Taylor Swift may be the preeminent princess of pop superstardom in 2016. But just a decade ago, she was still a teenager with a newly released debut album and raw talent that had yet to knock the socks off of American music-lovers.
"Tim McGraw" was the first lead single from her self-titled record, Taylor Swift. Released on June 19, 2006, the song is about her high school boyfriend and their impending breakup when he leaves home for college. It became her first true hit, creeping its way up the Billboard charts to No. 40 in mid-January 2007.
It didn't take long for the singer's career to skyrocket from there. We took a look back at her hit singles — from the "Tim McGraw" country days to now — and pinpointed the moments her true mainstream crossover really began to take place. Are you ready to dig into some serious Swift history? Let's do this.
The Song: "Tim McGraw"
The Deets: This track — Swift's first-ever single off her eponymously titled album — was released on June 19, 2006. It took more than six months for it to climb its way to a peak position on the Billboard charts, at No. 40. Breaking into the top 50 as a new artist isn't exactly NBD, and the success primed Swift for future breakthrough hits.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: So frigging country.
YouTube.The Song: "Change"
The Deets: Off Swift's second album, Fearless, "Change" represents the singer's first top 10 hit. It peaked at No. 10 on August 30, 2008.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Not named after a country singer. But still pretty country.
YouTube.The Song: "Love Story"
The Deets: If you listened closely back in the late aughts, this song was playing on pretty much every teenage girl's earbuds in America. Also from the Fearless album, "Love Story" peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard charts on January 17, 2009. It became the second-best-selling country single of all time.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Still country. But sneaking into crossover territory. This one received a lot of radio play on pop stations.
YouTube.The Song: "You Belong With Me"
The Deets: Along with "Love Story," this song tipped Fearless into the best-selling record of 2009 and helped Swift take home four Grammy Awards — making her the youngest-ever winner of Album of the Year.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Slightly less country. Slightly more pop. Perfectly positioned to make a leap.
YouTube.The Song: "Back to December"
The Deets: True Swifties will remember this track fondly, though the rest of us might not have it burned into our brains. But "Back to December," which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard charts on October 30, 2010, helped push Swift's third album, Speak Now, to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 top releases chart.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: This is a country backslide. But still Swiftilicious, obviously.
YouTube.The Song: "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together"
The Deets: This song, and the album Red in general, marked a moment in Swift history when she pivoted to relationship-angst mode. "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" was the lead single and flew to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on January 12, 2013.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Such pop. So crossover. Wow.
YouTube.The Song: "Out of the Woods"
The Deets: "Out of the Woods" was a major single from Swift's 1989 album — and one that helped cement her place in the realm of pop superstardom, if only by association. Supposedly, this track is about the era when she was dating Harry Styles of One Direction and how their relationship was doomed. The track peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard charts on November 1, 2014.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Oh, this is so pop.
YouTube.The Song: "Blank Space"
The Deets: This one, also from 1989, went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts on November 29, 2014. It also presented a new side of Swift, one that wasn't afraid to be seen as a little bit wild. Persona shift, officially in progress.
Also of note: Along with "Bad Blood" and "Shake It Off," "Blank Space" tipped 1989 into award territory, and Swift took home three Grammys for the album, winning Album of the Year for the second time.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Straight-up pop.
YouTube.The Song: "Style"
The Deets: Though "Style" peaked at No. 7 on April 4, 2015, it was representative of a real shift in Swift's music. Suddenly, she was mixing electronics with some old-school Fleetwood Mac stylings. The overall effect? In a word — awesome.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Pop, plus an extra bit of something special.
YouTube.The Song: "Bad Blood" featuring Kendrick Lamar
The Deets: This one hit No. 1 on the Billboard hot 100 June 6, 2015, a week after it premiered. It also cemented Swift as one bad bitch not to be messed with, and is rumored to be about her longtime feud with former friend Katy Perry. Featuring a cadre of her famous buds, the video for this song is a feat unto itself, and definitely gave us insight into a wilder, less inhibited side of Swift.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Pop transformation complete.
YouTube.The Song: "Wildest Dreams"
The Deets: This broken-romance ballad made it to the fifth position on Billboard, on November 7, 2015. These days, Swift lands comfortably in the top 5 pretty consistently.
On A Scale Of Pop To Country: Once you've gone Old Hollywood glam without a cowboy hat in sight, you've officially left country territory. Welcome to the mainstream, Taylor Swift. We can't wait to watch how you continue to evolve in the next decade!
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