It’s been a good two weeks since Taylor Swift released her 7th album, “Lover,” and I still can’t stop listening to it. I’ve been a fan of her since “Our Song” played on every radio station and was absolutely shocked at the sight of Kanye West interrupting Taylor at the 2009 MTV VMAs. I’ve been with her through her transition from country crooner to pop princess and every make-up and break-up song about her famous exes.

“Lover” comes at a time where Taylor’s past discography, including the 2017 smash record, “reputation,” are owned by the Big Machine label, and manager Scooter Braun, whose clients include Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and just recently, Demi Lovato. Taylor announced on Good Morning America last month that she will be re-recording all of her old music so she can own them again and they can be her own.

Taylor’s new album is different than “reputation” and is different from her other previous albums. Not only the fact that it has 18 songs, more than any of her albums, but with “Lover,” you get a more in-depth look at the mind of Taylor Swift. She pours her heart into the title track, sings about equality in “You Need to Calm Down.” People are taking “Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince” as a song about politics.

“Soon You’ll Get Better,” featuring the Dixie Chicks, is a track that will help anyone that is going through a tough time. “Death By a Thousand Cuts” was inspired by the Netflix movie Someone Great, and that movie was inspired by Taylor’s entire “1989” album. “Paper Rings” is an upbeat song about not caring about wanting one thing and getting the other then being upset about it. The lyric, “I like diamond rings/but I’ll marry you with paper rings,” gives you something to think about. If you really love this one person, it shouldn’t matter about what they have or what you have. Just as long as you have each other.

I could go on and on and on and really analyze each song from this album, but I won’t because we’d be here all day. I’m here to tel you why “Lover” is Taylor Swift’s best album. It’s not because of how many songs are on there, it’s not about what those songs are about, it’s not about the fact the album is the top-selling album in the U.S. of 2019. It’s not about any of that.

Lets start at the beginning, shall we? Taylor’s self-titled debut was her start into country stardom. “Teardrops On My Guitar,” “Our Song,” “Picture to Burn,” and “Should’ve Said No” were just a few of the hit songs that would be playing on country radio day in and day out. Her sophomore album, “Fearless,” gave us tracks like “You Belong With Me” and “Love Story” as well as the relatable song “Fifteen” and the soft sounds of “White Horse.”

“Speak Now,” while still country, it was also, in my opinion, Taylor’s first step in transitioning over to pop. “Mean” is an empowering song about standing up to bullies and becoming something. “Back to December” is about wanting to go back in time to when your relationship was at its highest point and everything now has changed. “Mine” is a single about having that one person that makes you feel like there’s nothing else in the world. That that one person is yours and yours only and you can only go up from there.

“Red” was Taylor’s first big step into pop music. The singles “I Knew You Were Trouble,” “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” and “22” are some of the most upbeat songs Taylor has ever recorded. Although not a single, “All Too Well” has gone on to be one of her most popular songs to date and a fan favorite. The tempo is steady, the lyrics are soft and tell a a story. “1989” gave us the hit singles “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space” as well as “Bad Blood” which had a star-studded music video and a feature with Kendrick Lamar. “Wildest Dreams” was about telling the person you love about doing all of these amazing things, even if it’s only in your dreams. The beat is soft but the tempo gradually gets faster but still keeps it’s soft side.

“Reputation” shows a different side of Taylor. “Look What You Made Me Do” is about Taylor stripping away her old version, being someone new. The music video shows previous versions of herself, from music videos to red carpet events, saying that the “Old Taylor” is dead. “Delicate” is about wanting to be yourself. “…Read For It?” and “I Did Something Bad” are both upbeat songs that make you want to dance. “New Year’s Day” is a slow song that makes you think about all the memories you’ve had with a loved one who may not be with you anymore. It should be noted that “Gorgeous,” although not listed as a feature, includes Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively’s daughter at the very beginning saying the title of the song.

Which takes us back to “Lover.” I already explained why a lot of the songs on the album are incredible but as I also stated before, it’s not just about that. Taylor Swift is known for going above and beyond for her fans. As she did for “Reputation,” she hosted a few secret “Lover” sessions, giving a select group of fans an early listen to the album at her house. Four different deluxe editions of the album are available at Target, each one including handwritten notes from her actual diary.

Taylor has left Easter Eggs in music videos and interviews, with hints about the album leading up to the release date. She’s posted behind-the-scenes videos from the set of the “ME!” music video and “YNTCD” music video. She’s gone above and beyond in making sure this album is special, to not only her but her fans as well. It’s the first album she has owned herself. She poured her heart and soul and experiences in this album. Say what you want about Taylor Swift, but don’t deny that this album is her best yet.