Billboard Women in Music: Ingrid Michaelson Performs Taylor Swift's 'Clean'

[@oOApplePeaceOo]

i just realised what a masterpiece taylor wrote. i seriously have tears in my eyes.

[@jenzyh.]

and imogen heap. speeding cars, hide & seek, there's so much more :')

[@sofiamoukhalid633]

Actually the lyrics are all Taylor's. Ingrid herself said so in her blog post.

[@Quiversan]

Sofia Moukhalid you mean Imogen* , not Ingrid xD

[@LilyShimizu]

She worked with Imogen Heap on the music

[@rambhaidesai8857]

"on the music" but the song was written entirely by Taylor

[@anabrown911]

"Just because you're clean, it don't mean you don't miss it..." Brought me to tears.. 😢😢😢

[@anasianperson]

When it says rain came pouring down when I was drowning that when I can finally breathe gone was any trace of you I think I am finally clean makes me cry.

[@anasianperson]

+anasianperson by morning.

[@RaphaelGarcia]

Ingrid Michaelson is seriously one of the most underrated artists out there. She deserves so much more fans. If you ever get the chance to see/hear her live, you better not let it slip away. I had the pleasure of meeting her, and she is such a sweet lady with an absolutely haunting voice. Love you Ingrid! You did Taylor proud!

[@GagaBoy1346]

RAPHI AGREE WITH EVERY WORD!

[@RaphaelGarcia]

Alessandro Boicel But really though... she is on another level when she is paired with a piano! :)

[@msmusik2]

I've been a fan of hers for so long I can't even remember when I first found her haha. But seriously your right she is the most amazing singer songwriter, if you haven't checked out her song "I'm through" then listen to it, youll be in tears.

[@RaphaelGarcia]

msmusik2 I know right? Haha She has been around for quite a while! Omg yes! Everyone has to listen to that song. She is a pure genius, especially when it comes to cohesively putting together genuine lyrics and enchanting notes!

[@GagaBoy1346]

Raphael Garcia what song did you mean?

[@KevinMAbraham]

Taylor's depth in writing song is beyond amazing. her own use of emotions and creativity create metaphors that people need to listen twice before realizing how deep and good her lyrics truly are. Except for the song shake shake shake shake shake shake. But that SONG is just for fun. Her truly beautiful songs lay beneath songs like White Horse, Fifteen, Never Grow Up, Last Kiss, Enchanted, Clean, ETC ETC

[@tahnirene]

and All Too Well

[@teddyariyadi2119]

Mean too

[@iamblank6419]

I agree but Shake It Off has a meaning behind it too

[@walaamuneer12]

Kevin M Abraham state of grace - holy ground

[@Lex-jj7hb]

Kevin M Abraham Even that song has a metaphor to it. Taylor said about it "Life and who people are can be greatly reflected in how they dance. I really think that…and I don’t mean how good you are, I mean your willingness to dance. …If you go to a house party and you see this group of people who are “too cool for school” and they’re over here and they’re just like “omg those people are dancing that is so, ugh” You know, those people I don’t feel like are having as good a time as the people that they’re making fun of. Those people who don’t care how they look dancing ‘cause they like dancing."

[@mbot565]

STUNNING performance. She really did justice to Taylor's song. Wish people just stop bad mouthing both artists. They're friends. Enjoy the tribute between friends. It's an excellent song with excellent lyrics performed brilliantly by an excellent artist.

[@eleazarbarnuevo5472]

The technique, the stylized rendition of clean showing the breathlessness of the message. She encapsulated it entirely and presented it in a disturbing yet impressive manner. She's brilliant.

[@ynaffitabmug]

THANK YOU! Exactly...no offense to Taylor but there is never this emotion in her music.

[@Olivia-no5qj]

loved it but the changed rhythms /style that she added made it so hard to sing along 😅

[@shyswifty]

I'm glad Taylor kept the song because it means so much to me and I think that a story so personal should be shared from the person who wrote it. It also makes me really happy that one of Taylor's closest friends performed the tribute for Taylor's album.

[@kaiitsang]

oh boy I never really felt the lyrics until now, this was pretty flawless!

[@matthewmorfey1144]

KaiTSANGASONG this performance is everything

[@jackiechau6562]

How can people be on their phones when you've got Ingrid Michaelson singing? AHEM. 'SCUSE YOU. great performance btw.

