Breaking down all 31 songs on the pop famous person’s 2024 album, together with each observe from ‘The Anthology.’
Taylor Swift
BETH GARRABRANT/REPUBLIC RECORDS
Each track on Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Division is a murals and a masterpiece. Let’s get that out of the best way first.
However, with 31 dense tracks, there’s sure to be some that stand out for varied causes. In spite of everything, Swift is understood for her storytelling, lyrical prowess and narrative-driven pop songs.
So, for enjoyable and to encourage dialog, The Hollywood Reporter’s resident Swiftie is rating all 31 songs off Swift’s newest report.
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“Cassandra”
Our record begins with the day-dream lullaby “Cassandra.” It’s only one of some songs on this album to take care of ideas and emotions of betrayal. It references the determine Cassandra from Greek mythology, identified actually as “she who entangles males,” who was sabotaged by Apollo.
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“Peter”
In “Peter,” Swift says goodbye to a former accomplice whom she thought she could be with endlessly. “Stated you have been gonna develop up, then you definately have been gonna come discover me,” the lyrics say. It’s a melancholy reference to Peter Pan, who by no means did develop up.
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“Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus”
This track tells the story of a fraught relationship that ended with infidelity, both bodily or emotional. Swift references Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus as a strategy to say she doesn’t care who the opposite individual in her relationship was, illustrating an indifference stronger than hatred.
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“How Did It Finish?”
Swift seemingly references her ex Joe Alwyn on this observe, which options lyrical parallels to a different track she’s written about that fading relationship, “You’re Dropping Me.” She questions and interrogates the sluggish burnout of their partnership. The road “sitting in a tree, d-y-i-n-g” strikes arduous as a parody of the school-age taunt, “k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”
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“Contemporary Out the Slammer”
On this observe, Swift laments concerning the need we’ve got to run again to somebody we all know isn’t good for us when a relationship ends. She alludes to being set freed from a stifling relationship and operating towards one other one: “Contemporary out the slammer, I do know who my first name will probably be to.”
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“The Bolter”
“The Bolter” tells the story of a lady whom you possibly can by no means get too near: “Glorious enjoyable ’til you get to know her.” She at all times runs away. It’s certainly one of Swift’s most narrative-driven songs on the album.
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“Robin”
“Robin,” a piano ballad anchored by the hook “Technique to go, tiger,” evokes emotions of childhood, in similarity to former Swift tracks like “The Finest Day” and “seven.”
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“Clara Bow”
The titular Clara Bow was certainly one of Hollywood’s first icons. She was a intercourse image and a socialite. The track additionally references Stevie Nicks, and Swift name-drops herself. It’s an infectious hook with a narrative rooted within the leisure trade. Swift defined the track is “a commentary on what I’ve seen within the trade that I’ve been in over time.”
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“The Tortured Poets Division”
The title observe of the album is likely one of the songs that appears to most immediately reference Swift’s previous relationship with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, a fundamental character on this report. It doesn’t paint a optimistic depiction, to say the least. It’s, in fact, notable that this track offers the album its identify. And, sure, Charlie Puth must be an even bigger artist.
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“The Prophecy”
One of the crucial heartbreaking songs on the report, “The Prophecy,” sees Swift lamenting the sluggish fading of a former relationship. She’s in a determined state: “Please, I’ve been on my knees, change the prophecy.” It options a number of the strongest lyrical work on the album.
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“I Hate It Right here”
“I Hate It Right here” is an anthem for the dissociators. It’s about going to different worlds to flee. It’s for these of us who flip to films, music, books and fantastical adventures to get away from actuality. It’s blunt and one of many sadder songs on the report (which is saying one thing).
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“Fortnight” (feat. Submit Malone)
The lead single off The Tortured Poets Division options an addictive hook and a serious increase from Submit Malone. There’s no denying that the poignant and piercing lyric “I like you, it’s ruining my life” has been caught within the heads of many for the reason that album dropped. It’s probably the most consumer-facing observe and will be regarded as the “cardigan” of this report. An on the spot smash and one other Swift basic, accompanied by a shocking video with cinematography by Killers of the Flower Moon DP Rodrigo Prieto.
