Are These Lyrics From Katy Perry Or Taylor Swift?
- by Lacey Womack
- – on
- in Entertainment
Anyone who follows pop culture even a little bit definitely knows that Katy Perry and Taylor Swift don't get along anymore. They used to be good friends and supportive of each other, but the feud they're in now has sparked at least two songs from the pair of popstars. With the recent release of the Swish Swish video, it doesn't seem like it's going to be ending any time soon. Although they were fans years ago, that all came to an abrupt stop between 2013 and 2014. A few of the dancers on Taylor's tour had previously been dancers on Katy's tour, which was fine until Katy told them they needed to leave Taylor's tour and come back out on the road with her. And now, as Taylor's song says, they've got Bad Blood between them.
Their fans have definitely picked a side in this feud. Whether they think Taylor is right and that it was unfair of Katy to take back her dancers or that those dancers made their choice to go back to Katy, they have some seriously strong opinions. But, underneath it all, they're really not all that different. If you strip away their voices and just look at a line from one of their songs, it's often pretty hard to tell who sang it! Maybe the two of them have more in common than they think they do.
Can you tell whether these lyrics were sang by Katy Perry or Taylor Swift? Only the most dedicated Swifties or KatyCats can get more then 90% of these right!
"Tonight I'm gonna dance for all that we've been through. But I don’t wanna dance if I'm not dancing with you."
Whose dancey love song is this? It's easy to assume every love song is by Taylor, but Katy has a few of her own. Plus, Katy's songs are always so much fun to dance to! Could she have written a song about dancing for all of her KatyCats to dance to? Or do the undertones of love give away that it's obviously one of Taylor's songs about heartbreak? Either way, this song is totally one to turn up and sing along to.
"Snow White said when I was young, 'One day my prince will come.' So I'll wait for that date."
Whichever pop starlet sang this song totally has her Disney references on point. Singing about being a princess is such a cute way to make a love song even better, but this song gives it a whole new twist. Not only does it straight up name the princess instead of being vague, but it's optimistic about finding that prince someday. When her hair is dark, Katy totally fits the Snow White look, but Taylor's reputation for writing sad love songs is no secret. Who sang this gloomy but hopeful love ballad?
"I've tried to pick off your red flags, but dancing on broken glass. Your mind games hit like grenades, we're cursed just like the Kennedys."
2012 seems like it was about a million years ago instead of just five. Times were simpler then - the Mars rover checked into Foursquare, The Avengers premiered, and Taylor Swift started dating Conor Kennedy. That romance gave the world the cutest song about Ethel and Bobby Kennedy's romance after she saw a picture of them. Was that the only song that Taylor referenced the famous family in? Or did she slip in this sly nod to her ex's supposed family curse in a less happy song?
"I do remember the swing of your step, the life of the party, you're showing off again. And I roll my eyes and then, you pull me in."
Taylor might be known for having over half a dozen ex boyfriends who she often dedicates songs and albums to, but Katy's love life hasn't been a secret either. After only being married for a 14 short months to Russell Brand, the two got a divorce. But Katy was never one to be silent about how heartbroken she was over their split. Which singer sang this melancholic song about one of their exes? Was it Katy reminiscing on her heartbreak over Russell or Taylor singing about one of her famous former loves?
"Soft skin, red lips, so kissable."
A lot of celebrities have something they wear all the time that becomes their signature look. Whether it's an article of clothing, a hairstyle, or a makeup look, they often have one iconic thing that really reminds people of them. For Taylor Swift, it's her red lipstick. For Katy Perry, it's the fact that her hair color and cut is always changing. Did Katy sing this during a phase where she was into red lipstick, or is Taylor singing about her signature lip look?
"Dear John, I see it all now that you're gone. Don't you think I was too young to be messed with? The girl in the dress cried the whole way home, I should've known."
Although most people think that Katy and Taylor's feud started over their shared backup dancers, the fact that they also share an ex boyfriend doesn't help. Which makes sense, right? It's not cool to turn around and date your friend's ex. But Taylor and Katy have both dated a famous John. While this song is a pun on the "Dear John" letters that were sent during the war, it's also dedicated to their ex, John Mayer. Which blonde songbird sang this sad song about her breakup with him?
"Open up your heart and just let it begin."
While one line from this song makes it sound like a motivational anthem about getting work done, it's actually about loving someone no matter what. For the most part, Taylor is known for her songs about love and breakups, while Katy is known for having the catchiest songs about a variety of topics. Since they both have songs about relationships, this one is definitely a tossup! Was this song about loving someone through all their flaws one that Katy sang or one that Taylor sang?