[@datlavenderhaze]

They were probably streaming it on their phones, don't you know its way more interesting than watching it live? :0/

[@starlightdiaries]

The first time i listened to 1989 I instantly fell in love with this song... I seemed like I was the only one, but hearing this stripped down version made me realize yet again how much I love this song. Like Ingrid said, it's one of Taylor's best written songs to this day

[@s92884he]

Me too!!!

[@lordemiley]

I have always loved this song. Great to see Ingrid cover this, also Sara Bareilles recently!

[@k_dellz]

17 year old me didn’t understand this song upon release. This song is NOT about ‘cleaning’ or ‘being a clean good person.’ This song is about being clean of an ADDICTION and being clean of that inner feeling of needing a toxic relationship. This song hits so hard now it’s insane. Took years to discover the meaning of this song on my own but I really understand how deep it is now. “When the flowers that we’d grown died of thirst” depicts how addiction ALWAYS results in never ending downward spirals with negative results-even though the input can be ‘fun’ and inviting-we think the addiction will grant rewards but the fruit it bears are evil. Not until we get clean do we see the bright side.

[@pck4491]

Why are people comparing this LIVE performance to Taylor's studio version, when Taylor herself hasn't even performed it live? Let me guarantee you, Taylor will reserve her most emotional performance of Clean in her concerts, just like when she sang All Too Well in the RED Tour.

[@MatthewMcMaster14]

I agree. It's going to be epic. Hopefully we will get a performance similar to her one at the grammy's 2014.

[@GagaBoy1346]

***** I really like what you said, hopefully people will shut up! Some may say that this is better than the album version. But I completely agree that Tay's performance will be amazing

[@randomheh9385]

Matthew McMaster it didn't happen sadly.

[@yousefabuzaid8476]

It's 3 years later and I still have this thought as well as hope! I hope she does it in the Reputation Stadium Tour!

[@liamclayton1]

Taylor performed it this way at the reputation Stadium Tour! A one off during the rain show at Metlife on July 21st :)

[@yapyap92]

Clean is my fav song from 1989, and Ingrid was the first artist I fell in love with. Perfect combo

[@Emilymassey8]

This was absolutely beautiful.

[@hifromthestudio]

ikywtred little did you know 4 years ago you’ll be sitting in her living room and meeting Taylor

[@gingerjodie7007]

It's strange because I've listened to this song so many times but Ingrid sings it with such emotion that i'm finally listening to the lyrics and actually realising how deep the lyrics are and I have tears in my eyes, it's such a good song wow.

[@freshstartgreencleaning]

Yes! I wish Taylor included a piano ballad version of this song on her album. I loved 1989, but this is how this song should be done. Ingrid is great. Now that she's Clean she can Be Okay. ;)

[@kristejnahenriksen5411]

this is probably the most beautiful cover of any song that I have yet heard

[@miramilz]

Ingrid is so incredibly wonderful. This is my favorite song off Taylor's album and she really brought out the beauty/meaning in the lyrics.

[@kentachdiskyla4729]

Been 4 yrs but i still come back to this. I wish Ingrid could cover Taylor's latest albums.

[@diabdar-issa5018]

I love you, Ingrid Michaelson! I wish her performance of "Clean" would be available for download! You're an amazing artist and I've been your biggest fan since day one. This was by far the best moment of the 2014 Billboard Women In Music ceremony. 😍🙌❤🎉😁

[@leonie-sc9ml]

my favorite thing on earth. a song written by my favorite person on the planet (with the oh-so-wonderful imogen heap) and now performed by one of her best friends in such a raw and beautiful way - wow. everything taylor does is magic and this performance just shows how deep and incredibly special her songwriting skills are, not only for her, but for everyone who listens to her music. I'm so proud of you, Taylor. Thank you for introducing me to Ingrid's music a few years ago - and thank you, Ingrid, for this breath-taking performance and for being so wonderful.

[@israucok4067]

CLEAN SHOULDA BEEN TRACK 5! THIS SONG IS A MASTERPIECE

[@natanwashere]

no. it fits this more in the last track than in the track 5. just like her closing tracks in previous albums, it's always about new beginning and about moving forward.

[@KyleOgilvie1]

This is the perfect closing track. I feel like Out of The Woods could've also been a track 5.

[@GagaBoy1346]

the feels...Taylor I am so goddamn proud of you! You're best written song!

[@queentay1566]

This was truly a beautiful cover, thank you Ingrid.

