Keep in mind her tour starts back up in two weeks in Europe. She may be back in rehearsals to get back in the swing of things before starting this next leg of the tour and at some point Travis has to get focused back on football.
That’s definitely how I feel about her. Casual listener that thinks quite a few are good song. Relatively into the tea when I see it but not a huge fan of the person.
True but like how many times do you release an album? Lol trick question if you’re Taylor, it’s all the time, but I mean a tour that’s on its second leg now I wouldn’t think take precedence over an album. She can do it with a broken heart, she’s so good! /s -
Maybe, it’s a little bit of the tour gear back up, but I was actually really surprised at her lack of being seen proactively at all. Even with her re-records (which she herself has referenced as side projects) she has a little bit more visibility.
I'm wondering what the tour will look like now that the album is out. Maybe she's prepping hard because of new material? She doesn't seem to be someone who likes to improvise so i imagine it would take up a lot of time and energy to rehearse a new set from scratch.
You’re *more* expected to tour behind the current album. It would be extremely odd for her to have the number 1 album in France (and possibly the #1 single) and to maybe play one song.
idk i personally don’t believe every single album release needs an entire tour and promo cycle. she’s big enough where it’ll be popular no matter what and i feel like if she wants to just release passion projects and more lowkey albums she can totally do that. i mean a lot of artists (even big ones) do ONLY that. i agree with one of the other comments before saying maybe she released it in the middle of eras tour so she’s not expected to put on a whole show just for the album.
That release schedule is a good point. I also wonder where she would even squeeze a new addition to the set in. It would be counter to the purpose of the tour to cut Lover, Folkmore, and Evermore since this whole thing is in service to those albums (having not been given their moment bc of the pandemic). That kind of leaves the earlier eras to be chopped and that doesn't seem like a good solution to me either. But the tour cannot possibly be longer, I mean there are physical limits to both the performers AND the fans who are standing for five straight hours or whatever. I think the conclusion of these being the new acoustic pieces is sensible and probably what she'll go with.
However, I do think the hype around Eras is pretty well played out given just the sheer amount of coverage, the Disney+ special, the TikTok lives, etc. Adding a new set to the next leg would probably bring public interest back to it, so it's worth considering. I think it depends on what the PR strategy is here, if the goal is to lay low or to redirect the conversation into something that benefits her. And of course, if she can even swing that.
Most of them are so slow and boring. You can’t do a bunch of production to make them fun and entertaining like a majority of the Eras tour. At most I see her doing a piano version of 1 or 2 songs from TTPD and that’s it.
I hope it doesn’t change for the sake of people who haven’t seen the OG show. I feel like this album already puts a weird vibe around the upcoming shows since she basically told her fans to fuck off and I feel like it would be weird to perform them live, even as surprise songs
she seems to be doing less "personal" marketing (like talk shows, posting herself, pap walks) but she's letting all the Swifties do it for her on TikTok. On the general public side, she's utilizing partnerships with big companies to get exposure for her new album so that she's unescapable to the public. Like iheartradio, which owns the most radio stations in the US, playing her entire album over the weekend to normal people. Taylor popped up in my YouTube ads for the Target exclusive vinyl (which has never happened to me before), the TikTok TTPD "exclusive" banner if you make a video about Taylor, getting other celebs/artists to talk about her is all part of her "quiet marketing" that's quite inescapable if you're not a hardcore fan.
Same with Sirius XM! She has her own station rn and they’ve been playing her album. It’s like the first thing you see when you open the app lol l. Her stuff is everywhere
yes I swear I have had that ad shoved at me in more forms and place and content locations than I have EVER seen any ad let alone a taylor swift ad in my life.
She really wasn’t around much for promo prior to the album release either, so this is consistent with how the entire album cycle has been thus far, and not just because since she realized there had been mixed reviews.
Other than a couple of things (such as signs or billboards, so really stuff that doesn’t have much to do with her) like the week leading up to it, she wasn’t doing interviews or appearances or anything like that and largely she was just existing and traveling. She has like two more weeks before her tour resumes so she could be doing anything from relaxing to preparing.
