Every From The Vault song by Taylor Swift, definitively ranked from worst to best

No prizes for guessing what number one is

6 months ago

Look, I support Taylor Swift rerecording her first six albums as much as the next Swiftie for all the right reasons – she deserves to own the masters to her music. But let us call a spade a spade for a second and confess that the entire project would be a million times more boring if each of the albums didn’t come with a bunch of never before heard songs. What could be better than getting more songs from albums you love with all your heart? Not much, tbh. Some are life changing, some are forgettable – here are all of the Vault tracks by Taylor Swift, ranked from worst to best.

26. Castles Crumbling [featuring Hayley Williams] – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

When I saw Hayley THEE Williams on the lineup for the Speak Now Vault tracks, I was ecstatic. What a combo. I love Taylor, I love Paramore – this is going to be life changing. What a dismay to then get my ears around what is the most boring and forgettable song either of them have released in ages. Ranked last out of all the Vault tracks just because of how much of a wasted opportunity it feels – shame on you Taylor Swift!

25. When Emma Falls In Love – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Boring, maudlin, uninteresting piano, bland lyrics. We don’t know Emma and we do not care. If it isn’t the Folklore love triangle saga, I don’t want it.

24. Timeless – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

It’s very telling of my general consensus on Speak Now that of all the Taylor Swift Vault tracks, half of Speak Now’s newbies are ranked at the bottom of the pile. This one is overly sentimental. The fight in the war lyrics make me die.

23. Foolish One – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

It’s a bit AI-generated Taylor Swift guitar song sounding – you’ve heard the beat a million times, and the lyrics aren’t anything special, but it’s still a decent enough extra for the Speak Now diehards.

22. Suburban Legends – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

My least fave of the latest batch of Vault tracks we recently got upon the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) thanks to its cringe name and Midnights-esque production. It doesn’t have that euphoric wow punch that makes 1989 one of Taylor’s best. The synth is too muted. Still, it’s got a good build to it – until she ruins it with the awful “Tick tock on the clock” lyric.

21. Run [featuring Ed Sheeran] – Red (Taylor’s Version)

From now on, I actually think all of the Vault tracks are decent. But of all the decent ones, this is my least fave. It’s not even because it’s got Ed Sheeran on it – I do not hate most of his and Taylor’s collabs unlike most of my gay male peers. This is just one of their most forgettable, even though their voices sound nice together.

20. Electric Touch [featuring Fall Out Boy] – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

Wasn’t keen on this when I first heard it but on repeat listens you’d be simply miserable to not want to belt its belter of a chorus. Patrick Stump’s vocals go pretty hard.

19. Say Don’t Go – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Good song here. The melody on the pre chorus is so perfectly longing. I actually feel like this sounds more of a Red song than a 1989 one, but I still think it’s a bop. Kind of sounds like Forever Winter.

18. Don’t You – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

The least great Fearless Vault track is still great. My qualm here is that the production feels too modern and not Fearless enough, if that makes any sense at all to other ears than mine. It feels too Jack Antonoff – something I just don’t want from older era Taylor songs.

17. “Slut!” – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

The title of this song got everyone whipped into a frenzy, but the anticipated big banger is actually introspective and brooding. Not an instant ear worm but with multiple listens it quietly reveals its quality.

16. Babe – Red (Taylor’s Version)

Gorgeous little strummer, this one. Will never leave your head. A bit underrated. Nice to see Big Miss Steak getting a shoutout in the lyrics!

15. We Were Happy – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

I love this one so much because it truly feels like a Fearless relic. You can practically imagine Taylor of that era writing it and weeping as she does. A proper nostalgia-fest with a gorgeous build to it.

14. Bye Bye Baby – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Like We Were Happy, Bye Bye Baby just FEELS Fearless in all the best ways. Perfect way to end a new version of the album that made you a superstar – kind of feels like she’s saying bye to a baby version of herself, too.

13. Now That We Don’t Talk – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Everything you’d want from a 1989 Vault track. Synths? Check. Thumping beat? Check. Main pop girl delivery? CHECK.

