Taylor Swift Music Videos: A Complete Chronological List
Hey Swifties, gather 'round! Ever found yourself scrolling through YouTube, wanting to relive the magic of Taylor Swift's incredible music video journey, but got lost in the shuffle? You're not alone, guys! Taylor has blessed us with so many visually stunning and story-rich videos over the years, each one a masterpiece in its own right. From her early country roots to her pop domination and now her indie-folk eras, her music videos are more than just visuals; they're narratives that deepen our understanding and appreciation of her artistry. That's why we've put together this definitive, in-order list of Taylor Swift's music videos, so you can easily navigate through her visual discography. Whether you're a day-one fan or just discovering the magic, get ready to press play and dive deep into the world of Taylor Swift's iconic music videos. Let's get this party started!
The Early Country Days: From Debut to Fearless
When Taylor Swift first burst onto the scene, her music videos were the perfect visual accompaniment to her heartfelt country tunes. These early gems capture her youthful charm and burgeoning storytelling prowess. The very first music video that introduced us to Taylor was for "Tim McGraw", released in 2006. It sets the tone perfectly, featuring a young Taylor reminiscing about a past love, with grainy, home-video-style shots adding to the nostalgic feel. It’s a simple yet powerful introduction to her narrative style. Following this, we got the video for "Teardrops on My Guitar", another classic that perfectly embodies the pangs of unrequited love that resonated with so many. The video portrays her crush oblivious to her feelings, a relatable scenario for many.
Then came the era of Fearless, and with it, some truly iconic videos. "Our Song", released in late 2007, is pure, unadulterated fun. It’s energetic, vibrant, and showcases Taylor's playful side with scenes of her performing, dancing, and interacting with friends. This video really cemented her image as America's sweetheart. The video for "Picture to Burn" is another standout from this period, showcasing a more defiant and sassy Taylor. Despite the controversy around its lyrics, the video itself is a visually engaging depiction of a breakup, complete with a dramatic car burning scene – talk about making a statement!
Moving into 2008 and 2009, the Fearless era continued to deliver. The video for "Love Story" is, without a doubt, one of her most beloved. It's a fairytale come to life, transporting us to a medieval setting where Taylor, dressed in stunning gowns, experiences a romance straight out of a Shakespearean play, complete with a balcony scene and a proposal. This video was a massive hit and helped propel her into superstardom, demonstrating her ability to craft epic visual narratives. The accompanying video for "You Belong With Me", released in 2009, is equally iconic. It masterfully portrays the classic 'girl next door' versus the 'popular girl' trope, with Taylor playing both roles. The video is relatable, charming, and features unforgettable scenes like her dancing in her bedroom and the epic prom showdown. It perfectly captured the essence of teenage angst and longing. These early videos are not just a trip down memory lane; they are crucial in understanding the foundation of Taylor Swift's artistic evolution, showing her innate talent for visual storytelling and her deep connection with her audience right from the start. They are pure, nostalgic gold, guys!
The Pop Transition: Speak Now and Red
As Taylor Swift continued to mature as an artist, her music videos began to reflect a more sophisticated approach, bridging the gap between her country roots and her inevitable pop dominance. The Speak Now era, while still rooted in country-pop, saw some significant visual upgrades. The video for "Mine", released in 2010, was a beautiful departure. It tells a charming story of a young couple building a life together, interspersed with flashbacks of their relationship's ups and downs. The scenic countryside shots and the heartwarming narrative made it a fan favorite, showcasing a more mature and romantic side. Then came the video for "The Story of Us". This one is a bit more playful and chaotic, set in a library where Taylor and her love interest engage in a silent, comical war of notes and glances, leading to a hilariously disruptive scene. It highlights her ability to blend humor and romance.
