If you're anything like me, you've probably spent the last two months obsessing over folklore, pretending you live in the woods and reminiscing about people you didn't even know. This album has been such a positive part of my year, and it got me thinking about the Taylor I fell in love with as a kid. Here are five tracks from Taylor's earliest albums that I think are worth a second listen.
“Invisible” (album: Taylor Swift)
"Invisible" is the thirteenth track from Swift's debut album, first released all the way back in 2006. I won't even pretend like I don't know every single word, because I do. It's one of my guilty pleasures from this country era of Taylor. Every time I listen to it, I feel like I'm right back in middle school – awkward, unsure, and, yup, invisible. It doesn't have the catchiness of "Teardrops on My Guitar," but what it lacks in pop, it makes up for in punch (as in, right to your stomach). Don't let its title fool you – this song deserves another listen, especially if you're feeling a little nostalgic.
“Change” (album: Fearless)
I'll cut right to the chase; "Change" is an absolute heater. It's my favorite song off of Fearless (2008), and the only song powerful enough to bring this good of an album to a close. A classic underdog anthem, "Change" is kind of a precursor to "Long Live" (but without the tears). I like "Change" because it's straight-up empowering, and it leaves you feeling good. If you can listen to it without getting chills somewhere around 3:34, let me know.
“Innocent” (album: Speak Now)
The eleventh song off of Speak Now (2010), "Innocent" is actually written about and dedicated to Kanye West. Taylor wrote this song after West stormed the stage during the 2009 VMAs, right after she had received the award for the year's best music video. This is a deeply personal track and, while it makes specific references to West, it also tells us a lot about Taylor's maturity at such a young age. "Innocent" is beautiful in lyric, meaning, and execution. Eleven out of ten.
“The Last Time” (album: Red)
Prior to writing this article, I had probably only ever listened to this song once, maybe twice. It's a downer, not gonna lie. I took a closer look at the lyrics to get a better feel of what it's all about, and I was pretty blown away by the depth of emotion Taylor brings to the track. "The Last One" also features Gary Lightbody, who you might know from the band Snow Patrol ("Chasing Cars," anyone?). Red (2012) is arguably one of Taylor's most accomplished albums, as well as one of her longest. If you're looking to revisit Red, "The Last Time" is a song you shouldn't skip.
“This Love” (album: 1989)
1989 (2014) is absolutely packed with hits, from "Shake It Off" to "Blank Space." "This Love" is a quietly beautiful response to the first half of the album, echoing back a peaceful reverberance that delicately contrasts the dance tracks we're already familiar with. It's a beautifully written track and the album's third-to-last. I have a major soft spot for 1989, and "This Love" is one of my favorites. If you're enjoying folklore, give this song a second chance. I promise you won't regret it.
