“The Oxford Union hosts some of the world’s most influential speakers and celebrities, and Swift is one of the most exciting performers today who appeals to such a broad range of audiences”.
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The Oxford Union has issued an invitation to singer Taylor Swift in the form of a mashup YouTube video that recreates her global smash hit “Shake It Off” with past prominent speakers.
Guest speakers like Federation Internationale de Football Association president Sepp Blatter, Stephen Fry, actor Sir Ian McKellen, and activist Malala Yousafzai appeared in the mash-up video.
The song was the first track to be released from her fifth album 1989, which was the top selling record of the year around the world in 2014 and is still selling strongly.
Other members of the video’s eclectic cast include Gangnam Style singer Psy, TV presenter Piers Morgan, actors Morgan Freeman, Diane Kruger, Sir Patrick Stewart and Jack Gleeson, as well as biologist and atheist Richard Dawkins.
Charles Vaughan, the president of the Oxford Union, said the venerable student society, founded in 1823, was unable to book Swift in the past because of her touring schedule.
“Taylor Swift is an worldwide sensation who does not just produce enjoyable music but has become a contemporary cultural icon”.
The video, which took a week to edit, was originally conceptualized to present the Oxford Union to new students.
“She’s a wonderful person to listen to”.
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“If Taylor – fingers crossed – actually accepts the invitation, then we can have that conversation”.
