Rolling Stone ranked Taylor Swift’s “august” fifth on its best songs of 2020 list.
The ranking was an editorial year-end selection rather than a sales or streaming chart. It reflected critical appreciation for the song’s songwriting, atmosphere, and place within Folklore’s fictional storytelling.
“august” was also recognized by other publications. The Chicago Tribune and Yahoo included it on their best-of-2020 lists without assigning a numerical position, while Complex placed it second on its own year-end list.
These distinctions are often blurred when fans summarize the song’s critical reception. A publication’s list position is not the same as a Billboard peak, certification, or streaming statistic. Together, the reviews show that the track was regarded as both commercially durable and critically notable.