However, it was the Red era, kicking off in 2012, that truly signaled Taylor's full-fledged transition into pop music, and her music videos were right there with her, becoming grander and more cinematic. The video for "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together", her first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, is pure pop exuberance. It's colorful, quirky, and features Taylor in various playful outfits, essentially telling the world that she's done with a certain on-again, off-again relationship. It’s a fun, defiant anthem brought to life with vibrant visuals. The video for "I Knew You Were Trouble." marked a significant aesthetic shift. With its gritty, urban setting, dramatic editing, and Taylor embracing a more rebellious, edgy persona, it felt like a preview of the pop icon she was about to become. The iconic scene of her running through a field and the later dramatic fallout showed a new level of intensity in her visual storytelling. It was a bold statement, guys, that she was evolving.
Perhaps the most defining video of the Red era, and a massive turning point, is "22". Released in 2013, this video is pure joy. It captures the essence of youthful freedom, friendship, and carefree fun with Taylor and her friends engaging in sleepovers, dancing in silly outfits, and generally living their best lives. It’s an infectious celebration of being young and carefree, and it cemented the song as a party anthem. The video for "Everything Has Changed", featuring Ed Sheeran, offered a softer, more intimate glimpse into young love, with a charming, storybook aesthetic that contrasted with the bolder statements of other Red videos. It brought back a touch of that tender, relatable romance. The Red era music videos were pivotal, showcasing Taylor's versatility and her undeniable knack for creating visuals that not only matched but amplified the emotional and sonic landscape of her music, paving the way for her global pop takeover.
The 1989 Era: Global Pop Domination
Get ready, guys, because the 1989 era was where Taylor Swift truly cemented her status as a global pop superstar, and her music videos from this period are nothing short of spectacular. Released in 2014, the album 1989 was a complete sonic and visual departure, embracing synth-pop and a distinctly New York City vibe. The videos from this era are characterized by their high production value, star-studded cameos, and Taylor’s confident, glamorous persona. The lead single, "Shake It Off", released in 2014, perfectly set the tone. This video is an absolute explosion of color, quirky dance moves, and playful scenarios, featuring Taylor in various costumes and settings, from ballet studios to hip-hop dance battles. It’s an anthem of resilience and self-acceptance, and the video is pure, unadulterated fun that anyone can relate to. It’s all about ignoring the haters and just dancing it out!
The video for "Blank Space", also released in 2014, is a stroke of genius. It’s a satirical take on the media's portrayal of Taylor as a man-eater, and it’s absolutely brilliant. Taylor plays a seemingly perfect, yet unhinged, socialite who goes to extreme, hilarious lengths in her relationships. The opulent setting, the dramatic shifts in her character, and the iconic final scene with the cake and the dog are unforgettable. This video demonstrated Taylor's sharp wit and her ability to poke fun at herself and the public narrative surrounding her. It's a masterclass in visual storytelling and social commentary, guys.
As we moved into 2015, the 1989 era continued to deliver bangers. The video for "Style" is sleek, sophisticated, and effortlessly cool. It embodies the essence of the song with its minimalist aesthetic, featuring Taylor in glamorous, high-fashion looks, often set against stark, modern backdrops. It captures a sense of timeless allure and undeniable magnetism, making it one of her most visually striking videos. Then came the epic video for "Bad Blood", featuring an all-star cast of female celebrities. This video is pure action-packed fantasy, portraying Taylor and her squad as fierce, combat-ready women taking on a rival group. It’s a visual spectacle of explosions, fight scenes, and powerful female camaraderie, celebrating friendship and empowerment in the most dramatic way possible. It was a cultural moment, for sure!
Rounding out the major 1989 singles, the video for "Wildest Dreams" is cinematic and breathtaking. Set in the African savanna during the mid-20th century, it’s a visually stunning piece that evokes old Hollywood glamour and intense, passionate romance. The sweeping landscapes and Taylor’s dramatic performance create a sense of epic, forbidden love. It’s a beautiful, artistic film in its own right. The 1989 era music videos weren't just videos; they were events. They showcased Taylor Swift at the height of her pop powers, delivering high-concept, visually stunning, and culturally relevant content that solidified her global superstardom. This era truly defined the modern music video as a form of art and entertainment.
