Taylor Swift’s Eras: Every Era Explained

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Taylor Swift consistently leaves her mark on music history with every move she makes. A recent example of this is her The Eras Tour Film, which premiered on October 11th and is set for official release on October 13th. Taylor’s Eras tour isn’t just a success for her; it’s a landmark moment in the history of music. It comes as no surprise that her film has generated over $100 million in pre-sales, as reported by AMC, leading up to last week.

One of the key factors behind Taylor’s immense popularity lies in her ability to provide the perfect song for any occasion. Whether you’re in love, going through a breakup, seeking revenge, or experiencing any other emotion, Taylor has a song that speaks to you. LOS40 USA and De Película present a special feature on Taylor Swift ahead of the premiere of her film, ‘The Eras of Taylor.’ We’ve previously explored facts every Sweftie should know about Taylor, and now it’s time to delve into the significance of each of her distinct eras.

Throughout her career, Taylor has released a total of 10 albums, each showing her personal and musical evolution. Consequently, each album carries its unique theme and aesthetic, effectively serving as a personal diary for the singer, capturing the experiences she has lived through.

First Era: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s first era, often referred to as the ‘Debut Era,’ corresponds to her initial album release on October 24, 2006, when Taylor was just 16 years old. This era captures the essence of teenage experiences, including first loves, friendships, and insecurities. Taylor’s look during this time featured a young, blonde Taylor with tightly curled hair and a fondness for cowboy boots, reflecting her country roots. Some standout songs from this era include «Tim McGraw,» «Teardrops on My Guitar,» «Our Song,» and «Should’ve Said No.»

Second Era: Fearless

The Fearless era, which began with the album’s release on November 11, 2008, and continued with Taylor’s Version in 2021, marked a shift towards the ‘country-pop’ genre. Despite its title suggesting fearlessness, the album delved into themes of fear and the courage to overcome challenges. Taylor’s style during this period evolved into a more bohemian look, characterized by headbands, necklaces, and hats. However, during the Fearless Tour, she often dazzled in dresses adorned with sparkles and sequins. Notable songs from this era include «Love Story,» «Fearless,» «You Belong With Me,» and «Fifteen.»

Third Era: Speak Now

The Speak Now era began on October 25, 2010, with the Taylor’s Version released this year, 2023. In this album, Taylor wrote every song herself, drawing inspiration from the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The themes of honesty and a touch of melancholy are prevalent, with love and heartbreak at the core. Taylor’s style evolved during this era, shifting from the bohemian look to more contemporary trends, embracing dresses, velvet suits, and layered clothing, often in shades of purple. Iconic songs from this era include «Dear John,» «Mine,» «Back to December,» «Mean,» and «The Story Of Us.»

Fourth Era: Red

The Red album, released on October 22, 2012, with its Taylor’s Version in 2021, marked Taylor’s departure from the country genre that initially catapulted her to stardom. She aptly described this album as belonging to ‘a person with a broken heart.’ The aesthetic was characterized by elements such as bold red lips and a retro fashion sense. Taylor’s songs in this era explored a wide spectrum of emotions, as seen in songs like «I Knew You Were Trouble,» «All Too Well,» «22,» «We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,» and «Begin Again.»

Fifth Era: 1989

Taylor’s fifth studio album, released on October 27, 2014, marked her official transition into the pop genre. The album’s title, ‘1989,’ pays tribute to the year of her birth. The opening track, an ode to New York City, symbolized her move to the city. During this era, Taylor adopted a glamorous look featuring crop tops, short skirts, and dazzling outfits. 1989 gave birth to some of her most iconic tracks, including «Shake It Off,» «Blank Space,» «Bad Blood,» «Style,» «Out of the Woods,» and «Wildest Dreams.»

Sixth Era: Reputation

On November 10, 2017, Taylor unveiled Reputation, one of her most popular albums. This era was characterized by a dramatic transformation, as Taylor shed her shy and innocent image for a bolder, empowered persona. Prior to this phase, her private life was constantly under the spotlight, subject to criticism and rumors. Taylor retreated from the public eye for a period, only to reemerge with a new, unapologetic stance. The album’s title aptly signifies her indifference toward public perception. This era was marked by a darker aesthetic, with black as its primary color and prominent imagery of snakes. Standout tracks included «Look What You Made Me Do,» «Delicate,» «Getaway Car,» and «…Ready For It?»

Seventh Era: Lover

Taylor’s seventh album, Lover, was released on August 23, 2019, and marked a significant departure from her previous work, Reputation. This album had a romantic vibe, featuring a sweeter, pastel-colored aesthetic. Notable tracks from this era included «Cruel Summer,» «The Man,» «Afterglow,» «You Need to Calm Down,» and «The Archer.»

Eighth Era: Folklore

Released on July 24, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Folklore surprised fans, and shifted away from pop to explore indie, folk, and electro-acoustic styles. The album’s aesthetic conveyed nostalgia, melancholy, and solitude, reflecting the global mood at the time. Taylor’s style aligned with the folk genre, emphasizing a natural and authentic look. This album gave us cherished tracks like «Cardigan,» «August,» «Mirrorball,» «The Last Great American Dynasty,» «Exile (ft. Bon Iver),» and «Betty.»

Ninth Era: Evermore

After the relatively short gap between Lover and Folklore, Taylor Swift surprised fans by releasing Evermore on December 11, 2020, just a little over four months later. This album continued in a similar musical vein and was described by Taylor as a ‘sibling album’ to Folklore. Both albums were unveiled as surprise releases just hours before their launch. Apparently, Taylor took advantage of the pandemic by continuously creating new songs, treating us to tracks such as «Willow,» «No Body, No Crime (ft. HAIM),» «Coney Island (ft. The National),» and «Champagne Problems.»

Tenth Era: Midnights

Taylor’s most recent album, Midnights, was released on October 21, 2022. Taylor herself explained that the songs delve into the thoughts that keep her awake well past midnight. She described it as ‘a journey through the realms of both terrors and sweet dreams,’ as she shared on her Instagram. Her style has matured in line with her age, featuring an abundance of shimmer and sparkle that reflects her musical career. This album has brought us songs that have already achieved iconic status, including «Anti-Hero,» «Midnight Rain,» «Bejeweled,» «Lavender Haze,» and «Karma.»

So, what’s your favorite Taylor Swift era?