The Tortured Poets Department (song)

Last updated

"The Tortured Poets Department"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album The Tortured Poets Department
ReleasedApril 19, 2024 (2024-04-19)
Studio
Genre Synth-pop
Length4:53
Label Republic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Taylor Swift
  • Jack Antonoff
Lyric video
"The Tortured Poets Department" on YouTube

"The Tortured Poets Department" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the title track of her eleventh studio album (2024). Swift wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff. A synth-pop song, "The Tortured Poets Department" incorporates drums, sparkling synths, and electronic sounds. Its lyrics satirize a relationship between two pretentious artists.

Contents

Music critics compared the production to the music from the 1980s. There were mixed opinions about the song: some found it catchy and complimented the sarcastic tone, but some others found the lyrics awkward and overwritten.

Background and composition

Swift announced The Tortured Poets Department on February 4, 2024 at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards during her acceptance speech for the Best Pop Vocal Album award. Shortly after the announcement, the album's artwork was shared on her Instagram profile. Swift's website also enabled the album to be pre-ordered in vinyl, CD, cassette and digital format. [1]

Critics have described "The Tortured Poets Department" as glittery synth-pop and a power-ballad incorporating 1980s-era musical elements evocative of Cutting Crew, Roxette and Phil Collins. [2] [3] The track is built on drums, sparkling synths, [4] and electronic sounds that evoke Guitar-pop. [5]

The lyrics of "The Tortured Poets Departent" are about experiencing emotional turmoil and heartbreak in a relationship. [6] John Wholmancher of Beats Per Minute interpreted the song's lyrics as satirical, adding that Swift acknowledges her inferiority to the artistic levels of Dylan Thomas and Patti Smith, and believes that achieving great artistry comes from embracing deep self-realisation and creative integrity rather than fame. In the song's opening, "'Who uses typewriters anyway?'", Swift seems to question the use of vintage technology, as an expression of artistic struggle, rather, views the instrument as serving a visual purpose. She calls herself and her partner "modern idiots", a self-critique and awareness of their artisitc limitations. Swift possibly desires to gain a deep, genuine engagement in her creative process that Thomas and Smith achieved. [7]

Critical reception

In a ranking of all 31 tracks from The Anthology edition of The Tortured Poets Department, Billboard ranked the title track in 11th place. Jason Lipschutz wrote for the magazine, saying "the drums sound light and unobtrusive as her voice sways and bends, and Swift references mutual friends and collaborators amidst the pretty synth noodling and 'whoa-oh' rejoinders, leaving bread crumbs for expert listeners while walking deeper into the synth fantasia." [4] Screen Rant placed the song at 21st in their ranking, with Lynn Sharpe writing "the hyperspecific [sic] details and overly conversational writing on the title track are distracting to the point that it sometimes takes the listener out." [8] Ryan Fish of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the track strongly alludes to Swift's former fling with Matty Healy. [9] Pitchfor's Olivia Horn called it a "winking" track that makes fun of Swift's self-seriousness, adding; "She piles the metaphors on thick, throws stuff at the wall even after something has stuck, picks up the things that didn't stick and uses them anyway." [10] Chris Willman of Variety said the track had a "jangly-guitar-pop" that captured the mood of "Mirrorball" from Folklore (2020), further adding that "it actually feels completely un-tortured, despite the ironic title." [11] Clash Music praised the song's production for being nostalgic, [3] while Tom Breihan of Stereogum called the song "a full-on earworm". [12]

Some critics said that the lyric, "You smoked, and then ate seven bars of chocolate, We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist. I scratch your head, you fall asleep, like a tattooed Golden Retriever", was clumsy or cringe. [13] [14] The line also became the subject of parodies online. [7] On the contrary, Helen Brown of The Independent complimented Swift's lyricism, writing "I defy anyone not to lean into Swift's concisely charged storytelling." [15] Finn McRedmond of The Irish Times gave the track a negatve review, saying it was overworked and made Swift sound ostentatious; "She leaves no space for the song to breathe, cramming in as many words as she can." [16]

"The Tortured Poets Department" name-checks multiple musicians and writers in its lyrics, mentioning Charlie Puth, Dylan Thomas, and Patti Smith. The names "Lucy" and "Jack" were interpreted by music critics to be American singer-songwriter Lucy Dacus and the song's producer Jack Antonoff. [17] [18] Newsweek reported that Puth gained 30,962 followers on Instagram in three days following the song's release. [19] Smith thanked Swift via a note she posted on Instagram. [20]

Related Research Articles

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<i>The Tortured Poets Department</i> 2024 studio album by Taylor Swift

The Tortured Poets Department is the eleventh studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on April 19, 2024, through Republic Records. It was expanded into a double album two hours after its release, subtitled The Anthology, containing a second volume of songs.

"My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, it is a synth-pop song featuring pounding drums and elements of new wave. The lyrics are about being abandoned by a love interest, using metaphors and from the perspective of a toy.

"Down Bad" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). She wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff, who played the song's instruments with members of his band Bleachers. A synth-pop song with R&B inflections, "Down Bad" is about a momentary infatuation, comparing falling in love with being abducted by an extraterrestrial being.

