Music Friday: Taylor Swift Reminds Inattentive Boyfriend She's Still 'Bejeweled'

Welcome to Music Friday when we bring awesome new tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Taylor Swift reminds her inattentive boyfriend that he'd better mend his ways because when she walks into a room she "can still make the whole place shimmer" in her 2022 hit, "Bejeweled."

The nine-time Grammy winner embodies the characteristics of a diamond as she takes us on a journey of self empowerment.

She sings, "Don't put me in the basement / When I want the penthouse of your heart / Diamonds in my eyes / I polish up real / I polish up real nice / Nice."

Later in the song, she admits to her boyfriend that she went to the club and danced with a guy who said her aura's moonstone (a nod to her femininity).

"And we're dancing all night / And you can try / To change my mind / But you might have to wait in line / What's a girl gonna do? / A diamond's gotta shine"

Written by Swift and Jack Antonoff, "Bejeweled" appeared on the singer's 10th studio album, Midnights. The song charted in 21 countries, including a #6 position on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Swift performed "Bejeweled" for the first time on her current Eras Tour, which started in March and runs through August.

Swift recently explained the inspiration behind the tune to the listeners of iHeart radio: "'Bejeweled' is a song that I think it’s really about finding confidence when you feel that it’s been taken away, for whatever reason. You know, you’re feeling insecure, you’re feeling taken for granted… One of the things we love to do at night, ‘cause we love to go dancing, we love to put on an outfit that makes us feel good, and we love to feel like we’re still bejeweled.”

Born in Wyomissing, PA, Swift wasn't your average schoolgirl. By the time she was 11, Swift was already performing regularly at karaoke contests, festivals and fairs near her home in Berks County. When she was 14, her parents moved the family to Nashville, where Swift would be better positioned to pursue a career in country music. At the age of 17, Swift was topping the country charts.

Now 33 years old, Swift is one of the best-selling musicians of all time. She has sold more than 200 million records, nabbed 12 Grammy Awards (including three Albums of the Year) and topped the Billboard Hot 100 nine times.

Please check out the lyric video of Swift performing "Bejeweled." The lyrics are below if you'd like to sing along…

"Bejeweled"
Written by Taylor Swift and Jack Antonoff. Performed by Taylor Swift.

Baby love, I think I've been a little too kind
Didn't notice you walking all over my peace of mind
In the shoes I gave you as a present
Putting someone first only works when you're in their top five
And by the way
I'm going out tonight

Best believe I'm still bejeweled
When I walk in the room
I can still make the whole place shimmer
And when I meet the band
They ask, "Do you have a man?"
I could still say, "I don't remember"
Familiarity breeds contempt
Don't put me in the basement
When I want the penthouse of your heart
Diamonds in my eyes
I polish up real
I polish up real nice
Nice

Baby boy, I think I've been too good of a girl
Too good of a girl
Did all the extra credit then got graded on a curve
I think it's time to teach some lessons
I made you my world
Have you heard?
I can reclaim the land
And I miss you
But I miss sparkling

(Nice) Best believe I'm still bejeweled
When I walk in the room
I can still make the whole place shimmer
And when I meet the band
They ask, "Do you have a man?"
I could still say, "I don't remember"
Familiarity breeds contempt
Don't put me in the basement
When I want the penthouse of your heart
Diamonds in my eyes
I polish up real
I polish up real nice
Nice

Sapphire tears on my face
Sadness became my whole sky
But some guy said my aura's moonstone
Just 'cause he was high
And we're dancing all night
And you can try
To change my mind
But you might have to wait in line
What's a girl gonna do?
A diamond's gotta shine

Best believe I'm still bejeweled
When I walk in the room
I can still make the whole place shimmer
And when I meet the band
They ask, "Do you have a man?"
I could still say, "I don't remember"
Familiarity breeds contempt
Don't put me in the basement
When I want the penthouse of your heart
Diamonds in my eyes
I polish up real (Nice)
I polish up real nice

And we're dancing all night
And you can try
To change my mind
But you might have to wait in line
What's a girl gonna do?
What's a girl gonna do?
I polish up nice
Best believe I'm still bejeweled
When I walk in the room
I can still make the whole place shimmer

Credit: Photo by makaiyla willis, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Scientists Extract Human DNA From 20,000-Year-Old Deer-Tooth Pendant

For the first time, scientists have devised a way to successfully extract human DNA from an ancient artifact — in this case, a 20,000-year-old deer-tooth pendant discovered in the famous Denisova Cave in southern Siberia.

The DNA extraction technique, which has been described as a non-destructive, high-temperature "washing machine," will make it possible to identify the biological sex and genetic heritage of the person who previously used or wore the item.

The breakthrough is credited to an international research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI) in Leipzig, Germany.

The team was able to determine that the deer tooth pendant was likely worn by a woman to lived between 19,000 and 25,000 years ago and was closely related to contemporaneous ancient individuals from further east in Siberia, the so called "Ancient North Eurasians."

The scientists explained that the woman's DNA had been transferred to the porous tooth pendant via skin cells or sweat. From the DNA retrieved they were able to reconstruct a precise genetic profile of the woman who used or wore the pendant, as well as of the deer from which the tooth was taken.

