Swifties have a lot to consider between now and April 19.
Taylor Swift introduced her forthcoming eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, whereas accepting the award for Best Pop Vocal Album on the 2024 Grammys on February 4.
“This is my 13th Grammy, which is my lucky number. I don’t know if I’ve ever told you that,” Swift joked to the group. “I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I’ve been keeping from you for the past two years, which is that my brand new album comes out April 19th.”
Moments later, the singer shared the album artwork by way of social media and adopted it up with the tracklist the following day. Armed solely with track titles and a black and white photograph of Swift in mattress, Swifties have formulated some compelling theories concerning the album’s material.
Keep scrolling to unpack each concept with Us:
The Album Title Could Be a Nod to Joe Alwyn
Joe Alwyn. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images
“All’s fair in love and poetry,” Swift captioned her Instagram announcement of the album, a satisfying declaration coming from somebody who has been criticized for writing songs about her romantic relationships.
The Grammy winner has talked about poetry in her music earlier than — see “The Lakes” and “Sweet Nothing” — however The Tortured Poets Department is also a nod to Swift’s ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, whom she dated from 2016 to 2023.
During a joint interview with Variety in December 2022, Alwyn and Paul Mescal — who’ve each served as brooding male leads in tv diversifications of Sally Rooney novels — revealed they’ve a gaggle chat with Andrew Scott referred to as, “The Tortured Man Club.”
The connection has led many Swifties to assume that The Tortured Poets Department will focus totally on Swift and Alwyn’s breakup.
No Longer in Screaming Color
The black and white album cowl depicts Swift mendacity in mattress wearing a sheer tank prime and black high-waisted shorts. The aesthetic is harking back to 2017’s Reputation, which featured Swift’s first songs about her relationship with Alwyn.
“Interesting that [Reputation] was also black and white and that was her and Joe falling in love and now this is the break up. There were colors in between but now they are gone,” one fan wrote on a Reddit thread discussing the forthcoming launch.
Swift adopted up Reputation with 2019’s Lover, buying and selling in monochrome and snakes for bubblegum pink and butterflies. In the closing observe, “Daylight,” Swift sings, “I once believed love would be black and white, but it’s golden.” The Tortured Poets Department’s shade scheme appears to counsel the top of that golden period.
The ‘Little Mermaid’ Connection
Harry Styles. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Track 6 is titled “But Daddy I Love Him,” which Ariel famously says about Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid (which got here out in Swift’s beginning 12 months 1989, by the way in which).
Swifties have drawn parallels between Ariel giving up her voice for love and Swift holding a low profile throughout her relationship with Alwyn, who’s notoriously non-public.
“But daddy i love him being an exact reference to the little mermaid because of ariel giving up her voice to be with the love of her life,”” one fan wrote by way of X.
However, not everyone seems to be satisfied that the track is about Alwyn. Some followers have pointed to old photos of Harry Styles carrying a shirt that bears the Little Mermaid quote as proof that he may have impressed the observe.
Swift and Styles dated from late 2012 till early 2013. Their romance is believed to be the inspiration for a number of of Swift’s songs, together with “Style,” “Out of the Woods” and “I Knew You Were Trouble.”
No More London Boy
Swift has been recognized to order the observe 5 spot on her information for notably susceptible, heart-wrenching songs. “Dear John,” “White Horse” and “You’re on Your Own, Kid” are among the many tear-jerkers to earn this tracklist placement.
The Tortured Poets Department’s fifth observe is named “So Long, London,” and is nearly actually a farewell to certainly one of Swift and Alwyn’s joyful locations. Alwyn grew up within the capital metropolis and impressed the lighthearted Lover tune “London Boy.”
Some followers assume the album’s opening observe, “Fortnight,” which options Post Malone, is also a nod to Swift’s former British beau.
“Fun noting that fortnight is apparently not used much in American language and that it comes from British language,” one X person wrote.
SplashNews.com (2); Shutterstock; SplashNews.com Never strolling Cornelia Street once more. Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn had been collectively for practically six years earlier than their break up — and the singer supplied glimpses into their love story by way of her music. The Grammy winner and England native had been first linked in May 2017 after assembly on the Met Gala the […]
The Clara Bow Lore
Clara Bow. Don English/John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images
A closing observe referred to as “Clara Bow” is unsurprising coming from Swift, who has penned songs about misunderstood socialites (“The Last Great American Dynasty”) and starlets disillusioned with fame (“The Lucky One”).
Bow grew to become a star through the 1920’s silent movie period and is extensively often called the primary “It Girl.” Later in life, she struggled with psychological well being points and have become more and more reclusive.
“All the time the flapper is laughing and dancing, there’s a feeling of tragedy underneath, she’s unhappy and disillusioned, and that’s what people sense,” Bow as soon as mentioned, per The Guardian.
The sentiment is much like the thesis of Swift’s 2020 observe “Mirrorball,” through which she compares the concept of movie star to the shiny, shattered orb.
“I’m a mirrorball, I’ll show you every version of yourself tonight / I’ll get you out on the floor, shimmering beautiful, and when I break it’s in a million pieces,” she croons.
Swifties have guessed that “Clara Bow” will function a reminder of the price of fame and public scrutiny.
“I’m sick … Clara Bow’s personal life and speculation about her romantic life was talked about so much that she ended up having a breakdown and going to a sanitarium … Taylor Swift is sending EVERYONE A MESSAGE,” one X person wrote.