"So Long, London" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). She wrote and produced the track with Aaron Dessner. A downtempo chamber pop and synth-pop tune, "So Long, London" is set over to 4/4 house beats and has a piano and synthesizer instrumentation. Its lyrical content concerns a failed romance and explores a narrator processing the fallout and its aftermath.

"But Daddy I Love Him" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Swift and Aaron Dessner wrote the track, and they produced it with Jack Antonoff. Musically, "But Daddy I Love Him" is an electronica and folk rock ballad with elements of country and rock. Its lyrics target detractors of Swift's love life.

"Florida!!!" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring the English band Florence and the Machine, and is the eighth track on Swift's eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Swift wrote the track with the band's frontwoman Florence Welch, who also sang lead vocals, and produced it with Jack Antonoff. An Americana and Southern Gothic-influenced power ballad with indie rock guitars and drums, its lyrical content revolves around seeking relief through escapism and alcohol, using Florida as a geographical metaphor.

"Guilty as Sin?" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). She wrote and produced the song with Jack Antonoff. It is a 1990s-tinged pop rock and soft rock track combining rock, country, and folk styles, accentuated by guitars and live drums. The lyrics see Swift's character sexually fantasizing about a man while being in a relationship.

"Loml" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Swift wrote and produced the song alongside Aaron Dessner. The song was met with positive reviews by critics for its heartbreaking lyrics and simple piano production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Can Do It with a Broken Heart</span> 2024 single by Taylor Swift

"I Can Do It with a Broken Heart" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, the song is about Swift's perseverance and professionalism while going through personal hardships during the early days of the Eras Tour.

"The Alchemy" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). Swift wrote and produced the track with Jack Antonoff. A pop rock track with R&B influences, "The Alchemy" uses extensive football imagery to describe a burgeoning romance after going through heartbreak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fortnight (song)</span> 2024 single by Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone

"Fortnight" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring vocals from American rapper and singer Post Malone, taken from Swift's eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. The two artists wrote the track with Jack Antonoff, who produced it with Swift. Republic Records released the song as the lead single concurrently with its parent album on April 19, 2024. A 1980s-inspired downtempo electropop and synth-pop ballad, "Fortnight" is instrumented by a pulsing synth bassline. Its lyrics portray a woman in an unhappy marriage who becomes next-door neighbors with an ex-lover who is also married, and the two vow to escape to Florida.

"Thank You Aimee" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, from the double album edition of her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology (2024). Swift and Aaron Dessner wrote the track, and the two produced it with Jack Antonoff. A country folk and country pop track instrumented by guitar strums, its lyrics are about dealing with a high-school bully.

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"The Black Dog" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department (2024). It was first included as a bonus track for a physical edition of the album and then released digitally as part of a double album edition subtitled The Anthology. Produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, "The Black Dog" is a slow-building post-industrial ballad containing a sparse, piano-led production and a momentary shift in dynamics in the chorus. Its lyrics portray Swift's character tracking an ex-partner at a bar and experiencing heartbreak and resentment after finding him.

References

  1. ↑ Shanfeld, Ethan (April 18, 2024). "Taylor Swift Announces New Album 'The Tortured Poets Department' During Grammys Acceptance Speech". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ Martin, Rachel (April 19, 2024). "Album Review: The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift". Notion. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department". Clash Music. April 19, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Lipshutz, Jason. "Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department': All 31 Tracks Ranked". Billboard . Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ Willman, Chris (April 18, 2024). "Taylor Swift Renews Her Vows With Heartbreak in Audacious, Transfixing 'Tortured Poets Department': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  6. ↑ Miyashita, Nina; Waterhouse, Jonah (April 22, 2024). "All the hidden meanings in Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' album". Vogue. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  7. 1 2 Wohlmacher, John (April 23, 2024). "Album Review: Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved June 27, 2024.
  8. ↑ Sharpe, Lynn. "Taylor Swift: All 31 The Tortured Poets Department Songs, Ranked Worst To Best". Screen Rant . Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  9. ↑ Fish, Ryan (April 22, 2024). "Every Song on Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' Ranked". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  10. ↑ Horn, Olivia (April 22, 2024). "The Tortured Poets Department / The Anthology". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  11. ↑ Willman, Chris (April 18, 2024). "Taylor Swift Renews Her Vows With Heartbreak in Audacious, Transfixing 'Tortured Poets Department': Album Review". Variety. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  12. ↑ Breihan, Tom (April 19, 2024). "Premature Evaluation: Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department". Stereogum. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  13. ↑ Hunt, El (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department album review: underwhelming and clunky". The Standard. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Taylor Swift Strikes Out Looking on The Tortured Poets Department". Paste. April 19, 2024. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  15. ↑ Brown, Helen (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department review: Irresistible, country-hued tales of relationships past and present". The Independent. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  16. ↑ McRedmond, Finn (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department track by track review – A manifesto for all the believers who will try at love one more time". The Irish Times. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  17. ↑ Schwedel, Heather. "Every Proper Noun on Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department, Charted and Annotated". Slate . Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department features astounding name-dropping, here's the list". Hindustan Times. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  19. ↑ Lloyd, Sophie. "Charlie Puth Gets Boost After Being Named in Taylor Swift Song". Newsweek . Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  20. ↑ Iasimone, Ashley (April 20, 2024). "Here's What Patti Smith Thinks of Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' Lyric Naming Her". Billboard. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
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