Global pop sensation Taylor Swift is reportedly making a highly anticipated trip to the UK next week to film the second music video for her blockbuster twelfth album, The Life of a Showgirl.
A London Tribute to an Icon
The top-secret shoot is allegedly for her hit song, Elizabeth Taylor. The 35-year-old artist specifically chose to film in London to pay tribute to the legendary actress's British origins. The late screen icon, celebrated for roles in classics like Cleopatra and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, was born in Hampstead, North London in 1932 before relocating to Los Angeles at age seven.
A source revealed to The Sun, 'Taylor is super excited to be back in London filming for her new music video. Elizabeth Taylor is a British icon and Taylor wants to pay homage by shooting scenes in the capital.' The source added that the video will showcase various locations around the city, reflecting Swift's own documented affection for London.
Decoding the Homage in Song and Scene
The track Elizabeth Taylor is a masterclass in lyrical homage. Swift fills the song with direct references to the actress, including a nod to her famous 'violet eyes' and a mention of 'white diamonds', a clear reference to Taylor's iconic 1991 fragrance.
Beyond the material, Swift draws poignant parallels between their personal lives. The song explores themes of fame and romantic history, contrasting Swift's own experiences with Elizabeth Taylor's famously turbulent love life, which included eight marriages to seven different men. One lyric, 'Been number one, but I never had two', is thought to cleverly reference their shared number-one status in showbusiness, while hinting at a lack of a permanent partner.
The homage extends to specific locations beloved by the actress. The lyrics reference Portofino, an Italian seaside town that was a favourite getaway for Taylor, and the Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris, where she and Richard Burton were frequent guests. Notably, Swift has even designated 'Portofino Orange' as the signature colour for this album era.
A Long-Standing Admiration
This is not the first time Swift has drawn inspiration from the Hollywood legend. She previously channelled a mid-century movie star aesthetic in the video for Wildest Dreams and directly referenced Taylor's passionate relationship with Richard Burton with the lyric 'Burton to my Taylor' in her song Ready For It? from the Reputation album.
In a recent interview, Swift explained the song's deeper meaning: 'In this record, there’s a song called Elizabeth Taylor, which is sort of my emotions and my issues with fame through the lens of cosplaying the life of Elizabeth Taylor, so you kind of meld the two experiences together.' She expressed admiration for Taylor as a 'glamorous, very beloved, but for some reason a polarizing figure', a position Swift herself has often occupied.
The tribute has even touched the Taylor family. Elizabeth Taylor's youngest son, Christopher Wilding, 72, told People he was 'deeply touched' by the song. He called Swift's nods to his mother 'especially magical' and stated, 'She and my mom do seem like kindred spirits. They are both the very embodiment of female empowerment.' He believes his mother, who passed away in 2011, would have gotten along famously with the pop star.
