Is Taylor Swift the modern day William Shakespeare? Pop star makes multiple references to iconic playwright on new album
The singer, 35, released the cover and tracklist for her 12th studio album on Wednesday, while appearing on boyfriend Travis Kelce 's, 35, New Heights podcast.
And notably, she made several mentions of the renowned 16th-century English playwright, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in history.
The Grammy winner alluded to Shakespeare with the opening song on her record as well as the album cover. Swift also revealed that she had to give Kelce a crash course on the plot of Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, as he never read it.
While showing off the vinyl to Travis and his brother and co-host, Jason, Swift — who has previously been praised by a Shakespeare scholar as 'a real poet' — shared that the first track is titled 'The Fate Of Ophelia.'
Ophelia is a character from Hamlet. She is the love interest of Prince Hamlet, and tragically dies by drowning in a brook.
Fans noted that Swift appeared to also reference the character in her cover artwork, which shows her almost fully submerged in water, in what looks like a bathtub.
The imagery brought to mind the iconic 1851 painting by John Everett Millais, which depicts Ophelia floating in a river just before she drowns.
After Swift announced the name of the first track on the podcast, her boyfriend jokingly asked his brother, 'Do you know what Fate of Ophelia is?'
Meanwhile the singer looked at the athlete while smiling and asked, 'You want to talk about Hamlet?'
'I don't want to get Jason all riled up,' the Kansas City Chiefs tight end replied.
Swift then told Jason that her boyfriend 'might not have read Hamlet' but that she 'explained it to him.'
'Don't tell my middle school English teacher I didn't read it. Because I definitely was supposed to,' the athlete quipped.
After his brother poked fun of him, Kelce replied, 'It's alright, I watched the Lion King.'
'See, he knows what Hamlet is,' Swift concluded, referencing how the Disney animated musical was inspired by the play.
Fans noted the similarities between the cover and Millais' painting
The football star's brother was surprised by this, asking, 'Wait, Lion King is based off Hamlet?'
'Yes!' Swift exclaimed.
Interestingly, Swift's former best friend, Blake Lively, 37, also once starred as a character named Ophelia in the film Savages.
The two have fallen out in recent months, after Swift got dragged into the actress' legal battle with her It Ends With Us co-star and director Justin Baldoni, 41.
In one now infamous and toe-curling exchange, Lively appeared to refer to herself as the character Khaleesi – from Game of Thrones – and to Swift as one of her 'dragons.'
The whole furor reportedly left Swift - who is godmother to Lively's three daughters – feeling 'exploited' by her pal of ten years.
And it's possible Swift will address the friendship breakup on her new album, as another of the 12 tracks is titled 'Ruin The Friendship.'
The singer also shared that the album was inspired by events happening behind the scenes in her life during the Eras tour.
This is not the first time Swift has referenced Shakespeare.
In her 2008 song 'Love Story', she famously alludes to the playwright by weaving a narrative that draws from his famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet.
'You were Romeo, you were throwin' pebbles/ And my daddy said, "Stay away from Juliet,"' she sings.
In 2023, Shakespeare scholar Jonathan Bate praised Swift's writing prowess, calling her 'a real poet' in an article from The Times.
He also noted how Swift's songs have alluded to other famous authors, including William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, and Charlotte Brontë.
Swift's inspiration is no surprise, as Shakespeare is widely believed to have been the greatest dramatist of all time, and Swift is considered by her fans to be a master of storytelling.
Shakespeare's plays are studied for their timeless themes of love, betrayal, ambition, and revenge, and Swift's music explores many similar themes.
The playwright continues to occupy a position unique in world literature as someone whose reputation transcends that of all other popular writers.
He is credited with producing 39 plays, 154 sonnets and three long poems.
His plays, the most famous of which include Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Othello, have been translated into every major language.
They are performed thousands of times a year by actors all across the world and studied by millions of students.
Meanwhile Swift's adoring fandom is anxiously awaiting the release of her upcoming record, which is set to come out on October 3 — just over a year and a half after the release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department.
The album's cover art has a collage-like look as cropped, close-up photos of Swift's bedazzled body are used as a border. 'The Life Of A Showgirl' is spelled out in glittery orange lettering.
The busty starlet stares stoically at the camera in the striking image captured by famed photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott, who she last worked with on the album artwork for her 2017 album Reputation.
She said she wanted to go 'all out' on the imagery for The Life Of A Showgirl because she is 'so proud' of the music.
The Life Of A Showgirl marks a major musical departure for Swift as it is her first album in over a decade that will not feature production by her go-to collaborator and co-songwriter, Jack Antonoff.
Instead, Swift confirmed she co-produced her new album with pop music heavyweights, Max Martin and Shellback.
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