Today might mark the release of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department but as a survivor of graduate school, I am here to tell you that queer people at open mic nights are responsible for the most tortured poetry ever written. Maybe that’s why LGBTQ+ artists seem to be so drawn to covering Swift’s music: her diaristic lyrics about love and dating are both eminently relatable and incredibly cathartic to reinterpret from a queer perspective. Over the years, everyone from Halsey to Shamir has found themselves unable to resist strumming along to Swift tracks, not to mention some of the more recent notable entries like G Flip’s viral “Cruel Summer” cover or MUNA’s spin on “August”, recorded at the legendary Electric Lady.
Whether you’re a Gaylor in exile, or just a queer Swiftie looking to supplement your Tortured Poets listening, the musical brain trust here at Them got together to assemble this list of LGBTQ+ covers of Taylor Swift songs. If you’re already familiar with artists like FLETCHER and Chappell Roan, that’s wonderful; if not, we hope this guide can be a gateway into the wider world of queer musical artistry. Swift may have mastered the art of mining her personal relationships for sing-along pop music, but she’s certainly not the only one in that game, and many of these artists belong on your playlist right next to 1989.
Without further ado, here are our favorite queer spins on Swift, from the cast of Glee (because of course) to the Screaming Females’ rousing rendition of “Shake it Off.” — Samantha Allen
“August” — MUNA
MUNA covered Swift’s wistful ode to the end of a summer romance as part of an EP of live recordings at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Stripped of the glossy pop production of the original song, “August” somehow becomes even more intimate in the band’s capable hands. — James Factora
If you like that cover, then listen to “I Know a Place” by MUNA.
“Cruel Summer” — G Flip
At this point, in the pie chart of my brain, the sector that isn’t occupied by Australian drummer G Flip can barely be seen anymore. The rocker’s very queer take on “Cruel Summer” spread like wildfire online earlier this year, featuring gender-swapped lyrics and a string accompaniment. — Samantha Allen
