During an exciting Grammy Awards acceptance speech last week, Taylor Swift announced her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” and it’s been the word on everyone’s cherry lips. So, here’s what we know about it so far. This is going to be Taylor’s eleventh studio album, set to release on Apr. 19, 2024. The album will have 16 tracks and two collaborations, including Post Malone and Florence & the Machine. The two descriptions of the album so far contain, “All’s fair in love and poetry” and “I love you, it’s ruining my life.”
Swifites all around the world are ecstatic about this album, but I think it’s fair to say that us English and creative writing majors are a little more excited due to its title. So, in honor of being part of the English department and the strong Swiftie presence here at “The Outlook,” I sat down with Cece, our lovely Lifestyles Editor, and we made some predictions as to what we expect to hear on this album. So, baby, let the games begin.
Right off the bat, we are hoping—more like praying—that this album is going to be a love child between “Folklore” and “Evermore.” In the title and descriptions itself, it seems that Swift is focusing on her lyricism in this album. During her acceptance speech, she stated that she had been working on this album for two years, so it’s safe to say we are going to hear about her past relationship with Joe Alwyn and maybe some references to her new endgame, Travis Kelce.
The album starts off with “Fortnight” (feat. Post Malone). For this track, we predict this is going to be another “Snow on the Beach” (feat. Lana Del Rey) moment. Malone will harmonize with Swift in backing vocals, creating a euphoric atmosphere for this track.
“My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” is going to bring a “Karma” vibe to “The Tortured Poets Department.” Swift will talk down on the antagonist of the song, let’s say Alwyn, and talk about his destructive qualities that spoiled the good relationship the two of them had.
Out of all of these new tracks, there is nothing I am more excited about than “Down Bad.” This song is going to be an upbeat, “Reputation” love song. Reflecting “Gorgeous” and “Delicate,” “Down Bad” will be a more recent song she has written about her new power couple partner, Travis Kelce. Don’t be surprised if a football reference is thrown in there somewhere. Swift is in love; she she doesn’t care who knows it.
On each of Swift’s albums, the fifth track is known for being the most emotional, and on this album, she is not going to break that streak. “So Long, London” is obviously a song about her relationship with Alwyn ending. A juxtaposition to “London Boy,” Swift is going to say goodbye to her six-year relationship and dive even deeper into it, more than in “You’re Losing Me.” Don’t forget, in this album “All is fair,” so Alwyn, watch your back.
When we first heard the title of the next track, “But Daddy I Love Him,” our minds immediately went to one place: Harry Styles. Styles is known for the slogan, “But daddy I love him,” as it is printed on one of his most iconic T-shirts. Styles and Swift have had a dating history in the past, so for this track, we are thinking that there was something about that relationship that she is still thinking about many years later. This track will have no slander towards Styles, but instead, Swift is just having a “Past Lives” moment for her other past British love.
The next track, “Fresh Out the Slammer,” gives us a Reputation moment, feeling like a reference to, “And he can be my jailer, Burton to this Taylor,” from “Ready for It?”. With this track, Swift is going to channel her “Reputation” era and give a taste of what to expect during the “Reputation (Taylor’s Version)” vault tracks.
Unlike “Fortnight,” “Florida!!!” (feat. Florence & the Machine) is going to be a “Snow on the Beach” (feat. More Lana Del Ray) moment. Florence will be singing her own verses in this upbeat, lyrical masterpiece featuring a summer romance that our narrator can never forget. Just the word “Florida” makes their heart skip a beat, as shown in the three very expressive exclamation points in the track’s title.
“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me” is going to be “You’re on Your Own, Kid”’s twin. Swift is going to talk about her internal battles with fame and people being afraid of her because they believe she will write a negative song about them.
“Loml” is 100% going to be paired with “the 1” sound-wise. This song will be about love in the modern era, as through the text abbreviated title. Swift will talk about how hard it is to love in the public eye when social media isn’t always accurate. Despite all of this, Swift will remind us that love comes out on top if you work hard for it.
I would not want to be the person “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” is inspired by. Swift is gonna use her clever lyricism to expose a crappy antagonist and his manipulative ways that rose to the surface during a messy relationship.
The original album ends with the track “Clara Bow,” named after the famous American actress popular during the 1920s. Clara Bow was the original “it-girl” who successfully transitioned from the silent film era into the “talkies” film era. In this track, Swift is going to reflect back on her life and how she is out of her “silent” era now due to the success of her new album rerecordings. Swift has now taken back her name and her royalties.
On the physical editions of “The Tortured Poets Department,” “The Manuscript” is going to finish the album. I personally love the title of this track, and with it, Swift is going to close the album on a positive, hopeful note. The manuscript of her life isn’t finished; she still has to publish this manuscript and get the recognition she deserves.
Knowing Taylor Swift, this album will not disappoint. But if we can complete the “Folklore” and “Evermore” trilogy… I will be ecstatic. Even though we were wishing her announcement would be “Reputation (Taylor’s Version),” we could not be any happier to hear Swift’s current ideas and songs that go along with this part of her life. So, let’s all wait for Apr. 19, and see if any of our predictions were right.
