Which 1987 song is interpolated in Taylor Swift’s “Father Figure”?

Taylor Swift’s “Father Figure” interpolates George Michael’s 1987 song “Father Figure.”

Swift’s album track uses the earlier song as a musical and lyrical reference, which is why George Michael receives an additional songwriting credit. The interpolation centers on the familiar father-figure idea while Swift develops a story about a mentor and protégé whose relationship changes over time.

“Father Figure” is track 4 on The Life of a Showgirl. It is described as a pop and R&B ballad with synthesizers, orchestral elements, vocal harmonies, and a key change in its final chorus.

The credit is sometimes described as a sample, but the album’s documentation identifies the connection as an interpolation. That distinction matters: an interpolation recreates or incorporates musical material in a new recording rather than simply inserting the original master recording.