Rank It: Vault Songs (Taylor's Version)

Since Taylor Swift started re-recording her albums to own her artwork officially, she began releasing “vault tracks” with each re-recording.

These vault tracks are songs from that specific era that were left on the cutting floor, but Swift regrets never releasing them. Luckily Swift has a second chance to reshape her albums and release these personal favorite tracks.

As fans of Swift, these “vault tracks” have gifted us with 26 new songs we simply would’ve never heard if Swift never re-recorded her albums. Personally, that thought is unfathomable and nauseating.

In this article I attempt to accomplish the hardest task I’ve ever faced: rank the vault tracks.

26. “Run (Feat. Ed Sheeran)"

I have a personal vendetta against this song and Ed Sheeran. Something about the chord progression and key feels like nails on a chalkboard.

25. “That's When (Feat. Keith Urban)"

What is this song about? I genuinely couldn’t tell you and I wish I could.

24. “You All Over Me (Feat. Maren Morris)"

This vault track was one of the first to be released, and I think the lack of commotion around this single makes it low on the ranking.

23. “Electric Touch (Feat. Fall Out Boy)"

Patrick Stump and Swift’s voices do not mesh together well, to put it simply. The song also generally gives me a headache from how it’s produced.

22. “Suburban Legends”

Since "1989 (Taylor’s Version)" came out recently, this vault track has been the one I listen to the least. I had high expectations, but some of the lyrics make it difficult to fully put myself into the song.

21. “We Were Happy”

This song is so sad. This depressing song being on the "Fearless" album is baffling and really shows Swift’s range at such a young age.

20. “Bye Bye Baby”

This song blends with “We Were Happy” and is also a gut-wrenching sob-inducing song, and it is just plainly hard to listen to the turmoil melody.

19. “I Bet You Think About Me (Feat. Chris Stapleton)"

I cannot listen to this song without watching the music video, Miles Teller in a suit is so life-changing. Also, the “fine pedigree” lyric is insane for STEM Swifties everywhere.

18. “Babe”

This song has such a bumping chorus, and the bridge is somehow even more magical. Every time I listen to this song I am in awe of Swift's storytelling ability and how a pop song like "Babe" can capture such a wide range of emotion.

17. “Say Don’t Go”

I’m not the biggest fan of the repetition in this song, but the pop beat is so good it makes you want to speed down the highway screaming.

16. “Nothing New (Feat. Phoebe Bridgers)"

This song is so painful I am rarely ever emotionally stable enough to listen to it, by far the most emotionally gut-wrenching vault song.

15. “Don’t You”

This song sits with me exactly as “We Were Happy” does, this song is so wildly sad. The lyrics “I heard she's nothing like me / I’m sure she’ll make me happy” are harrowing and could put anyone in an insane asylum.

14. “When Emma Falls In Love”

All the Emma's out there should know I am wildly jealous of them. It’s rumored that this song is about Emma Stone, and that thought alone keeps me up at night giggling and kicking my feet.

13. “Forever Winter”

The most heart-wrenching song and story to the most danceable beat?

The personal story behind this song from Swift herself makes "Forever Winter" an emotional listen. However, the beat is so phenomenal it makes you want to press play even though you know you might cry.

12. “Timeless”

This song makes me want to sob from being overcome with nostalgia. Personally, this song reminds me of my parents and also gives me hope in love.

11. “Message In A Bottle”

Oh, I could just dance for hours to this song, it has never done me wrong ever. This vault track is truly the epitome of “Red,” if anything this should’ve been on the original soundtrack.

10. “Mr. Perfectly Fine”

I vividly remember listening to this vault song in the high school bathroom when it was released, and I think that was the turning point in my personal Swiftie journey.

This song is so iconically about Joe Jonas, and I’m forever grateful Swift released this masterpiece.

9. “The Very First Night”

This is the best dancing song Swift has ever released. Every time this song plays I’m on the floor tearing it up, it doesn’t matter where I am.

Swift deserves all the praise for this masterpiece, are you kidding me?

8. “Foolish One”

The most relatable song to every young girl that Swift has ever written. I have never heard any other artist put this emotional delusion of creating unrealistic romantic scenarios into song form before.

7. “Better Man”

I was most excited for this vault track of them all, and it has lived up to the hype. Listening to Swift sing this song instead of Little Big Town was life-changing, and I will forever remember my first listen.

6. “Slut!”

Hyped up from the announcement, and it continues to grow on me every time I listen.

This song was my top song for October, and it only had four days to claim that spot. I think that perfectly summarizes how in love with this song I am.

5. “Now That We Don’t Talk”

Such an easy and wonderful song to listen to, it’s far too short. The bridge about Harry Styles was jarring, and the song overall is like a massive punch to the gut. It's so life-changing to listen to.

4. “Is It Over Now?”

From the first listen I knew this song was a top spot on the "1989" vault. Something about the jarring lyrics and the insanity of the overall message of this song makes it stand out.

There are no other Swift songs like this, and I think if she made more masterpieces similar to this world peace would be solved.

3. “I Can See You”

The scream I screamed when I first heard this song was insane. This song is truly insane maniac behavior from Swift and I am so wildly here for it.

This song is on repeat all the time, plus the music video secures this song a spot in the top three.

2. “Castles Crumbling (Feat. Hayley Williams)"

This song is so beautiful and poetic, a masterpiece of storytelling by Swift and Williams.

The instrumental is truly powerful and gut-wrenching, every time I listen to this song I can’t help but become embarrassingly emotional and scream-sing.

1. "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)"

This is an obvious first ranking to any Swifie in the community, by far the best vault song that has become a part of our everyday lives. This masterpiece was something we begged for for years, and the Earth shifted on its axis when this vault song was released.

I will never be the same person again since this song was released, and I’m thankful for that.

Grace Bowman is a third-year majoring in biology and minoring in psychological sciences. To contact her, email gab5585@psu.edu.