10 Taylor Swift Covers That Are Just As Epic As The Original
Taylor Swift undoubtedly has one of the catchiest music catalogs of all time. With 13 Grammys under her belt, she's got a go-to set of tracks to choose from when looking to show off your vocal range in the car, in the shower, or in a YouTube cover video. Her ballads are silky and sweet, while her uptempo tracks are absolute bops. No wonder professional recording artists, and amateurs alike, love to produce their own Taylor Swift covers. It's a truly unique way for a fan to pay homage to (or even get the attention of) their favorite artist.
Plus, artists seriously love it. Musicians are floored when they learn a fan poured their heart and soul into a cover. Billie Eilish's jaw dropped when a fan attempted a run she's never even heard covering "Lovely" and Halsey basically hollered throughout an entire video of fans covering her songs.
Swift was just as shocked when she learned Keith Urban performed an impromptu cover of "Lover" during his performance at the Washington State Fair on Aug. 31, 2019. She shared the video on her Instagram, calling it "beautiful." Now, if she could hear all of the incredible renditions below, I think she'd say the same thing.
1. "Shake It Off" - Kelly Clarkson
On Oct. 25, 2014, Clarkson performed her own soulful spin on Swift's "Shake It Off" during her concert in Buffalo, New York. The slow and smooth rendition sent Swifties and Clarkson fans everywhere screaming. Press play above, and you'll see I mean that literally.
2. "Style" - Will Breman
The Voice contestants love covering Swift's music and their creative spins are nothing short of amazing, like this gritty, soul-stirring rehash of "Style" performed by Breman on Nov. 11, 2019.
3. "Style" - Ivonne Acero
See what I mean about Swift music on The Voice? Acero's downtempo take on Swift's "Style" that showcased her powerhouse vocals was incredibly well-received during the October 2015 blind auditions. Within 10 seconds of performing, Gwen Stefani and Pharrell turned their chairs.
4. "Lover" - Mackenzie Johnson
No list of covers would be complete without a ukelele cover, and Johnson's version is such a pure take on Swift's lovers' classic.
5. "Out Of The Woods" - Chase Holfelder
Prepare to have your mind blown. This impressive cover of Swift's "Out Of The Woods" performed by Holfelder was accompanied only by sounds made on an iPad, if you can believe it.
6. "Blank Space" - Imagine Dragons
This band is known for infusing their pop-rock sound with new-age elements, like synths. However, they stripped their usual sound for a jazzy, R&B take on Swift's "Blank Space" while performing at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge on Nov. 18, 2015.
7. "Bad Blood" - Sam Tsui
This cover is accompanied by an incredible visual of Tsui harmonizing with himself in an a cappella version of "Bad Blood." Impressive, to say the least.
8. "Delicate" - Jacob Maxwell
A heavenly voice paired with boho vibes completely transformed Swift's downtempo pop track "Delicate." The Voice contestant Maxwell totally took judges Kelly Clarkson and John Legend by surprise during the 2019 blind auditions with his relaxed, yet sultry, take.
9. "I Knew You Were Trouble" - Jessie J
Known for her deep and soulful sound accentuated by scatting, Jessie J's rework of Swift's "I Knew You Were Trouble" at the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge on Sept. 19, 2013, turned the uptempo track into a powerful ballad.
10. "Red" - Fifth Harmony
A year after Fifth Harmony was formed in 2012, the pop group recorded a hauntingly beautiful rehash of Swift's "Red" in April 2013. They slowed it down, adding their own special harmony that really took the song to a whole new level.
