This is a must-watch for fans of Friends and Taylor Swift: the singer invited Lisa Kudrow on stage to perform “Smelly Cat!”
Taylor Swift: Pop singer sensation, fandom benefactor, and self-professed cat lover. It was only a matter of time before she’d find a way to work Friends‘ iconic “Smelly Cat” anthem into her set, and she did it in the best way possible!
Swift has been inviting a variety of big-name guests to perform with her during her run at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and last night she surprised the audience by bringing Lisa Kudrow (in character as Phoebe Buffay) on stage:
“She’s only ever played in coffee houses,” Swift said by way of introduction, and Kudrow emerged to thunderous applause (we’re so glad to see that Taylor Swift’s audience is aware of Friends!).
They played for a bit, and then, Phoebe — being Phoebe — stopped Swift and corrected her. “It’s good, but… you have to really feel the lyrics,” she said delicately. Poor Phoebe. No one really gets “Smelly Cat.”
Related: Ellen stages mini Friends reunion with Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, and Courteney Cox
Swift is clearly a big Phoebe Buffay fan (she must have seen her music video!), if this behind-the-scenes shot is anything to go by:
Taylor and Lisa backstage last night pic.twitter.com/ya0jaJNuZc
— 1989 Tour Updates (@1989TUpdates) August 27, 2015
Lisa Kudrow (a code name, like Regina Philange. Just go with it) was pretty smitten, too:
So @taylorswift13 is THE best person I've ever met. That was fun. Thanks Taylor.
— Lisa Kudrow (@LisaKudrow) August 27, 2015
Anecdotally, Taylor Swift and Lisa Kudrow’s impromptu duet could actually very easily have happened on Friends, if the show was still on the air. At various points in the series, Phoebe would perform the song with various visiting musical artists, including Chris Isaak and The Pretenders’ Chrissie Hynde (and she’d correct them, too).
We could totally see Tay-Tay showing up in Central Park, guitar in hand, ready to revive the old, beloved classic.
This just made us totally nostalgic for Friends!
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