TAYLOR SWIFT fans were greeted with a pleasant surprise this morning: a new album titled “The Tortured Poets Department.
” However, some puzzled over her reference to Dylan Thomas, the renowned Welsh poet and writer. Yet, Thomas’s allure to musicians is nothing new.
This summer, Taylor Swift is set to grace the Principality Stadium, situated in the birth country of the enigmatic poet. Tickets for her performance vanished within minutes, sparking speculation: could she pay homage to Wales’ literary luminary during her Cardiff gig?
Thomas, known for his tumultuous relationship with alcohol, met his untimely demise at the age of 39 while touring in New York in 1953.
His influence extended to rock icons such as Bob Dylan (who famously adopted his stage name from Zimmerman) and The Beatles, who featured his visage on the iconic album cover of Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Recently, Johnny Depp made a pilgrimage to Thomas’s birthplace in Swansea, expressing his reverence: “I’m still floating a little, having been in the room where Under Milk Wood began.”
But who is Dylan Thomas?
Born on 27 October 1914, Dylan Marlais Thomas is arguably Wales’ most celebrated wordsmith.
His magnum opus, the radio play “Under Milk Wood,” continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Raised in Swansea at 5 Cwmdonkin Drive, Thomas’s literary journey commenced with a submission to a BBC poetry competition, propelling him into the realm of writing.
Relocating to London in 1934, Thomas’s debut poetry collection, “18 Poems,” garnered acclaim from established poets. He transcended mere prodigy status, evolving into a cultural icon as the first poet thrust into the limelight of celebrity culture.
His words, voice, and image permeated the 20th-century media landscape through mediums like radio, television, film, and audio recordings, as noted in a 2014 BBC article.
Thomas’s poetic legacy lives on through timeless verses like “Fern Hill,” “And Death Shall Have No Dominion,” and “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night,” often recited at memorial services.
During the 1940s, he became a fixture on the BBC, contributing scripts, reciting poetry and short stories, and even dabbling in acting.
