The Darkness' Justin Hawkins shares sweet post after Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's PDA moment at US Open
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The Darkness frontman Justin Hawkins had a sweet surprise recently when pop superstar Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce were spotted singing along to his band’s hit song 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' at the US Open women’s final in New York on September 8.
The dynamic duo, both 34, were seen dancing and belting out the lyrics, spreading the joy of the 2003 anthem to fans across the stadium - and beyond.
Taylor Swift's heartfelt gesture leaves Hawkins feeling like 'dad of the year'
After catching wind of their enthusiastic singalong, Hawkins took to TikTok to express his gratitude, sharing a heartfelt thank you to both Swift and Kelce, according to The Independent.
Hawkins, who attended one of Swift's stadium shows in Zurich with his daughter, reminisced about the incredible hospitality they received, revealing, “They put us in a lovely VIP area, I had Chris Rock on one side, Roger Federer on the other side, I was dad of the year.”
Adding to the magic of the night, Hawkins said, “And to make matters even more spectacular, Taylor Swift sent me a lovely letter which was waiting for me in the VIP section, talking about how much she loves the song ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love."'
Reflecting on the experience, Hawkins then joked, “I was dad of the year, maybe dad of the century. Because all of that was a big surprise.”
He described the moment he saw footage of Swift and Kelce singing along at the US Open as “a really heartwarming moment for me, and my little girl can’t wait to tell her friends at school.”
He wrapped up his thank-you message with a light-hearted note: “It was a really heartwarming moment for me, and my little girl can’t wait to tell her friends at school,” he said. “So thanks Taylor, thanks Travis, thanks everybody who enjoys tennis, that’s a really lovely start to the day. Nice one guys.”
'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' remains a timeless anthem since its release as the third single from The Darkness’s debut album, 'Permission to Land.'
The track rocketed to No 2 on the UK Singles Chart and found a special place in the hearts of American listeners, too.
The song’s infectious energy and Hawkins’ signature falsetto have made it a go-to feel-good track, and Swift’s recent singalong at the US Open only reaffirms its lasting appeal.
Hawkins on his 'abiding addiction' for love songs
Swift’s connection to the song isn’t new. Back in 2016, she rocked out to 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' in an Apple ad that encouraged fans to “Dance like no one’s watching.”
Hawkins, reflecting on the song’s creation, shared that it was born from a conversation with his brother Dan Hawkins, the band’s guitarist, about writing “the stupidest song ever.” But the track’s undeniable charm goes beyond its playful origins.
In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, Hawkins candidly shared his love for love songs: “I was almost on a pathological quest to put ‘love’ in every single song... Bands were afraid to actually talk about love."
"But the huge songs, the ones that really get you in the heart, they’re actually talking about it and they’re using the word ‘love’. I’m always in love, that’s the reality. It’s one of the first and most abiding addictions of my life.”
Hawkins added, “My goal has always been to get every pair of hands in the air. And often that was the case. We’ve seen a lot of hands in a lot of different airspace. Every time we play it, the place kicks off and I feel relief because I can play it on autopilot. Even now, people sing it at me in the street. I’ll never have anything but abiding affection for that song.”
