While Swifties are thrilled about the announcement of a new Taylor Swift album, it did not stop other fans from making jokes out of the title.
As the singer-songwriter received her award for Best Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammys last February 4, she undoubtedly shocked the audience with her announcement of a new album release, to come out on April 19, titled The Tortured Poets Department.
“So, I want to say thank you to the fans by telling you a secret that I have been keeping from you for the last two years, which is that my brand new album comes out April 19. It’s called The Tortured Poets Department. I’m going to go and post the cover right now backstage. Thank you, I love you,” Swift said.
The news stunned Swifties since the singer has been hinting at Reputation (Taylor’s Version) rather than a whole new record.
Some fans are starting to speculate about the album’s theme; some believe it will revolve around Swift’s six-year relationship with her ex-boyfriend Joe Alwyn, while others think it will mention her current boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Moreover, people swiftly shared their wits and made jokes, memes, and clever commentary on X (formerly Twitter) about the title, where users compared Swift to fictional personas like Carrie Bradshaw, Hannah Horvath, and Jo March with captions calling the latter the “founding member” of the department.
the tortured poets department pic.twitter.com/qnCKNpDzd4
— J u l i ˚✧₊ (@iamjulig) February 7, 2024
she works in the tortured poets department. pic.twitter.com/SaB3xFZYRk
— aidan (@AlDANS_) February 5, 2024
Me hearing Taylor announce a new album instead of reputation (taylor’s version) that my twitter timeline convinced me of three hours ago pic.twitter.com/j3fWFBuTqX
— vicky (@vickymykh) February 5, 2024
taylor announcing a brand new album after making everyone think that she was announcing the reputation re-recording pic.twitter.com/YpQMxmz4nD
— marg (taylor’s version) (@BetttysCardigan) February 5, 2024
this is the tortured poet's department if anyone cares pic.twitter.com/lyUdVkWLOm
— hannah (the prophecy stan 🪶) (@hantalkstaylor) February 5, 2024
the president of the tortured poets department pic.twitter.com/X3nVwLOxlC
— benjamin (@benjaminmartiin) February 5, 2024
The Tortured Poets Department pic.twitter.com/k7zBVNte0F
— joe (@crueiestsummer) February 5, 2024
she wrote you’re losing me two years ago and she said she’s been working on this album for two years pic.twitter.com/kqylwN1u8t
— liz 🫶 (@AstoundingSwift) February 5, 2024
“this is my 13th grammy and my new album comes out-“ pic.twitter.com/8tMn9TCWYj
— reid (@thereidfeed) February 5, 2024
Pinoy content creator Yasmin Asistido, known as Kween Yasmin, also made some people laugh as she labeled herself as the “Dean of the Tortured Spoken Poetry Department,” parodying the album title of the American legend.
Many fans also shared theories about the album’s content, particularly the context of the word “tortured.”
The Tortured Poets Department will be the follow-up album to Swift’s 2022 pop blockbuster Midnights, which sold millions of copies and spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard 200 list.
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