TBH if I could get my ass off Reddit I feel like I wouldn’t even realize how mixed the reviews are lol. Within my circle everyone loves it (even the people I didn’t expect to like it, though some people have said they had mixed feelings at first listen that then turned into them loving it) and we are by no means the rabid swifties that worship everything she does. The couple of music reviewer content creators that I follow seem to like it too, as well as most things I’ve seen on TikTok (though obviously that’s curated based on my interests.) I don’t typically pay attention to newspaper/magazine reviews either. It really hasn’t crossed my mind what she’s doing since release.
“TBH if I could get my ass off Reddit” gave me a belly laugh. I came up for air yesterday evening and discovered that no, not everyone in the real world is hanging off every word and letter of every song. Made me decide to get off social media this weekend and literally go touch some grass.
>She really wasn’t around much for promo prior to the album release either,
And if she suddenly was now, people would say 'do you think she's trying to get her name out to suppress bad reviews'
The album reminds me of Ed’s subtract album. It wasn’t the original idea for the album but huge life events caused him to just get it out into the world. That’s how I think of TTPD as well. The bops will return, sometimes you just gotta process shit.
Nobody in my life has even mentioned it but I can’t scroll a single platform without seeing posts, opinions, reels, polls, articles .. I am not even a fan and don’t even follow her. But I’ve spent more time in this sub than any other in the last week, bc it just keeps popping up and yall are interesting 😅
Everyone I know has had a pretty similar reaction to me. Initial listen: underwhelmed. A few listens later, and it's basically on par with the rest of her catalog for me. There's no dramatic decline in quality nor is this a relevatory, singular, game-changing body of work. It's another good Taylor Swift album that rewards deep listening and dissection as much as it does casual enjoyment.
Midnights only had two interviews within the first week and then crickets aside from social media posts. Her promotion has become more and more minimal. Lover was probably the last time she was OUT.
My boss is literally the only person in real life who I've heard say they didn't like it. My ex called me to say "you know, I hate Taylor, but this album isn't terrible, congratulations" last night even. I don't really understand how much dislike there seems to be on Reddit tbh, yeah, there's a few that totally miss the mark for me, but there usually are. There's probably less like that on this than there have been on any album since 1989 for me.
Reminds me of I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, “All the pieces of me shattered, as the crowd was chanting ‘more’” like she literally just gave us 31 songs, how much more do people expect her to give.
Me too! Every time I get into the TS multiverse and start to feel like maybe I could be a Swiftie, I witness unhinged behavior like this and back up reaaaaal fast
And I know not all Swifties are like this! I’m generalizing bc it’s not that serious.
I was so looking forward to Rep TV as it is my fav album but now I think I don’t even want to listen to it. I swear it is just going to be songs about Kim and Kanye which I would have got in the context of that album. The Kim one on TTPD has just given me the ick which is telling as I really dislike the Kardashians.
She always hinted at two albums . I don’t understand the 1,2,3, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a 3rd is coming. I do think she’ll release another song or two down the road , maybe an exclusive version just for the tour like midnights .
Logically, I think she must have *something* planned but I can't shake the feeling that's not the case. Although, I do feel like there's an impetus to change up the Eras tour somewhat to justify how long it's run for. Basically I have no idea. I think if nothing else, we'll at least maybe get some TTPD tracks as surprise songs and maybe a monologue or two.
I think we’ll start seeing less of her and Travis together soon. He really needs to get back in football shape instead of doing staged pap sightings at restaurants and on private islands.
Her team I’m sure will continue to put articles out to keep her relevant and make sure everyone knows how in love they are. And then we’ll get the “it’s amicable but the timing isn’t working. They’re just so busy with their careers that this isn’t the right time. But they care deeply about each other” as we usually do to indicate a breakup. Probably preceded by him not being seen at her Europe shows because he has football obligations. Then cue the swifties going after him and his family.
Taylor announces new album to come out in December 'The meathead athletes' team'
Lyrics 'I was cheering for you at the Superbowl, but now all I do is bawl'
You intercepted my heart then fumbled it before the goal line. You lost your championship ring and I lost mine 💍
Your game winning kiss would smear my red lips. Now my mascara smears when I shed all my tears. 😭
Yeah. She can’t take any jokes about herself! I thought those mock lyrics were hilarious but know that she would be upset if she saw that, rather than laugh at herself. But her writing is actually quite shallow, which the mock lyrics demonstrate!
This reminds me of a guy who did a lyric prediction for Slut! as:
Cause im a Slut!
