Uncover Hidden Intrigues: Fascinating Details You May Have Overlooked at Her Unforgettable Concerts

Just before taking the stage, Taylor Swift always plays “You Don’t Own Me” by Dusty Springfield.

David Redfern/Redferns

“You Don’t Own Me” was originally recorded by Lesley Gore, but Taylor Swift’s playlist features the 1964 cover by Dusty Springfield.

The song plays when the countdown clock appears on the big screen. It includes poignant lyrics like “I’m not just one of your many toys” and “I’m free and I love to be free / To live my life the way that I want.”

This could be a subtle message to Scott Borchetta and Scooter Braun, whose purchase of Taylor Swift’s masters spurred her to rerecord her first six albums.

In addition to signature hits like “Spooky” and “Son of a Preacher Man,” Dusty Springfield was also known for rebelling against constraints in the music industry and meticulously crafting her own public image. According to biographers, she was often branded as “difficult” — although, in retrospect, this was more likely a reaction to a strong-willed woman in a male-dominated industry.

Dusty Springfield’s love life was also a common source of tabloid fodder. In 1970, she publicly came out as bisexual and suffered an immediate plunge in commercial success. However, 20 years later, she released an album titled “Reputation,” which helped revive her career.

“Dusty was assumed to be a nightmare on a personal level,” Neil Tennant, who coproduced the album, told The Telegraph in 2020. “Couldn’t sing any more. Probably some sort of drug addict. Whispers of sexuality, which was regarded as a problem. But the minute she walked in she was really sweet. And it was immediately evident she could sing as well as ever.”