If you keep up with music and pop culture at all, you’re probably aware that Taylor Swift is releasing her eleventh studio album, “The Tortured Poets Department”, on April 19th, 2024. As one of the biggest Taylor Swift fans, here are my predictions for the album as a whole and each song.

Though the album has been categorized as pop on Apple Music, I’m not sure if I totally see it fitting. Initially, I thought it would be a lot like “folklore” and “evermore”. Maybe the sound will be more like “1989” or “reputation” with lyrics similar to “folklore” and “evermore”. Either way, I’m excited. Given the title, I have a feeling the lyrics will be based in literature, specifically poetry, with lots of allusions. As an English major, I’m beyond hyped for that possibility, and I’ve already decided which poets could influence this album. My top picks were Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath. 

  1. “Fortnight” (featuring Post Malone) – I won’t lie, I was a bit thrown by the idea of Post Malone being on this song, simply because he’s a rapper. I think this song will be a little bit like “End Game” in terms of sound, but I have a feeling it’ll become as iconic as Kendrick Lamar’s feature in “Bad Blood.”
  2. “The Tortured Poets Department” – Title tracks are always so fun. This will definitely encapsulate the themes of the album, and I think it’ll sound similar to “folklore”. 
  3. “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys” – Imagine “You’re Not Sorry” and “Better Than Revenge” together and as adults. That’s this song.
  4. “Down Bad” – I think this song will be about falling for Travis Kelce. It’ll probably sound more like songs from “Midnights”, maybe “Karma.”
  5.  “So Long, London” – This is the song I’m claiming. I feel like the emotions and sound will be most like “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” and “My Tears Ricochet” (and maybe, hopefully, there is a 10-minute version of it somewhere). Also, I’m fairly certain that the subject of  “So Long, London” will be Joe Alwyn, and I’m excited for the tea. 
  6. “But Daddy I Love Him” – This song and “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” are probably similar in terms of subject, but I think this one will be a little slower, more like “exile.”
  7. “Fresh Out the Slammer” – I think this one has the potential to be most like “reputation”. I don’t see it being a slow song, but rather more like “Ready for It?” or “I Did Something Bad” in terms of sound. I also think this song will be about leaving her relationship with Joe Alwyn and having more freedom now that they’ve separated.
  8. “Florida!!!!” (featuring Florence + the Machine) – I have the strongest feeling that Jack Antonoff produced this song. But, I think it’ll be more indie because of Florence + the Machine, and production will be similar to songs from Jack Antonoff’s band, Bleachers. 
  9. “Guilty as Sin?” – This one feels like it could be about trying to place blame and find a reason for a failing relationship. I think it’ll sound like “this is me trying” or “Maroon,” if the album is pop-heavy. 
  10. “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” – This has the energy of the cackle from “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things.” I think it’ll be very confident and loud and I can’t wait. 
  11. “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can) – The titles on this album are “excellent”, and this one is my favorite. I think the subject is fairly obvious from the title, and I have a feeling it’ll be a more upbeat song, like “Mr. Perfectly Fine.”
  12. “loml” – This is definitely a slow song, and I can’t decide if it’s going to be about her new relationship with Travis Kelce, or a song trying to convince herself that Joe Alwyn is the love of her life. 
  13. “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” – This’ll be like “The Man” and “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” both in theme and sound. 
  14. “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” – Imagine “tolerate it”, but instead of taking responsibility and trying to fix it, you realize the other person is at fault. 
  15. “The Alchemy” – This will definitely be a slow song, maybe like “New Year’s Day”, with fantastical ideas – something different from what we might expect. 
  16. “Clara Bow” – I sense that Aaron Dessner produced this. This seems to be the most folklore-esque song, based on the title alone. Clara Bow was an incredibly famous actress, nicknamed “The It Girl,” and I think Taylor is going to compare Clara Bow’s life and her own. 

Now that you’ve read my endless opinions on Taylor’s next album, you’re ready for the release date! Happy listening!

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