Taylor Swift, a pop culture sensation, and William Shakespeare, the beloved English playwright, seem to be worlds apart. However, closer inspection suggests a friendship that could have changed literature and music as we know it.
Taylor Swift has taken the world by storm in recent years with her record-breaking Eras tour and her Album of the Year wins. It’s no wonder why, with her lyrical genius and dazzling smile that charms fans and brings whole stadiums to their feet.
Swift skyrocketed her way to fame, starting out as the daughter of a Christmas tree farmer performing country songs on her guitar to sold-out concert tickets worldwide.
She currently boasts 78.7 million followers and 100 million people tune in monthly to her songs.
Taylor Swift has twelve number-one songs among many other titles for her songs. She is the top female musician who has repeatedly reached the top of the charts.
Her most popular song “Cruel Summer” was released in 2019, with nearly 2.5 billion streams since its release and nearly 2.3 million streams daily. She’s the only singer to have made $1 billion on her songs alone, second in net worth only to Rihanna.
When it comes to Swift’s popularity, there are many factors that earned her the title of one of the Greatest Of All Time.
From the versatility in her songs, ranging from heartfelt country music to upbeat pop songs; fans are sure to find a song to their taste.
Swift is also a brilliant businesswoman who knows what her fans want and always goes beyond expectations with her execution. Such as the film of her Eras tour, which hit the theaters in October 2023, earned $92.8 million in its first week.
One of her most brilliant decisions was when she made the move to re-record and re-release her earlier albums. This movie represented a talented female singer and songwriter who refused to let herself become a victim.
It also painted the image of an independent and strong artist, this move reclaimed power for artists who were held at the mercy of their producers and unveiled a way for artists to move forward.
However, the heart of her brilliance lies in the heartfelt lyrics of her record-breaking songs. Taylor Swift has a way with melodies that is familiar yet distinctive in a way that draws listeners back again and again.
Her lyrics are universal, telling stories that we have all experienced. She captures the experiences perfectly in her lyrics, writing timeless stories that reach people of all ages.
Another equally renowned writer is William Shakespeare. The Bard needs no introduction, writing masterpieces that we know to this day and remains famous even centuries after his death.
Shakespeare is credited to have written 37 plays and 154 works that we know of, coming out with a total of nearly 900 thousand words.
His most well-known works appearing in 1608 such as “Hamlet”, “King Lear”, and “Macbeth”; are hailed as some of the finest works in English literature.
He introduced almost three thousand words to the English dictionary and wrote a tenth of the most commonly used quotes in English. In a lifetime, Shakespeare has created a legacy that has shaped the written world as we know it.
Even Taylor Swift’s 2008 song “Lover” has lyrics that nod to the Bard’s most famous doomed love story.
The lyrics read, “Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. I’ll be waiting, all you have to do is run. You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess. It’s a love story, baby, just say yes”
The 21st-century pop icon and 16th-century playwright both share a deep understanding of the English language, using their language prowess to connect with millions past and present. Their love for language and ability to understand and give form to their emotions would’ve formed a deep sense of kinship.
With their storytelling brilliance and romantically realistic view of the world, Taylor Swift and William Shakespeare would’ve made the ultimate IT duo.