The Darker, Edgy Turn: Reputation and Lover
After the dazzling heights of 1989, Taylor Swift plunged into a darker, more complex sonic and visual territory with the Reputation album, released in 2017. The music videos from this era reflect themes of reclaiming her narrative, confronting public scrutiny, and embracing a more powerful, almost intimidating persona. The lead single, "Look What You Made Me Do", dropped like a bombshell. The video is a maximalist masterpiece, packed with symbolism and callbacks to her past eras, all presented with a sinister, dramatic flair. Taylor plays multiple versions of herself, from zombie-like figures to regal queens, each representing a different aspect of her public image and her fight against criticism. It’s a bold, defiant statement piece that left everyone talking, guys. This video was all about taking control of her narrative.
Following this, the video for "...Ready For It?" took us into a futuristic, cyberpunk world. Taylor, as a powerful, almost robotic figure, navigates a neon-drenched cityscape. The visuals are stunningly dark and intense, showcasing a powerful, almost dangerous version of herself. It’s a stark contrast to her previous bright, bubbly videos and emphasized the album's themes of resilience and strength. The video for "End Game", featuring Ed Sheeran and Future, offered a more glamorous, big-city vibe, with scenes of Taylor enjoying the nightlife in various major cities, projecting an image of confident, global success. It showed a different facet of the Reputation era, one of enjoying the fruits of her hard-earned fame.
In contrast, the video for "Delicate" offered a softer, more vulnerable glimpse within the Reputation era. Set in a rain-soaked New York City, Taylor finds herself alone and unnoticed, before eventually connecting with a mysterious stranger. It’s a beautifully shot, intimate video that highlights themes of finding connection amidst loneliness and public pressure. It was a much-needed breath of fresh air, showing the human side behind the Reputation persona. The entire Reputation era's visual strategy was about reclaiming power and confronting the narratives that had been imposed upon her, and the music videos were the perfect vehicle for this powerful transformation.
Transitioning to the Lover album in 2019, Taylor brought back a vibrant, pastel-infused aesthetic, but with a mature, whimsical charm. The video for "ME!", featuring Brendon Urie, was an explosion of color and joy. It's an incredibly fun, almost cartoonish video filled with glitter, cats, and a kaleidoscope of pastels, celebrating self-love and individuality. It’s pure, unadulterated happiness captured on screen. The video for "You Need To Calm Down" took a more direct approach, tackling homophobia and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a vibrant, empowering anthem with a star-studded music video that culminates in Taylor’s own ‘Equality’ rally. It was a powerful message of acceptance and pride, guys, delivered with Taylor’s signature flair. The video for "Lover" itself is a beautifully crafted, dreamy escape, where Taylor and her love interest live in a magical, storybook house filled with different rooms representing stages of their relationship. It’s romantic, cozy, and utterly enchanting, showcasing a softer, more domestic side of love.
The Lover era’s videos, while visually distinct from Reputation, continued to showcase Taylor’s evolving artistry and her willingness to use her platform for important messages. They balanced whimsical fun with meaningful statements, proving that Taylor Swift's music videos are not just entertainment; they are evolving artistic statements.
The Indie Era: folklore and evermore
In 2020, Taylor Swift surprised the world with a sudden pivot to a more introspective, indie-folk sound with the surprise albums folklore and evermore. This shift was mirrored in her music videos, which moved away from high-concept, star-studded productions towards more intimate, cinematic, and storytelling-focused visuals. The music video for "cardigan", released in 2020 alongside folklore, is a beautiful, melancholic journey. Taylor wanders through a magical, ethereal forest and travels between different timelines and memories, symbolized by a single piano. The visuals are soft, dreamlike, and deeply emotional, perfectly capturing the song's themes of lost love and nostalgia. It feels like stepping into a forgotten memory, guys.
Following this, the music video for "willow", the lead single from evermore (also released in 2020), continued this intimate, mystical aesthetic. Directed by Taylor herself, the video follows her as she searches for a lost love, guided by a glowing, golden string. She journeys through enchanted forests, taverns, and mystical realms, eventually finding her way to her beloved. The visuals are breathtakingly beautiful, rich with symbolism and a sense of quiet magic. It’s a truly mesmerizing piece that showcases Taylor's directorial vision and her ability to create captivating visual narratives with a more grounded, yet fantastical, feel.
