The Summer I Turned Pretty cast reveals how Taylor Swift's songs secretly shaped the series you can't stop watching
According to the actors, Swift's lyrics have helped convey the show's core emotions—love, heartbreak, growth and reflect the characters' inner journeys. With the series returning for a new chapter, Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno revisited how Swift's tracks have left a deep imprint on the show's creative vision.
Lola Tung reflects on storytelling and needle drops
Lola Tung, who plays Belly in the series, said Taylor Swift's storytelling mirrors that of Jenny Han, the creator of the show. Tung explained that Han had listened to some of Swift's music while writing the books, suggesting a personal connection. She specifically mentioned The Way I Loved You as a song Han always had in mind.
"She's an incredible storyteller, just like Jenny," Tung said. "When she was writing a lot of the books, she was listening to some of this music. So, for her, she's had these in mind for so long."
🚨| Taylor Swift's 'You're Losing Me' is featured in the first episode of Season 3 of The Summer I Turned Pretty! pic.twitter.com/KWVBXYDdHF
Tung added that not all of Swift's albums were out when the books were written, but the songs available still shaped the atmosphere of the series. She called The Way I Loved You a standout needle drop from the earlier seasons.
Briney and Casalegno echo the sentiment
Christopher Briney, who also stars in the series, echoed Tung's thoughts, describing Swift's music choices as 'very thoroughly planned and thought out.' He believes the songs are intentionally selected to support the overall vision of the series.
Gavin Casalegno also praised Jenny Han's music choices, calling her approach to building the soundtrack thoughtful and immersive.
"I think Jenny does a great job of finding the perfect music for the world," Casalegno said. "With all of Taylor's music, she really does a deep dive into what's going to fit the world and the feel of all these things."
He also noted that the cast doesn't know all the songs that will feature in Season 3, adding to the anticipation.
Music as an emotional thread in the series
The show's success has not only come from its characters and plot but also from its ability to connect emotionally with viewers and Swift's music has played a key role. As Season 3 approaches, the blend of her tracks with pivotal scenes continues to be a defining feature of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
With Season 3 on the horizon, Taylor Swift's music remains a central thread tying together the show's emotions and characters.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Taylor Swift's new album is rumored to include sharp digs at Blake Lively and Donald Trump with love songs about Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift's new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl,' is creating buzz (Getty Images) Taylor Swift 's surprise reveal of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, has set the internet on fire, not only for its unapologetically pop aesthetic but for whispers that it may include pointed references to right-wing figures and even Donald Trump. Multiple outlets say the record will mix glittery sonics with some of the 'dark chapters' Swift has lived through, suggesting a sharper edge beneath the neon. Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl' teases bold themes Taylor Swift announced the project in a playful cameo for boyfriend Travis Kelce 's New Heights podcast, flashing a mint-green briefcase and a blurred cover—classic Swiftian misdirection that guarantees fan theorizing. Soon after, she surfaced a Spotify playlist titled 'And, baby, that's show business for you,' a wink that many listeners read as an early mood board for the album. — chartstswift (@chartstswift) Where Travis Kelce fits into the narrative—and why that matters Kelce isn't just a footnote in this era; he's part of the roll-out DNA. The announcement itself leveraged his platform, and reporting hints that the romance inspired portions of the record's warmer, triumphant tones, counterbalancing its bruised confessions. Even as tabloids float the notion of a track joking about a media 'PR stunt,' the broader storyline paints Kelce as the steady presence who helped unlock brighter, bolder songwriting. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Live Update: The Strategy Uses By Successful Intraday Trader TradeWise Learn More Undo It's a savvy cultural crossover: NFL star power meeting pop's most meticulous strategist. The Blake Lively question, the rumored Donald Trump jab, and the showgirl thesis Daily Mail-adjacent chatter claims Swift may lace in barbed observations aimed at political antagonists—possibly Donald Trump—alongside Easter eggs that touch her inner circle, including Blake Lively. None of that is confirmed, but the pattern tracks with Swift's playbook: confessional snapshots, refracted through spectacle, then staged for maximal discourse. Add in the album's title—Showgirl—and you get a thesis about performance itself: how fame turns private struggle into public theater. What feels certain is the scale. Pre-orders are live, a reveal on New Heights is slated, and Swift has primed fans to decode every frame. As ever, she's controlling chaos with craft: teasing visuals, breadcrumbing playlists, and letting the conversation, about politics, friendship, and love—do the heavy lifting until the curtain lifts on the full tracklist. Also Read: 'Just two people that are in love': Travis Kelce hits out at media for twisting his relationship with Taylor Swift Fans can expect neon-lit pop with steel in its spine, an era where Travis Kelce's world intersects with Swift's studio magic, and where the showgirl smile might bare a few teeth. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Taylor Swift's mysterious orange door sparks fan theories about new album
