Reliving all of her eras at once, by the end of 2023, Taylor Swift stood rightfully in her pop superstardom era. The 34-year-old singer, who began her career at the start of her teens, has come a remarkably long way in an arena full of competition and records that change in the blink of an eye. Standing tall as the sole female to rake in over a billion worth of fortune from her music alone, her phenomenal rise remains a topic worth documenting about with a history spanning across music, entertainment, fashion, and even the sports industries.

Even as the Eras Tour remains the talk of the mouth among current pop culture peak trends, the singer’s march to success came on the backs of heart-tugging lyrics and thought-out music videos. In honor of those traits, here are her ten biggest music video hits.

1. Delicate

Released in 2017, ‘Delicate’ came fresh off ‘Reputation’. Directed by Joseph Kahn and shot over two nights in Los Angeles, the music video pitched a unique angle for Taylor Swift. Wearing a Gatsby-esque blue dress, the story revolves around a girl who goes past her popularity to discover her true self and inner happiness. Becoming ‘invisible’ to others, Swift ‘escaped’ onto the streets and danced as if she cared for none. Featuring prominent landmarks, the video featured direct alludes to her relationship with her now ex, Joe Alwyn.

2. We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together

Shot straight out of her ‘Red’ era, ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ premiered on August 30, 2012, as the lead single from her fourth studio album. Featuring an actor with an eerie resemblance to her ex, Jake Gyllenhaal, the video’s plot follows a girl’s emotional breakup. Earning a CMT Music Award for Best Music Video, the song landed Taylor Swift her first single on the Hot 100 charts. Adorned with signs and hints of moving on, the music video gained widespread popularity.

3. Wildest Dreams

Released on August 30, 2015, and directed again by Joseph Kahn, the ‘Wildest Dreams’ music video debuted on the MTV VMA Awards, 2015. Starring Scott Eastwood as the male protagonist, the video gained rave popularity for the ‘wild’ side of Taylor Swift. Shot in 1950s Africa likeliness, the plot told the story of an actress having an affair with her married co-star while shooting a movie. With speculation that the video hinted at Alexander Skarsgård, the featured panning shots of African landscapes and a flamboyant Swift remain timeless.

4. I Knew You Were Trouble

Landing as the second single from her ‘Red’ album in 2012, the song broke the trope that Taylor Swift can only produce country music. Directed by Anthony Mandler, it went on to win the Best Female Video 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Debuting at number three on Billboard Hot 100 worldwide, the singer played a young woman reflecting on a broken relationship. A good soul getting corrupted, the song painted a sad picture of losing one’s identity to accommodate an unfaithful relationship.

5. Look What You Made Me Do

Released in 2017 and part of her ‘Reputation’ album, the song appeared to directly refer to Taylor Swift and her feud with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian. It showcased the plot of the singer confronting her past personas and growing out of them, stronger than ever before. Premiered at the 2017 MTV VMAs, the song spoke of bejeweled easter eggs. From crashing a Maserati into a light pole, as a reference to ‘Red’ to lying in a bathtub full of gems, the video spoke all-out lavishness.

6. You Belong With Me

Released in 2008, the music video spoke about a love triangle between Taylor Swift, Lucas Till, and a cheerleader. Shot at Pope John Paul II High School in Hendersonville, Tennessee, the video had the singer in the natural curls and loose waves era of her ever-evolving hairdo. Part of her ‘Fearless’ era, the video also earned an award at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. Playing both the protagonist and the antagonist, the shy girl next door just could not help but fall for her neighbor.

7. Bad Blood (feat. Kendrick Lamar)

Premiering at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards on May 17, 2015, the music video debuted Taylor Swift alongside her ‘squad’. Boasting a neo-noir and futuristic flair, it paid homage to several sci-fi classics with Taylor Swift dressed in a costume pointing at The Fifth Element. Being one of the most expensive music videos ever made at a staggering cost of over $13 million, it featured a star-studded cast. Alongside Swift, Selena Gomez, Gigi Hadid, and Zendaya several others left their mark in a tale of vengeance.

8. Love Story

A prime showcase of her ‘Fearless’ era, the music video called back Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet minus the tragic ending. The 2008 release spoke of forbidden love as one fell for the other in a classic case of love at first sight. The modern-day rendition of not-destined-to-be-together featured a heart-tugging tale full of teary flashbacks. One of her earliest works, the video won the CMT Music Awards for Video of the Year.

9. Shake It Off

Prominently entering as a phrase into the modern pop culture lexicon, the music video itself spoke of finding one’s identity. Dancing among professionals, Taylor Swift throws off the idea of ignoring negativity and hate to find profound confidence within oneself. Thereafter, as the singer repeatedly tried to adjust amongst the pros, a metaphorical conclusion oozed out. Finally, the takeaway remained that not everyone was meant to fit into a particular role. The video still stands as an inspiration to any and everyone to find their own self and embrace it.

10. Tim McGraw

‘Tim McGraw’ dropped as the very first Taylor Swift music video for her debut album in her own name. Also starring Clayton Collins, the music video found tremendous relevance amongst young teens and tweens. It had the singer play a girl realizing that her college-bound boyfriend would soon be breaking up with her. Additionally, embellished in her signature country style, the video remains a classic. Purely, a heart-tugger, the song laid the foundation for Taylor Swift’s now mercurial rise.

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