An analysis of the meaning of Taylor's songs used for Bellyconrad in the show
I found a book on my shelf I bought a while back about Taylor's songs, which provided explanations and context, along with some of Taylor's personal notes about her songs. So I thought I'd do this crazy thing: catalog all of her songs used in TSITP so far for Belly and Conrad, showing what an amazing job they've done on the series, as for almost all of the scenes convey almost exactly the same message as the original songs. It'll be a long analysis, but I hope you enjoy it! I've listed the songs in order of their appearance in the series.
Lover: the first song used for Bellyconrad in their first scene together, it simply is a declaration of love, felt and direct. It is curious how the song, in Taylor's intentions, actually describes a solid and mature love, while Belly and Conrad are still teenagers at this point, maybe foreshadowing what their relationship will grow in in the future, when they'll both be adults. "I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want them all" seems literally written for Belly, who is in love with Conrad from years and counts the time in summers.
False God: this song is exceptionally reprised in two scenes, in season one and in season three. "We'd still worship this love", exactly like Conrad and Belly still love each other, even years after (it is also a very sensual song, making it perfect for their almost-first-kiss scene and most of all for the surf accident scene).
The Way I Loved You: The song is about a relationship with a golden boy (in this case, Jeremiah) who seems apparently perfect in this phase, but the girl doesn't feel anything towards him. While being with him, all she can think about is another guy (Conrad) who was complicated, and frustrating. Very fitting for the scene, the debutant ball, where Conrad ends up taking Jeremiah's place as Belly's escort, mirroring what she is feeling in her heart.
This Love: a recall to the desire to love, to a feeling that is inside of her and that she cannot fully express solely through her words, making this so fitting for the first kiss between Conrad and Belly, that seems to also summarise their whole storyline: "These hands has to let it go free, and this love came back to me". Precisely what will happen to the two of them eventually.
Last Kiss: it is about a breakup, the same situation Belly and Conrad are in when it plays in the show, in season two. There is resignation, rage and sadness, just what Belly is feeling right now, looking at her old pics with Conrad when they were happy together.
Sweet Nothing: the song is actually about the domestic life of a couple and is used for the flashback when Conrad wins Junior Mint for Belly. "There is the pleasure of the time spent together without necessarily have to given something in return, protected by the comfort space of the domestic walls and with the affection of the few people that matter in their life".
Invisibile String: the song is a happy one, about the ways that have bought to a current, happy relationship. Conrad and Belly are together at this point. The "invisible string" ties them together despite the time and the physical space between them, hoping it will always been like this. The song shows two people with a realistic connection, who want to look forward together. A relationship marked by passion, surprise, complicity and gratitude, just like their relationship is in this moment in the show.
Snow On The Beach: the metaphor of the snow on the beach is used in the song to describe the feeling felt when one is in love, moments that seem to arrive to the brain from the world of dreams and get real fixing themselves in iconic imagines that stay in the brain. "It's a feeling like, wait, is this real? Am I dreaming? Is this really happening? Exactly like when you see the snow on the beach that touches the sea".
Exile: a duet between Taylor and Bon Iver full of tension, it is about two ex (Conrad and Belly at this point of their story, we're at the end of season 2 when this song plays) who met again casually and express their point of views in a contrasting way. She is now going out with another man (this is the point in the story when Belly and Jeremiah are starting dating) but they both are sad because they cannot go on - just like Conrad and Belly feel in this moment. Now they are "exiled" one from the other and they are still moved by a deep affection they feel for the other. The term "exile" is not casual, in the song as in the show: Conrad will literally exile himself in California...
Cardigan: the song in the album is about a love triangle about fictional characters invented by Taylor herself. In this case, it is like if Belly would express in the scene, with this song playing, how she met Conrad and why she loves him. "He made her see her insecurities as unique and special, not as something she should be ashamed of". There's also the reference about a cheating during summer, that could mirror Jeremiah's cheating with Lacie during spring break. "And I knew you'd come back to me", and with a brilliant shot, Belly sees Conrad at the airport, literally coming back to her: "she knows him, is the only love she has ever known and they will realise it". The song is also one of the few in the shows that play in its entirety, accompaning the whole scene of Belly leaving the house, reaching the airport, seeing Conrad.
Red: probably the Bellyconrad anthem, this song introduces a synestetic element, aka the connession of an emotion or a feeling to a colour. The show feels this line: "Losing him was blue like I never known", and Belly often wears bluish clothes while she's with Jeremiah in the first episodes of season three. "Missing him was dark grey all along", and Belly wears grey sweatshirts, specifically in episode 3x02, when she's recalling her Christmas flashback with Conrad at Cousins. "But loving him was red", red is Conrad's color and Belly constantly wears it even during her relationship with Jeremiah (her red jacket, lipstick, dress, even swimming suit). Taylor explains she "wrote this song because some things are difficult to forget, the emotions involved were so intense and, to me, the intense emotions are red". Seems to perfectly encapsulate Belly and Conrad's relationship and story.
The 1: the opening song of "Folklore", the first lyrics describe well Belly's current stituation in Paris, when the song gets played in the show: "I'm doing good, I'm on some new shit, Been saying 'yes' instead of 'no'", a bit like the answer to someone you don't see for quite a time (Conrad, through his letters). The text is about an ex (again, our Connie) and how her life could have been if he would have been "the one". Belly's mind is going back into the past, and in fact this is the scene where she finally writes Conrad back. "And if my wishes came true it would've been you" and we all know Belly used to wish for Conrad on her every birthday...
Dress: a hot song for a hot scene. It is in fact about a very "hot" meeting with a person who's been very close to her, and with whom there's a very high sexual tension. "Only bought this dress so you could take it off" works perfectly with Conrad being the one taking off Belly's dress, the same one he had admired her in just a few hours earlier. The bridge even seems to recall the reachment of pleasure. It is a very sensual song, like the scene is. This is probably her most explicit sexual piece (at least before "The Life Of A Showgirl" album), so this shows also the ability of the TSITP team to be able to find the perfect and most fitting song for every moment. The lyrics "I don't want you like a best friend", like it has been noted, also ironically mirror how Belly used to define Jeremiah her best friend, and obviously she wants something ENTIRELY different with Conrad.
Out of the Woods: the song is about how certain relationships hold a fragility, in the sense that there is a doubt about where they are going to. So it mirrors Belly's emotions, in the scene she is full of anxiety at the thought of her future before realising being with Conrad is all she has ever wanted, starting to run after him with the anxiety, this time, to not reach him in time.
Unfortunately, the book did not conver TTPD era, it was published after "Midnights", so I couldn't include "lolm" and "Robin" in this analysis, but I hope you liked it. It is very long, I know, but one of the things I love the most about this show is the music and the way it uses it, so I kinda wanted to make a whole post about it.
