Taylor Swift has offered fans a glimpse behind the scenes of her latest album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department,’ with a track-by-track commentary on Amazon Music.
In a series of pre-recorded messages, Swift discusses the themes and inspirations behind several songs, including lead single ‘Fortnight’ featuring Post Malone. She describes ‘Fortnight’ as embodying the album’s overall themes of fatalism and longing, featuring lyrics like “I love you, it’s ruining my life.”
Swift also shares insights into ‘My Boy Only Breaks His Favourite Toys,’ rumored to be about her former flame Matty Healy. She reveals that the song is written from the perspective of a child’s toy, exploring the pain of being abandoned and devalued in relationships.
Collaboration with Florence + The Machine on the track ‘Florida!!!’ sparked Swift’s contemplation of what happens when one’s choices catch up to them. She draws parallels to the frequent news stories of criminals fleeing to Florida to reinvent themselves amidst heartbreak.
In ‘Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?,’ Swift reflects on the societal pressure and scrutiny placed on artists and creatives. She expresses her weariness of feeling like a spectacle for public consumption and judgment.
Finally, ‘Clara Bow’ serves as a commentary on the industry’s tendency to compare and contrast female artists. Swift references iconic women like Clara Bow and Stevie Nicks, highlighting their influence and the ways in which women are often pitted against each other.
Swift’s ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ has broken records on Spotify, becoming the first album to reach over 300 million streams in a single day and making Swift the platform’s most-streamed artist in a day.
