From Cats To ‘Crazier,’ Taylor Swift’s Film Soundtrack History Showcases Her Versatility
Though
Taylor Swift recently had a
chaotic a couple of days as her battle with Big Machine Label Sort
rages on, she yet closed out last week on a high note — literally. Swift released "
Beautiful Ghosts," the song that she wrote for the upcoming
Cats soundtrack. And yes, it's absolutely stunning.
The song was created for the character of Victoria immediately after it was determined that the movie should include at least one original song, and it's safe to mention the songwriting duo of Swift and Broadway legend Andrew Lloyd Webber nailed it. "There was an ambition and an aspiration to have an original song in the movie," Swift mentioned in a pretty Ghosts"
featurette posted to the film's Instagram account. "Just very much this understanding of, like, let's write the perfect song we can."
But writing a song for the musical was even more tough because, as Swift mentioned, "You can't write a modern lyric for
Cats." And since poet T.S. Eliot, whose work supplied the basis for the songs Webber wrote in the original 1981 musical, is long dead, Swift took the reins. "If you can’t get T.S. Eliot, get T.S," she mentioned. "I'm here for you."
This isn't the initial time Swift's come through with a breathtaking song for a film soundtrack; it's happened six other times as well. Let's check out all of the other tracks the
Lover songstress has written for movies. Immediately considering that, she's definitely no rookie.
"I Don't Wanna Live Forever" from Fifty Shades Darker (2016)
Cats isn't the opening big film Swift's written a song for. In 2016, she dropped "
I Don't Wanna Live Forever" with Zayn for the
Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack. Between the song's sexy lyrics, Zayn's impeccable falsetto, and Swift's breathy vocals, the track was all that fans of both artists
and the popular movie franchise could've asked for. And yes, the music video is just as sultry and provocative because the track itself, yet who's complaining?
"Sweeter Than Fiction" from One Chance (2013)
A number of many years before hopping on the
Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack, Swift wrote "Sweeter Than Fiction" for the British Film
One Chance, a rom-com that was based on
Britain's Got Talent singer Paul Potts. The track can only be described as a bubblegum bop, and Swift told
Taste of Country that she wrote it because she was so inspired by the passion Potts' partner had for him. "That was the story that hit me and really affected me," she mentioned. "I wanted to tell a story musically from that perspective." It's a song we should all keep on deck for the bad days because — trust us — it's an instant mood-booster.
"Eyes Open" from The Hunger Games (2012)
One thing that Swifties will never forget is the pop star's contribution to
The Hunger Games soundtrack — and that's because she wrote two songs for the album. Among them was "Eyes Open," an option rock track about Katniss Everdeen and the significance of keeping a watchful eye in the Capitol, where she was constantly danger. However in spite of the fact that the song wasn't included in the particular film, it was released as a radio single for each person to adore, whether they watched the movie or not.
"Safe and Sound" ft. The Civil Wars from The Hunger Games (2012)
Swift also wrote "Safe and Sound" with The Civil Wars for The Hunger Games soundtrack. Unlike "Eyes Open," this track includes more folk elements and, thematically, it's a tribute from Katniss to some of her allies in the film, like Rue and Peeta. The corresponding video is just as pretty and haunting because the song itself, showing Swift wandering through a cemetery in a long white dress before stumbling upon a mockingjay pin.
"Today Was A Fairytale" from Valentine's Day (2010)
"Today Was a Fairytale" was special for a lot of reasons — first, because Swift was actually in Garry Marshalle's rom-com Valentine's Day, and second, because it sounded just like it can fit on her early albums. It makes sense why; it was actually written in 2008. Immediately after shelving it for a while and realizing it did not have a place on her LP, Swift recommended it up to the soundtrack's producers. And right now that nearly a whole decade has passed, we can confidently mention that we're so glad she did. This is a song that simply needed to be heard.
"Crazier" from Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009)
Like "Today Was a Fairytale," "Crazier" was not written specifically for
Hannah Montana: The Movie. Alternatively, it was a song that Swift contained onto up until she may decide its fate. Then, once producers came to the then-country star asking for a nation love song (the kind she was a total pro at writing), she happily turned it over. Oh yeah, and she got a movie cameo out of it, too.
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