Taylor Swift's Inspirations: The Legends, Icons, and Cultural Moments That Shape Her Music
From the music legends she admires to the literary greats that fuel her lyrics, Taylor's artistry is a fascinating blend of inspirations.
Taylor Swift's music is known for its deeply personal lyrics and innovative soundscapes, but behind every song lies a tapestry of influences - musical, literary, and pop cultural - that have helped shape her into the global superstar she is today. From the music legends she admires to the literary greats that fuel her lyrics, Taylor's artistry is a fascinating blend of inspirations that are as diverse as they are impactful.
Musical Inspirations: Legends and Icons
Taylor Swift has never shied away from sharing her love for the musicians who paved the way for her career. From an early age, she was heavily influenced by country legends such as Shania Twain and The Chicks. In her Netflix documentary ‘Miss Americana’, Taylor describes how The Chicks inspired her to embrace vulnerability and authenticity in her songwriting, particularly their fearlessness in expressing political views and personal stories through music.
One of her most profound influences is Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, whom Taylor often cites as a hero. The two shared a stage together in 2010 at the Grammy Awards, a moment that Swift stated was a “dream come true”. Stevie herself has acknowledged Taylor's artistry, expressing how Swift’s song "You're On Your Own, Kid" helped her cope with the death of her close friend, Robin Snyder Anderson. Nicks went on to write a poem for Taylor that was featured in the CD booklet for Swift’s latest release ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. These continued endorsements have solidified Swift’s place among the greats, showing how her work resonates even with those she looks up to.
Swift's admiration isn't limited to the legends of the past. She has also expressed her respect and admiration for contemporaries such as Lorde, HAIM, and Lana Del Rey, whose creativity and authenticity have shaped the modern pop landscape alongside her. Swift and Lorde have been known to share songwriting tips and inspirations, while her close friendship with HAIM has led to multiple collaborations, including the joint track "no body, no crime" from her ‘Evermore’ album.
Literary Inspirations: The Poets and Authors Behind the Lyrics
Beyond the music, Taylor Swift is a storyteller, often crafting narratives fit for a classic novel. Her fascination with literature has been apparent since childhood, having won a poetry competition in the fourth grade. This early victory was a sign of things to come, with Taylor later drawing on her love of literature to inform her songwriting.
Taylor has mentioned being inspired by the works of great American novelists such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sylvia Plath. You can see these influences in tracks like "The Last Great American Dynasty," a song that reads like a Fitzgerald novel, telling the story of Rebekah Harkness, the previous owner of Taylor’s Rhode Island home. Taylor’s affinity for narrative detail and lush imagery clearly mirrors the literary icons she admires.
Furthermore, her 2020 albums ‘Folklore’ and ‘Evermore’ delve into storytelling with characters and narratives reminiscent of literary fiction, showing an evolution from her previous work to a more reflective and narrative-driven style. This storytelling approach, Taylor revealed, draws from a wide range of literary influences, from classic works to contemporary poetry. She has also credited Emily Dickinson's introspective style and Maya Angelou's powerful voice as sources of inspiration that helped her craft songs with deeper emotional and thematic resonance.
Pop Culture Inspirations: The Moments and Movements That Matter
Swift is equally shaped by the broader pop culture landscape. From movies to TV shows, and even memes, she weaves in references that make her music feel both timeless and immediately relatable. Her song "Look What You Made Me Do" famously includes subtle nods to media narratives surrounding her public feuds and personal reinventions, reflecting her keen awareness of how pop culture dialogues shape public perception.
Taylor is also inspired by classic Hollywood, often channeling old-school glamour in her music videos and fashion choices. Her video for "Wildest Dreams" is a love letter to mid-century cinema, with sweeping landscapes and vintage costumes that transport the viewer back in time.
Moreover, she’s been influenced by the rise of digital culture and the way it impacts relationships and communication, themes which are present in songs like "I Did Something Bad" and "Death by a Thousand Cuts." The latter, inspired by the 2019 Netflix rom-com 'Someone Great’, showcases Taylor’s fascination with how storytelling across mediums influences her songwriting.
The Relevance of These Influences in Her Music
The diverse influences shaping Taylor Swift's music - from country legends and rock icons to literary greats and pop culture phenomena - are crucial to her artistic identity. They help explain the unique versatility of her sound and the depth of her lyrics. Her songs are like mosaics, pieced together from the things that matter most to her, offering a patchwork of stories, styles, and sentiments that reflect a life spent in constant creative evolution.
Taylor has said, "I'm inspired by everything—books, music, movies, life." This all-encompassing approach to creativity is why her music speaks to so many, transcending age, genre, and culture. Her work is a testament to the power of inspiration, proving that art is at its most compelling when it draws from the world around it.
Through her ever-evolving sound and storytelling, Taylor Swift is not just shaped by her influences, but an artist who transforms them into something entirely her own - continuing to write the soundtrack for a generation.
By Tylar Valentine