[@bridgetdoyle4276]

I understand what a lot of people on this comment thread are saying in that they prefer Ingrid's stripped down, raw music to Taylor's over the top performances. I have to agree. I think Taylor is a great performer, and I think her lyricism has a lot of high points. However, I tend to prefer these simpler, more emotionally raw performances. I tend to dislike Taylor's music because I think it could be a lot more powerful without the modern "pop" sound.

[@jamiekall8801]

thats more of her older stuff- last kiss, dear john, safe and sound are my faves,

[@bridgetdoyle4276]

james wall yes, I've heard her older songs. I still believe they lack the emotional raw feeling I was describing with Ingrid's music - there is a distinct difference in my opinion. The only Swift song I believe is the exception to this is All Too Well.

[@Quiversan]

***** Different strokes for different folks :3

[@MatthewMcMaster14]

I completely agree. She is still very young, with great potential and if she did a stripped down album, which had songs that had the same lyrical style as Clean or All To Well, it could possibly be one of the all time great albums. It's a shame the general public only know her for pop songs such as 'Shake It Off'. A fun song yes, but not showing her true writing talent.

[@johnmaze5751]

Not really, the mbira and the boom whackers in the in original song put more emotions

[@KontauriC07]

Clean is one of Taylor's deepest songs. Idk, it seems Clean is a tribute song for her whenever she's honored with something

[@hsnyder1772]

This so is so beautiful !! Can't stop playing it

[@kateg4623]

the moment i heard this song back when 1989 came out my life was saved. seeing so many amazing musicians cover it and love it feels so good.

[@eliseflusse428]

I have been listening to this song for 4 years and I can't get enough, I just can't get over the fact that it is still making sense to me.

[@jerichom6717]

My favorite song off of her discography. This made me cry a lot back in 2014-2015.

[@santosluisa13]

My favorite song from the 1989 album. I'm almost crying here. Ingrid is amazing, Taylor is amazing *-*

[@leiaslizzy]

I am crying so hard right now. This song means so so much to me because I got bullied at school for a while and I suffered the pain in silence but this song helped me to fight back. Thank you Taylor, I love you ❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

[@dinchis]

Such a lovely rendition by Ingrid. Especially the bridge! :)

[@jauregukulele]

my favorite song on the album, ingrid did it justice

[@rachelayjay89]

This song makes my soul joyful and sad at the same time. How is that possible? Thank you Taylor and Ingrid.

[@iamblank6419]

Clean is a lyrical masterpiece from Taylor's pop era.

[@roancaro6563]

Oh my... ingrid is sooooo beyond words. im crying! #LoveYouIngrid

[@ashleewilliams5005]

clean is !y favorite song ever😥im in tears

[@sophieguerinot]

Taylor looks so moved, not angry :)

[@fancydee11]

I love your version of this, Ingrid! You're amazing!

[@stargazer3677]

I like Ingrid, but I prefer Taylor's version. It's Taylor song and I think she sings it with the softness that comes after you are drained of emotional energy as in this song. I have gone through a similiar experience when you let the tears flow. Of coarse, Ingrid has to make it her own, and shouldn't sing it as a replication of Taylor. Ingrid has to own her own interpretation of the song, and she did.

[@martimayaduffiano]

This makes me cry. So beautiful

[@SELINisFEARLESS]

No joke, this made me cry

[@dissadistfied]

I can't believe Taylor hasn't sung this song live herself yet but others did pftt

[@hayesliang8749]

It's because this song isn't a single..... yet :P and Out of the woods and Welcome to New York was slowly released before the album so... yeah lol

[@dissadistfied]

Hayes Liang I know but songs don't always have to be singles in order for them to be sung :( I really hope it becums one though the best song on the album!!

[@hayesliang8749]

taylor momsen Yeah I like Clean And I know places. Also Blank Space (Before it was a single #proud)

[@dissadistfied]

Hayes Liang haha I like Clean,Wildest Dreams n This Love Idk the slower one's are the best!

[@alamsyahnoorkalamadani2167]

+Taylor Momsen She sang it on her tour :(

[@tyleriacona]

She is simply amazing

[@maheen97]

Wow when I first heard this song, I was like this sounds like some Ingrid Michaelson would write/sing!!! She did do it well, but of course, this is about Taylor's personal journey, and I absolutely love the original.