12. I Bet You Think About Me [featuring Chris Stapleton] – Red (Taylor’s Version)

Not the duet we wanted but the duet we needed. Just works so bloody well. The final minute of it especially just hits so good. Obviously got overshadowed by a certain 10 minute behemoth but deserves love in its own right.

11. Is It Over Now? – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)

Managed to get to number one on the UK Official Singles Chart without even being released as a single, such is Taylor’s Swiftian power. It’s the best song out of all the 1989 Vault tracks Taylor Swift released, but has just missed out on a spot in the top 10. I’ve always been a sucker for the way Taylor and Jack manage to make songs that build euphorically and that, to me, is such a 1989 quality. The final third of this song is its special weapon.

10. That’s When [featuring Keith Urban] – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

Had no clue that I would ever give this much of a crap about a Taylor and Keith Urban collab, but such is That’s When’s power! I love this chorus so much. Classic Taylor. An instant fave in 2021 that still holds its own against the best of the Vault tracks.

9. Nothing New [featuring Phoebe Bridgers] – Red (Taylor’s Version)

Two of the best singer songwriters working today coming together to devastate us in ways only those two could, Nothing New meets all the expectations you’d have for a collab of this magnitude. Without feeling too much of a Phoebe song and without Phoebe trying to sound Taylor-y, Nothing New meets their styles perfectly in the middle and the result is incredible. “How can a person know everything at 18 but nothing at 22” is TOO good.

8. Better Man – Red (Taylor’s Version)

How on earth this was left on the cutting room floor of Red but the likes of Stay Stay Stay got pride of place is beyond me, because this is utterly outstanding. Her vocals are just so full of character and heart here, never gets old.

7. Message in a Bottle – Red (Taylor’s Version)

Pop nonsense. It’s objectively quite garbage but subjectively pure brilliance. I listen to this silly little pop fluff song all the goddamn time. If you don’t like it you’re just being a misery arse. “Thee-EEE-eese days I’m restless / work days are endless”? Turn the bloody heat up!

6. Forever Winter – Red (Taylor’s Version)

A Christmas song. And a bloody good one at that. Pre chorus is a career highlight, idgaf.

5. I Can See You – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)

The shining jewel in the Speak Now Vault tracks. How can you not be stirred by the delicious twang of that guitar? Driving to this must feel like the most powerful thing a human being can do. The rest of the Speak Now Vault tracks should have taken a leaf out of this one’s book because it slaps beyond belief.

4. The Very First Night – Red (Taylor’s Version)

Oh this is pop music, girlies. PAWP. MUSIC. Serotonin courses through my veins every time I tap my silly little foot to the pre-chorus and the polaroid picture. Not enough commotion for this bop of the highest order for my liking.

3. You All Over Me [featuring Maren Morris] – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

We did not know we were born when Taylor Swift gave us the first two Vault tracks ever, both ranked comfortably to this day in the top three. Just a truly beautiful song. Feels like a warm brew in the morning. Adore it. “The best and worst day of June was the one that I met you” is toooooooo good.

2. Mr Perfectly Fine – Fearless (Taylor’s Version)

How on earth Taylor Swift sat on this annihilation of Joe Jonas for all these years is beyond me. It’s one of her best songs ever. I know some people think all of the Vault tracks released and ranked here are just kind of nice little inessential additions to the Taylor Swift canon, but Mr Perfectly Fine is as necessary as any of her biggest singles. It’s perfect. 10 out of 10.

1. All Too Well (10 Minute Version) – Red (Taylor’s Version)

How do you make your best song ever and most acclaimed masterpiece of songwriting double in length and double in quality? Like this. I don’t think any other singer in the world could improve on their magnum opus to this level, a perfect extension of a perfect song that makes the original feel like it was always missing this completely devastating masterclass in artistry. The heartbreak unfolds so brilliantly and movingly that it stops you in your tracks. So glad it got to number one. A real win for music. Number one could be nothing else – this is the best Taylor Swift song of all time.

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