"Elizabeth Taylor" by Taylor Swift // Record Store Day Exclusive 7" Vinyl Single
The song was produced by Max Martin and Shellback, as was the rest of the album. It's reminiscent of some of the glittering darkness that defined Reputation nearly a decade ago, the last time the three of them worked together, but here that edge is filtered through a more cinematic lens. She takes an Old Hollywood approach, with specific callouts to Elizabeth Taylor's iconography surrounding her life.
The chorus of the song itself is even a reference to Elizabeth Taylor's trademark violet eyes, which is another detail tied to her mythology. While her eyes were likely more of a deep blue that was accentuated by makeup and lighting, the imagery is beautiful nonetheless and absolutely one of her defining traits. "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?" Taylor sings in the chorus.
She uses Elizabeth Taylor as a metaphor for her own life in many ways, drawing parallels to the extremely public existence they've both lived in front of millions of people, especially when it comes to the constant commentary surrounding her relationships and, in particular, Elizabeth's eight marriages. The comparison is so layered in that way, not only acknowledging the scrutiny they've both endured, but also recognizing that this is the life she wanted. She does bask in the attention and the luxury that comes with all of it, yet there's still a deep desire for someone to love her for who she really is. It's an interesting dichotomy introduced on this song, one that speaks to the unique type of cultural spectacle they have both been known for.
There are also some tongue in cheek lyrical moments that show her self awareness, like "You're only as hot as your last hit, baby" and "Babe, I would trade the Cartier for someone to trust (Just kidding)". She builds the image of a starlet in the Golden Age of Hollywood by naming specific settings of dining at Musso & Frank's drenched in diamonds and surrounded by adoring lovers and fans.
Going back decades into Hollywood history is something Taylor has written about so many times through the years, placing herself inside eras she never lived through but is clearly fascinated by. "The Lucky One" stands out as an early example, as does "Nothing New", and even in a broader sense, a song like "Style" plays with a distinctly timeless, cinematic quality. This isn't even the first time she's referenced Elizabeth Taylor or drawn a direct comparison in her music either. The iconic line "Burton to this Taylor, every love I've known in comparison is a failure" from "...Ready For It?" remains one of the most clever lyrical moments on Reputation.
A lyrical highlight comes in the final moments of the song., "All my white diamonds and lovers are forever, in the papers, on the screen, and in their minds," which again, best represents in the most literal sense the theming of The Life of a Showgirl.
I wish the rest of The Life of a Showgirl had taken more of a direction like this, because "Elizabeth Taylor" feels like the clearest articulation of the concept she seemed to be reaching for. With this song, she hints at the direction she was maybe wanting the entire project to go in, but didn't execute it in the way she could have. The potential for the Showgirl theme was largely a miss on this album, which is disappointing given the vast possibilities she could have gone in with a prompt like that. There are glimpses of a greater vision scattered throughout this album, especially on a song like "Elizabeth Taylor", but the thesis gets lost in the final cut.
This 7" vinyl single is sold exclusively at indie record stores and is pressed on Cry My Eyes Violet Glitter Vinyl, which beautifully captures the aesthetic of this song and the visuals for this era as a whole. Taylor has been outdoing herself with every vinyl release for The Life of a Showgirl so far, and this is no exception. The multicolor violet swirl pressing with the gold glitter is such a beautiful combination and truly unlike any other pressing in my collection. It’s rare to find a 7" single that feels this unique, and she really knocks it out of the park with every physical release of her music. She has also released special pressings for the two other singles from the album thus far, and I will absolutely be writing more about those soon; the orange glitter "The Fate of Ophelia" and the opalescent "Opalite" singles are so incredible too.
The photos used on the front and back covers of the outer sleeve are also stunning. The photoshoot for The Life of a Showgirl is gorgeous and among her best ever.
There are no official numbers for how limited this pressing is, but considering the amount that every record store I've seen had in stock, I have to imagine it was likely well over 100,000 copies pressed worldwide. The same went for the special release last year too, which was a white 7" vinyl of "Fortnight" featuring Post Malone. I honestly love that she makes more than enough for everyone who wants a copy to be able to grab one, instead of inflating the rarity with the scarce numbers.
Side A features the standard album version of "Elizabeth Taylor", while Side B features the "So Glamorous Cabaret Version". I much prefer the alternate version of the song, as it completely transforms the tone and turns it into something far more melancholic and heartbroken than anything else. It channels the Old Hollywood glamour even more so than what is already embedded in a song like this, and she executes it so well.
She re‑recorded all new vocals and instrumentals for this version, which makes it feel intentional, unlike past remixes that simply used the original vocal stems over a more generic acoustic or stripped‑back arrangement. This one feels like a true reinterpretation of the original song.
Although my feelings are definitely mixed on The Life of a Showgirl as a whole - honestly leaning more negative than anything - I always look forward to her vinyl releases, especially her Record Store Day exclusives every year. She almost always participates in some way, and it's become one of my favorite traditions as a longtime collector. I waited for about two hours outside of my local record store to grab this and it was absolutely worth it. This was the only vinyl I was able to pick up in person this year, but I'll likely try my luck online for a few other titles I was interested it. I always look forward to Record Store Day every year and this was another great experience!
Thanks for reading! I have written about Taylor Swift's music many times over the years, all of which are linked here and below. Check out some of my past Record Store Day exclusive vinyl reviews here as well. Be sure to support your local record stores!!
All photos are my own!
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