Taylor Swift's Hidden Songwriting Gems: 5 Major Hits for Other Artists
While Taylor Swift is globally celebrated for her own chart-topping albums and record-breaking tours, her songwriting prowess extends far beyond her personal discography. The multi-award-winning artist has quietly penned numerous tracks for other major performers, resulting in significant commercial success and critical acclaim. These collaborations highlight her remarkable versatility and emotional precision as a lyricist, demonstrating that her gift for storytelling transcends genre boundaries and artistic personas.
1. Calvin Harris & Rihanna – "This Is What You Came For"
In 2016, Taylor Swift co-wrote the sleek dance-pop single "This Is What You Came For" with producer Calvin Harris, featuring powerhouse vocals from Rihanna. Initially credited under the pseudonym Nils Sjöberg to maintain focus on the music rather than celebrity headlines, the track became an international club anthem. Later revelations about Swift's vocal contributions to the demo version offered fans new insight into the song's creation. The track exemplifies how Swift's writing can seamlessly adapt to electronic pop while maintaining its emotional core, with a repetitive yet powerful hook that drives the entire composition.
2. Miley Cyrus – "You'll Always Find Your Way Back Home"
Written specifically for the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie, this heartfelt ballad performed by Miley Cyrus captures the universal theme of returning to one's roots despite external success. Swift's lyrics remain deceptively simple yet profoundly resonant, offering comfort and reassurance about home as a constant sanctuary. The song perfectly complements the film's narrative about balancing dual identities while showcasing Swift's early ability to tailor her writing to another artist's vocal style without losing her distinctive storytelling signature.
3. Sugarland – "Babe"
Co-written with Train's Pat Monahan, "Babe" was delivered to country duo Sugarland, who transformed it into a bright yet emotionally stinging country-pop single about betrayal. Swift remained involved beyond the writing process, contributing backing vocals and appearing in the music video to enhance the dramatic narrative. Years later, she included her own recording as a "From The Vault" track on Red (Taylor's Version), allowing fans to compare interpretations. The song's genius lies in its repetition of a single word that grows increasingly poignant with each refrain, blending catchiness with underlying emotional ache.
4. Little Big Town – "Better Man"
Originally written years before its release, Swift passed "Better Man" to Little Big Town, believing their harmonious blend would perfectly convey the song's heartbreak. The band included it on their 2017 album Breaker, and the track went on to win Song of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards. This clean, restrained country ballad demonstrates how Swift's sharp lyrical precision and steady melodies can create powerful emotional impact through simplicity rather than spectacle. Her later personal recording provided additional depth to a lyric she had lived with for years.
5. Kellie Pickler – "Best Days of Your Life"
Collaborating during a tour with Brad Paisley, Swift helped country singer Kellie Pickler transform personal pain into an upbeat, empowering anthem about moving forward without closure. "Best Days of Your Life" became a fan favorite for its clever narrative twist that promises better days ahead while acknowledging present hurt. The song highlights Swift's unique ability to shape another artist's personal story into a universally relatable singalong, combining emotional authenticity with commercial appeal through that signature lyrical bite.
The Art of Writing for Others: Swift's Creative Range
These five chart successes collectively reveal Taylor Swift's extraordinary range as a songwriter who can adapt her voice to multiple genres—from country and pop to electronic dance music—while maintaining her core strengths in emotional clarity and narrative precision. Whether writing under a pseudonym, tailoring lyrics to film narratives, or transforming personal stories into empowerment anthems, Swift demonstrates that great songwriting transcends individual performance. Her contributions to other artists' catalogs not only expanded her creative influence but also reinforced her reputation as one of contemporary music's most versatile and gifted storytellers, capable of crafting hits that resonate across different voices and styles while consistently achieving commercial success.
