The National’s lead singer, Matt Berninger, praised Taylor Swift in a recent interview with El País. Highlighting her influence on music, Berninger described Swift as one of today’s most significant artists and even compared her to John Lennon. His remarks have drawn significant attention.
Here’s what Matt Berninger said about Taylor Swift
Matt Berninger, lead singer of The National, recently expressed deep admiration for Taylor Swift, even comparing her influence to that of John Lennon. In an interview published on July 12 by El País, the singer called Swift “a tremendous talent.” He said, “Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the best artists today, as well as a lovely person.” The frontman further added, “She’s John Lennon to many people, not just teenagers.”
Berninger acknowledged the impact Swift has had on The National’s reach, admitting that her popularity introduced their music to an entirely new audience. He said, “Obviously, we’ve gained a lot of fans thanks to our proximity to her. It’s made a new generation discover my band.” He also added, “Taylor Swift fans understand The National. They get my lyrics.”
Swift has worked closely with The National’s Aaron Dessner on multiple projects, including her albums Folklore, Evermore, Midnights, and The Tortured Poets Department. She had previously named The National as her favorite band in 2020, which Berninger acknowledged during the conversation.
Swift also features prominently on Spotify’s This Is The National playlist, appearing in two of the first three tracks. Commenting on the same, Berninger explained, “It’s true, those three songs are more hers than mine. If you look closely, even the first one—’I Need My Girl’ (2014), which we recorded before we met—could easily pass for one of her songs.”
Berninger reflected further on how Swift’s influence has extended even into his personal life. He shared, “Thanks to my daughter, Taylor has always been playing in my house.” Having admired her songwriting for years, The National frontman also credited Swift for influencing his own artistic growth.
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
