Swift’s shifts in genre throughout her years in the music business can be heard throughout her discography in film. Starting off as a young country star, eventually testing out indie music and always going back to hit pop tunes, Swift is a flexible artist who can match her music to celluloid.
“Crazier” - Hannah Montana: The Movie
Miley Cyrus
Billy Ray Cyrus
Emily Osment
Margo Martindale
Jason Earles
Peter Gunn
Melora Hardin
Mitchel Musso
Lucas Till
Barry Bostwick
Moisés Arias
Vanessa Williams
A country ballad that perfectly reflects Miley and Travis’ love story as it flashes in the background of the scene. Swift makes a cameo during this part of the film and performs the song during a fundraiser to save the small town’s park from developers. Although the song wasn’t explicitly written for the film, Swift sent it in as an option, and the filmmakers felt it was the perfect fit. The country tune enhances the rustic/country setting of the film and Miley’s love story with cowboy Travis as she navigates a new world where everyone knows she is Hannah Montana.
Check out the full Hannah Montana: The Movie soundtrack here.
“Safe & Sound feat. The Civil Wars” - The Hunger Games
84%
68
7.2
Jennifer Lawrence
Josh Hutcherson
Liam Hemsworth
Woody Harrelson
Elizabeth Banks
Lenny Kravitz
Stanley Tucci
Donald Sutherland
Wes Bentley
Toby Jones
Alexander Ludwig
Isabelle Fuhrman
The soundtrack for the first The Hunger Games film contains many powerful songs that reflect the nature of the film. Although “Safe & Sound” wasn’t featured in the film, viewers hear it as the second song during the credits at the end. A slow, heart-wrenching song like “Safe & Sound” perfectly fits into a film like The Hunger Games. The sad beat, backed by higher vocals and intense lyrics, gives the viewers a look into what Katniss felt during her time in District 12. The song being placed at the end helps the viewers reflect on what they felt during the film and what may be coming next for Katniss and Peta.
Check out the full The Hunger Games soundtrack here.
“I Don’t Wanna Live Forever feat. Zayn Malik” - Fifty Shades Darker
Dakota Johnson
Jamie Dornan
Eric Johnson
Eloise Mumford
Bella Heathcote
Rita Ora
Jennifer Ehle
Luke Grimes
Victor Rasuk
Max Martini
Bruce Altman
Kim Basinger
The Fifty Shades saga delves into a complicated relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele as they work through their power dynamic. Fifty Shades Darker is the second movie in the trilogy. The main couple tries to rekindle their relationship under new terms, as it didn’t work the first time. The “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” duet between Swift and Malik gives a musical take on the film's premise. The lyrics talk of a troubled relationship that didn’t work out in the past. Listeners and viewers can hear the two different perspectives while listening to the song, which shows the back and forth of the couple. This synth-pop tune comes just before Taylor Swift was to release her Reputation album after being on hiatus.
Check out the full Fifty Shades Darker soundtrack here.
“Only the Young” - Miss Americana
Taylor Swift
Joe Alwyn
Todrick Hall
Brendon Urie
Jack Antonoff
Bobby Berk
Jonathan van Ness
Karamo Brown
Antoni Porowski
Max Martin
Andrea Swift
Scott Swift
A look into the intimate parts of the singer’s life, Swift shares moments from her personal and public life. The documentary on the star’s life gives viewers and fans an insight into who Taylor Swift believes herself to be and what she has wanted to change about herself over the years. This gives viewers a chance to see Swift as a human being, not just a pop star that they only see through their screens. “Only the Young” is featured at the end of the documentary. It gives an insight into Swift’s views and how she feels about the younger generations growing up in this world. The documentary represents Taylor Swift's voice, and “Only the Young” describes how she views the world.
Check out the full Miss Americana soundtrack here.
“False God, August, Back to December, Invisible String, Exile feat. Bon Iver” - The Summer I Turned Pretty
Lola Tung
Christopher Briney
Gavin Casalegno
Sean Kaufman
Jackie Chung
Rachel Blanchard
Alfredo Narciso
Minnie Mills
Swift was essential to Jenny Han’s writing process during her time with The Summer I Turned Pretty book series. This love and influence made its way into the series on Prime. With many Swift songs featured in the series, some of the most critical scenes include them. “False God” sets the tone as Belly Conklin (Lola Tung) and Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) almost kiss for the first time. Interrupted by his jealous brother, Jeremiah Fisher (Gavin Casalegno) shoots fireworks at them to break up the tension.
“False God” adds to the scene's tension as the euphoric jazz and sensual lyrics add in romantic queues for the budding couple. “August” and “Back to December” were featured in the trailer for season two, setting the tone for the upcoming more conflicting season.
“Invisible String,” during the iconic beach and fire scene in season two, describes Belly and Conrad as meant to be together throughout their lives. Constantly being pulled together by what seems to be an invisible string.
Season 2 features plenty of songs from “Folklore,” one of Swift’s more alternative and indie albums. “Exile feat. Bon Iver” is heard near the end of season 2 as Conrad and Belly call it quits indefinitely. Another duet describes conflicting feelings between the couple. Since Swift’s music played such an essential role in the series, some cast members even went to see her perform during The Eras Tour.
Check out the full The Summer I Turned Pretty soundtrack here.
“Carolina” - Where the Crawdads Sing
Daisy Edgar-Jones
Taylor John Smith
Harris Dickinson
Michael Hyatt
Sterling Macer Jr.
Jojo Regina
Garret Dillahunt
Ahna O'Reilly
David Strathairn
Eric Ladin
Luke David Blumm
Logan Macrae
With a southern twang, “Carolina” is the title track for Where the Crawdads Sing. The film is about a girl raising herself in the marshlands of North Carolina. After meeting two boys from town, she opens herself up to the idea of more social experiences. When one is found dead, Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones) becomes the main suspect. As described in the song, loneliness, secrets, and the truth are hidden in the marshlands of North Carolina.
Check out the full Where the Crawdads Sing soundtrack here.
“My Tears Ricochet” - It Ends with Us
Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni
Brandon Sklenar
Jenny Slate
Hasan Minhaj
Amy Morton
Kevin McKidd
Isabela Ferrer
Alex Neustaedter
Robert Clohessy
Robyn Lively
Megan Robinson
Swift’s most recent film feature is in the It Ends with Us trailer, which features Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. Marketed as a romance and based on the book by Colleen Hoover, the film takes on heavy topics of tough relationship choices and domestic violence. The title itself gives a hint about the film and how the cycle of domestic violence ends with you. “My Tears Ricochet” delves into the feeling of being hurt emotionally and wondering if all the pain was worth it. The sorrowful song fits the meaning behind the movie and suits the trailer by giving potential viewers a look into what the film holds.
Check out the full It Ends With Us soundtrack here.