Taylor Swift loves a good reference. She's written songs based on famous Shakespeare plays, snuck in literary allusions of all sorts, and dropped all kinds of famous names — need we forget that one of her first songs was literally called “Tim McGraw?”
Taylor's last album, The Tortured Poets Department, was equally packed with references, including a nod to poets Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith on the titular track and a song called “Clara Bow” near the end of the tracklist, which paid homage to the original ‘20s “It girl," as well as a few lyrics about Stevie Nicks. For her latest album, the much-anticipated The Life of a Showgirl, Taylor is again looking to Hollywood for inspiration with the song “Elizabeth Taylor.” And now, Swift has released a new music video filled with clips from the actress’s legendary career.
For the uninitiated, Elizabeth Taylor is one of the most legendary, enduring Hollywood actresses of all time, but if you're not super familiar with the violet-eyed star — and the films that appear in Swift's new video — here's everything you need to know.
Who was Elizabeth Taylor?
Elizabeth Taylor was born in England in 1932, but she moved to the United States a few years later. (Her parents were American.) She was known for her beauty and started working as a child actor, most notably in 1944's National Velvet.
A die-hard Swiftie unpacks all the easter eggs, song meaning, and lyrics.
Elizabeth soon became one of the biggest stars of the studio system era. In the early years of her career, she was signed to MGM and made movies like the original Father of the Bride and an adaptation of Little Women, where she played Amy.
She worked with MGM until the early 1950s and starred in critically acclaimed movies like A Place in the Sun and Giant, which co-starred Rock Hudson and James Dean. One of her most famous roles during that era was Maggie the Cat in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, where she starred opposite Paul Newman. She won an Oscar for her role in BUtterfield 8.
Of course, we can't talk about Elizabeth Taylor without talking about Cleopatra, the 1961 epic about the Egyptian queen and her romances with Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony. She was paid $1 million for the film, which was a groundbreaking salary at the time. It was here that she met the Welsh actor Richard Burton, who would become her fourth husband and the great love of her life. The two married, travelled the world, and worked on a plethora of projects together, including Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, for which Elizabeth won another Oscar.
She continued acting through the ‘70s, ’80s, and '90s, although she devoted much of her time to HIV/AIDS fundraising, research, and activism. She was also one of the first major celebrities to release her own fragrance line, including the massively popular White Diamonds. She is also known for her incredible jewellery collection, which includes everything from a ruby tiara to a priceless pearl.
Elizabeth died on March 23, 2011.
Which Elizabeth Taylor films appear in Swift's music video?
In Swift's new music video for her song “Elizabeth Taylor”, which is currently available to view on Apple Music and Spotify, she pays homage to the iconic star with a series of clips from some of her most famous performances. Clips include Cleopatra, Father of the Bride, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, A Place in the Sun, Giant, Suddenly, Last Summer, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Julia Misbehaves and the lesser-known '60s film Boom!
Taylor took home an Oscar for Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? in 2967, while she also received nominations for 1958's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and 1959's Suddenly, Last Summer.
How many times was Elizabeth Taylor married?
If you know anything about Elizabeth Taylor, it's probably that she was married eight times. Yes, eight! Her first marriage, at the age of 18, was to Conrad “Nicky” Hilton, the heir to the Hilton fortune and grand-uncle of Paris and Nicky Hilton. They divorced after eight months due to his abuse and alcoholism, and Elizabeth went on to wed actor Michael Wilding, with whom she had two sons. After their divorce, she married the producer Mike Todd, who tragically died in a plane crash. Mike and Elizabeth had a daughter, Liza.
After Mike's death, a grieving Elizabeth caused a scandal when she became romantically involved with his close friend, singer Eddie Fisher, who was married to actor Debbie Reynolds. The two were married in 1959.
On the set of Cleopatra, she met Richard Burton, and the two embarked on an affair that came to be known as “le scandale.” They were married from 1964 to 1974, then remarried from 1975 to 1976, and also adopted a daughter together. By all accounts, Mike Todd and Richard Burton were the greatest loves of her life.
