The Tortured Poets Department (song) explained

The Tortured Poets Department
Artist:Taylor Swift
Album:The Tortured Poets Department
Studio:
Genre:Synth-pop
Label:Republic
Producer:
  • Taylor Swift
  • Jack Antonoff

"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.

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 while also being introspective.[6] [7] 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-realization 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 artistic limitations. Swift possibly desires to gain a deep, genuine engagement in her creative process that Thomas and Smith achieved.[8]

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."[9] 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."[10] Ryan Fish of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the track strongly alludes to Swift's former fling with Matty Healy.[11] Pitchfork'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."[12] 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."[13] Clash Music praised the song's production for being nostalgic, while Tom Breihan of Stereogum called the song "a full-on earworm".[14] Business Insider's Callie Ahlgrim said the song succeeds with its intention of being "over-the-top corny and tongue-in-cheek amusing", but felt the production "sounds like an AI-created "Midnights" parody."[15]

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.[16] [17] The line also became the subject of parodies online. 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."[18] Finn McRedmond of The Irish Times gave the track a negative 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."[19]

"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.[20] [21] Newsweek reported that Puth gained 30,962 followers on Instagram in three days following the song's release.[22] Smith posted herself on Instagram reading Thomas’ Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog with a caption thanking Swift for mentioning her name.[23]

Commercial performance

Following the album's release, nine of its tracks debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard Global 200, with "The Tortured Poets Department" debuting and peaking at number three on the chart. Swift extended her total top 10 entries on the chart to 33.[24] In the United States, the track opened at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. The track alongside 13 other songs from The Tortured Poets Department made Swift the first artist to occupy the entire top 14 of the Hot 100.[25] In Australia, "The Tortured Poets Department" debuted at number three on the ARIA Singles Chart and she became the artist with the most simultaneous entries in a single week with 29.[26] In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart and extended her total top 10 entries in the country to 28.[27]

Elsewhere, "The Tortured Poets Department" charted within the top 10 in Canada, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Hong Kong, Austria, India, Switzerland, and Luxembourg. The song also reached the top 20 in several other countries: number 11 in Malaysia, number 12 in Denmark, number 13 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, number 14 in Greece, number 15 in Sweden, number 16 in Portugal, Belgium, and South Africa, and number 19 in Latvia and Indonesia. It received a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and a silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Tortured Poets Department.[28]

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[29] 3
Belgium (Billboard)[30] 16
Brazil (Brasil Hot 100)[31] 55
Croatia (Billboard)[32] 24
Denmark (Tracklisten)[33] 12
France (SNEP)[34] 55
Greece International (IFPI)[35] 14
Hong Kong (Billboard)[36] 8
India (IMI)[37] 10
Indonesia (Billboard)[38] 19
Italy (FIMI)[39] 85
Latvia (LAIPA)[40] 19
Luxembourg (Billboard)[41] 10
Malaysia (Billboard)[42] 11
MENA (IFPI)[43] 13
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[44] 4
Norway (VG-lista)[45] 28
Philippines (Billboard)[46] 5
Poland (Polish Streaming Top 100)[47] 72
Singapore (RIAS)[48] 4
South Africa (TOSAC)[49] 16
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[50] 15

