The very first time I encountered words that genuinely invited me to dig beneath the surface was in 8th grade while reading Julius Caesar. At that point, I wasn’t particularly drawn to classic literature, but Shakespeare’s language pulled me in. Every line seemed layered, revealing new meanings each time I reconsidered them. The way Shakespeare played with words, sentence structure, and rhythm fascinated me. In a way, studying his plays felt like cracking a code. Reading his words, I sensed a connection to the long-dead author that went beyond a shared birthplace (I live in New York now, but I was born in England). As I delved deeper into Julius Caesar, I realized that words could be dynamic, bent or stretched to express something far deeper than a literal definition.

I get that same feeling now when I listen to music. From memorizing every word of musicals like Hamilton and In the Heights with my family, playing Steely Dan every night on the piano before bedtime, and changing all the lyrics of Beatles songs to be about my favorite baseball players as a child to analytically dissecting more intricate songs as I’ve grown older, music has always captivated me. I devour melodies and lyrics, deconstructing each bar carefully and completely before moving on to the next. My friends even joke about my ever-changing Spotify Wrapped playlist. Last year it featured exclusively reggaeton, the year before it was hip hop, and before that it was R&B and Classic Rock. In each genre I explore, I become obsessed with the distinct styles and varied meanings hidden in the songs, continually drawn to how the sound, lyrics, and cultural context intertwine.

My relationship to Spanish music, especially reggaeton, embodies this fascination perfectly. As I have become better at Spanish over the years and begun approaching fluency, translating lines and catching the subtle shifts in nuance remind me of the same kind of attention Shakespeare’s writing demands. The evocative, self-aware lyrics of Bad Bunny, where a simple phrase can convey heartbreak, social commentary, or humor, can sound like they’re straight out of a Shakespearean play, where words (and often the characters who speak them) deftly wear multiple masks. 

But I’ve noticed the same craft in music written in my own language, too. The intricate wordplay, rhyme schemes, and life lessons woven into modern day conscious rap tracks, for example, have striking similarities to Shakespearean verse. When I hear J. Cole reflect on ambition, regret, or the passing of time, it often reminds me of a soliloquy, masterfully structured yet emotionally raw. Like Shakespeare's writing, hip hop often challenges us to grapple with uncomfortable and profound truths.

Popular music today is truly the soundtrack of youth culture. Between the reggaeton that blasts out of speakers all over New York City, the rap verses that catch fire on TikTok, and yes, the constant background presence of Taylor Swift in the house I share with two younger sisters, I’m constantly reminded that today’s popular music is full of the echoes of Shakespeare and his legacy: in its emotional storytelling, its clever use of language, and its ability to evoke universal and timeless feelings through seemingly simple yet impactful lines.

This connection has inspired me to create this blog. I want to explore how the words and themes that captivated audiences in Shakespeare’s Globe theatre are still alive in the music of my generation. To recognize that the impulse to use language creatively, to tell stories that move people, and to play with meaning is timeless. Whether in a 400-year-old soliloquy or in a viral song from last week, that’s what great writing, and great music, can achieve.