Despite playing details and hints about her love life in her songs, musician Taylor Swift has almost always been careful when it comes to names. This has been the case with the other artists and actors she dated, and it was also true when she was linked to Conor Kennedy.
The grandson of Robert F. “Bobby” Kennedy, Kennedy is part of one of the most prominent American political families. However, he is still best known for his family reunions, and his romance for summer 2012 with Swift. Here are the songs that fans believe to be about Kennedy, and how they ranked on the Billboard Hot 100.
‘Start Over’
This is a twin. “Begin Again”, Swift’s second single Red, is about the aftermath of “a really bad relationship” and going “on that first date after a terrible breakup,” as Swift said Good Morning America (as reported by The Boot). That makes it both a breakup song and a love song.
While the person who despises her is up for debate (possibly Jake Gyllenhaal, or perhaps Harry Styles her first time in the neighborhood), it seems clear that this is also about meeting Kennedy. ‘Begin Again’ highlight at no. 7, spent 20 weeks on the Billboard chart.
‘Everything has changed’
Swift has a history of friendship and collaboration with musician Ed Sheeran. Their professional relationship began with the Red track, “Everything Has Changed”, which was released as the album’s sixth single. It spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at no. 32.
Red was written before and during Swift’s relationship with Kennedy, so that the more romantic songs there think about him. “Everything has changed” is about “falling in love”, as Swift told Digital Spy (via Genius). And the message from the liner notes is “Hyannis Port” – where the Kennedy connection of Massachusetts is.
‘Starlight’
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While dating Kennedy, Swift apparently took the time to learn some of his family history. De Red track “Starlight”, which did not make it to the Billboard Hot 100, shows the relationship between her then-grandmother, Ethel, and the grandfather he never met.
While this may seem like an unusual move for a young romantic who lasted less than a year, Ethel Kennedy was very fond of Swift. On a local webcast (as reported by Vanity Fair), she called the singer “sensational, inside and out,” and “very kind.” The liner message was, remarkably, “For Ethel.”
‘Stay Stay Stay‘ as ‘Treacherous’
Spend another week on the Billboard Hot 100 at no. 91 is “Stay Stay Stay.” But this one is at the bottom of the list, because the only thing that binds it to Kennedy is timing. In fact, the liner notes “Daydreaming about true love”, plus Swift’s comments on it, pointing out this is a completely fictional story.
It is also possible that the Red track “Treacherous” is about Kennedy. Swift told Taste of Country that it’s about “that kind of conflict feeling that it’s a risk every time you fall in love.” This may apply to any of their relationships from the past, but many feel that it most closely resembles Styles.