“For the first time, we can link an object to individuals,” Marie Soressi, an archaeologist from the University of Leiden, told newscientist.com. “So, for example, were bone needles made and used by only women, or also men? Were those bone-tipped spears made and used only by men, or also by women? With this new technique, we can finally start talking about that and investigating the roles of individuals according to their biological sex or their genetic identity and family relationships.”

What's amazing about the new DNA extraction technique is that it leaves the specimen fully intact.

The team tested the influence of various chemicals on the surface structure of archaeological bone and tooth pieces and developed a non-destructive phosphate-based method for DNA extraction.

“One could say we have created a washing machine for ancient artifacts within our clean laboratory," explained Elena Essel, who developed the method and is the lead author of the study. "By washing the artifacts at temperatures of up to 90°C (194°F), we are able to extract DNA from the wash waters, while keeping the artifacts intact.”

In testing their methods, the MPI team had to overcome some frustration hurdles. For one, the artifacts had to be untouched by modern researchers, otherwise their own DNA would be on the items.

To overcome the problem of modern human contamination, the researchers focused on material that had been freshly excavated using gloves and face masks and put into clean plastic bags with sediment still attached, according to an MPI press release.

The breakthrough occurred when Maxim Kozlikin and Michael Shunkov — archaeologists excavating the famous Denisova Cave in Russia — cleanly excavated and set aside an Upper Paleolithic deer tooth pendant.

Utilizing that pristine artifact, the geneticists in Leipzig isolated not only the DNA from the animal itself, a wapiti deer, but also large quantities of ancient human DNA.

“Forensic scientists will not be surprised that human DNA can be isolated from an object that has been handled a lot,” said Max Planck geneticist Matthias Meyer, “but it is amazing that this is still possible after 20,000 years.”

Credits: Images courtesy of © MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology.

Princess Diana's 'Swan Lake Suite' Could Fetch $15MM at Guernsey’s Auction

A South Sea cultured pearl and diamond necklace famously worn by Princess Diana to a performance of Swan Lake at London’s Royal Albert Hall — one of her last public appearances before her tragic death two months later in August of 1997 — is expected to fetch up to $15 million when it is presented for auction by Guernsey's as part of the "Swan Lake Suite." The event will take place at the Pierre Hotel in New York on June 27.

A design collaboration between Diana and British crown jeweler Garrard, the necklace features 178 diamonds, five 12mm South Sea pearls and a diamond total weight of 51 carats.

The Princess of Wales, who was also England’s Patron of Dance, proudly wore the lavish piece to the high-profile Swan Lake event, where her dazzling image was captured by numerous news outlets and celebrity publications. Diana and the Swan Lake necklace even made the cover of People magazine's "Yearbook 1998."

After the event, Diana returned the necklace to Garrard, where their designers were finishing up matching earring for the ensemble. The jeweler wanted to have the necklace on hand so the diamonds and South Sea pearls of the earrings would perfectly complement the necklace.

The drop earrings are highlighted by 12mm South Sea cultured pearls adorned by a cluster of brilliant-cut and marquise-shaped diamonds totaling 9.38 carats.

Sadly, Diana would never wear the complete ensemble.

Harrods heir and Diana's then-boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, had ordered the suite from Garrard and intended to give the pearl jewels to Diana as a gift. Both he and Diana would perish together in a car accident in Paris.

According to Guernsey's, the crown jeweler was faced with a dilemma. What would become of the Swan Lake Suite.

Two years after Diana's death, her family authorized Garrard to sell the Suite, with a portion of the proceeds going to UNICEF and its initiatives to ban landmines — a cause the Princess passionately supported.

The crown jeweler consigned the jewelry to the New York-based Guernsey's, which set out to find a buyer via an aggressive public relations campaign, which included live interviews on NBC’s Today Show and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

On the day Oprah Winfrey was featuring the Swan Lake Suite, she was also hosting guest James McIngvale, a Houston businessman known as “Mattress Mack.” McIngvale was so taken by the pearl jewelry that he purchased the Suite at auction for a reported $580,000.

A decade later, McIngvale informed the auction house that he wanted to resell the jewels. The Swan Lake Suite was then sold to its current owner, Mark Ginzburg, a Ukrainian real estate developer.

Ginzburg has pledged that a portion of the proceeds from this new sale will be dedicated to the re-building of Ukraine.

It's no secret that Diana was a big fan of pearls. In this photo from a private White House dinner hosted by Ronald and Nancy Reagan in 1985, guest of honor Diana is wearing a seven-stand pearl necklace centered by a large blue sapphire at she greets actor Tom Selleck. It was one of her favorite pieces and she wore it at many formal events throughout the 1980s and 1990s.

“While many accomplished figures fade from view with the passing years, Princess Diana is as vibrant today as when she was indeed the most admired woman on the planet,” Guernsey's commented. “And with her son Prince William destined to one day become king, Diana’s star will be shining brightly for decades to come.”

Credits: Swan Lake Suite photo courtesy of Guernsey's. Princess Diana greets actor Tom Selleck at the White House in 1985. Series: Reagan White House Photographs, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989Collection: White House Photographic Collection, 1/20/1981 - 1/20/1989, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.