Taylor Swift ended The Eras tour weeks ago, walking off stage through an orange door. A similar orange door has now appeared on her official website, leaving fans confused. The website also says the door 'expires' on August 13 at 7 PM ET, adding more mystery, claims reports. This appears after Taylor announced her 12th studio album, reportedly called The Life of a Showgirl , which seems connected to the color orange. Taylor Swift's albums often have theme colors: Midnights - dark blue, Reputation - black, and Lover - pastel pink. Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 4 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 3 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals By Vaibhav Sisinity View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass - Batch 2 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program Finance Value and Valuation Masterclass Batch-1 By CA Himanshu Jain View Program ALSO READ: Viral video shows wild elephant attacking tourist, ripping clothes during selfie stunt Fans react to the orange door According to The Hindustan Times report, Taylor Swift's team hasn't commented on what the orange door means yet. Fans are sharing their theories online, a Reddit user said, 'The orange door from the end of The Eras tour! We weren't crazy it actually meant something!!' Another fan on X posted, 'I love the idea that she doesn't meticulously think out every Easter egg & sometimes sees a fan theory about something & is like YES that's absolutely what I meant all along!', as mentioned by The Hindustan Times. Live Events ALSO READ: Real orca attack video goes viral after fake Jessica Radcliffe story sparks fear online Another X user wrote, 'My theory is that she planted some of these 'Easter eggs' before actually writing the album, and incorporated them into her marketing. The door probably just meant 'next album', rather than anything specific about the album or even a timeline of when the album would come out'. Taylor's recent album success Earlier this year in April 2024, Taylor released the album The Tortured Poets Department. Just two hours later, she surprised fans with an expanded double album, The Anthology. These albums dominated sales charts and became the year's best-selling albums, as reported by The Hindustan Times. FAQs Q1. What does Taylor Swift's orange door mean? Fans think the orange door hints at her next album, but Taylor's team hasn't officially explained it. Q2. When does the orange door on Taylor Swift's website expire? The website says the orange door expires on August 13 at 7 PM ET.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
'I knew before y'all did': Patrick Mahomes reveals how he learned about Taylor Swift's surprise ‘New Heights' podcast appearance
Patrick Mahomes reveals how he learned about Taylor Swift's surprise 'New Heights' podcast appearance (Image via Getty) Patrick Mahomes knew about Taylor Swift 's surprise podcast appearance before anyone else did. He shared this at a press conference on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, in Kansas City. He said, 'I knew before y'all did,' because his wife, Brittany Mahomes, was on a FaceTime call with Taylor Swift right after the podcast taping ended. Patrick Mahomes said he was in the background when Taylor broke the news. Taylor Swift revealed her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, on Travis Kelce's "New Heights" podcast, co-hosted by Travis and his brother Jason Kelce, just after this occurrence. Patrick Mahomes shares how he learned about Taylor Swift's surprise 'New Heights' podcast visit Patrick Mahomes is the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. At his news conference on August 13, 2025, he acknowledged he found Taylor Swift's cameo on the podcast "New Heights" ahead of anyone else. — marleahkctv5 (@marleahkctv5) Soon after the podcast was recorded, Taylor Swift FaceTimed Brittany Mahomes, his wife. He listened, but she provided the knowledge. He was happy and exclaimed that he knew before everyone else, therefore setting a warm and welcoming environment. Taylor Swift announces new album on Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce's hit 'New Heights' podcast Taylor Swift appeared on the 'New Heights' podcast on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at 7 p.m. Eastern Time. The podcast is hosted by Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, and his brother Jason Kelce, former Philadelphia Eagles center. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Algeria Solar Panels: See How Much It Will Cost To Install Them (See Prices) Solar Panel | Search Ads Learn More Undo In a teaser clip on August 12 at exactly 12:12 a.m. Eastern, Taylor Swift unveiled a mint-green briefcase marked with 'T.S.' in orange letters. She pulled out a blurred record and said, 'This is my brand new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'.' Also Read: Patrick Mahomes Backed By Brother Jackson And Family After Being Benched By Coach Andy Reid In Preseason Fans immediately began to preorder the album. The finalized episode, set to air on August 13, shows more of her chatting with Travis and Jason and sharing bits of her life and music. The teaser clip also included a playful exchange between Taylor and Travis. Taylor Swift said, 'Such a nice color on you,' and Travis replied, 'Yes, I know. It's the color of your eyes, sweetie. It's why we match so well.' Taylor laughed and added, 'We're about to do a f**ing podcast!.' Fans had been guessing she was the mystery guest after the podcast posted an orange glittery background with a silhouette. That matched Taylor Swift's style and her repeated use of orange in recent teasers. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