I live off the echoes of your "I love you's." But I still feel the blows from all your "don't want to's."
What's better when you're going through something rough than listening to a sad song? Especially if you can find one that really matches what you're going through. It's great to just lay down, listen to it, and let all your emotions flow right out with the song playing. There's no denying that both of these two have a whole bunch of songs that are easy to relate to, no matter what you're going through. Which of them sang this post-breakup ballad?
"Midnight, you come and pick me up, no headlights. Long drive, could end in burning flames or paradise"
Unlike some of the breakup songs these two have released, this song tells the story of a new love. It's not like a lot of other love songs, though. Instead of talking about how cute and happy everything is at the beginning of this relationship, these lyrics admit that they don't really know what's going to happen. It could end up great, or it could be terrible. Living in the spotlight means that both of them have had some public relationships and very public heartbreaks. Who sang this song about a new love that they're unsure about?
"So you wanna play with magic? Boy, you should know what you're falling for."
Because they're famous, Taylor and Katy each have a bit of a reputation in the world of pop culture. Katy is known for being outspoken, both in politics and in her personal life, while Taylor is known for being controlling of her image and for her relationships. That means this line would work for either of them pretty well. Whoever gets into a relationship with either of these A-listers definitely needs to know what they're getting into and who they're falling for. Who sang this warning to their future lover?
"It was a few years later, I showed up here. And they still tell the legend of how you disappeared; how you took the money and your dignity, and got the hell out."
A lot of the songs that these two sing are about themselves. Or, at least fans have to assume they are anyway, because they don't always come out and explain what the songs are about. Luckily, their fans are master detectives who can pick out every secret reference and meaning behind each lyric. But, this song is about a star from another era who grew tired of fame. Fans have done a lot of debating on who it's about and the general consensus is that it's about Joni Mitchell. Which popstar sang this song about the 60s singer?
"I was June and you were my Johnny Cash, never one without the other, we made a pact. Sometimes when I miss you, I put those records on."
Even when they're not basing songs completely on another person, these two love to put references to other famous people in them. Some of them are subtle while others, like this song that compares their relationship to Johnny Cash and June Carter, come right out and name names. Everyone knows that Taylor got her start as a country singer, so was she referencing another famous one in a song? Or did Katy reference their relationship when she was singing about a lost love?
"Can't go with the flow, got to make waves. Even though I look at the sand, and I'm just one grain. But my intuition says there's a bigger mission I must embrace."
Whether people like it or not, Katy and Taylor both have a lot of young fans who really look up to them. Everyone, once they become famous, kind of becomes a bit of a role model, even if they didn't ask for it. Katy and Taylor have both gotten their fair share of backlash from people who don't believe they deserve their role model status. Katy because she dresses somewhat provocatively and Taylor because so many of her songs are about her relationships. Despite that, both of them have songs that are about more than just partying and relationships. Who sang this encouraging tune?
"It's a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore. The lights are so bright, but they never blind me, me."
What music is better for turning up nice and loud and dancing around your room than pop music? Taylor and Katy are both two of the queens of the genre and they both have some serious hits that are good for dancing to while you're cleaning or just feel like dancing to some music. While Taylor may be known for her breakup songs, she can hold her own to Katy when it comes to party hits. Who sang this upbeat pop song about dancing and having a good time?
"There's just an echo where your heart used to be, now I see it clearly. And there's just a pillow where your head used to sleep."
Not all of Katy and Taylor's songs are incredibly personal. Although a lot of them are, there are also some that were co-written with other people and are a little more generic instead of being autobiographical. But this song is not one of those! It's very clearly about a breakup between the person who sings it and someone who they had a very close relationship with it. But, with two pop starlets who put their love lives in the public eye, it can be hard to tell which of them this song belongs to. Who sang this sad ballad about sleeping alone after a breakup?
"A tiger don't lose no sleep, don't need opinions from a shellfish or a sheep."
Some celebrities deny their feuds, but Taylor and Katy haven't even tried to hide the fact that they don't get along. This song is allegedly all about not losing sleep over the fact that the singer is hated by her rival because she's still succeeding. Like the song says, tigers don't care if sheep or shellfish have something to say about them. That just leaves the question of which singer here is the tiger and which one is the sheep. Who sang this song as an insult to her fellow artist?
