The Tortured Poets Department

I’m sure that many people already know about Taylor Swift’s famous announcement at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards earlier this month, but for those who don’t, let me fill you in. On February 4th, during her speech directly after winning Best Pop Vocal Album for Midnights, Taylor Swift surprised everyone by revealing the release date of her newest album, The Tortured Poets Department. This was extremely unexpected, as most people thought Taylor Swift would be announcing Reputation (Taylor’s Version) during the Grammys, due to her hinting at the announcement for weeks beforehand.

Just a few hours before the Grammys, Taylor Swift, along with many of her celebrity friends, changed her profile pictures across social media to black and white. Around the same time, Taylor’s website also malfunctioned, displaying “Error 321,” along with the word “hneriergrd,” which was later decoded to spell out “red herring.” Originally, many of the fans assumed that the error displayed was hinting at the release of Reputation TV, as Error 321 is a communication error for a poor telephone connection. This was believed to be a reference to Taylor’s song "Look What You Made Me Do,” from her album Reputation, where she says “I’m sorry, the old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now. Why? Oh, cus she’s dead.”

These, along with many black and white outfits that Taylor wore, convinced fans that Reputation TV was going to be released that night.

However, Taylor Swift stunned everyone when, instead of announcing Reputation TV, she announced the album she had been working on for two years, The Tortured Poets Department, and this new album will be released on April 19th, 2024. 

She first posted the album cover on her Instagram, along with a handwritten note that says, “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.”

  Not only that, Taylor also recently released the names of the 16 tracks on this new album.

1. Fortnight (featuring Post Malone)

2. The Tortured Poets Department

3. My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys

4. Down Bad

5. So Long, London

6. But Daddy I Love Him

7. Fresh Out the Slammer

8. Florida!!! (featuring Florence and the Machine)

9. Guilty as Sin?

10. Who's Afraid of Little Old Me?

11. I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)

12. loml

13. I Can Do It with a Broken Heart

14. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived

15. The Alchemy

16. Clara Bow

There are also special versions of the album, including two different bonus tracks, The Manuscript and The Bolter.

All in all, TTPD, or The Tortured Poets Department, is an exciting and interesting new album, and I personally look forward to listening to it.