Elizabeth Taylor (song)

Last updated
"Elizabeth Taylor"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Life of a Showgirl
ReleasedOctober 3, 2025 (2025-10-03)
Studio
  • MXM Studios (Stockholm)
  • Shellback Studios (Stockholm)
  • Studio 112 (Jonstorp)
Genre
Length3:28
Label Republic
Songwriters
Producers
  • Taylor Swift
  • Max Martin
  • Shellback

"Elizabeth Taylor" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, from her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl (2025). Written and produced by Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, "Elizabeth Taylor" is an upbeat electropop record with soft rock elements.[ citation needed ] Titled after the American actress Elizabeth Taylor, Swift references the late actress and Hollywood, reflecting on how fame affects love and relationships.

Contents

Background and release

Swift announced The Life of a Showgirl on August 13, 2025, in an episode of the podcast New Heights , hosted by Swift's fiancé and NFL player Travis Kelce. [1] The song was subsequently released on October 3, 2025. [2] Upon the revealing of the tracklist and the release date, "Elizabeth Taylor" was also announced as the album's second track, titled after American actress Elizabeth Taylor. [3] In Swift's album Reputation (2017), she previously referenced Taylor and her relationship with her ex-husband Richard Burton in her song "...Ready for It?" in the lyrics "And he can be my jailer / Burton to this Taylor". [3]

Composition

"Elizabeth Taylor" is an upbeat [4] electropop song,[ citation needed ] blending elements of soft rock and disco.[ citation needed ] The track is written and produced by Swift, Max Martin and Shellback, comprising a length of three minutes and twenty-eight seconds. In the record, Swift unveils multiple references to the late actress – Portofino, Italy which marked the place where Welsh actor Richard Burton proposed to Taylor in the lyrics "That view of Portofino was on my mind when you called me at the Plaza Athénée" [3] and the actress's perfume, White Diamonds in "All my white diamonds and lovers are forever / In the papers, on the screen, and in their minds". [3] [5] [6] [7] Aside from the references to the actress, "Elizabeth Taylor" is about Swift conveying her desire to love amidst her fame and public life. [5] [8]

Reception

"Elizabeth Taylor" received mixed receptions after the album's release. Alexis Petridis of The Guardian resembled the track's theme to Swift's song "Wish List" of the same album with the lyrics "that yacht life under chopper blades … those bright lights and Balenci' shades" and also dubbed the track as the only "killer chorus" of the album. [9] Similarly, Charlotte Karner of The Daily Texan named "Elizabeth Taylor" a track that honors the "quintessential" showgirl in a reputation-esque love song. [10]

In contrary, Chris Willman of Variety stated that the record might be the album's "closing flirtation", calling the production "truly big" and "overwhelming". [11] Likewise, Josh Mercado of ABS-CBN News expressed his dislike to the album. Moreover, he mentioned "Elizabeth Taylor" sounded "rushed, unseasoned and did not live up to the album's title" with the other tracks. [12] India Block of the Evening Standard wrote that it was "a bit tone deaf" for Swift to complain about a lack of glamour given her wealth. [13]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from album liner notes. [14]

Studios

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Elizabeth Taylor"
Chart (2025)Peak
position
Argentina (Argentina Hot 100) [15]
[16] 		24
Australia (ARIA) [17] 3
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100) [18]
[19] 		23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [20] 3
Croatia ( Billboard ) [21] 11
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [22] 7
Denmark (Tracklisten) [23] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [24] 13
France (SNEP) [25] 21
Germany (GfK) [26] 4
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [27] 3
Hong Kong ( Billboard ) [28] 11
Hungary (Single Top 40) [29] 19
India International (IMI) [30] 4
Ireland (IRMA) [31] 3
Italy (FIMI) [32] 32
Lithuania (AGATA) [33] 8
Luxembourg ( Billboard ) [34] 3
Malaysia (IFPI) [35] 11
Middle East and North Africa (IFPI) [36] 12
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [37] 7
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [38] 3
Norway (IFPI Norge) [39] 4
Philippines (IFPI) [40] 6
Singapore (RIAS) [41] 4
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [42] 12
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [43] 3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [44] 3
Taiwan ( Billboard ) [45] 13
UK Singles (OCC) [46] 3
US Billboard Hot 100 [47] 3
US Adult Pop Airplay ( Billboard ) [48] 39
Vietnam (IFPI) [49] 13

