Taylor Swift Album RD Series #4: Red (Finished!!!)

[bboat11]

Jun 10, 2018 14:13:16 GMT -5 austin said:

Jun 10, 2018 14:02:50 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Lol I feel like I might need to ask you how old you are... Have you been 22 at any time since this album was released?

I am 30 now, I was 24 when it first came out. I moreso meant it doesn’t have the longevity of Trouble or WANEGBT as far as her career hits go.

Okay, because as somebody who managed to survive turning 22 a few years after this album came out, I can assure you that as long as Taylor Swift has fans that are turning 22, this song will not be forgotten Lmao I lost count of how many times people asked me if I was feeling 22! It was a dark, scary year... My 23rd birthday was one of the best days of my life.

[Mayman]

Although I didn't participate, I hope IKYWT wins but I could see ATW winning.

Tag me when the 1989 rankdown happens!

[deepston]

I'm not a fan of "22" but every friend of mine sings this song when they turn 22 and people share it all over Facebook. And we're from Portugal where Taylor didn't see nearly as much success as in the US.
If this isn't an iconic song, I don't know what is.

[bat1990]

I think State of Grace may pull a surprise win. I think enough people tanked Trouble or All Too Well to put them on top.

[bboat11]

Jun 10, 2018 18:52:45 GMT -5 bat1990 said:

I think State of Grace may pull a surprise win. I think enough people tanked Trouble or All Too Well to put them on top.

I would be 100% here for a surprise "State of Grace" victory! Especially because it would be so unexpected! But the song is definitely good enough

[fearlessarrow]

Jun 10, 2018 14:48:45 GMT -5 bboat11 said:

Jun 10, 2018 14:13:16 GMT -5 austin said:

I am 30 now, I was 24 when it first came out. I moreso meant it doesn’t have the longevity of Trouble or WANEGBT as far as her career hits go.

Okay, because as somebody who managed to survive turning 22 a few years after this album came out, I can assure you that as long as Taylor Swift has fans that are turning 22, this song will not be forgotten Lmao I lost count of how many times people asked me if I was feeling 22! It was a dark, scary year... My 23rd birthday was one of the best days of my life.

My friends all turned 22 this year and we play this song for every single person's birthday. It's the first song that gets played at midnight. Most of them don't even like the song lol, but it's remembered for sure.

[fearlessarrow]

You might have noticed that I posted something. Which means....

[Who The Hell Is Leo?✔]

YES! I'm here!

[fearlessarrow]

#5 is the 5th highest SD.

[Glove Slap]

Despite its chart underperformance, 22 is one of her more enduring songs. I certainly think it will (and has) hold up in consciousness more strongly than bigger hits like Wildest Dreams & Bad Blood tbh.

[fearlessarrow]

#5: "State of Grace"

Points: 595

Average: 8.1

Standard Deviation: 5.092 (5th highest SD)
Hidden Message: I love you doesn't count after goodbye
Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #13



The opener of the album and one of the promotional tracks just barely makes the top 5 (which I'm really thrilled that it was able to come this far because there are tankers with poor taste, you know  ). This was released as the last promotional single before the album release, where it peaked at Taylor's favorite number, #13. This song is rumored to be about Jake Gyllenhaal because of the "just twin fire signs, four blue eyes" line. I didn't really appreciate this song upon its release, but I came around to loving this track around a year after the album was released. I personally really like the indie/alternative vibe she took with this song, and I think this showcases her versatility.

Ranks:
astorknight - 1
nickd - 1
Glove Slap - 2
#brayden - 2
bat1990 - 2
Tim - 2
Normi - 2
fearlessarrow - 3
@ioshirai - 3
cerulean - 3
sergejdordij - 3
Sambalada - 3
Zeebz - 4
snarks - 4
Troublemaker - 4
CF15 - 5
SHOOTER - 5
ry4n - 5
@walker9 - 5
deepston - 5
alexcuse - 5
bboat11 - 6
Mylo13 💜 - 6
awesomecharts - 7
castleoblivion26 - 7
someguy - 7
Lux ◢ ◤ - 8
fmbf101 - 9
kacpe3 - 9
Zach - 9
Choco - 9
@mirza - 10
dub - 10
.indulgecountry - 10
surfy - 11
rgreen0625 - 11
Kanenrá:ke - 12
zaclord 🌈 - 12
Cody Wants Out... - 12
samo🦕 - 12
toomuchboy - 13
austin - 14
Who The Hell Is Leo?✔ - 14
†ealsünset - 15
@doinktheclown - 16
Au$tin - 16
born - 17
💎 𝑔𝓋 💎 - 17
@drakeisskinny - 18
kf1992 - 19

[Deleted]

Damnit. Rooting for Red to win now.

[deepston]

born you're canceled.

[Deleted]

I love this song don't get me wrong but I loved everything else more

[Tim]

"State of Grace" has always been one of my jams and a song that I love running to...glad to see it make the top 5 at least!

