Taylor Swift‘s music has been a part of The Summer I Turned Pretty universe since its premiere back in 2022. When fans met Belly Conklin, she was a teenager caught between two brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah Fisher. This conflict would drive the series forward, with Swift’s music as the soundtrack to Belly’s life.

The Summer I Turned Pretty fans watched Belly go from one brother to the other, even having a few other romances along the way. However, as beloved as the show was on its own, it was Taylor Swift’s catalogue that heightened emotions and drew fans to their screens every week.

Taylor Swift’s Music Went Hand In Hand With The Storytelling

Before she was the biggest pop star in the world, Taylor Swift had always been a storyteller first. Swift fell in love with songwriting as a tween and has spent her career tweaking her words.

Going from the impressive storytelling of “Mary’s Song (Oh My My My)” to her emotionally evocative “So Long London.” It’s no wonder Swift’s music was used so much in The Summer I Turned Pretty. When it comes to putting feelings down on paper, no one in the modern age has done it better than Swift.

The Summer I Turned Pretty, based on the book series by Jenny Han, utilized Swift’s catalog of love, heartbreak, and coming-of-age tracks to help Belly navigate through her own emotions. “The Way I Loved You” played at the end of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 1 during a passionate scene when Belly and Conrad finally accept their feelings for each other.

In season 2, “Delicate” played as Belly realized she still had feelings for Jeremiah as well. The “Daylight” and “Red” mashup in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3 trailer showcased Belly’s continued conflicting feelings over which brother to choose.

However, Han also made use of Swift’s Midnights track “You’re On Your Own Kid,” demonstrating Belly’s need to find herself apart from who she’d always been back at Cousins Beach. Of course, the Amazon Prime series utilized a long list of other popular singers, including tracks by Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter.

However, it was the moments when Swift’s music kicked in that the audience really connected to the characters. From the moment “This Love” played during the first teaser for the YA novel adaptation to Belly’s Paris chase scene to “Out Of The Woods,” it’s obvious that Swift’s music was a guiding light throughout the story.

Swift’s Music Represented The Characters’ Inner Monologue

One common complaint from fans is that the show didn’t give a look into the characters’ inner monologues the way the books did. However, Swift’s sharp lyricism often said what the characters couldn’t, directly letting the audience into their minds.

Belly didn’t need to spell out her feelings when she found out Jeremiah cheated on her because Swift’s “You’re Losing Me” said it for her. The lyric, “I can’t find a pulse, my heart won’t start anymore, for you,” epitomized the numbness in Belly’s chest.

The characters also didn’t need to explain the pain in the aftermath of Conrad’s beach confession because “loml,” which stands for loss of my life, said it all. Despite their disappointment in not getting the voice-over monologues they wanted, the fans knew Swift’s music was telling them what they wanted to hear.

Each week, they’d analyze the song choices, finding hints of what Belly’s next move would be. If “Lover” played when Conrad came outside to greet her, but not when Jeremiah did, it must mean she loves Conrad more, right?

But if “Daylight,” a song about finding real love, not just passionate love, is her song for Jeremiah, then that could mean they’re actually meant for each other. Swift even played a storytelling role in the tragic passing of Conrad and Jeremiah’s mother, Susannah Fisher.

“Bigger Than The Whole Sky” showcased how much the death of such a prominent figure impacted everyone who loved her. It’s moments like these when there really are no words to describe the pain. That’s where Swift steps in—giving shape to the silence with a song.

Swift’s Catalog Told Us Why Belly Should End Up With Conrad

What The Summer I Turned Pretty fans wanted to know more than anything else was who Belly was going to end up with. Like the books, Jenny Han stayed true to what Belly always dreamed of, having her end up with her childhood love, Conrad.

However, their plot would be lackluster without Swift lending her music to their love story. “Invisible String” played in a Summer I Turned Pretty season 2 scene when Belly and Conrad visit Cousins Beach at Christmastime. The song is about a fated love due to an invisible string tying two people together.

To Belly and Conrad, the infinity symbol was their invisible string, but the song further cemented the idea that they were meant for each other their whole lives. On the other hand, while “Delicate” is a song about having feelings for someone, Swift sounds a little unsure of herself.

She questions whether this person shares her feelings and calls the whole situation delicate, as if the rug could be pulled out from under her at any minute. That’s not too far off from what happened between Belly and Jeremiah.

There were several other Swift tracks that played a role in The Summer I Turned Pretty, but it seemed evident since that moment “Lover” began that fans were right. Conrad was always and forever Belly’s endgame, and Taylor Swift’s music helped solidify that.

Date of Birth

December 13, 1989

Active

Yes