While these two albums didn't have the typical string of pop-centric music videos, their visual storytelling was incredibly powerful. The videos for "The 1" and "exile" (featuring Bon Iver) also provided evocative visual companions, albeit more in the form of lyric videos or performance clips that maintained the album's atmospheric tone. For folklore and evermore, the focus wasn't on elaborate sets or celebrity cameos, but on creating an immersive mood and deepening the emotional resonance of the songs. These videos are a testament to Taylor Swift’s artistic range, proving she can captivate audiences with quiet intensity and profound storytelling just as effectively as with chart-topping pop anthems. It's a reminder that her artistry extends far beyond catchy hooks; it's about crafting entire worlds for her listeners to inhabit.
The Re-Recordings Era: A Nostalgic Journey
Taylor Swift's decision to re-record her first six albums has not only been a monumental moment for her career and her fans but has also brought a wave of nostalgia and new visual content. While the focus has been on reclaiming her music, the re-recording process has also seen the release of new music videos for vault tracks and reimagined versions of beloved songs. The video for "Love Story (Taylor's Version)" gave us a beautiful, reminiscent look back at the original, but with a slightly more mature and polished feel, staying true to the fairytale essence. It was a sweet nod to where it all began.
However, the true visual excitement came with the re-recording of Red. The video for "I Bet You Think About Me" (featuring Chris Stapleton), released in 2021, was a directorial debut for Taylor and a hilarious, dramatic masterpiece. Starring Miles Teller, the video depicts a chaotic, yet comedic, wedding where Taylor, as the scorned ex, crashes the party to remind the groom of their past. It’s full of witty one-liners, stunning visuals, and a perfect blend of humor and heartbreak, showcasing a more mature comedic timing and directorial flair. This video proved Taylor could direct with the best of them, guys!
The release of "All Too Well: The Short Film", also in 2021, accompanying the 10-minute version of "All Too Well", was perhaps the most significant visual project of the re-recordings. Starring Sadie Sink and Dylan O'Brien, this short film is a cinematic exploration of the intense, heartbreaking narrative of the song. It’s beautifully shot, emotionally raw, and delves deep into the complexities of a tumultuous relationship. The film gained critical acclaim and was a powerful reminder of Taylor’s songwriting prowess and her ability to translate complex emotions into visual art. It felt like the ultimate culmination of the Red era’s storytelling.
More recently, the re-recording of 1989 brought us the video for "Wildest Dreams (Taylor's Version)". While not a new concept, this video is a beautifully edited montage of the original's most iconic shots, offering a slightly different, perhaps more refined, aesthetic that aligns with the re-recorded version. It serves as a nostalgic encore for fans of the 1989 era. The Re-Recordings Era videos are special because they allow fans to revisit cherished moments while also experiencing new artistic interpretations. They are a celebration of Taylor Swift's legacy, her enduring artistry, and her unwavering connection with her fanbase. It’s like getting a bonus chapter in the story we all know and love.
The Future is Bright: What's Next for Taylor Swift's Music Videos?
As we’ve journeyed through the chronological order of Taylor Swift’s music videos, from her humble beginnings to her global pop domination and her recent artistic detours, one thing is crystal clear: her visual artistry is as dynamic and evolving as her music. Taylor Swift's music videos are a crucial part of her legacy, offering fans deeper insights into her songwriting, her personal journey, and her incredible ability to connect with audiences on an emotional level. We've seen her transform from a country ingenue to a pop icon, an indie storyteller, and a masterful director, all through the lens of her music videos.
What does the future hold? Given Taylor’s constant innovation and her passion for storytelling, we can only anticipate even more groundbreaking visual experiences. Whether she continues to explore directorial roles, collaborates with visionary artists, or surprises us with entirely new aesthetic directions, her music videos will undoubtedly remain essential viewing for fans worldwide. Each release is a chance for her to push boundaries, experiment with new technologies, and reinforce her status as a true artist who understands the power of visual media. We can’t wait to see what she cooks up next, guys! Until then, this comprehensive list should keep your Swiftie hearts busy. Keep streaming, keep watching, and keep celebrating the incredible journey of Taylor Swift!
