Taylor Swift is getting married – here are songs for her ex

Swift’s fans are scrambling to find connections between her relationship life and her music. Numerous Kelce-themed songs have allegedly already been found in the production, such as the return to high school So High School (2024).

It is interesting how Swift, who has written about high school and small-town romances throughout her career, has equated her current relationship with the topics of her youth. After all, the relationship between a successful athlete (Kelce) and a prom queen (Swift) is part of the DNA of popular culture.

The share of autobiographical material in Swift’s music is often even overestimated. The artist himself has said that he writes about real people and situations, but he avoids naming the prototypes of the songs.

Of course, since Swift’s fan community is exceptionally large and active, the lack of knowledge about the songs’ roots only adds to the speculation.

Swift’s exes are mainly a very well-known group, so the temptation to combine tasks easily becomes irresistible. The time when the songs were created is often known precisely, but not much can be concluded based on that.

At least these people have been associated with Swift’s songs:

Joe Jonas

Taylor Swift dated the Jonas Brothers singer for a few months in the summer and fall of 2008, when he was on tour with the band.

Presenter Ellen Degeneresille Swift memorably said the relationship ended in a 27-second phone call. Jonas said in 2009 that he was flattered by the song Forever & Always, which was often associated with Swift and his relationship: “It’s nice to hear his version of the story.”

Taylor’s second album Fearless the 2021 remake also included the first-ever song from the era, “Mr. Perfectly Fine,” featuring Jonas’ then-wife, British actress Sophie Turner got excited.

As a Swift fan, i.e. Swiftie, Turner too said she believed Taylor’s version of the relationship more than her own husband.

Taylor Lautner

Twilight-films actor met his namesake Swift Valentine’s Day – on the set of the film. They dated for a few months in the summer and fall of 2009.

In Swift’s production, the song is especially considered a monument to the relationship Back to December. It’s a rare Swift breakup song that she herself apologizes for in it. Usually the ex is rather blamed.

At least Taylor Lautner himself believed in an interview with Time magazine in 2016 that Swift was writing about their relationship in the song. Like Jonas, Lautner is on very good terms with Swift.

He performed I Can See You in the video for the song in 2023, and his wife, also named Taylor Tay Lautner received enthusiastic attention from Swift at the Eras Tour premiere.

John Mayer

The famous guitarist and singer-songwriter is one of the most obvious subjects of Swift’s song. The relationship lasted for a few months in 2009–2010.

The musicians’ relationship is considered one of the most dramatic in Taylor’s relationship history, and Dear John (2010) is one of its clearest monuments to Swift’s output. Given the title of the song, it doesn’t take much imagination to associate it with Mayer.

The age difference between the musicians is large: at the time of the relationship, Mayer was 32 and Swift was 19. Swift refers to the matter in a less flattering light, and In Dear John that later Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve in the paragraph, which has generally been interpreted as a sequel to Dear John.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Actor-producer Gyllenhaal said Good Morning America -media interview in 2022, that Swift’s iconic All Too Well -song (2012) has nothing to do with him.

Swift fans didn’t believe it: they’ve been thinking their heads off, haven’t they? Gyllenhaal has the red scarf that Swift left for him.

Gyllenhaal and Swift dated for a few months at the end of 2010, but if the rumors are true, the relationship left a strong mark on Swift’s output and fan culture.

The scarf has become a central symbol of Taylor’s entire Red era, dating back to the 2012 Red album and the 2021 remake, which features one of many fans’ favorite Taylor songs: the ten-minute long All Too Well -version.

Harry Styles

Two of the biggest pop stars in the world together, what could go wrong? Styles and Swift dated for a few months in 2012-2013. In the song Style (2014), Swift sang: “We never go out of style”. The song seems to have been right, both concerts are sold out, no matter how big the arena.

Styles is paired with numerous other Swift songs, which are often less about relationship drama and more about pop aesthetics: paparazzi, lights flashing in the night, and the life of the new upper class. In the Style song, the partner’s gaze is James Deania and daydreaming.

Joe Alwyn

This relationship lasted more than six years, at least between 2017 and 2023, so the scale is quite different from previous relationships. A large number of Swift songs are associated with the British actress, and especially The Tortured Poets Department -albumin (2024) generally interpreted as dealing with their relationship and separation.

Others

Also the leader of The 1975 band Matt Healya dishwasher Calvin Harris and actor Tom Hiddleston are seen as characters who inspired several songs. The latter’s 2016 relationship with Swift even has a funny public name, Hiddleswift.

Many other celebrities too, such as the one who publicly insulted Swift Kanye Westaccording to the interpretations, are the subjects of numerous songs, even though Swift has not met them.