Taylor Swift and Drake are, according to a recent piece in The New York Times, the only modern artists who have a chance to overtake The Beatles in popularity, though this remains a daunting task. They have without question defined their respective genres for a generation. Having recently crafted a playlist for a family member to introduce her to Drake, I thought I would pass it along here and create a similar selection of the Taylor Swift songs I most enjoy.

Drake is one of my favorite hip hop artists, alongside Lil Dicky and others who generally seem to be having the time of their lives, and he is certainly who I listen to the most in this genre. I decided to pick 12 songs, exemplifying a healthy mix of his styles, for the Drake Starter Kit. It’s a fun challenge to limit the selection.

And hopefully it generates some curiosity: what 12 Taylor Swift songs would this guy go for? I think my overall interest in Swift remains modest due to a preference for folk over pop (or country, though do see Begrudgingly Acknowledged Country Bangers). To me, much of her work feels a bit empty compared to, say, Una Walkenhorst or Dead Horses. Nevertheless, plenty of Swift songs absolutely slap. Taylor Swift Bangers features a dozen of my favorites. Skirting potential controversy, some songs are the originals. With art, there can be a certain magic and innocence to original creations that is hard to recapture later, and some of the content and spirit of her early work surely benefits from her youth. At other times, the more mature voice of Taylor’s Versions lends a new and beneficial gravitas to the song, a wiser and older woman looking back at something in the true distance (“All Too Well,” for example).

Enjoy.

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