In the world of music, artists often draw inspiration from their personal experiences and relationships. Sometimes, these inspirations can lead to songs that seem eerily familiar to fans of other artists. Taylor Swift is no stranger to this phenomenon, as several artists have seemingly written songs about her throughout the years. Let’s take a look at some of these artists and their songs that may be connected to the pop superstar.
The newest addition to this list comes from Olivia Rodrigo’s second album, “Guts,” which came out in September 2023. Many believe the song “The Grudge” is about the rumored drama that occurred with Rodrigo’s first album, “Sour.” The lyrics of the song suggest a sense of betrayal and hurt feelings, which could be referencing the controversy surrounding Swift’s retroactive addition to the credits of Rodrigo’s song “Deja Vu.”
In July 2021, Rodrigo added Swift to the credits of “Deja Vu” after fans pointed out similarities to Swift’s track, “Cruel Summer.” Before this incident, Rodrigo and Swift appeared to have a good relationship, with Rodrigo even calling herself the “biggest Swiftie” and sharing a handwritten note Swift had sent her. The addition of Swift to the credits may have caused a rift between the two, leading to the emotional themes found in “The Grudge.”
“The Grudge” opens with the lyrics “I have nightmares each week ’bout that Friday in May,” which could be a reference to the release date of Rodrigo’s album “Sour,” which was a Friday in May. Additionally, the song touches upon someone who “built me up to watch me fall,” possibly alluding to Swift’s initial support for Rodrigo that was later retracted. The bridge of the song includes the line “You have everything, and you still want more,” which could also be interpreted as a connection to Swift.
Despite the speculation, neither Rodrigo nor Swift have publicly addressed any feud between them. Rodrigo has stated in interviews that she has no beef with anyone and prefers to keep to herself. Swift, on the other hand, was seen applauding Rodrigo’s performance of “Vampire” at the VMAs, suggesting there is no animosity between them.
While it remains uncertain whether “The Grudge” is truly about Swift, Rodrigo did admit in a Rolling Stone interview that the song credits controversy involving Swift was challenging for her. It seems that the young artist may have been caught in the middle of a team-on-team conflict, but she does not have much personal involvement in the matter.
As the music industry continues to evolve, it’s not uncommon to see artists referencing or drawing inspiration from each other. Whether intentional or not, these connections between artists can create intrigue and speculation among fans. In the case of Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift, the similarities between their songs have sparked curiosity, but for now, the true meaning behind “The Grudge” remains open to interpretation.