Elizabeth was married to politician John Warner from 1976 to 1981, then married a construction worker named Larry Fortensky in 1988; they were married until 1991. (She was a close friend of Michael Jackson's, and she and Fortensky got married at Neverland Ranch.)
What is Taylor Swift's connection to Elizabeth Taylor?
Swift has referenced Taylor before on the Reputation track “…Ready for It,” when she sings “He can be my jailer/Burton to this Taylor/everyone I've known in comparison is a failure.”
At the Life of a Showgirl Spotify pop-up event, visitors saw messages scrawled in lipstick across the mirrors, including what are likely song lyrics: “Oftentimes it doesn't feel so glamorous to be me.” In one scene of BUtterfield 8, Taylor's character writes a message in lipstick on a mirror.
What is the song “Elizabeth Taylor” about?
The second song on the new album, ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ appears to be dedicated to Taylor's fiancee, Travis Kelce, opening with the question: “Do you think it's forever?”, and going on to describe an intimate love affair, with the star being swept up by a life-changing romance.
The song also references Elizabeth Taylor throughout, paying homage to her life and legacy. For instance, the line “That view of Portofino was on my mind when you called me at the Plaza Athenee" — Portofino was a spot precious to Elizabeth Taylor and where Richard Burton proposed to her for the first time. “I'd cry my eyes violet", is of course in reference to Elizabeth Taylor's most iconic feature, her violet-hued eyes.
“Elizabeth Taylor” is a homage to one of Hollywood's greatest icons and it appears that Taylor Swift relates to the star, especially when it comes to fame and its effects on her personal life. In the song, she writes: “Be my NY when Hollywood hates me”, and “You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby”, hinting at the pressures she feels from the media.
Here are the full lyrics for Elizabeth Taylor:
Elizabeth Taylor
Do you think it’s forever?
That view of Portofino was on my mind when you called me at the Plaza Athénée
Ooh, oftentimes it doesn’t feel so glamorous to be me
All the right guys promised they’d stay
Under bright lights, they withered away, but you bloom
Portofino was on my mind (And I think you know why)
And if your letters ever said, “Goodbye”
I’d cry my eyes violet, Elizabeth Taylor
Tell me for real, do you think it’s forever?
Been number one, but I never had two
And I can’t have fun if I can’t have (Uh)
Be my NY whеn Hollywood hates me
You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby
Been numbеr one, but I never had two
And I can’t have fun if I can’t have you
Hey, what could you possibly get for the girl who has everything and nothing all at once?
Babe, I would trade the Cartier for someone to trust (Just kidding)
We hit the best booth at Musso and Frank’s
They say I’m bad news, I just say, “Thanks”
And you look at me like you’re hypnotised
And I think you know why
And if you ever leave me high and dry
I’d cry my eyes violet, Elizabeth Taylor
Tell me for real, do you think it’s forever?
Been number one, but I never had two
And I can’t have fun if I can’t have (Uh)
Be my NY when Hollywood hates me
You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby
Been number one, but I never had two
And I can’t have fun if I can’t have you (Uh)
Elizabeth Taylor (Oh)
Do you think it’s forever? (Oh)
If I can’t have you
All my white diamonds and lovers are forever
In the papers, on the screen, and in their minds
All my white diamonds and lovers are forever
Don’t you ever end up anything but mine
I’d cry my eyes violet, Elizabeth Taylor
Tell me for real, do you think it’s forever?
Been number one, but I never had two
And I can’t have fun if I can’t have (If I can’t have you)
Be my NY when Hollywood hates me
You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby
Been number one, but l never had two
And I can’t have fun if I can’t have (If I can’t have you)
All my white diamonds and lovers are forever
Elizabeth Taylor, do you think it’s forever?
In the papers, on the screen, and in their minds
All my white diamonds and lovers are forever
Don’t you ever end up anything but mine
This article was first published on Teen Vogue.
"You had to make your own sunshine, but now the sky is opalite."
