1989 dominates among British Swifties, while the race is tighter among American fans
To celebrate Taylor Swift’s return to London to wrap up the European leg of her Eras Tour, YouGov has asked Swifties on both sides of the Atlantic to tell us their favourite songs and albums by the pop titan.
This poll also provides the first look at how fans feel about Taylor’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, which has been released in the period since we last spoke to Swifties.
1989 holds on to the title of Swifties’ favourite album
Amongst Britain’s self-proclaimed Swifties, Taylor’s fifth studio album and latest re-recording, 1989, continues to top the ranking and has extended its lead compared with the last time we asked in March 2023. Just under a third (32%) choose this album as their ultimate favourite of Taylor’s, compared with 22% who did in 2023.
This makes it by far the most popular choice in the UK – Red comes a distant second place amongst British Swifties, with 11% proclaiming it their favourite album.
In the US the spread of favourite albums is much closer. Amongst US fans, 1989 has overtaken last year’s favourite, Lover, to take the crown with 18%, putting 1989 in the top spot versus Lover’s 12%. Fearless and Taylor Swift, Debut follow closely, with 11% saying that each album is their top pick.
Taylor’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, scored the star her 12th number 1 album in the UK, and a 14th number 1 album in the US. Amongst her fans, 7% of British Swifties and 6% of US Swifties have declared it their ultimate favourite.
Furthermore, more than four in ten British fans said they either love (14%) or like (30%) the new album, rising to a majority of US fans either loving it (18%) or liking it (35%).
‘Shake it off’ is the favourite song of British and American Taylor Swift fans
When asked their favourite Taylor Swift songs, 13% and 11% of fans in Britain and the US respectively declared ‘Shake it off’ as one of their favourites, making it the top choice both nations. Similarly, ‘Love Story’ and ‘Blank Space’ came in at second and third on both sides of the Atlantic.
Which re-recording album do fans want Taylor to release next?
With the rerelease of 1989, Taylor Swift has now remastered four of her first six studio albums. When it comes to which of the remaining two – Taylor Swift, Debut and Reputation – fans would prefer for rerelease next, British fans opt for the latter by 28% to 16%.
American fans are also more likely to want Reputation to be rereleased next, with a third (33%) saying so compared to a quarter (25%) for Debut.
