As of today, we know who Taylor Swift’s favorite football player is, but what about her favorite songs? Yes, for the global star, whose recent tour grossed over $1 billion, there are many hit songs and beloved songs in her own catalog. But what songs does she put on her playlists?
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Below, we dive into the tracks Swift has said are her favorites, and perhaps in so doing we can get a window into her own creative genius. These are seven of Swift’s favorite songs.
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1. “You Wanted It,” MoZella
Speaking to Oprah.com, Swift chose this song when asked what her favorite song to listen to would be for mending a broken heart. Of the track, Swift said, “I first heard it in an airport bathroom when I was going through a situation with a guy—I’d thought he was in, but he was just chasing me for the sake of the chase. This song sounds like she can empathize.”
2. “A Little Opera Goes a Long Way,” Sky Sailing
Swift chose this song for the category “for making yourself at home.” Of the track, Swift said it was her “theme song for the first few days of living solo.” She added that she particularly resonated with the lyrics,
Pretend you’re not alone
Like you are center stage on Broadway
‘Cause when you are on your own
A little opera goes a long way.
3. “Until You,” Dave Barnes
When considering the idea of love, Swift told Oprah.com that she once created a “Happily Ever” playlist that included “Until You” by Dave Barnes. It’s one of the 30 songs on the playlist that is “all about love.”
4. “Rain,” Patty Griffin
Another on that love “Happily Ever” playlist, she said, was this song, “Rain,” by Patty Griffin. And incidentally, if you’re wondering what music Swift listens to in order to get into a creative mood, she said her younger brother turned her onto Sigur Rós. Those in the band, she said, “make me happy and take me away to dreamland. I love trying to memorize the words, even though they’re singing in their own language. Sometimes I’ll make up some lyrics. It gets pretty interesting.”
5. “Easy Silence,” The Chicks
A third song Swift mentioned that’s in the “Happily Ever” playlist is “Easy Silence” by the acclaimed country trio The Chicks. Makes sense, in a way, that The Chicks, are Swift’s musical-spiritual ancestors.
6. “Naked as We Came,” Iron & Wine
Finally, when considering l-o-v-e-, Swift mentioned this song from Iron & Wine, adding, “When I listen to ‘Naked as We Came,’ by Iron & Wine, I hang on every word and dissect every metaphor; I’m completely absorbed.”
7. “Anti-Hero,” Taylor Swift
While the songs above are some of Swift’s favorites over the years, she recently said that one of her own favorite songs that she’s written is the new hit single, “Anti-Hero.” “‘Anti-Hero’ is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written,” she said. “I really don’t think I’ve delved this far into my insecurities in this detail before.” And for more of Swift’s favorite tunes, fans can check out this Apple playlist.
Photo by Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
