Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poet's Department - album discussion thread

[OldHabitsDieScreaming]

Hello Swifties! Thought I would start a thread to chat about TS11 or TTPD or whatever we're calling it 😁Don't know about you but the excitement is building for this old-enough-to-know-better Swiftie and I'll be taking the long way into work tomorrow so I can listen to it in Peace...(see what I did there?)

So this thread is for anyone who loves TS and wants to talk/think/muse/swoon over the newest output from the hardest-working woman in music!

Personally I'm intrigued and delighted that Aaron Dessner seems to have co-writing credits on several tracks - I'm a committed Folklore/Evermore fan and more in a similar vein will be very welcome!

(Oh, and while hopefully this doesn't need saying, please don't bother posting to say how shit/overrated/talentless you think TS is. This is a fan / appreciation thread about a specific piece of work and it would be lovely to keep it that way.)

It's funny, I totally 100% don't care which songs are about who. It's all conjecture anyway isn't it!

Oh cross posted with @Igotjelly might have to search this on TikTok if it’s a legit theory floating around!

this is why I enjoy TS so much, it’s not just the songs, it’s the analysis and theories!

its only the last few albums I’ve been wondering who they’re about, it’s just I’m not really a fan of MH, he’s generally considered problematic so i just find it a bit wild Taylor Swift could be so into him!

Who doesn't love a bad boy though 😎

Who is who if Betty et al are Taylor/Joe/Matty?

I'd read a theory that Taylor was Betty, Joe was James, and some unknown woman who Joe also dated was the third person.

Obviously I know it's all conjecture and silliness!

I am very much a fledgling Swiftie, having first teed up a load of her stuff from Spotify about two months ago and listened to almost nothing else since then.

I've listened to TTPD twice today, and on first hearing it felt samey with a few standout lyrics. On second listen, I heard much more depth and variety and I think it's going to be a massive grower. Early highlights are Florida, Down Bad and I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, which actually made me gasp a bit (my heart isn't broken but I've lots of experience of having to put on my game face despite challenges, so it felt very meaningful). I'm not disappointed!

I Can Do it with a broken heart and Clara Bow are my favourites I think.

ICDIWABH is so relatable so many times you fake it till you make it and put on your game face for work. Sad she was feeling like that at what should have been a really happy time in her life.

JMO…

but, 2 of the “matty Healy” songs aren’t really about him, they are, but, more so the uproar from fans, press etc. and I suppose having relationships while being famous and dealing with public image vs private life.

and the smallest man that ever lived is hilarious, for the Jehovah’s Witness suit line… and because there was a whole meme thing going on about his height to the point where he was telling random fans to say how tall he actually is. So like, that song had to be there 😂

The guys from Gogglebox said it best.

😆😆😆😆

and the smallest man that ever lived is hilarious, for the Jehovah’s Witness suit line

I don't get that - what's a Jehovah's Witness suit like? I'm assuming stereotypically bad..?

JWs have a stereotype of being young boys/men out on their missions in the hand me down large suits. MH regularly wears suits but has been trolled for them not fitting. I think there was something last year about him having to defend his height as he was trying to convince people he wasn't really short. She's just taking the piss out of him!

https://www.buzzfeed.com/laurengarafano/matty-healy-controversial-remarks-response

Yep, basically looks like he’s wearing a bad suit that doesn’t fit - like the photo there, I tried to just do the photo but it wouldn’t let me (new phone, can’t work it yet 😂)

It’s basically petty as hell, but quite funny

Some people are saying Guilty as Sin is about masturbation and emotionally cheating, having read the lyrics I can see it. How on earth she manages to make that sound classy is beyond me but she does!

It's all about Matty! Omg it just goes to show we really don't know her at all. I mean, I knew that. But I love how she has surprised everyone!

My theory is… the ones that seem to be about Joe are really sad, like, no major event happened he just didn’t love her as much as she loved him.

Where Matty is easier to write the petty scathing angry songs about.

What is Who's afraid of little old me about?

Is it to do with her music being sold, and her remaking it?

I think it's deeper than that. I think she and Matty were flirting/having emotional affairs for a loooooong time, after maybe a short fling when they met. He was telling her she was the love of his life, that this was the real deal etc. When she finally split with Joe, she got with Matty thinking it was True Love and as soon as he had her, he ditched and ghosted. Classic narcissist love bombing, future faking, and then discarding.

I think it knocked her for six (as it would anyone). And she's been writing about him for years!! We just didn't know till now.

With Joe, I think he was just miserable and boring. He didn't like her fame and he dimmed her light. I think she did say a lot of that on Midnights.

I've thought about this WAY too much!

I think that’s one of the matty/ reaction to him songs

she’s used circus before about performing and fans etc and there’s lots of stuff about what’s gossiped about her

But like with a lot of her songs it’s all just opinions isn’t it, unless she says, and even then she often doesn’t say everything

Oh I don’t disagree with most of that

But I also think it’s easier to be properly angry and scathing about someone who’s actually done stuff “wrong”

Obviously you’re losing me is about Joe, but I think tolerate it is as well - I think he was just a bit rubbish to her, which is sad rather than Jehovah’s Witness suit type angry

I think Bejeweled is about Joe, too. And most of the songs on that album. I think it was their break up album but I guess it was confusing because they were so on again/off again. And now we know Matt was somewhere in the mix.

I agree the break up songs on Folklevermore were about Joe, too. Their relationship just sounds like it would never have dragged on so long if it wasn't for covid.

Yes!!!!

Some think it's about Jake G. Linking it to All Too Well being the movie manuscript

@TTPD from the love triangle I’d say Joe is Betty, Taylor is James and Matty is August- would that work?

And who’s afraid of little old me, with the lyrics about levitating and stuff made me think it’s a reply to Olivia Rodrigo’s song Vampire which some people are said was about Taylor.

@tabulahrasa yes that’s true! And the smallest man who ever lived, Taylor is mad, love the bridge on that one.

She does write in her prologue that she writes the worst men best, which seems true!

@taylorswift1989 agree with your take on it!

manuscript it sort of sounds like she’s alluding to grooming, do we think Jake? 🤔

I’ve given the album a full listen tonight, really enjoyed it but I did go and listen to anti hero after as I felt I needed an “easy” song! I’m not complaining it’s a double album, am thrilled we got effectively 2 albums! but it’s a lot because I want To listen properly and it’s hard to digest 31 songs, so inevitably I’ll listen to my favourite 7 over and over and miss most of the album!

Oh also she is mad at the fans in but daddy I love him, du think it’s aimed at the fans who wrote the open letter during the Matty relationship? Felt it was a very personal album!