Taylor Swift announces 11th studio album, “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT,” during 13th Grammy win.
The announcement
According to fans of Swift, the singer owns the number 13. Swifties all over the world know this is her lucky number. So, it was not surprising to fans that, when the singer won her 13th Grammy, an announcement of some sort was coming. Fans have speculated for months about the announcement of “Reputation (Taylor’s Version).” However, in typical Swift fashion, she took the unexpected route and shocked everyone. Hence, the announcement of her brand new album, “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.”
The album
The release date for “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” is April 19. The record will consist of 17 brand-new songs. Additionally, two songs on the album will feature the collaboration of Post Malone and Florence + The Machine. Swift said she would like to thank the fans in her speech by telling them a secret she’s kept for years. Taylor Nation, her official management team, is referring to Swift as “The Chairman of ‘THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.'” It is clear that this new record is a passion project of Swift’s, and that “it’s been a long time coming.” With this album, fans should anticipate a brand new era for Swift.
Song speculation
This album is speculated to consist of songs relating to the relationship between Swift and her ex-boyfriend of six years, Joe Alwyn. Some songs that will be featured on the album that hint at the past relationship include: “So Long, London,” “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.” This album is already showing versatility with just its song titles. The themes in the album could include love, loss, acceptance and renewal.
Swifties finding Easter eggs
Swifties have gained recognition for their unwavering dedication to uncovering Easter eggs left behind by Swift in her work. Swift loves to leave clues in everything she does. One specific Easter egg fans believe they have found is track six on the album, “But Daddy I Love Him.” Swifties believe the title alludes to “The Little Mermaid.“ The fan-favorite childhood movie is about a mermaid who gives up her voice for the boy she loves. Based on what Swifites know, this situation relates greatly to Swift and Alwyn.
Going further into this theory, Swift’s song “Bejeweled,” off of her Album of the Year winner, “Midnights,” is about regaining her sparkle from someone who tried to dull it. In relation, Swift grabs a shell in the music video. Now that Swifties know about the song on “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT,” many believe this is an allusion to the future track six. Furthermore, Ariel, in “The Little Mermaid,” gets her voice back from the vessel that took it—a shell.
If this theory is true, it ties together a cohesive narrative to the album. This narrative may show that love is not about weakness, but that love for someone else can never be greater than love for yourself. One last Easter egg is that the film’s release date was in 1989. For fans of Swift, this appears like no accident.
The queen of the world
Despite theories, at this moment in time, Swift is on top of the world. The release of her 11th studio album will only add to that. She has just won Album of the Year at the Grammys, has been named TIME Magazine’s Person of the Year, is dating three-time Superbowl Champion Travis Kelce and is currently embarking on her year-and-a-half long worldwide tour, The Eras Tour. Swift is unstoppable. Fans cannot wait to see what The Chairman of “THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT” does next.