References

  1. ↑ Magramo, Kathleen (August 12, 2025). "Taylor Swift announces new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl'". CNN . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ Madani, Doha (August 14, 2025). "'The Life of a Showgirl' era: What we know so far about Taylor Swift's new album". NBC . Retrieved October 8, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Brower, Kate Andersen (October 3, 2025). "How Taylor Swift Found Inspiration in Elizabeth Taylor (And You Should Too)". Town and Country Magazine . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  4. ↑ Budiansky, Jared (October 3, 2025). "Review: Taylor Swift's 'The Life of a Showgirl'". The Spectrum . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Puckett-Pope, Lauren (October 3, 2025). "Why Taylor Swift Name-Dropped 'Elizabeth Taylor' in Her The Life of a Showgirl Track". Elle . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ Vivinetto, Gina (October 3, 2025). "Why Does Taylor Swift Reference 'Elizabeth Taylor' on 'The Life of a Showgirl'? Lyrics, Explained". Today . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  7. ↑ Sullivan, Corinne (October 8, 2025). "Taylor Swift Just Revealed the Inspo Behind Her Song "Elizabeth Taylor" and It's So, So Sweet". Cosmopolitan . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ Waxman, Olivia (October 3, 2025). "What to Know About Elizabeth Taylor When You're Listening to Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl". Time . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  9. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (October 3, 2025). "Taylor Swift: The Life of a Showgirl review – dull razzle-dazzle from a star who seems frazzled". The Guardian . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ Karner, Charlotte (October 6, 2025). "Review: Taylor Swift misses stage marks in 'The Life of a Showgirl'". The Daily Texan . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  11. ↑ Willman, Chris (October 2, 2025). "With 'The Life of a Showgirl,' Taylor Swift Has Made Such a Contagiously Joyful Record, Even Her Score-Settling Detours Sound Sunny: Album Review". Variety . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  12. ↑ Mercado, Josh (October 6, 2025). "Music review: Taylor Swift's new album lacks 'showgirl' energy". ABS-CBN . Retrieved October 9, 2025.
  13. ↑ Block, India (2025-10-03). "The Life of a Showgirl review: Penis metaphors from a poor little rich girl". The Standard. Retrieved 2025-10-13.
  14. ↑ The Life of a Showgirl (booklet). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2025.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  15. ↑ "Taylor Swift – Chart History (Argentina Hot 100)" Billboard Argentina Hot 100 Singles for Taylor Swift. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Billboard Argentina Hot 100". Billboard Argentina (in Spanish). October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  17. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Brasil Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Billboard Brasil Hot 100". Billboard Brasil (in Brazilian Portuguese). October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Croatia Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  22. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Track Top-40 Uge 40, 2025". Hitlisten . Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Taylor-Swift: Elizabeth Taylor" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  25. ↑ "Top Singles (Week 41, 2025)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Taylor Swift – Elizabeth Taylor" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  28. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hong Kong Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  30. ↑ "IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 13th October 2025 | Week 41 of 52". IMIcharts. Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 41 (dal 03.10.2025 al 09.10.2025)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  33. ↑ "2025 41-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Luxembourg Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  35. ↑ "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Malaysia Chart Top 20 from 10/03/2025 to 10/09/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 14, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 41]
  36. ↑ "The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20 from 10/03/2025 to 10/03/2025". www.theofficialmenachart.com. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Taylor Swift – Elizabeth Taylor" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  38. ↑ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. October 10, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Singel 2025 uke 41". IFPI Norge . Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  40. ↑ "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Philippines Chart Top 20 from 10/03/2025 to 10/09/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 14, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 41]
  41. ↑ "The Official Singapore Charts Week 41 (3 - 9 Oct 2025)". RIAS. Archived from the original on October 14, 2025. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  42. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 41. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 41" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved October 11, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Taylor Swift – Elizabeth Taylor". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  45. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Taiwan Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
  47. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  48. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  49. ↑ "The Official Southeast Asia Charts – This Week's Official Vietnam Chart Top 20 from 10/03/2025 to 10/09/2025". International Federation of the Phonographic Industry . Retrieved October 14, 2025. [Select 2025 Week 41]
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