Notes and References

  1. News: Shanfeld . Ethan . Taylor Swift Announces New Album 'The Tortured Poets Department' During Grammys Acceptance Speech . 18 April 2024 . Variety . 18 April 2024.
  2. News: Martin . Rachel . Album Review: The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift . 11 August 2024 . Notion . 19 April 2024.
  3. News: Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department . 11 August 2024 . Clash Music . 19 April 2024.
  4. Lipshutz . Jason . Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department': All 31 Tracks Ranked . . 21 April 2024.
  5. News: Willman . Chris . Taylor Swift Renews Her Vows With Heartbreak in Audacious, Transfixing 'Tortured Poets Department': Album Review . 11 August 2024 . Variety . 18 April 2024.
  6. News: Miyashita . Nina . Waterhouse . Jonah . All the hidden meanings in Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' album . 11 August 2024 . Vogue . 22 April 2024.
  7. News: Petrusich . Amanda . Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Society . 18 August 2024 . The New Yorker . 19 April 2024.
  8. Web site: Wohlmacher . John . Apr 23, 2024 . Album Review: Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department . June 27, 2024 . Beats Per Minute.
  9. Lipshutz . Jason . Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department': All 31 Tracks Ranked . . 21 April 2024.
  10. Web site: Sharpe . Lynn . Taylor Swift: All 31 The Tortured Poets Department Songs, Ranked Worst To Best . . April 20, 2024 . 22 April 2024.
  11. News: Fish . Ryan . Every Song on Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department,' Ranked . 11 August 2024 . The Hollywood Reporter . 22 April 2024.
  12. News: Horn . Olivia . The Tortured Poets Department / The Anthology . 11 August 2024 . Pitchfork . 22 April 2024.
  13. News: Willman . Chris . Taylor Swift Renews Her Vows With Heartbreak in Audacious, Transfixing 'Tortured Poets Department': Album Review . 11 August 2024 . Variety . 18 April 2024.
  14. News: Breihan . Tom . Premature Evaluation: Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department . 11 August 2024 . Stereogum . 19 April 2024.
  15. News: Ahlgrim . Callie . Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is the messiest, horniest, and funniest album she's ever made . 18 August 2024 . Business Insider . 19 April 2024.
  16. News: Hunt . El . Taylor Swift - The Tortured Poets Department album review: underwhelming and clunky . 11 August 2024 . The Standard . 19 April 2024.
  17. News: Taylor Swift Strikes Out Looking on The Tortured Poets Department . 11 August 2024 . Paste . 19 April 2024.
  18. News: Brown . Helen . Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department review: Irresistible, country-hued tales of relationships past and present . 11 August 2024 . The Independent . 19 April 2024.
  19. News: McRedmond . Finn . Taylor Swift: The Tortured Poets Department track by track review – A manifesto for all the believers who will try at love one more time . 11 August 2024 . The Irish Times . 19 April 2024.
  20. Schwedel . Heather . Every Proper Noun on Taylor Swift's Tortured Poets Department, Charted and Annotated . . April 20, 2024 . 22 April 2024.
  21. Web site: Taylor Swift's The Tortured Poets Department features astounding name-dropping, here's the list . Hindustan Times . 22 April 2024.
  22. Web site: Lloyd . Sophie . Charlie Puth Gets Boost After Being Named in Taylor Swift Song . . April 22, 2024 . 22 April 2024.
  23. Iasimone . Ashley . Here's What Patti Smith Thinks of Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' Lyric Naming Her . 11 August 2024 . Billboard . 20 April 2024.
  24. Trust . Gary . April 29, 2024 . Taylor Swift & Post Malone's 'Fortnight' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Global Charts . May 10, 2024 . . May 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510080912/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-post-malone-fortnight-number-one-debut-global-charts-1235669042/ . live .
  25. Trust . Gary . April 29, 2024 . Taylor Swift Claims Record Top 14 Spots on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Fortnight' with Post Malone . May 9, 2024 . . April 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429170523/https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-hot-100-top-14-fortnight-post-malone-record/ . live .
  26. News: Gbogbo . Mawunyo . April 29, 2024 . Taylor Swift's New Album The Tortured Poets Department Smashes Chart Records in the US, UK and Australia . 2024-05-10 . . en-AU . May 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510010807/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-29/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-charts-uk-billboard-aria/103779382 . live .
  27. Brandle . Lars . April 29, 2023 . Taylor Swift Nabs U.K. Chart Double As 'Fortnight' Starts at No. 1 . May 10, 2024 . . May 8, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240508042527/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/taylor-swift-uk-chart-double-fortnight-1235668573/ . live .
  28. . 602458933314 . Taylor Swift . . 2024 . The Manuscript edition vinyl liner notes.
  29. Web site: ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. Australian Recording Industry Association. April 29, 2024. August 15, 2024. May 9, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240509103914/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/singles-chart/2024-04-29. live.
  30. Taylor Swift Chart History (Belgium Songs). Billboard. August 15, 2024. October 30, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231030165312/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/i28/. live.
  31. Taylor Swift Chart History (Brasil Hot 100). Billboard. May 2, 2024. November 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20231103232956/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/bzl/. live.
  32. Taylor Swift Chart History (Croatia Songs). August 15, 2024. Billboard. November 13, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221113171345/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/i32/. live.
  33. Web site: Track Top-40 Uge 17, 2024. Hitlisten. August 15, 2024. April 30, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240430205836/http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=17&y=2024&list=t40. live.
  34. Web site: Top Singles (Week 16, 2024). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. French. August 15, 2024. May 31, 2021. https://archive.today/20210531082745/https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?categorie=Top%20Singles. live.
  35. Web site: IFPI Charts . August 15, 2024 . www.ifpi.gr . May 1, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240501120745/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html . live .
  36. Taylor Swift Chart History (Hong Kong Songs). Billboard. August 15, 2024. November 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221101082601/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/i45/. live.
  37. Web site: IMI International Top 20 Singles for week ending 29th April 2024 Week 17 of 52. IMIcharts. April 29, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240429151846/https://imicharts.com/.
  38. Taylor Swift Chart History (Indonesia Songs). Billboard. August 15, 2024. September 22, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220922054741/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/i43/. live.
  39. Web site: Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 17. Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. August 15, 2024. February 4, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200204203449/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/3/2024/17. live.
  40. Web site: 12 June 2024 . Straumēšanas TOP 2024 – 17. nedēļa . Streaming TOP 2024 – Week 17 . August 15, 2024 . . lv.
  41. Taylor Swift Chart History (Luxembourg Songs). Billboard. August 15, 2024. November 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221101082555/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/i12/. live.
  42. Taylor Swift Chart History (Malaysia Songs). Billboard. August 15, 2024. May 17, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517081849/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/i34/. live.
  43. Web site: https://archive.today/20240501154129/https://www.theofficialmenachart.com/weeklychart. The Official MENA Chart. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. live. May 1, 2024. August 15, 2024.
  44. Web site: NZ Top 40 Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. April 30, 2024. August 15, 2024. April 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426045359/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=5799. live.
  45. Web site: Singel 2024 uke 17. VG-lista. April 30, 2024. April 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426142835/https://topplista.no/charts/singles/2024-w17/. live.
  46. Philippines Songs - Week of May 4, 2024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20240502213709/https://www.billboard.com/charts/philippines-songs-hotw/ . May 2, 2024 . August 15, 2024 . Billboard.
  47. Web site: OLiS – oficjalna lista sprzedaży – single w streamie. OLiS. pl. August 15, 2024. Select week 19.04.2024–25.04.2024.. February 2, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230202134558/https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-sprzedazy/single-w-streamie. live.
  48. Web site: RIAS Top Charts Week 17 (19 - 25 Apr 2024). RIAS. August 15, 2024. April 30, 2024. https://archive.today/20240430081031/https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-top-charts/%231562208279186-bc1c8f89-4b1c.
  49. Web site: Amapiano Princess takes over the charts, while Taylor Swift dominates with new album (Ed 133). May 2, 2024 . The Official South African Charts. August 15, 2024.
  50. Web site: Veckolista Singlar, vecka 17. Sverigetopplistan. August 15, 2024. April 26, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240426122136/https://sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41/?dspy=2024&dspp=17. live.

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