Ah, Shakespeare. Willy Shakes. Poet, playwright, subject of countless half-assed term papers, possible stoner, and arguably the most celebrated figure in the history of literature.
The Bard’s got quite a few achievements under his foppish Elizabethan belt, but has he ever released a multi-platinum album? Did even have a squad? We doubt it. So maybe Ryan Adams is on to something when he says Shakespeare and Taylor Swift are basically in the same boat. Or maybe he’s just being a total dumbass.
Adams recently covered Swift’s 1989 in its entirety, and while we – like most people – initially dismissed it as part of his ongoing attempt to remain relevant and sell some records to people who aren’t confused about the absence of “Summer of ’69” on the tracklist, it turns out Ryan actually has a ton of respect for Taylor.
Like, “thinks she’s on par with the greatest geniuses the Western world has ever produced”-level respect.
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Ryan compared covering Taylor’s songs to “being in Ghostbusters or something, and then all of a sudden I have to go do Shakespeare.”
When the interviewer pointed out that that’s a bit of an “overgenerous analogy,” Adams replied, “Well, look, those songs are popular for a reason. She’s a popular artist for a reason.”
He may be onto something there.
Guys, we recommend you take your girlfriend to McDonald’s instead of a fancy restaurant for your next anniversary, and if she questions your decision, simply point out that Mickey D’s is more popular than any French eatery on the planet, and there must be a reason for that, non?
Then, when she dumps you, you can write an album of sad breakup music, and Ryan Adams will cover it the next time he’s out of ideas. It’s the circle of life.