The Tortured Poets Department 

Last month, Taylor Swift came out with her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. The standard version has 16 songs, and there was also a double release on the same day called The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology for a total of 31 brand new songs! The album was overall of the album was classified as “Synth Pop”, however within this it ranged from lyrical ballads such as “Peter” to more of an alternative rock feel with “Florida!!!”. No matter what the sound was, Swifts writing abilities were highlighted. Her ability to encourage certain emotions within listeners has been seen immensely as people share love for songs such as “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived” and “So Long, London” 

Fortnight Music video: 

The first song on the album is called Fortnight Featuring Post Malone. This has become the lead single for the album and has held the number 1 spot on the Billboard charts since its release. The music video featured both singers and also Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles. Both actors were in the movie The Dead Poets Society, which was talked about frequently during the announcement of the album due to the similar title. The first line of this song is, “I was supposed to be sent away, but they forgot to come and get me” and as the line is sung, Swift is shown in a mental hospital in dramatic makeup and dress.

Merch: 

Along with the album’s release, there were numerous pieces of merchandise released. There were many different variants of CDs and vinyls released that featured a different bonus track on each. Along with t shirts and hoodies,The Tortured Poets Department continued the tradition and also got its own cardigan as well.

Changes to the Setlist? 

With the album being released in the middle of the Eras Tour, many fans wondered if the new era would have its own portion of the show going forward. Speculation ensued, especially with Swift posting pictures of tour rehearsal in which she was standing beside a large logo of the new album. During the first night of the European leg of the Eras tour these theories were confirmed as Swift surprised the crowd by including the new era on the setlist. Swift had a new outfit and a new stage setup for the following songs:

1. But Daddy I Love Him
2. So High School
3. Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?
4. Down Bad
5. Fortnight
6. The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived
7. I Can Do It With A Broken Heart

The Future for Taylor: 

Taylor is set to continue the European leg of the Eras tour into the summer and is revisiting so

me major cities in the US in the fall. As for more music, she is featured on Gracie Abrams upcoming album, The Secret of Us, on a song similarly titled “Us”. This is the first time that Taylor has been featured on a standard track of another female’s album, as she has only been on deluxe versions before. The album comes out June 21st and it will be very interesting to see Taylor’s role in another artist like Gracie’s genre. Additionally, Swift still has her debut album, Taylor Swift, and her 2016 album Reputation to re-record.