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“The Albatross”
Swift assumes her man-eater persona on this observe: “She’s the Albatross, she is right here to destroy you…She’s the demise you selected, you’re in horrible hazard.” It’s paying homage to the id she’s beforehand taken on for songs like “Clean Area.” It reads as a warning to Travis Kelce, or any future companions.
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“The Alchemy”
Talking of Kelce, “The Alchemy” is extensively assumed to be one of many few tracks on Tortured Poets that references Swift’s present relationship with the Tremendous Bowl-winning athlete. It’s about simple chemistry and when your relationship simply feels proper. “Who’re we to struggle the alchemy?”
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“I Look in Folks’s Home windows”
At simply over two minutes, this is likely one of the shortest songs on the album. However darn if it isn’t catchy. It casts Swift as a peeping tom of types, watching like a ghost via folks’s home windows, searching for neighborhood and a former lover. It’s received that folklore/evermore cozy cabin vibe and is greatest loved by candlelight.
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“So Lengthy, London”
Arguably the saddest track on the report, on “So Lengthy London,” it’s closely speculated that Swift is saying goodbye to Alwyn. It cuts deep as an epilogue to songs off her Lover album, like “London Boy” and “Cornelia Avenue.” In saying goodbye to her six-year relationship, she additionally components methods with certainly one of her favourite cities. It’s the closing of a chapter of her life.
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“loml”
What was that concerning the saddest track on the report? “loml” as soon as once more is closely alleged to be about Swift’s parting with ex-boyfriend Alwyn. The anagram has a double which means, standing for “love of my life,” which Swift says she was informed “1,000,000 occasions,” in addition to “lack of my life,” referencing the connection as certainly one of her best loves.
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“I Can Repair Him (No Actually I Can)”
On this track, Taylor Swift places a melody to a standard millennial mantra: “I can repair him; no actually, I can.” It’s a country-twinged observe all about diving head-first into that relationship that you understand will find yourself unhealthy. It’s a siren track about reckless abandon and unhealthy selections.
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“My Boy Solely Breaks His Favourite Toys”
One of many few songs that Swift penned solely by herself on Tortued Poets, “My Boy Solely Breaks His Favourite Toys” is the kind of poppy earworm we all know we will depend on Swift for. It’s concerning the hindsight of figuring out a relationship wasn’t constructed to final. It paints the “boy” in query as an immature baby, one who would quite knock over his constructing blocks than attempt to spell with them.
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“The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived”
Ouch. A standout track on the report, “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” pulls no punches when studying down its topic. Closely rumored to be about Healy, Swift paints the image of a hopeless, pill-obsessed loser who wrought her feelings and took her on a darkish journey. It’s maybe the cruelest and most direct Swift has ever been on certainly one of her breakup/revenge songs. The topic of this track could by no means recuperate.
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“The Manuscript”
Swift likes to finish her albums with an epilogue of types. As the ultimate observe on ‘The Anthology’ model of Tortured Poets, “The Manuscript” serves as simply that. It symbolizes the closing of a ebook and the turning of a brand new web page. It sees Swift trying again on a really previous relationship (Jake Gyllenhaal? John Mayer?). She shares a brand new perspective on the affair as she’s grown older. It additional cements Swift as certainly one of our era’s best storytellers, appearing as each the closing of a story and the opening of one other. It, nearly actually, closes the ebook on the Tortured Poets period.
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“So Excessive Faculty”
Tortured Poets is a heavy album, however that doesn’t imply there aren’t vibrant spots. “So Excessive Faculty” is likely one of the most upbeat, feel-good songs on the album. It’s an ideal callback to these ‘80s-‘90s dream pop tracks, the type you’d hearken to strolling down the hallway between intervals. It’s received the sweeping feeling of songs like “Don’t You (Neglect About Me)” by Easy Minds or “Head Over Heels” by Tears for Fears. “You understand how to ball, I do know Aristotle.” It’s a lovey-dovey tribute to these good previous days and appears to reference Swift’s relationship with Kelce. It’s one of many happiest moments of the report.
