Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, has taken the internet by storm, sparking a mix of praise, criticism, and analysis. What began as a 16-track album quickly expanded to a double album with 31 songs, as Swift shared her plethora of tortured poetry with fans. The album has already broken records, becoming Spotify’s first to hit a billion streams in just one week.
While fans expected the album to be filled with heartbreak songs following Swift’s breakup with Joe Alwyn, they were surprised to find that most of the songs referenced her relationship with Matty Healy of The 1975. A Vulture analysis revealed that Healy inspired more songs than Alwyn, leading to controversy within the fanbase. Some fans even penned an open letter urging Swift to denounce Healy due to his controversial comments.
While Swift typically has a strong connection with her fans, The Tortured Poets Department pushes back against the excesses of her Swifties. In songs like “But Daddy I Love Him,” Swift explicitly criticizes self-righteous fans for their meddling in her personal life. In response, her fanbase sprang to her defense against what they believed to be unfair criticism and negative reviews, even going as far as creating conspiracy theories to explain the backlash.
Despite the overwhelming commercial success of The Tortured Poets Department, Swift has faced harsh criticism with some stating they are suffering from Swift fatigue. Critics have labeled the album as overstuffed and half-baked, with one particularly scathing review from Paste Magazine even drawing concerns for the author’s safety due to potential backlash. The contradiction between Swift’s relatable persona and her status as a billionaire megastar has also come under fire, with many questioning the authenticity of her image.
The album also references Swift’s feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, with the song “thanK you aIMee” alluding to this ongoing drama. The feud dates back to 2009 and reached a peak in 2016 when Kardashian leaked a controversial phone call between Swift and West. Swift has expressed the toll the feud took on her mental health, bringing it to light in her music and interviews. Fans and critics have had mixed reactions to Swift’s decision to reference this feud in her work.
The album’s lyrics have also become a source of memes on social media, with out-of-context screenshots of Swift’s songs circulating online. The track “I Hate It Here” in particular drew attention for its mention of wanting to live in the 1830s without the racists. Despite some backlash for its tone-deafness, many found humor in the lyrics. Overall, The Tortured Poets Department may have its flaws, but it offers a candid and introspective look at the price of fame and the challenges of living in the spotlight.
