In the modern pop canon, praise from Taylor Swift is never casual. When Swift speaks about influence, legacy, or artistic impact, the industry listens. Over the past several years—most notably during her record-breaking Eras Tour and on the world stage at the 2024 Grammy Awards—Swift has consistently elevated one artist above all others: Lana Del Rey.
At the center of that admiration is a song Swift believes no one could ever truly dislike: Video Games. More than a debut hit, Swift has framed it as a cultural reset—one that permanently altered the sound and emotional language of pop music.
The Song That Changed Everything
Released in 2011, “Video Games” arrived quietly, almost defiantly, in an era dominated by maximalist EDM drops and glossy party anthems. Its slow tempo, minimal piano, and mournful atmosphere felt closer to an arthouse film than a radio single. Swift has repeatedly pointed to this moment as a turning point, crediting Del Rey with introducing cinematic melancholy into the mainstream.
According to Swift, the song’s power lies in its restraint. “Video Games” didn’t demand attention—it haunted listeners into submission. That haunting quality, Swift has suggested, is precisely why the song feels universal. It doesn’t chase approval; it invites intimacy.
A Blueprint for Modern Pop
Swift has gone further than singling out one song. She has openly stated, “I believe that her entire catalog is the most influential in pop,” calling Del Rey a “legacy artist” who is still “in her prime.” In Swift’s view, Lana didn’t follow trends—she created the emotional framework that others would later adopt.
The ripple effects are undeniable. The atmospheric storytelling pioneered by Del Rey can be heard across the work of artists like Lorde, Billie Eilish, and even Swift herself. Albums such as folklore and evermore marked Swift’s own pivot toward mood, narrative, and internal worlds—territory Del Rey had already claimed years earlier.
Mutual Respect, Made Public
That reverence became tangible with their collaboration on Snow on the Beach, from Swift’s album Midnights, produced by Jack Antonoff. After fans clamored for more of Lana’s presence, Swift released a “More Lana Del Rey” version—an unusually direct acknowledgment of Del Rey’s singular vocal identity.
The moment that cemented Swift’s stance came at the Grammy Awards in 2024. Accepting Album of the Year, Swift brought Del Rey onto the stage—not as a courtesy, but as a declaration. She told the audience that many of today’s artists would not exist without Lana’s influence.
An Undeniable Legacy
When Swift says that “no one could ever dislike” Lana Del Rey’s music, she isn’t making a popularity claim—she’s identifying inevitability. “Video Games” didn’t just succeed; it rewired expectations. In Swift’s eyes, while others adapt to pop’s changing climate, Lana Del Rey designs the weather itself.
And that is why the song endures—quiet, cinematic, and impossible to dismiss.