"Is Mercury in retrograde or is that the excuse that I've always made? Cause I wanna blame you, but I can only blame myself."
One problem that a lot of people have with Taylor is the fact that she always plays the victim in any situation. Even when it comes to her breakup songs, it's not often that Taylor will acknowledge that the breakup could have been her own fault, unless it's in a way that can garner pity from the listener. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, since music is supposed to draw a certain emotion out of the listener and convey how the singer is feeling, which is what her songs do. Was this song an instance of Taylor finally admitting she tries to blame others or was it Katy singing about how she tries to point the fingers, too?
"This is the last time I’m asking you this, put my name at the top of your list. This is the last time I’m asking you why you break my heart in the blink of an eye."
Katy Perry admitted that Russell Brand had broken up with her in the most heartless way - via text message. So, it makes sense that she was still upset about their divorce and singing songs that had clear references to it for quite a while afterward. This song is clearly one about the person singing it wanting someone to take their feelings into account and not just thoughtlessly cast them aside and hurt them. Is this Katy singing about her ex-husband Russell or is it Taylor singing about one of her exes?
"And then the world moves on, but one thing's for sure. Maybe I got mine, but you'll all get yours."
Both Taylor and Katy have had their fair share of public backlash. Whether it's for their attitude, their songs, or their relationships, neither of them is a stranger to hearing people who disapprove of their choices in life. But, they've each found a way to put their own personal, positive spin on it. Whoever sang this song pointed out to the listeners that although she's gotten backlash and negativity hurled at her, what goes around comes around and that negativity will be back for everyone else. Who sang this reminder to all her haters?
"No, there’s no more questioning, I’ll be the one defining who I'm gonna be. No concealing feelings, or changing seasonally. I’m gonna love myself, the way I want you to love me."
Relationships aren't always easy for a lot of reasons. It takes a lot of hard work and an open line of communication to make a relationship between two people work. But, it can get even more complicated if one person isn't totally secure in who they are. Although both of these popstars seem like they know and love who they are, this song opens up about how the singer hasn't always felt that way. Did Taylor or Katy sing this song about loving herself?
"New money, suit and tie. I can read you like a magazine."
It's no secret that both these ladies have some serious style and they're no strangers to the designer world. Katy has modeled for Moschino and appeared in their Fall/Winter 2015 campaign, while Taylor is always rocking designer dresses on the red carpet. While either of these fashion icons could definitely read their new beau like a magazine and see right through his expensive clothes into who he really is, only one of them sang this line in a song. Who was it?
"We were a match, but not a fit. We were a dream, unrealistic. We didn't lose, we didn't win."
No matter how much two people try to make a relationship work, there's just some people who aren't meant to be together. This song is about a breakup, but not necessarily one where things went wrong. The singer of this song is explaining a relationship that she was in that ended because the two of them just didn't work out together the way they had hoped that they would. Is this song one of Katy's breakup ballads or is it about one of Taylor's exes?
"You're still all over me like a wine-stained dress I can't wear anymore."
Recently, Katy opened up about the fact that she had been struggling with alcohol as part of her new, more honest self while she was promoting her most recent album. Even before that, a few of Katy's songs mention drinking and having a good time while doing so. Meanwhile, Taylor's image for the past several years has been a little more G-rated. She has been seen drinking and mentioned wine a few times, but those moments are few and far between. Was this simile comparing a dress with a wine stain on it to an ex-lover from a song by Katy or Taylor?
"They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. When I found you, it was all pitter-patter."
No matter who sang this line, this song is seriously so sweet. The whole song is about finding a guy who is one in a million and the singer's dream guy. While parts of the song sound a little bit less romantic, like putting in the cliche about how "one man's trash is another man's treasure," but the sentiment behind it is nice. In the context of the song, she's saying that even though it didn't work out with his ex's, they're perfect together. Did Taylor sing this about her dream guy or did Katy?
"Maybe this is the beginning of something so magical tonight."
This song has a seriously mystical vibe to it. And when it comes to Taylor and Katy, they both like to include a little bit of magic and mysticism in some of their songs. Katy sang about an out of this world love affair with an alien while Taylor has sang more than one song about fairy tales and enchantment. Which singer added this song about a magic meeting between two lovers to her steadily growing catalog of otherworldly hits?
"Took a deep breath in the mirror. He didn't like it when I wore high heels, but I do."
