Wednesday Apr 29, 2026

Luxury & Status in Taylor Swift's Music | "Bejeweled," "Elizabeth Taylor" & More | Literary Analysis

“Best believe I’m still bejeweled” and diving into an incredibly rich discussion this week! In this week's show and tell episode, we’re examining the age-old literary theme of luxury in Taylor Swift's music, through the songs “I Bet You Think About Me” (Red Taylor’s Version, 2021), “Bejeweled” (Midnights, 2022), and “Elizabeth Taylor” (Life of a Showgirl, 2025). Join us as we dive into how the meaning and significance of luxury changes through each of these songs that span across Taylor’s discography, and how luxury can be used to comment on social status, identity, and emotional depth.

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Jane Austen

The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wild

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Episode Highlights

[00:00] Introduction to luxury as a theme in literature and music
[03:00] “Bet You Think About Me” - the contrast in social classes
[10:50] “Bejeweled”- precious jewels and self-worth
[20:36] The luxurious, lonely life of “Elizabeth Taylor”
[34:31] Conclusion: The Multifaceted Nature of Luxury in Taylor's Music

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This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

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