The Tortured Poets Department

Taylor Swift, a globally renowned singer and songwriter known for her versatile music style and captivating lyrics. She was born on December 13th, 1989, in Pennsylvania. Taylor first started her career as a country music artist and shifted over to pop. Over time, she has made herself one of the most streamed and best-selling music artists of all time. She is now going to be releasing a new album on April 19th. Will she be making a shift in music genre once again?

Previously released albums

This is one of the few cover photos of her debut album. Different CDs can have different covers (Andrew Orth).

Taylor Swift’s rise to stardom began at a young age, starting at only 14, when she signed with ATV Music Publishing as a songwriter. In 2006, Taylor Swift released her debut album, Taylor Swift, which introduced everyone to her music. The most notable songs on this album for most people would be “Tim McGraw” and “Teardrops on My Guitar”.

Unlike debut this is the cover of *Fearless* (Taylor’s Version). However the original cover is very similar. (Beth Garrabrant)

Taylor Swift’s next albums after her debut were Fearless, released in 2008, where the most notable songs were “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me”, which became very popular songs and even got her nominated for multiple Grammy Awards as well as Album of the Year.

This is the Taylor’s Version of the album. The original cover photo was almost the same and there was also a version available with her in a red dress. (Beth Garrabrant)

This was then followed by the release of Speak Now in 2010, which really showcased her evolution as a singer and songwriter.With hit songs like “Mine”, “Back to December”, and “Mean”, she captured the complexities of love and life. Her emotional depth resonated with many of her audiences worldwide.

This is the cover of Red (Taylor’s Version). In this re-released album, she also gave fans the 10 minute version of “All Too Well” (Beth Garrabrant)

In 2012, Taylor decided to take on a more mature sound with her 4th studio album, Red, which had a wide range of genres ranging from pop to rock to folk. Songs like “I Knew You Were Trouble” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” showcased her versatility as an artist, while songs like “All Too Well” showcased her storytelling as an artist.

This is also the Taylor’s Version album cover. In the original it looks very similar, however, she wasn’t smiling in it. (Beth Garrabrant)

1989 was a very significant album for Taylor Swift, as she fully began embracing pop and leaving country behind. The album was a celebration of love, friendship, and self-discovery. Her singles on this album, like “Shake It Off”, “Blank Space”, and “Style”, made it onto the charts, earning her another Grammy for Album of the Year and further expanding her as an artist.

This is the original cover of *Reputation* there is not a Taylor’s Version yet. There is also a Netflix documentary of her Reputation Tour. (Mert Atlaş/Marcus Piggott)

In 2017, Swift returned to the public with her studio album Reputation, as a response to media scrutiny over 1989 nearly 3 years after the release of this album. However, this album had a darker, edgier persona. It talked about themes of fame, media scrutiny, and personal growth, which were very much showcased in singles such as “Look What You Made Me Do”, “Ready For It”, and “Delicate”.

There will be no Taylor’s Version of this album. She owns this album. (Valheria Rocha)

However, it wasn’t until her 7th studio album Lover, released in 2019, and her 8th follow-up album Folklore that Taylor Swift started a new chapter for her career. She moved away from her pop production music, and these albums embraced more of an indie-folk sound, once again reaffirming her status as a musical innovator.

These are the two albums side by side. *Folklore* on the left and *Evermore* on the right. (Beth Garrabrant)

In 2020, Taylor surprised her fans with the release of 2 new studio albums, Folklore and Evermore, which were a very significant change from her usual pop albums and were more indie-folk. These albums received widespread praise for their storytelling and introspective lyrics.

Re-releases

This is the album she most recently went on tour for.

Taylor Swift’s decision to re-record her albums has been a lengthy process, but it has made a very powerful statement about her artistic autonomy. With her recent re-releases of Fearless (Taylor’s Version), released in 2021, and Red (Taylor’s Version), also released in 2021, she not only reclaimed ownership of her music after Scooter Braun acquired the rights to her back catalog, but also reminded the world of her influence and growth as a singer. After that, Taylor went on tour for her new album, Midnights. While on tour, she announced the re-release of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) and also released it while she was on tour. However, she was also secretly working on a new album during the U.S. leg of the Eras Tour called The Tortured Poets Department, which was released on April 19, 2024.

The Tortured Poets Department

Taylor Swift announced at the 66th annual Grammy Awards, after receiving her Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album, that she would be releasing a brand new album on April 19th called The Tortured Poets Department. This album, which she described as a “lifeline”, consists of 16 songs and features rapper Post Malone and English indie rock band Florence and the Machine. While writing this album, she said that “it sort of reminded me of why songwriting is something that gets me through life.” This album seems to mean a lot for her, as she has never needed songwriting more than she did on The Tortured Poets Department. The anticipation building up to this album release was huge, as Taylor is known for being very cryptic about her albums. When she posted the announcement of TTPD, it was posted with a photograph and a handwritten note. When translated, it said, “And so I enter into evidence / My tarnished coat of arms / My muses, acquired like bruises / My talismans and charms / The tick, tick, tick of love bombs / My veins of pitch black ink / All’s fair in love and poetry.

Sincerely, The Chairman of the Tortured Poets Department”

What to expect?

This is one of the photos apart of her *TTPD* photo shoot. Alongside it is the track list for this album.

In this album, based on Taylor’s previous work, we can anticipate heartfelt and emotionally charged lyrics most likely related to heartbreak, love, and personal growth. As many fans have speculated, this is a heartbreak album about her previous ex-boyfriend, Joe Alwyn. They had broken up during her Midnights Tour. Many fans think it is going to be an album that sounds more monotone, like Evermore or Folklore. Others are hoping she expresses rage in this album, and they hope it reveals how Joe Alwyn actually treated her. As on Apple Music, Taylor Swift has made an I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life playlist of songs she’s released before for her fans to listen to. In this playlist, many of the songs were either songs dedicated to Joe Alwyn or songs that were in albums dedicated to him. One specific song that is 100% dedicated to him was “London Boy” on the Lover album, as Joe Alwyn was born and raised in North London. One of the songs on The Tortured Poets Department is called “So Long, London,” so you can 100% expect at least some, if not all, of this album to be about Joe Alwyn and their breakup.

Taylor Swift’s upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, looks very promising to be a deeply personal and emotional album. Taylor is most definitely going to take all of her listeners through her journey of love, heartbreak, and self-growth. So get ready for its release, as it is sure to be an album that leaves a lasting impact!

Work Cited

I Love You, It’s Ruining My Life Songs on Apple Music. (n.d.). Apple Music – Web Player. Retrieved April 11, 2024, from https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/i-love-you-its-ruining-my-life-songs/pl.86b27a0f4ccc481288958f5ee3c4d226

Nast, C. (2024, April 10). Everything We Know About Taylor Swift’s New Album, The Tortured Poets Department. Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/style/taylor-swift-new-album-the-tortured-poets-department

Siwak, M. (2024, February 16). Taylor Swift Says Writing “Tortured Poets Department” Was a “Lifeline.” Us Weekly. https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/taylor-swift-says-writing-tortured-poets-department-was-a-lifeline/

Taylor Swift. (n.d.). Taylor Swift. https://www.taylorswift.com