Here’s the assignment. Fourteen lines in iambic pentameter, with an a-b-a-b, c-d-c-d, e-f-e-f, g-g rhyme scheme. Now: add Taylor Swift.

It’s astounding and gratifying that Shakespeare—a 450-year-old playwright—continues to pop up in popular culture. Our guest on this podcast episode is Erik Didriksen, who takes hit songs from artists like Taylor Swift and Eminem and rewrites them as Shakespearean sonnets. The Tumblr where Didriksen posted his sonnets became so popular that in 2015, he published a book, Pop Sonnets: Shakespearean Spins on Your Favorite Songs. He was interviewed by Barbara Bogaev (This episode was originally broadcast February 10, 2016).

From our Shakespeare Unlimited podcast series. ©Folger Shakespeare Library. All rights reserved. This episode, called "Press Among the Popular Throngs," was produced by Richard Paul. Garland Scott is the associate producer. It was edited by Gail Kern Paster and Esther Ferington. Ben Lauer is web producer. With help from Bob Auld and Deb Stathopulos at the Radio Foundation in New York and Phil Richards and Matt Holzman at KCRW public radio in Santa Monica, California. Erik Didriksen’s pop-sonnets are read by Elyse Mirto and Bo Foxworth of The Antaeus Theater Company in Los Angeles.