Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” Lyrics Meaning
Even though Taylor Swift’s “Bejeweled” is highly metaphorical, sentiment-wise it is also one of the more straightforward we have thus far come across on her “Midnights” album.
When the vocalist asserts that she is “still bejeweled”, she is doing so specifically to an addressee who reads like an unappreciative lover. Or put more colloquially, she is letting dude know that he can’t play her like that. This is because Taylor is not going to allow herself to be undervalued, nor her romantic vestments unreciprocated.
And again, going back to the titular analogy, that’s because she knows her worth and recognizes that on the singles’ market she is more valuable, if you will, than her boyfriend.
That said, it should be noted that one of the reasons it feels as if Taylor’s romantic history never goes away is because with songs like this for instance, she gives Swifties ample conspiracy theory fodder, whether intentional or not, that can be related to her past.
Calvin Harris
In this case, what has been reasonably argued is that “Bejeweled” harps back 4 May 2016, when Swift attended that year’s Met Gala in New York City. The said event turned out to be one of her most-eventful days not only romantically but also, all things considered, in her life in general.
At the time Taylor was dating Calvin Harris, who some readers would recognize as the accomplished DJ from Scotland. They lasted for over a year, which is relatively lengthy as far as both parties are concerned.
And what is known, at least as far as gossip circles are concerned, is that Calvin had issues adjusting to dating a woman who was more successful than he was.
As to how he actually treated her when they were together, there doesn’t appear to be any verifiable information in that regard. What has been documented though are like these social-media exchanges they had post-breakup. And in one of those instances yes, Harris did spaz, though he later apologized.
Tom Hiddleston
During the aforementioned Met Gala, when Taylor did wear what has been described as “a shiny dress”, i.e. a “bejeweled” one, that was the first time she hooked up with Tom Hiddleston.
So basically, Tay Tay was dating Calvin and Tom at the same time, or let’s say transitioning from the former and into the latter. But that said, her romance with Hiddleston proved even briefer than the one she had with Harris.
Joe Alwyn
However, that same night was also when she met Joe Alwyn, another British actor whom it seems she began dating while later in the process of breaking up with Tom.
So yes, Taylor Swift did manage to have three different, verifiable boyfriends within the timespan of five months – getting her bejewels on, so to speak. But at least with Alwyn the relationship lasted and is still active, even as of this writing, some six years later.
In Conclusion
So what’s being theoretically put forth is Calvin Harris being the addressee of this song. This would then imply that he’s somewhat of a wanker, i.e. a guy who is unable to appreciate a female who gave her all to him. But more to the point is the vocalist being in a position where she did not have to tolerate such abuse.
And looking back, if he was “intimidated” by Taylor Swift, maybe he had a valid reason to be. This is because sure enough while concurrently dating Calvin, she was able to go out and bag a man who’s even more popular than he is. Furthermore, she was able to meet another who proved to be her significant other, in a manner of speaking.
And what Taylor is seemingly attributing this romantic success to is her ability to turn it on, as in effectively ‘bejewel’ herself, at will.
Release of “Bejeweled”
This song came out on 21 October 2022. It is one of the songs on the playlist to Taylor’s “Midnights” project.
Shortly thereafter it was given the promotional single treatment. Taylor’s team market this track individually her website. Furthermore, it was granted its own music video, which Swift herself directed.
Said clip, which was inspired by the Cinderella fairytale, generated ample headlines for a number of reasons. One of these reasons was because it features a number of Easter eggs, as they are called, i.e. subtle references to some of the songstress’s previous works, etc.
And there are also quite a few cameos from other celebrities such as Ha’im, Swift’s homey Zoe Kravitz and Jack Antonoff. The is a musician whom Taylor has worked extensively with over the years.
Credits
Actually the aforementioned Antonoff wrote and produced “Bejeweled” with Taylor.
Antonoff co-wrote over a dozen songs on the “Midnights” album. They include:
- “Lavender Haze”
- “Anti-Hero”
- “Maroon”
- “Snow on the Beach”
- “Midnight Rain”
- “You’re on Your Own, Kid”
- “Question…?”
Interesting to Note:
The existence of “Bejeweled” was first announced on 5 October 2022, as part of a TikTok based initiative Taylor helmed, which she titled Midnights Mayhem With Me.