[@nadnad4413]

But taylor wrote the lyrics all by herself & imogen in instrumental.

[@RocketTwurpSLR]

i love how taylor was in the audience

[@shastabare6026]

Ingrid, so beautiful. Taylor, so beautiful. Such a happy hybrid for me. Thank you both. Xx

[@vanityclair]

4:11 : what's wrong with the person checking her phone instead of enjoying this brilliant cover of this masterpiece song? Some people..

[@veronicafortunaveronica]

GAVE ME CHILLS

[@rahuldourado3088]

Me too

[@jvictor001]

That was beautiful.Amazing song,amazing vocalist,sweet performance.

[@millie1963]

I like Taylor's version more but this was beautiful

[@dominicks.delacruz3382]

omg u predicted Taylor's Version 😭😭

[@dreadfullygrey]

@@dominicks.delacruz3382 oh damn they did 🤣

[@andifebri4004]

Taylor did her first six album to Taylor's version

[@caramelmacchiatay]

2020 and am still listening to this 🥺

[@rugenewilliams]

Beautiful song

[@pink390]

I'm ready to start crying this is so beautiful!!

[@rachelrusalka]

so much emotion in this rendition.

[@tarenpineset9278]

I don't know why I couldn't tell how beautiful this song was when I listened to Taylor sing it. For some reason the lyrics really stick with me in this version

[@christoth9178]

IngridMichaelson Most beautiful cover I have ever heard!

[@sophiedifrancesco5415]

I didn't believe I could love this song even more than I already did

[@agustinabelen9135]

I'm in tears. This is so beatifull and yet so painfull. Amazing 💓

[@mariakarollozanomontes8929]

i really love this song, and i cant stop cry when u hear it! its a beautiful voice.

[@summermadness3189]

Look at that entire table just on their phones during the performance. Can't imagine their tweets/texts/thoughts. Girl 1: Oh my god! This is so amazing! I can't believe Idina Menzel is singing a Taylor Swift song! #Blessed " Girl 2: "Yeah, I think Ingrid is that girl on KZbin. The one who does make up tutorials? Who knew she could sing!" Girl 3: "I'm looking at Taylor Swift and I literally think she fell asleep...oh wait, that was me. #imasleep " Girl 4: "Can't she sing any faster? I really need to poop!" Girl 5: "Wow, so many haters! She's way better than Taylor Swift. She just SLAYED this song and it isn't even hers!"

[@satanfragments1530]

Made my day, super funny dude.

[@TiradoTirado17]

Pretty accurate 😂😂

[@noaschomberg6085]

Damn I just discovered this cover now And it's so beautiful I'm in tears

[@shawnmullen7291]

Bravo Ingrid...very...very,,,very, beautiful

[@markbishop7589]

mystery: why didn't this song hit number ONE!?!?!

[@raymondlimbu]

it wasn’t released as a single

[@fatuisokay]

Ingrid is so underrated and so is clean

[@jhariette]

Proud to be a swiftie!!!!

[@asia7279]

This is a really good performance and she sang it as her own which is amazing but I just have to say since everyone seems to think that this is more of an emotional performance and better than the original, NO ONE I SAID NO ONE SINGS A TAYLOR SWIFT SONG BETTER THAN TAYLOR SWIFT!!! Even though the original is a pop song it has so much emotion. It's not anybody's fault if you can't feel emotions of a song unless it's a stripped down version. The emotion Taylor writes and sings with is invincible. That's her song, her story, her experience. This performance is such a beautiful tribute. People saying they didn't realise what an emotional song this was or couldn't feel the emotion in the real version probably don't care about the lyrics much cause if you know Taylor first thing you do is check her lyrics. That's the first and a must. It's sad that people can't feel the emotions of a song just because it's packaged as a pop song.

[@sorakun1021]

What a beautiful masterpiece

[@IsraelRelfos]

Ingrid Michaelson + Imogen Heap : just perfect

[@MatthewMcMaster14]

Beautiful performance of a beautiful song. I can't understand why people are on their phones. I would do anything to be in that room.

[@haileytompkins09]

I hope that one day, @taylorswift will have the chance to dedicate this song to her mother. #cancerfree #beatcancer #fightthefight #bestrong

[@usha22_]

I hope not! Andrea Swift will not die and will never relate to Clean

[@octaviacarla2864]

So beautiful!

