Attention Swifties! As an opener on The Eras Tour and a feature on Red (Taylor’s Version), many of you are already likely familiar with Phoebe Bridgers. For those of you who aren’t, Phoebe Bridgers is a key figure in the sad-indie-girl-music scene, most well known for hits like “Motion Sickness” and “Scott Street.” She also accounts for one-third of supergroup boygenius, composed of Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and herself. Maybe you’re a fan of “Nothing New” and looking to get into more of Phoebe’s music, maybe you hold only a vague memory of her opening at your Eras concert date, maybe you haven’t heard of her at all — doesn’t matter, I’ve got you covered. Without further ado, here are my top Phoebe Bridgers song recommendations, based on your favorite Taylor Swift song!
if your favorite taylor song is “how You get the girl,” i recommend…
Though “Silk Chiffon” isn’t technically a Phoebe song, this feature stands out as the most upbeat in her discography in this collaboration with indie pop group MUNA. This queer joy anthem has the same cheery-pop sound as “How You Get the Girl” and matches its theme of pure adoration for a new partner. For those of you who may have already heard the “Life’s so fun / life’s so fun” chorus of this song on TikTok and enjoyed it, I recommend checking out the rest of MUNA’s discography for songs of a similar vibe — “Silk Chiffon” certainly takes the prize for Phoebe’s most cheerful song, so anybody in the market for a happy pop tune should take a listen! In my opinion, this song is best listened to while also watching its music video, linked above. As a parody of But I’m a Cheerleader (1999), the video brings the song to life by showcasing the vibrant personalities of both Phoebe and MUNA, especially highlighting the beauty that comes from them collaborating with one another.
if your favorite taylor song is “sad beautiful tragic,” i recommend…
More on par with the mood of the rest of Phoebe’s songs, “Savior Complex” mimics “Sad Beautiful Tragic” with its somber mood. Both of these slow ballads include lyricism centered around a failing relationship that one partner is desperate to save, while the other lets it fall apart. While “Sad Beautiful Tragic” is more of a post-breakup song, “Savior Complex” describes the in-the-moment feeling of desperation and bargaining with a partner to meet you halfway: “All the bad dreams that you hide / Show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.” Anybody who has experience with the “I can fix them!” mentality about a significant other (specifically, one who is lacking emotional maturity) is sure to relate to the yearning mood of Phoebe’s hauntingly beautiful lyricism.
if your favorite taylor song is “the story of us,” i recommend…
“The Story of Us” is one of my favorites from the earlier days of Taylor’s career, for its combination of high-energy instrumentation and relatable lyricism about the weird position of being in-between loving and losing somebody. While Taylor’s hit paints a clear storyline about a specific encounter with an ex, “ICU” is thematically related through the inclusion of lyrics that highlight the complexity of a similar situation. Lines like “If you’re a work of art / I’m standing too close / I can see the brush strokes” and “‘Cause I don’t know what I want / Until I f*ck it up” encapsulate the frustrating emotions that come from navigating a confusing finale to a relationship. Above all else, both of these songs are perfect for situationships where you can’t quite grasp what the other person is feeling — or, for that matter, what you are feeling.
if your favorite taylor song is “state of grace,” i recommend…
Though these two tracks center around completely different lyrical themes, I would recommend “Kyoto” by Phoebe Bridgers for “State of Grace” fans. As another couple of songs marked by energetic background instrumentals, “State of Grace” and “Kyoto” both lean more into experimentation with the rock genre than most other songs by either singer. While the Red track chronicles the exciting start of a new romance, “Kyoto” explores more melancholy themes — namely, Phoebe’s complex relationship with her (mostly absent) father. While lyrics like “I’m gonna kill you / if you don’t beat me to it” are certainly not the most lighthearted, the upbeat pace of this track (however misleading it may be) makes it one of Phoebe’s most enjoyable listens.
if your favorite taylor song is “dear john,” i recommend…
Generally speaking, if “Dear John” is your favorite Taylor song, Phoebe’s style of music is perfect for you! “Dear John,” reaching a full six minutes and 45 seconds in length, is a fan-favorite deep cut of Swift’s discography, known for its heart-wrenching lyrics and impressive bridge. While “Letter to an Old Poet” is on the shorter end, it is every bit as heartbreaking (AND full of vengeance). This song opens with Phoebe acknowledging the power dynamic in her faulty relationship, with the lyrics “I said ‘I think that you’re special’ / You told me once that I’m selfish” — very similar to Taylor opening “Dear John” with “Long were the nights when my days once revolved around you.” The boygenius song mimics “Dear John” as it starts off relatively mellow, with a progressive build towards full-fledged anger. “You made me feel like an equal / But I’m better than you, and you should know that by now” parallels the triumphant outcry of Taylor declaring: “I’m shining like fireworks over your sad empty town.” Both songs, despite their depressing tone, are emblematic of the power of breaking ties with a toxic ex-partner.
if your favorite taylor song is “tolerate it,” i recommend…
Evermore fans, especially those who adore “tolerate it,” in particular, need to listen to “Moon Song,” yet another one of Phoebe’s most devastating songs off of her second album, Punisher. Similar to the longing theme of “tolerate it,” Phoebe’s track explains how she would do anything to prove her love for her partner, including gifting them the moon (hence the song’s title). Bridgers herself has described this song as “the wanting-to-be-stepped-on feeling”: being so deeply devoted to somebody toxic that you willingly accept any treatment from them, because any form of attention feels better than nothing at all. One of my favorite elements of this song is the dog and bird motif that Phoebe introduces in her lyrics. She switches from the line “So I will wait for the next time you want me / Like a dog with a bird at your door,” to “When you saw the dead little bird, you started crying / But you know the killer doesn’t understand” to conclude the song. Pets often “gift” their owners with dead animals as a symbol of love, only to be met with punishment; here, Phoebe puts herself in the position of a loyal dog, confused as to why her tokens of appreciation are continuously rejected. Both lyrically and sonically similar to “tolerate it” and other downcast Taylor songs, “Moon Song” is another great option for exploring Phoebe’s discography.
if your favorite taylor song is “august,” i recommend…
As someone who has had both “august” and “Waiting Room” take the number one spot in their Spotify Wrapped (in 2020 and 2021, respectively), I feel very strongly that most “august” fans will also love “Waiting Room.” This ballad was written by Phoebe at age 16, and though she has developed a bit of a distaste for the immaturity of these lyrics since, I find this song to be one of her most emotionally vulnerable. In this (nearly seven minute-long) track, Phoebe spends its first segment showcasing her devotion to her partner by explaining the lengths she would go to stay with them. In one of her most heartbreaking lyrics, the singer-songwriter sums up what it’s like to pine after somebody, while also acknowledging that it’s not meant to be: “And I can wish all that I want, but it won’t bring us together / Plus, I know whatever happens to me, I know it’s for the better.” After more lyrical emotional turmoil, the song closes out with repetition of the phrase “Know it’s for the better” a whopping 36 times, while transitioning into a heavy instrumental that strays from the soft acoustic that the song opens with. I acknowledge my bias when it comes to this recommendation, but I truly think that it’s one of the best for people hoping to get more into Phoebe’s discography — especially those who already adore “august,” which matches the intensity of this song both lyrically and instrumentally.
in conclusion!
In my personal experience, if you love Taylor’s music (especially the sad tunes!), you can’t go wrong with a little bit of Phoebe in your musical repertoire. The incoming cold of winter makes it especially comforting to sulk to the moodiness of her discography around this time of year. Between two solo albums plus one with boygenius, along with multiple other collaborations, singles, and EPs, Phoebe has something for Swifties and indie music lovers alike!