prevails as the best album of this era of Taylor Swift's music. I do feel, however, that if you give me another month (like I said on my last list) that this could all change. I am SO hyped to see if Taylor releases Woodvale, a third album to this trilogy, and makes this even more complicated for me. What a great problem to have. Taylor Swift very well may have saved 2020, let us rejoice and be glad.

If you want to listen to this ranking for yourself, check out my Spotify playlist here (I think I'm funny so I covertly named it Woodvale, don't hate me):

PLEASE let me know what you think about this ranking, nothing is more fun than talking about Taylor's music. Also, Taylor, if you're reading this, I love you, thank you.

XO, Kate