[@user-gk6ht2eh8y]

Absolutely beautiful

[@shawnmullen7291]

Ingrid heard bits of the original...I could not only tell by her performance...but by her wording to the introduction of the song...

[@TayTaySwift-h6r]

i love both of U!ingrid michaelson taylor swift

[@JencitaVargas]

LOVE IT!! Nice Cover!! :)

[@angielancaster3765]

Such a pretty song...

[@huitingeyu8334]

this is so incredibly good!

[@trinitysanjose1390]

I’m here for Ingrid Michelson Performing and Imogen Heap Co-writing the song.

[@Emmator4ever]

this is awesome but i think the beat had its power u know.. this song shouldn't be dying like this

[@RaMay1213]

I got shivers. Just wow.

[@JohannaRau]

Wow! Great performance!

[@roywu010005]

This is so beautiful. Perfect cover :)

[@Piero5711]

I love you Ingrid Michaelson

[@sherryvanderwoude9456]

You all don't get it !!!! The Drummer is the whole picture here and he is absolutely fantastic!! The best u have ever seen , so much charisma, and just fanamanal . The singer ain't shit its all Bout the drummer and nothing but the drummer. A+ 100 % wow

[@margaretkeefe1924]

Taylor and Ingrid? I'm here for this.

[@GeraldE]

She always comes thu puts all out there.

[@ghostofoneofjeffthekillers6408]

SO beautiful. So true.

[@littlecooperdog]

Chills ☺️

[@arianatorforlife2470]

(Guys please don't take it seriously is just for fun hahahaha) Taylor at the beggining seems like she is: "men, Ingrid your great but why are you singing an 1989 song that i didn't realese? Why not Shake it off or Blank Space? Now people know one more song from 1989 😒 without paying" 😂

[@johnmaze5751]

Taylor's not only about money...

[@sjgrall]

Every time I hear this song, I think of those I've known who have struggled.

[@pigpig3004]

It was published on Taylor’s bday

[@bendziiiii]

so beautiful

[@ibrahimabarry4937]

I know that pretentious music lovers will say that this is raw and blah blah blah but to me is was just an example of how trying to make a song your own is not always worth if you won’t elevate it

[@astridrey2827]

Whoa! I associated Taylor's song "Clean" and Ingrid's album "Lights Out" with memories of the same experience even before this cover was created. Ingrid and I really think alike sometimes. I wonder if it's the chicken or the egg, though.

[@BarbaraLovesDogs]

perfect

[@AnaVelickovic]

Sorry Taylor, but this cover is more powerful than original. Ingrid is spectacular when it comes to emotional songs like this one.

[@julieyu9821]

Take any song, slow it down, and replace the track with a piano and it sounds more emotional. I think it's amazing that Taylor can take such emotional lyrics, make it a pop song, and keep the integrity of the song :)

[@Rads021]

Julie U spot on

[@FabDiva34]

No .. taylor has this soft sensitive voice when she sings this which is much better imo

[@GagaBoy1346]

Ana Velickovic you can't judge the song based on this performance, when Taylor will perform it, it's going to be emotional and perfect to the core.

[@s92884he]

She literally killed it in her tour. Watch it.

[@saramgeorge]

I love Ingrid very much. I love her voice and her tone and her rawness in sound, it's what makes her music incredibly unique... but I feel like she had way too many off beat moments and shaky riffs to do her performance justice. Although, I know that a lot of people would take that as 'true' or 'raw' performances, which also may just increase their liking to the song, which I find totally acceptable, cuz everyone has their own tastes. But I dunno. I just didn't like this one. I appreciate her rawness and how that made it more emotional than Taylor's song originally is, but I just couldn't take listening to Ingrid's peroformance the whole way through, it was just too off beat way too many of the times and too shaky. I still love Ingrid though. And it must have been amazing for Taylor to have one of her best friends tribute her song in their own original way. I find that still very beautiful :)

[@JenniferJiang2013]

saramgeorge I know I'm saying this after 1989 is out and Taylor's performed it live but Ingrid is off beat and her riffs aren't great during this cover. I like that it was raw though. I still prefer Taylor's version (live and on the CD). Not just because of Imogen's help on the music but because vocally, Taylor delivers where Ingrid does not.

[@Anna13Tonks]

I was looking for this comment, she's way too off beat in a lot of instances and her voice sounds too nasal through the whole song

[@itzzy1859]

tell us that you don't know how to count music without telling us you don't know how to count music