There are movie scenes that are irremediably linked to a particular song. And when Lupita Nyong’o read the script for Little Monsters, he knew that in the final scene, “Shake It Off” had to be played, no matter what. Taylor Swift.
Even though the producers warned her that Taylor wanted nothing to do with giving them the rights to her hit, Lupita knew she had something to convince the artist with: a personal story, a compelling reason. Because that song had been very meaningful to her and she had to let her know it.
“When I was working in London on Star Wars, I was very unsure about my career because it was only the second project I was doing. I was getting a little depressed,” Nyong’o recalled that year when insecurities and fears constantly assailed her.
“My best friend came to London and Taylor had just released ‘Shake It Off.’ She played it for me to put me in a better mood, and we just jumped on my bed and danced and danced, and it lifted my spirits.”added the actress, who has been a super fan of the singer ever since.
HOW LUPITA NYONG’O CONVINCED TAYLOR SWIFT TO GIVE HER A SONG
That story, small but important for Lupita, was what she told Swift when she knew she had nothing to lose. “Ok, I’m going to go and make a proposal; I’m going to let Taylor know what this song means to me.”he recalled being said.
And the plan worked. “I told her the story of how she helped me get out of a near-depression and suddenly everything was fine. I haven’t seen her again to thank her. Thank you so much, Taylor. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”concluded Lupita, a happy Swiftie who was able to achieve what she wanted: Taylor’s theme song in her movie.
