Clara Bow’s family shares their thoughts on Taylor Swift’s song named after the star: “Hauntingly Beautiful” (exclusive)
Bow’s great-granddaughters tell PEOPLE exclusively that the song draws “poetic parallels between Clara Bow and Taylor”
Eugene Robert Richee/Hulton Archive/Getty; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty
Clara Bow and Taylor Swift
Clara Bow’s relatives share their thoughts on Taylor Swift’s new song named after the 1920s actress.
After the publication of The “Tortured Poets” section on April 19, in which Swift sings about past heartbreak, media hype and an overall intense time in her life, PEOPLE spoke exclusively with Bow’s great-granddaughters Nicole Sisneros and Brittany Grace Bell (who are the granddaughters of Bow’s son Rex Bell Jr.) about the latest track.
Sisneros explains that she immediately got “goosebumps” upon first listen, noting that the track “poeticly draws parallels between Clara Bow and Taylor.”
“They are both young and incredibly talented artists,” Sisneros said, referring to the two “It” girls. “My family and I love the song and are grateful that Taylor is connecting to Clara’s legacy through her songwriting.”
Related: Clara Bow’s family reacts to Taylor Swift’s new song, says actress was ‘protecting’ singer (exclusive)
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Clara Bow
Bell remembers one lyric in particular: “This town is fake, but you’re the real thing.” She believes Swift is alluding to “how Clara Bow was completely herself despite the media hype in Hollywood and the social norms of the 1920s and 1930s.”
“To me, the song seems ethereal and a little melancholic,” Bell continues.
Referring to the lyric “Did you know all your life that you would be picked like a rose?” Bell continues, “Clara was a ‘rose’ picked by the men of Hollywood who capitalized on her fame and talent. I think it perfectly sums up how she felt as Hollywood’s ‘It’ girl.”
Related: All the songs Taylor Swift apparently wrote about Travis Kelce on The “Tortured Poets” section
And the parallels don’t end there! When Swift announced her new music video for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone ahead of the album’s release, many fans immediately suspected that Swift was paying tribute to Bow with her makeup, including thin eyebrows and dark lipstick with a prominent cupid’s bow.
“She has the same sultry look that was typical of Clara Bow,” Sisneros said of Swift’s look in the music video. “And there’s no denying the precise application of the lipstick.”
Taylor Swift/Instagram
Taylor Swift in her music video “Fortnight”
Although Sisneros and Bell note that they have “not heard from or been able to successfully contact anyone from Swift’s team” since the song’s announcement, they hope the new track will inspire the next generation of listeners.
“It’s truly remarkable that Clara is back in the media spotlight 100 years later,” Bell says of her great-grandmother. “It’s a testament to her legacy. I hope this inspires the younger generation to learn about Clara’s story and be inspired by her perseverance.”
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