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“Imgonnagetyouback”
Swift and Olivia Rodrigo have a dialogue going between their songs. Rodrigo famously admired Swift and even sampled “Merciless Summer time” for her track “deja vu.” Now, Swift has launched a track with an identical theme to Rodrigo’s “get him again,” taking part in with the double which means of revenge and rekindling. Swift’s take is catchy, and also you’ll discover it operating via your head as you do the dishes.
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“I Can Do It With a Damaged Coronary heart”
A standout and celebratory observe, “I Can Do It With a Damaged Coronary heart” shines as an upbeat anthem for staying sturdy throughout your hardest moments. It evokes songs like “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” by Kelly Clarkson. It’s a flex for Swift, the place she highlights her flawless performances throughout the Eras Tour, all whereas going via a breakup. “I used to be grinning like I’m successful, I used to be hitting my marks,” Swift brags. On Spotify and YouTube, the track is accompanied by footage from the Eras Tour. This one might escape as a single, with the prospect to hit it huge like “Shake It Off.”
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“thanK you aIMee”
“I constructed a legacy which you could’t undo.” Swift does what she does greatest on this track — people music and revenge. The capitalized letters within the identify of this observe all however totally verify that this track is directed at Kim Kardashian, and it appears to deal with Swift’s previous beef with the fact star and her former husband. It unpacks the sentiments Swift had at the moment and drags again up the struggle that first took middle stage throughout Swift’s fame period. It’s received the vibe of Swift’s “betty.” Be careful for this one on any tour dates. Who might resist a stadium of individuals shouting “f–okay you, aimee!” (learn: “f–okay you, Kim Kardashian”).
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“The Black Canine”
As for stadium bangers, “The Black Canine” may be the black sheep in that class. The track begins out sluggish and builds to an epic, screeching refrain: “Outdated habits die screaming!” It’s sure to be a second the place Swifties go wild once they hear it dwell. The track is closely rumored to peel again the layers of Healy and the way he disenchanted Swift nearly immediately.
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“Down Dangerous”
Utilizing a fantastical alien abduction as a metaphor, “Down Dangerous” is a catchy lament about not getting what you need. It’s about eager for somebody and the way that may result in a despair. It’s received a number of the greatest Swift bridges on the album, which mechanically catapults it towards the highest.
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“Who’s Afraid of Little Outdated Me?”
Swift takes on the witchy persona we’ve seen on albums like evermore on this standout observe, “Who’s Afraid of Little Outdated Me?” It’s received a hook that, as soon as once more, must be shouted by a crowd in a stadium. Ideally howled on the moon in unison. It paints her as a sorceress and a monster. It’s sinister and threatening. Catch us taking part in this one on repeat at our Halloween events.
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“Responsible as Sin?”
One other track that’s closely rumored to be about Healy, referencing certainly one of his favourite songs ,“The Downtown Lights.” “Responsible as Sin” finds Swift feeling untrue, questioning if ideas in her head qualify as infidelity. It’s catchy as hell, a seamless mix of pop and country-folk. “I maintain recalling issues we by no means did … with out ever touching his pores and skin, how can I be responsible as sin?” It’s a tapestry of sophisticated feelings, woven to melodic perfection.
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“Florida!!!”
It was inevitable {that a} Taylor Swift and Florence Welch collaboration would attain the highest of this record. In a partnership that feels so pure it’s nearly a shock it hasn’t occurred earlier than, “Florida!!!” goes huge, anthemic and loud. It’s a learn of the American dream, the American journey and the American expertise. It’s existential and haunting. We will solely hope for extra collaborations from this duo. Taylor x Florence x Bon Iver, when?
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“However Daddy I Love Him”
The highest observe on our record encompasses all the pieces Tortured Poets is about and, extra largely, encapsulates that basic Taylor Swift track feeling. Once more, closely rumored to be about Healy, the track addresses Scott Swift’s disapproval of his daughter’s relationship with The 1975 singer. It’s sweeping and glowing and provides that feeling of reckless abandon one may get from operating throughout an open area at sundown. It’s a shimmer of sunshine on certainly one of Swift’s darkest-feeling entries thus far and deserves to be blasted with the home windows down on a sunny day.
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