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SPREAD DESIGN BY GRACE HU
COUNTRY
SWIFT STAGES
RANKING CRITERIA 1. Music quality 2. Memorability of era 3. Effort put into tour & aesthetics
GRACE HU editor in chief
illustration by | GRACE HU
Panorama ranks the different eras of popular musician Taylor Swift’s career
1
FOLKLORE 2020
images courtesy of bbc
“folklore” is a gorgeous display of Taylor Swift’s musical skill. The album is a complete shift from Swift’s previous pop-heavy discography and is composed of folksy, indie songs that each highlight a unique narrative. “betty,” “august” and “cardigan” tell the story of a teenage romance, and “the last great american dynasty” relays the true history behind Swift’s Rhode Island home. Every song on the album is masterfully crafted and is a clear example of Swift at her songwriting best. Although Swift is unable to perform live shows and go on tour, she still delivers stunning music videos, merchandise and other visuals that create a distinct, cottagecore aesthetic marked by black and white, cardigans, and forest imagery for the “folklore” era. While “folklore” isn’t Swift’s flashiest era, the musical genius, memorability and aesthetics of “folklore” boosts this era to the top of the list.
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1989 2014
image courtesy of insider.com
“1989” is the most memorable Taylor Swift era. With the release of “1989,” Swift transitioned from a country artist to a pop star with iconic tracks like “Blank Space,” “Style,” “Shake It Off” and “Bad Blood.” The “1989” era is even more memorable due to the star-studded music videos that racked up billions of views and a massive world tour with countless celebrity guests, massive media coverage and iconic outfits. Every song on the album is catchy and another display of Swift’s musical mastery, and this era’s unique aesthetic and impressive world tour land it right below “folklore.”
3
SPEAK NOW
2010
image courtesy of insider.com
“Speak Now” cemented Swift’s status as a talented young musician with a huge amount of potential. The album was an introduction to a more serious Swift, and takes on a mature, melancholy tone. The songs deal largely with heartbreak, guilt and anger in Swift’s personal life. Emotional and well-written tracks, including “Back to December,” “Dear John” and “Mean” move this era farther up on the list. Additionally, the critically acclaimed world tour boasted a number of beautiful outfits including the “Enchanted” flowy cream dress and also introduced Swift’s iconic red lip look.
