Breaking down Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" with Musicologist Joe Bennett Artwork

What's in a Song

This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.

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What's in a Song

Breaking down Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" with Musicologist Joe Bennett

October 06, 2025 • Scarlet Keys

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This is the first of a 12 episode series where Berklee College of music professor Scarlet Keys talks about each song off of the new Taylor Swift album "The Life of a Showgirl" searching for clues and signature moves that Swift uses as a writer to write songs that resonate with millions of listeners and pack stadiums.

They are listening for literary devices, chord progression, ear worm, melodic hooks and theme.

Scarlet wrote the course "The songwriting of Taylor Swift" for Berklee College and Berklee online.

Today she is joined by Forensic musicologist Joe Bennett.

Each episode ends with a song prompt based on each song that you can try in your own writing.

https://www.scarletkeys.com/

Instagram: @scarletkeysofficial

Become a member of the What's in a song songwriting community or become a supporter:

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Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "What if it All Goes Right: Practicing Hope in the Hardest Times" featured on NPR and the Wall Street Journal:

https://www.amazon.com/What-All-Goes-Right-Practicing/dp/B0CTYVQ9Q8

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://joebennett.net/

Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1