[Glove Slap]

Ugh. This crushes all her other openers put together.

[deepston]

astorknight - 1
nickd - 1
Glove Slap - 2
#brayden - 2
bat1990 - 2
tim - 2
Normi - 2
fearlessarrow - 3
ioshirai - 3
cerulean - 3
sergejdordij - 3
Sambalada - 3
Zebra. - 4
snarks - 4
Troublemaker - 4
chartfanatic15 - 5
Shooter - 5
ry4n - 5
gravey - 5
deepston - 5
alexcuse - 5

All people with good taste. Except for gravey,

[fearlessarrow]

Jun 10, 2018 21:20:35 GMT -5 @walker9 said:

Damnit. Rooting for Red to win now.

I was actually pleasantly surprised that you had this in the top 5. I thought you would think it was boring for some reason!

[Deleted]

Jun 10, 2018 21:27:04 GMT -5 deepston said:

astorknight - 1
nickd - 1
Glove Slap - 2
#brayden - 2
bat1990 - 2
tim - 2
Normi - 2
fearlessarrow - 3
ioshirai - 3
cerulean - 3
sergejdordij - 3
Sambalada - 3
Zebra. - 4
snarks - 4
Troublemaker - 4
chartfanatic15 - 5
Shooter - 5
ry4n - 5
gravey - 5
deepston - 5
alexcuse - 5

All people with good taste. Except for gravey,

Why cross me out. At least I had it high.

[CF15]

Perfect ranking, at least...

[deepston]

Jun 10, 2018 21:26:56 GMT -5 Glove Slap said:

Ugh. This crushes all her other openers put together.

Welcome To New York is so much fun though
But agreed.

[fearlessarrow]

Jun 10, 2018 21:33:10 GMT -5 deepston said:

Jun 10, 2018 21:26:56 GMT -5 Glove Slap said:

Ugh. This crushes all her other openers put together.

Welcome To New York is so much fun though
But agreed.

I'd put "State of Grace" and "Fearless" at the top. I've always had a soft spot for "Fearless" (the song).

[fearlessarrow]

#4: "Begin Again"

Points: 641

Average: 7.18

Standard Deviation: 4.706
Hidden Message: I wear heels
Billboard Hot 100 Peak: #7



Eliminated next is "Begin Again", which was almost 50 points ahead of "State of Grace", and it is also 49 points behind the #3, so it was pretty set for a #4 finish for a while. I think this is the best album closer Taylor has had ("Clean" is a close second for me), ending on a brighter note and having her faith in love restored. This song is rumored to be about Conor Kennedy, as were a couple of other songs on the album. "Begin Again" debuted at its peak position of #7 on the Billboard Hot 100, and went on to peak at #3 on country radio (it did peak at #1 on Mediabase though, remember that big push to #1 on country radio, country posters?). It was also nominated for Best Country Song at the 2014 Grammy Awards.

Ranks:
.indulgecountry - 1
born - 1
bat1990 - 1
Troublemaker - 2
astorknight - 2
Mylo13 💜 - 2
Zeebz - 2
@mirza - 2
zaclord 🌈 - 2
awesomecharts - 3
bboat11 - 3
samo🦕 - 3
Tim - 3
#brayden - 3
Kanenrá:ke - 3
kacpe3 - 4
Lux ◢ ◤ - 4
surfy - 5
Sambalada - 5
Who The Hell Is Leo?✔ - 5
fearlessarrow - 6
dub - 6
Zach - 6
@ioshirai - 6
💎 𝑔𝓋 💎 - 7
†ealsünset - 7
rgreen0625 - 7
snarks - 7
Choco - 7
ry4n - 7
fmbf101 - 8
cerulean - 8
nickd - 8
sergejdordij - 8
castleoblivion26 - 8
@doinktheclown - 9
Cody Wants Out... - 10
someguy - 10
Glove Slap - 10
Normi - 10
alexcuse - 12
austin - 12
CF15 - 13
@drakeisskinny - 14
deepston - 14
SHOOTER - 15
@walker9 - 16
kf1992 - 16
Au$tin - 17
toomuchboy - 19

[nickd]

My favourite openers

State of Grace > Fearless > Mine > Ready For It > Welcome To New York > Tim McGraw

Nothing against Welcome To New York especially the tour version but her openers are really good.

[Who The Hell Is Leo?✔]

Beautiful song.

[CF15]

This is a good one, but the album had much better to offer. Can my #18 not win, please?

[Glove Slap]

This is my favorite of her closers too. I put it where I did because I instantly gravitated towards the more adventurous tracks, but this was a solid reminder of her roots.

[deepston]

No way this bore is her best album closer.
Clean is that gem that is above and beyond every closer of her albums.

[Deleted]

WOW. State of Grace got ROBBED.

[nickd]

My favourite closers

Long Live > Begin Again > Our Song > Clean > New Years Day > Change