“Red” is arguably Taylor Swift’s best album. It fell perfectly between her earlier country sound and her more recent pop contributions. Some would consider her Pièce De Résistance to be “1989,” but those who know, know: Red is the one.
Back in 2013, I caught one of her many Concerts at Staples Center, and she kicked off the show with “State of Grace.” I had heard it before, but wasn’t totally captivated by it yet. There are so many gems on Red, especially the title track, but that evening it hit me just right.
Taylor is a songwriter first, and it’s easy to overlook that fact because she’s such a starlet; she’s got celeb drama, she’s a media machine and she’s a pretty, tall blonde girl. She could do just fine never writing her own material, but she does. The simplicity of the lyrical structure in this song is striking, and it still catches me off guard to this day. This song is built for karaoke, or singing at the top of your lungs in your car. Have no shame. Be fearless.
"And I never saw you coming. And I'll never be the same."
I'm Just Gonna Dance All Night 