Who is Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” about?
In "Wildest Dreams," Taylor Swift creates a rich narrative around two characters who find themselves in an intense, but transient romantic relationship. The lovers in this song, like in many of Swift's works, could be seen as drawn from a variety of influences, including Swift's own experiences, pop culture figures, or literary and historical characters.
Swift's personal life has often been a subject of her songwriting, with her romances often becoming public knowledge. It's speculated that "Wildest Dreams" may refer to one of Swift's own short-lived relationships, where the passion was intense but ultimately temporary. The handsome, tall, and well-behaving 'bad boy' lover in the song, could possibly be a reference to her former boyfriend, actor Harry Styles, or any of her other relationships that followed similar patterns. It's important to note, however, that Swift herself has not confirmed these speculations and, as such, they remain purely conjectural.
In addition to real-life influences, the characters in "Wildest Dreams" could be seen as emblematic of larger pop culture tropes. The figure of the tall, handsome, and somewhat dangerous man harks back to the archetypal "bad boy" figure frequently seen in film, television, and literature. This character archetype often holds a dangerous allure, tempting the protagonist into a passionate but potentially damaging relationship. Swift's lyrics may be playing with this common trope, examining both its allure and its pitfalls.
The narrative of the song can also be seen as reminiscent of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby," particularly in the longing to preserve an idealized memory and the desperation inherent in unrequited love. In "Wildest Dreams," Swift is like Gatsby, trying to hold onto a romanticized past and requesting her lover to remember her even if it's just pretend. This sentiment of yearning and unfulfilled desire is central to both the song and the novel.
Furthermore, the theme of burning, intense passion that ultimately leads to downfall is a recurrent motif in classical literature and mythology. The story of Icarus, who ignores his father's advice and flies too close to the sun, only to have his wax wings melt and fall into the sea, is a striking parallel to the destructive, fiery passion Swift describes in "Wildest Dreams."
In conclusion, the characters in "Wildest Dreams" can be understood through a multifaceted lens of influences ranging from Swift's own personal life, pop culture, and classic literature and mythology. The analysis of these potential influences helps us appreciate the layered narrative of the song, demonstrating Swift's capacity to weave together personal, popular, and historical threads into a rich tapestry of emotional storytelling. As always, we must remember that without explicit confirmation from Swift herself, all interpretations remain speculative and serve more to enrich our understanding of the song's themes than to identify specific real-life counterparts.