Taylor’s Single Era
Two track titles have followers considering that Tortured Poets Department will doc Swift celebrating her independence from Alwyn.
A observe referred to as “Florida!!!” — which options Florence + the Machine — appears to be a reference to the placement of Swift’s first Eras Tour present after her break up from the Conversations With Friends star was confirmed in April 2023.
Swift conspicuously modified the setlist for the Tampa efficiency, swapping out “Invisible String,” which is laden with romantic references to Alwyn, for “The 1,” a tune a couple of love that obtained away.
Another Tortured Poets Department track title, “Fresh Out the Slammer,” has followers considering Swift will examine her six-year relationship with Alwyn to a stint behind bars. She beforehand in contrast like to jail time in her 2017 track “…Ready for It?” which is believed to be impressed by Alwyn.
“He can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor,” she sings on the Reputation observe, referencing Elizabeth Taylor and her ex-husband Richard Burton. Swift nodded to Taylor and Burton once more with the Tortured Poets Department observe 10 title, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” The duo portrayed unhappily married couple George and Martha within the 1966 movie Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? primarily based on the play of the identical identify.
Track 13, in the meantime, “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” looks as if a nod to Swift persevering with to tour after she and Alwyn referred to as it quits.
“I know I’m going on that stage whether I’m sick, injured, heartbroken, uncomfortable or stressed,” Swift informed Time in December 2023. “That’s part of my identity as a human being now.”
A Potential Matty Healy Song
After she parted methods with Alwyn and earlier than her whirlwind romance with Travis Kelce started in summer time 2023, Swift had a quick fling with The 1975 frontman, Matty Healy.
The romance sparked backlash as a consequence of Healy’s controversial feedback throughout a February 2023 look on “The Adam Friedland Show” podcast. During the interview, Healy referred to as Ice Spice an “Inuit Space Girl” and a “chubby Chinese lady.” He issued a public apology later that month.
The Tortured Poets Department observe “Guilty as Sin?” may very well be Swift’s response to getting criticized for Healy’s habits. Track 11, “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can),” is one other contender for a attainable track about Healy, who has maybe the worst popularity of all of Swift’s exes.
While she’s just lately taken a self-proclaimed hiatus from males, the 1989 songstress has been linked to a slew of hotties over time. See the celebs which have impressed a few of Swift’s most-popular songs
Loml
Taylor Swift. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management
Track 12, “Loml,” invokes the favored acronym for “love of my life.”
Swift memorably needed to maintain again tears whereas performing her 2017 Zayn Malik duet “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” on the Eras Tour in July 2023. She appeared notably moved whereas singing the lyric, “Wondering if I dodged a bullet or just lost the love of my life.” Some followers interpreted the second as a uncommon glimpse into Swift’s ache over her break up from Alwyn.
“Loml” may very well be impressed by Swift’s longest relationship so far, however possibly not in the way in which we expect.
“What if loml doesn’t even stand for ‘love of my life’ and actually stands for ‘loss of my life’ or something i feel like taylor would do that,” one X person theorized.
Life Ruined
On the Reputation observe “Gorgeous”, which is believed to be about Alwyn, Swift playfully sings, “You’ve ruined my life by not being mine.”
A much less lighthearted model of the phrase seems on a photograph of Swift shared alongside the Tortured Poets Department tracklist.
“I love you, it’s ruining my life,” the textual content reads.
Who Is the Smallest Man Who Ever Lived?
Swifties are taking guesses at who may’ve impressed observe 14, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived.” Some assume the title factors to Alwyn, a person of few phrases.
“Going from ‘your integrity makes me seem small’ to ‘the smallest man who ever lived’ is a big upgrade,” one X person wrote, referring to Swift’s 2020 track “Peace,” which is about Alwyn.
However, there’s additionally a chance that the track may very well be extra political.
“I hope this is a Donald Trump diss track,” one fan wrote by way of X.
The Bonus Track
Swift introduced on February 16 that bodily copies of The Tortured Poets Department will embrace a bonus observe referred to as “The Bolter,” and followers instantly discovered a clue linking the track to Alwyn.
“The bolter in question,” one X person captioned a video of Alwyn working right into a automotive whereas holding Swift’s hand to keep away from being seen by photographers after a VMAs afterparty in August 2022.
Another fan shared the identical clip, writing, “YALL KNOW DAMN WELL THIS IS THE BOLTER SHES REFERRING TO! OH ITS BAD FOR HIM YALL. IM KINDA SCARED!”
Other followers questioned whether or not the title may consult with Swift herself.
“You’re gonna tell me that the one with a Getaway Car isn’t also the Bolter?” one individual tweeted, referring to Swift’s Reputation observe about leaving one relationship for an additional.
The identical day Swift introduced the extra track, she informed live performance goers at an Eras Tour present in Melbourne, Australia, that writing The Tortured Poets Department was “a lifeline” for her.
“I needed to make it,” she mentioned. “It sort of reminded me of why songwriting is something that actually gets me through life, and I’ve never had an album where I’ve needed songwriting more than I needed it on Tortured Poets.”
The Release Date Could Be an Easter Egg
As if the tracklist didn’t present sufficient clues, the album’s launch date can also be important. April 19 occurs to be the date that followers observed Swift’s friends Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively had unfollowed Alwyn on social media.
It’s additionally the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which had been among the many first navy engagements of the American Revolutionary War. You know, when the Americans fought for his or her independence from the British? Kind of like how Swift wrote a breakup album about her London Boy after which her Grammys announcement about it was the shot heard around the world?
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