Our 13 Favorite Queer Covers of Taylor Swift Songs

Brendon Thorne / Jerod Harris / Matt Winkelmeyer / Mark Sullivan / Getty Images

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

If you like that cover, then listen to “The Worst Person Alive” by G Flip.

“I’m Only Me When I’m With You” — Soccer Mommy

Soccer Mommy’s EP of covers Karaoke Nights includes a dreamy makeover of the 2006 Swift classic “I’m Only Me When I’m With You.” Singer-songwriter Sophia Regina Allison’s indie-rock stylings pair perfectly with Swift’s debut album naïveté. — Juan Velasquez

If you like that cover, then listen to “Circle the Drain” by Soccer Mommy.

“Lover” — Niall Horan and FLETCHER

Former One Direction member Niall Horan and noted source of lesbian TikTok drama FLETCHER teamed up in 2020 for this version of “Lover,” turning the understated Midnights track into a heartfelt duet. FLETCHER’s vocal performance in particular shines in this pared-down production, giving her the chance to show off her chops. — Samantha Allen

If you like that cover, then listen to “Pretending” by FLETCHER.

“Mine” — Glee Cast

The opening track to Speak Now is one of the few upbeat songs off Swift’s third album. But in Glee, “Mine” became the heartbreaking ballad with which Santana serenaded Brittany right before breaking up with her. — James Factora

If you like that cover, then listen to “Sorry” by Naya Rivera.

“Shake it Off” — Screaming Females

New Jersey punk trio Screaming Females might seem like an unlikely band to take on the 1989 hit “Shake it Off,” but their A.V. Club Session of Swift’s bop really works. The song’s upbeat new-wavy vibes are rife for a surf-punk reimagining. Lead singer Marissa Paternoster’s deep contralto adds an edge to the Swift original, which only bolsters the song’s empowering message to overcome the haters. — Juan Velasquez

If you like that cover, then listen to “I’ll Make You Sorry” by Screaming Females.

“I Did Something Bad” — Shoshana Bean and Cynthia Erivo

I’m exposing myself as someone who’s not on board with the Max Martin / Jack Antonoff era of pop production, but some of my favorite Swift covers strip away all the noise and just let the songwriting shine. That was the case with this 2017 cover of “I Did Something Bad” recorded by Broadway artist Shoshana Bean and queer Wicked star Cynthia Erivo. Throw out all the synth. A violin, a cello, and two voices are all I need. — Samantha Allen

If you like that cover, then listen to “I Might Be in Love With You” by Cynthia Erivo.

“Death by a Thousand Cuts” — Shamir

Indie alt-popper Shamir graces us with this acoustic cover of “Death By A Thousand Cuts.” The 2020 rendition was part of a streaming talent show for the LGBTQ+ youth charity The Ally Coalition, co-founded by Taylor Swift producer Jack Antonoff. Shamir’s Folklore-style performance of the Lover track is sure to make you shed a tear. — Juan Velasquez

If you like that cover, then listen to “Oversized Sweater” by Shamir.

“Cardigan” — YUNGBLUD

English singer-songwriter (and Halsey’s pansexual ex) YUNGBLUD memorably took on the Folklore ballad “Cardigan” for BBC Radio’s Live Lounge in 2020. YUNGBLUD seamlessly transitions into the Avril Lavigne classic “With You” halfway through the cover – a slay of a mash-up. — Juan Velasquez

If you like that cover, then listen to “When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)” by YUNGBLUD.

“Blank Space” — Skatune Network (feat. Suzie True)

JER, the genius behind Skatune Network, has been ska-ifying basically every song imaginable for the better part of a decade. They teamed up with Lexi McCoy of the queer indie rock band Suzie True for this cover of “Blank Space” which works way better than it should. — James Factora

If you like that cover, then listen to “Nobody Can Dull My Sparkle” by JER.

“Love Story” — Chappell Roan

I’m pretty sure Chappell Roan is the gay pop star that Gaylors think Swift is. (Sorry!) Accompanied only by an acoustic guitar and reading the lyrics off her phone, this performance is a far cry from, say, her debut Coachella set. But it’s a testament to her talent that even without the elaborate makeup and visuals, Roan is still an incredibly captivating performer. — James Factora

If you like that cover, then listen to “Guilty Pleasure” by Chappell Roan.

“Red” — Fifth Harmony

OK, Fifth Harmony as a whole is not queer but Lauren Jauregui is famously bisexual so we’re counting this cover of “Red.” Accompanied only by piano, the girl group’s voices blend beautifully, especially during the chorus with its lush harmonies. — James Factora

If you like that cover, then listen to “Burning” by Lauren Jauregui.

Honorable Mention: “Closer” — Tegan and Sara (feat. Taylor Swift)

This is a little bit of a reversal, hence the “honorable mention” categorization to round out our count of 13 tracks. Back in 2013, during the Los Angeles date of the Red tour, Swift brought out Tegan and Sara as surprise guests to perform “Closer,” which admittedly, was a pretty gay move. I’ll hand it to the Gaylors just this once. — James Factora

If you like that cover, then listen to “Floorplan” by Tegan and Sara.

Listen to this playlist on Spotify and Apple Music. (Note: not all tracks are available to stream.)

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Originally Appeared on them.