Taylor Swift's 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, features references to various artists and musicians, including Dylan Thomas, Patti Smith, Charlie Puth, Lucy Dacus, and Jack Antonoff. The title track of the album is a hazy dreamscape that alludes to a new relationship and includes numerous famous references, shedding light on the inception of the "Tortured Poets Department." The song hints at connections between Swift, her rumored love interest, and other musicians, offering insight into the creative process behind the album.
Taylor Swift's fans are excited over potential references to Travis Kelce and his family in her song "So High School" from her surprise double album, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. The lyrics hint at a new romance and include nods to Travis' dad, Ed Kelce, and his brother, Jason Kelce. Swift also seems to reference Travis' 2016 interview and drops football references in another song, leading fans to speculate that the album contains love songs for Travis. Sources have revealed that Taylor and Travis are "very in love and in sync" and are enjoying their relationship.
Taylor Swift's song "The Alchemy" contains transparent references to her relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, including nods to his football career, leading fans to speculate about the song's true target. Regardless, the song serves as an anthem for Swift's latest chapter, with playful lyrics and wordplay that hint at her relationship with Kelce and her own persona. The song's references to Kelce and their relationship have drawn attention to the couple, but Swift seems to enjoy the attention and wordplay.
Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, explains the references to his previous works in his latest film, Leave the World Behind. Esmail merged his idea for a disaster film centered around a cyberattack with Rumaan Alam's novel, creating his own little universe that connects all of his projects. The film includes nods to Mr. Robot, Homecoming, and Comet, and features a Friends component where Julia Roberts' character is connected to her Friends character. Esmail also discusses the use of physical media in the film and the support he received from Guillermo Del Toro and Rian Johnson during post-production.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, a prequel to The Hunger Games series, is filled with references and Easter eggs that connect to the original books and movies. From clothing choices to character names, the movie pays homage to its predecessors. Fans have spotted connections such as similar dresses worn by Lucy Gray and Katniss, the presence of katniss plants, and the use of iconic lines like "May the odds be ever in your favor." These references add depth and nostalgia to the prequel while tying it to the beloved franchise.
Marvel and DC, despite their rivalry, have occasionally referenced each other in their movies and shows. Examples include a Superman shoutout in Marvel's Eternals, Stan Lee making a cameo in DC's Teen Titans Go! To The Movies, and Marvel sneaking in references to DC's Alfred and iconic heroes in the DC League of Super-Pets. Additionally, Iron Man 3 paid homage to the classic DC show Super Friends, while Teen Titans Go! To The Movies playfully referred to Deathstroke as "Deadpool," acknowledging the connection between the two characters.
Netflix's hit series Stranger Things pays homage to iconic '80s movies through various references. The show features nods to Aliens, Poltergeist, The Neverending Story, Halloween, and Ghostbusters, adding to its nostalgic appeal and capturing the essence of the era.
HBO's controversial drama series "The Idol," created by Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye and Sam Levinson, is filled with references to real-life pop stars. From Selena Gomez to Britney Spears, Madonna, Prince, and Donna Summer, the show pays homage to various musical icons. Each episode features nods to different artists, incorporating their music, visuals, and themes into the storyline. The Weeknd's own music and style also influence the series. "The Idol" explores the exploitation of female pop stars and follows the journey of mega-pop star Jocelyn as she tries to repair her image and navigate a complicated relationship with a nightclub impresario and cult leader.
Supernatural fans love discovering Easter eggs hidden throughout the show, from Negan's bat from The Walking Dead to a beer from actor Jensen Ackles' brewery. Other Easter eggs include a reference to Deep Space Nine, a nod to Doctor Who, and a career path reference to the show Lucifer. Fans continue to find new Easter eggs with each rewatch of the show.
Jennifer Lopez's new movie, The Mother, features several callbacks to her earlier movies, including a reference to Vanessa Hudgens. In the film, Lopez plays an assassin known only as The Mother, who risks everything to protect her daughter from monsters of her past. Despite the new role, the movie pays homage to Lopez's previous work.
Jack Black and his band Tenacious D have released a new song called "Video Games" with a music video featuring references to various video games such as God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Super Mario Bros. The song follows up on Black's previous video game-themed song "Peaches" and has already climbed to the Billboard Hot 100 list.
Final Fantasy fans have been analyzing new footage of FF16 from PAX East and have found possible references to previous games in the series, including musical references and similar shots in cutscenes. The game will feature RPG elements such as a hand-crafted world map, quick load times, and gear crafting. Battles occur seamlessly in the world and Eikon battles are unique. The team promises to show more RPG elements in April and confirms that players can pet the Torgal.
