Taylor Swift’s storytelling career has earned her 14 Grammys and an empire valued at over 1 billion dollars.
This makes Taylor Swift a master storyteller and this blog explores the art of Taylor Swift’s storytelling.
An Introduction to Taylor Swift’s Storytelling
All kinds of writers can learn from Taylor Swift’s storytelling talents. From her use of descriptive details, different perspectives and mesmerising metaphors, Taylor’s techniques can help writers to enhance their storytelling skills.
“When Taylor Swift tells you a story, you listen, because you know it’s going to be good… because she’s an extraordinary storyteller.”
– Time Magazine
A university in Texas is even offering a course to study Taylor Swift’s songwriting. Preliminary texts on the course include albums Red, Lover, Folklore and Evermore. This demonstrates that Taylor is a reputable source to learn storytelling skills from.
So, what can we learn from Taylor in terms of storytelling?
How Taylor Swift Uses Storytelling in Her Music
Taylor is an expert at using intricate details to bring the listener into the story. She tends to focus on the specific by opting for precise, matter-of-fact language instead of being vague.
This is a useful technique to use in our writing because sometimes our point can get lost if we attempt to tiptoe around it. It is useful to be clear and concise in our writing to achieve our desired message.
Top 3 Taylor Swift Songs That Master the Art of Storytelling
Below are just three examples of Taylor’s mastery of storytelling.
All Too Well (10-minute version) – Red
This ten-minute-long song is often thought to be one of Taylor’s best works in terms of storytelling. It’s a vivid recount of a three-month situationship, filled with specific details and emotional depth. The use of imagery and metaphors, coupled with the chronological narrative structure, creates a compelling story that resonates with listeners.
You Belong With Me – Fearless
This song excels in storytelling through relatable characters, vivid settings, and universal themes of unrequited love. Taylor’s lyrics paint a clear picture of a girl longing for the affection of her friend, while he remains oblivious in a relationship. Through inner monologues and dialogue, listeners empathize with her struggle. Her storytelling mastery lies in her ability to capture raw emotions and create a compelling narrative in mere minutes.
You’re Losing Me – Midnights
This song crafts a tale of a crumbling relationship, articulating the pain of fading love with raw honesty. Through introspective reflections and evocative imagery, the song captures the nuances of heartbreak and disillusionment. Swift’s emotive delivery and subtle shifts in tone convey the protagonist’s emotional journey, from hope to resignation. The song’s universal themes of love, loss, and acceptance resonate deeply, inviting listeners to reflect on their own experiences.
Change in Perspective
On Taylor’s album Folklore, we’re told the story of a love triangle through three different songs: betty, cardigan and august.
Each song tells the same story from a different perspective.
- In betty, we get to know 17-year-old James, who cheats on his girlfriend Betty.
- In august, we meet the girl James cheated with.
- In cardigan, we meet an older Betty looking back on her heartbreak over James.
Each song provides us with different emotional perspectives, whilst using the same subject material, all through the use of a changed point of view.
What can writers learn from this?
When writing it is useful to understand the perspective you are writing from. It is also important to understand who your intended audience is.
This can vastly change the meaning of your words.
Taylor’s Use of Metaphors
Metaphors add texture and beauty to descriptions. Metaphors are important because they allow writers to abide by the “show, don’t tell” rule.
Taylor makes excellent use of metaphors in her music.
Here are some examples of how Taylor uses metaphors in her songs:
“I’m a crumpled-up piece of paper lying here” – All Too Well
“But I took your matches before fire could catch me” – Dear John
“The drought was the very worst when the flowers that we’d grown together died of thirst” – Clean
“The rest of the world was black and white, but we were in screaming colour” – Out of the Woods
‘But you held your pride like you should have held me” – The Story of Us
How Taylor Connects With Fans Through Personal Storytelling
Taylor Swift writes deeply personal lyrics that resonate with her fans. By sharing her own experiences, emotions, and struggles, she allows her listeners to relate to her on a personal level. Fans often see themselves reflected in her songs, which creates a strong emotional bond.
Her fans have also grown up with her. Taylor’s personal growth can be particularly showcased by the change of her lyrics in Better Than Revenge – Taylor’s Version.
- In the original song, the lyrics sang, “She’s better known for the things that she does on the mattress.”
- In Taylor’s version, the lyrics have since matured to, “He was a moth to the flame, she was holding the matches.”
This change in lyrics demonstrates that Taylor’s songwriting is maturing with her because she can see that the original lyrics could be seen to be problematic in the modern day.
Taylor’s later songs explore more introspective themes, exploring themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and resilience. Whereas her older music focuses on first heartbreak and young love.
What can writers learn from Taylor Swift’s storytelling?
All kinds of writers can learn several valuable lessons from Taylor Swift’s career and approach to storytelling. The three biggest lessons that writers can learn are:
1. Be Authentic
Writers should infuse their unique voices and experiences into their writing. This will help to create a more authentic connection with their audience.
2. Be Versatile
Writers can learn from Taylor’s willingness to experiment with different styles and subjects. Versatility will expand writers’ creativity and help them to connect with a wider audience.
3. Be Detail-oriented
Writers can learn from Taylor’s detail-oriented approach to writing; including her use of metaphors and storytelling techniques. These methods can elevate the quality of their writing.
Taylor’s Evolution as a Master Storyteller
Taylor Swift’s journey as a storyteller is continuously evolving. With each new album, she further refines her storytelling skills through new themes and storytelling methods. She manages to keep finding a unique voice that stands out from the crowded music industry.
Taylor’s success as a storyteller comes down to two factors: non-stop writing and never staying the same.
Taylor’s 11th album The Tortured Poets Department comes out on April 19th, and I have no doubt that there will be new and innovative storytelling techniques on this album that we can further learn from.
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