Taylor Swift has revealed that her song “Father Figure” was inspired by the TV drama Succession. The track, featured on her album “The Life of a Showgirl,” samples George Michael’s 1987 song of the same name. While borrowing from George’s melody, Taylor reimagined the song for her latest album, which holds the record as the most-streamed album in a single day on Amazon Music.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 35-year-old singer shared that she drew inspiration from the complex relationships portrayed in Succession, particularly the dynamics between the ruthless patriarch Logan Roy and his children. Taylor expressed admiration for the power dynamics and betrayals depicted in the show, citing a specific scene where Logan tells his children, “I love you but you are not serious people,” as a significant influence on her songwriting.
Performing a verse and chorus from “Father Figure” on the show, Taylor highlighted her intention to capture the energy of Logan’s authoritative statements to his children. She emphasized her connection to the perspective of the protege within these scenarios, despite the song being narrated from the father figure’s point of view.
Acknowledging George Michael’s contribution, Taylor co-credited the late artist for the interpolation in her song. Representatives of George’s estate expressed their approval for the usage of his work in Taylor’s music, stating that George would have embraced the collaboration. The estate commended the association between the two artists and extended well wishes to Taylor for her album and the song “Father Figure.”
The collaboration between Taylor Swift and George Michael’s estate was met with enthusiasm, with both parties recognizing the significance of blending their musical talents. George Michael Entertainment endorsed the partnership, affirming George’s hypothetical endorsement of the collaboration.