Breakups can seriously be rough sometimes. Everything in the world can remind you of the person you just got out of a relationship with, which can be tough to deal with for a while. But other times, it can be a positive thing. The singer of this song just got out of a relationship in which the guy she was dating didn't like some of the thing she did, but now that they're not dating, she can do them all she wants. Is this song about newfound freedom by Katy or Taylor?
"You'd best prepare a speech. Say something funny, say something sweet. But don't say that you loved me."
Ouch! The singer of this breakup song is not messing around when it comes to telling her ex how she feels. The rest of this song talks about how the singer feels like the person she's in a relationship doesn't care about her anymore. She is seriously not holding her feelings about their impending breakup back. So, which of these two singers sang this incredibly honest song about a failing relationship as it comes to an end? Was it Katy or Taylor?
"Feeling so high but looking so low. Party favors on the floor, group of girls banging on the door. So many new fair-weather friends."
Even people who aren't famous know that when you get successful, a lot of people suddenly want to be your friend. Now, just imagine that on an even bigger scale for someone who is a huge star like Katy or Taylor. While only one of those stars is known for her group of famous friends, it's easy to assume that they both probably know the feeling of having fair-weather friends. But, only one of them sang about being disappointed in them. Who was it?
"Oh, they didn't teach you that in prep school, so it's up to me but no amount of vintage dresses gives you dignity."
Whoa, that's pretty harsh! Neither of these singers are particularly quiet about their feelings about people they don't like. It doesn't matter if it's tweeting a warning for everyone to look out for a "Regina George in sheep's clothing" like Katy did or singing a scathing song about an ex like Taylor often does, these singers really know how to speak their minds. The person this singer was lashing out at better watch out because she is not holding back about not being a fan of theirs. Was Katy or Taylor giving someone a lesson in dignity?
"And you overthink, always speak cryptically. I should know that you're no good for me."
Sometimes in a relationship, it's important to know when things just aren't working out. No matter how much two people might like each other and want to be together, they might just not be good for each other. The person singing this song is totally aware that the person they're singing about is no good for them, but are they going to do anything about it? The rest of the song lists the reasons they're no good together, but doesn't really say that they're going to break up. Who sang this catchy tune?
"So over the summer something changed, I started reading Seventeen and shaving my legs. And I studied Lolita religiously and I walked right into school and caught you staring at me."
Considering the image that both Katy and Taylor have, it's hard to imagine them ever being different. Even though their style evolves with their clothing and hair, it's still pretty difficult to imagine that they would have to "change" to become this way when they were younger. Still, this song tells a story of when the singer was a lot less feminine and how one summer, she changed and became more of a stereotypical girly girl and got the attention of one of her guy friends. Did Taylor or Katy sing this?
"Usually the queen of figuring out, breaking down a man is no work out. But I have no clue how to get through to you."
The singer of this song admits that she has no problem getting to know a guy and figuring out how to get him to like her. Considering the amount of love and breakup songs they each have and their histories of public relationships, it's safe to say that a song like that would fit either of these stars. But, this song reveals that there's something more complicated about this relationship and that the guy she's with is cold and distant and just won't open up to her. Did Katy or Taylor sing this song?
"I realize you love yourself more than you could ever love me."
These two singers have a few songs about the guys they date being awesome and a total catch, but it's obvious that this guy is the exact opposite. It's a good thing that she realized how awful he is! Not only because she presumably got out of that relationship, but also because the world got such an awesome breakup song about it. Instead of being sad and mopey, this song is upbeat and all about how she doesn't even need to be with him anymore. Did Taylor or Katy sing this one?
"You don’t eat meat and drive electrical cars. You’re so indie rock it’s almost an art. You need SPF 45 just to stay alive."
Sharing interests with the person you're dating is a pretty important part of any relationship. If two people don't have anything in common, it definitely won't be easy to stay together since they won't have anything to talk about or anything. This song makes it super obvious that this singer and the guy she's with don't have a lot in common because most of the song is her just listing all the things they disagree on. Who's brutally honest hit was this?
"Time turns flames to embers, you'll have new Septembers. Every one of us has messed up too."
Not all songs that these two write about other people are about being in love or breaking up. Some of them are more vague and not quite so obvious about what they're referencing. Instead, they just come across like a generic but encouraging that anyone could relate to. This song is soft and quiet and about how it's okay to make mistakes because everyone else makes them too. This singer is reminding the person they're writing about that in time, all their mistakes will be forgotten and everything will be fine. Who sang this encouraging tune?