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    Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind Her Biggest Songs (Exclusive Interview)
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    Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind Her Biggest Songs (Exclusive Interview)



    Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind Her Biggest Songs (Exclusive Interview)

    The New York Times Magazine polled more than 250 music insiders and gathered six Times critics to choose the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters. One of the artists who made the list was Taylor Swift. Popcast co-host and Times culture reporter Joe Coscarelli met with @TaylorSwift in Los Angeles to talk about the craft of songwriting. In this 30-minute interview, she discusses her process, the stories behind some of her biggest hits, her love of a “rant bridge,” and how life in the public eye shapes the stories she tells in her songs.

    See the full list of 30 greatest American songwriters here: http://nytimes.com/songwriters

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    43 Comments

    1. @Popcast on

      This interview was conducted by Popcast's Joe Coscarelli, a culture reporter at The Times and a host of our pop culture show (like & subscribe to this page + find us on social!). It's part of The New York Times Magazine's project about The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters, which you can check out here https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/magazine/greatest-american-songwriters-alive.html

      There's also a behind the scenes audio episode of Popcast here, talking Taylor https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/arts/music/taylor-swift-interview-behind-the-scenes.html

      And an episode of The Daily looking at how the whole list came together, which you can listen to here https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/podcasts/the-daily/the-30-greatest-living-american-songwriters.html

      Let us know you think!

    7. @Nonrandomsttu on

      i hope she knows TLOAS was literally the worst album she’s ever put out, and I say it as a swiftie.

      she needs to leave antonoff and go back to her roots (red, 1989, even some folklore on it)

    8. @jqxx2538 on

      The way she talks about her art and songwriting is so different from other artists. I could listen to her talk about her songs and songwriting forever.

    18. @LVMusicLvr on

      @TaylorSwift We NEEDED the 10 min version. I have a semi rotating handful of favorites….songs that I’ll never skip if it comes on. ATW10 is the forever constant and it’s cathartic every single time.

    24. @giaanderson8346 on

      This was Christmas for me, as a songwriter. Listening to my favorite songwriter talk about songwriting. She is the epitome of lyricism. She is art. 💞

    33. @paulacanseco6362 on

      I Will never not think about the fact that it would've been perfectiont if "Rebecca" hended her a howse key at the end of that Number on the eras tour!

    36. @GeeeMum on

      Ick ick ick 🤢 Erika Kirk, Blake Lively, and Taylor Swift can all disappear. These women are psychopathic narcissists.
      JUSTICE FOR JUSTIN BALDONI ✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻✊🏻

    39. @ishitaagarwal9678 on

      also about the paternity test thing, how are you hearing a deep song and trying to place 2 completely different individuals in it like have you no emotions to feel of your own through these words, have you no experiences of your own??

    42. @pritha864 on

      I absolutely love .. how she's is talking 😭😭💗 straight ..30 mins .. I had a great time listening 🎧 to MOTHERRR 💟🖤

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