In a poignant fusion of family legacy, modern technology, and live performance, Taylor Swift has immortalized her late grandmother, the celebrated opera singer Marjorie Finlay, in one of the most emotional moments of her record-shattering Eras Tour. The song, titled “Marjorie,” from Swift’s 2020 album evermore, is a heartfelt tribute to her maternal grandmother. Yet, the song is far more than just lyrical dedication; it features a unique, technological collaboration between granddaughter and grandmother that spans decades.
Data on a Diva: The Life of Marjorie Finlay
Born Marjorie Moehlenkamp in 1928, Marjorie Finlay was a successful American opera singer and television personality. Her career highlights include winning a talent contest on the ABC radio network show Music With the Girls in 1950, which led to a 15-month radio tour. After moving to Puerto Rico, she achieved international stardom by hosting her own television program and performing as a coloratura soprano in concerts and operas across South America. Swift, whose grandmother died in 2003, has often cited her as a key inspiration for her own pursuit of a musical career.
The Technological Miracle: A Duet Across Time
The magic that translates to the live stage was initially crafted in the studio for the evermore album. While Swift was writing “Marjorie” with her producer Aaron Dessner, her mother, Andrea Swift, found old records featuring Finlay’s beautiful soprano voice. Dessner was able to sample the archival recordings of Marjorie Finlay’s vocals—specifically the soaring operatic notes—and skillfully layer them into the song’s breathtaking outro. This meant that on the recorded track, and subsequently during the Eras Tour performances (which kicked off in March 2023), the ghostly, ethereal high notes heard after the bridge are not Swift’s own, but the real voice of her grandmother. Marjorie Finlay is officially credited for “background vocals” on the track.
The Eras Tour Moment
During the evermore set on the massive, world-traversing Eras Tour, the performance of “Marjorie” becomes a powerful, collective moment. As the sampled, operatic vocals of her grandmother pour through the stadium speakers, tens of thousands of “Swifties” participate in a cherished tradition: they illuminate the venue with their phone flashlights. This creates a vast sea of twinkling lights as a tribute to the woman who inspired the music. This blend of old technology (the archival vinyl recordings from the 1950s) and new technology (digital sampling and live concert acoustics) allows a deceased opera singer to perform a genuine duet with her global superstar granddaughter every night. It is a powerful, emotional testament to legacy, demonstrating that the voices of our loved ones truly can live on through art.