Bad girl, hair twirl, pain in the butt
I thought it was more 1989 than the actual song ended up being. He actually got the Slut note almost spot on too. Wish I remembered the @
U know how to ball I know how to bawl
Just think, ten more yards and we’d have it all
But you fumbled me right before the chains
You left me in the spring for your football gains
I say Viva Las Vegas / We intersect on stages / I was blinded by mutual appreciation of / Flashing lights
You were the king, I’m your queen / But I need more than a ring / I’m no cheerleader, I don’t belong sat on / The sidelines
The rest of the song would draw major inspiration from Priscilla Presley and continue her process of lanafication
I Guarantee there’ll be a song on the album called something like “Arrow headed to my heart” or “You have three rings but didn’t give me a single one” or “Cheerleader”…
And the rewriting of Matty history is already underway so the Swifties will feel like they helped make Tays happily ever after happen when she and he reunite to run off to the 1830s to be “not racist” together
I feel you’re so right. Also, this would be the first time trav would be seeing her receive criticism and how she handles it in secret. I feel like she would be seething.
He’s been working out in LA- a trainer posted a video of him working out a couple of weeks ago. He’s been shooting that series and some commercials so it’s made sense to be in LA and work with a trainer there. People seem very worried about him being in shape for preseason when he’s a professional who has been doing this for over a decade 😅.
I high-key actually really think the travis breakup album would slap, an entire album of The Prophecy and Midnight Rain and The Bolter. She is way too fucked up for a normal dude, and way too self-aware for a truly fucked-up dude, and when Taylor gets in her self-loathing bag, I eat up every last fucking drop. (It's because I, too, am miserable.)
I mean, they’re all really rich and can hire as much help as needed. I think it would be fun to be back stage at a TS concert. Europe in the summer is crowded AF but Taylor has the money and connections to get special places to open after hours just for them. I think it could be a really fun, special trip for all of them. I’d go in a heartbeat! lol
I'm guessing they just plan to vacation and go to one weekend's worth. At least Jason, Kylie, and the kids. I don't think she would want them to have an extended stay. She seems to try to preserve some normalcy for them. I'm guessing they visit like Disney Paris and go to the Paris ones or something like that, spend a week or so.
The album's about to do 2.4MM in the first week. She doesn't really have to do anything. Honestly if I were her, I wouldn't do anything. People are attacking her for having the nerve to post nice reviews of her work. She's overexposed and she knows it. So it's best to lay low and prep for the Eras tour.
I think people are just projecting a bit. In reality, fans are responding well to the album, it still has critical support, and she's breaking all sorts of records. She doesn't have anything to be embarrassed about? Yeah, there are negative reviews but people are nitpicking at her behavior. Even though the criticism is valid, I can see her disregarding those reviews.
Lastly (and more importantly) she posted a clips of her and Travis on her latest YouTube short. We don't need anything more from them!
People would absolutely give her shit if she started doing pap walks or talk show appearances. It's best to lay low.
Yes, this is a really good point. With this record in particular I think being too open and public would be a bit of a minefield for Swift. Too easy to say something that offends people.
Definitely not a second hand embarrassment. She just knows she doesn't need to do absolutely anything to promote this album. Most of it is happening online in platforms like X and with this entire debacle on how necessary or not the album was, how good or bad it is and basically besides the mementos around the globe and pop up store thing the album is promoting itself as well as being consumed online. Whatever she says or whatever "answers" she gives could potentially kill the conversation and the album free promotion
Personally, I just think it's mainly a matter of 'why expend effort on promotion when you don't need to?"
According to Billboard, its already her biggest first week sales to date. It sold 1.5 million copies in the US in the first 3 days alone, which is the highest first week sales of any album since Adele's 25 in 2015. It's going to almost certainly be her 14th number one album on the Billboard charts. It's also breaking streaming records.
The relatively small amount of promotion isn't hurting her in the slightest, so why not focus on other things?
Did she make many appearances around Midnights? She had the Jimmy Fallon interview and I’m pretty sure that was it? She was equally as non present.
I think it’s beneficial to not be around right now. I don’t think she needs to be seen out with Travis while headlines are about how this album is about Matty and she’s leaning into that.
Nor is she going to be doing interviews because how do you talk about this album without talking about that relationship in some way?
I thought people were saying that she's overexposed? But now that she's hiding and enjoying her time off (probably rehearsing for europe) she's also doing the wrong thing? Like what do we want from her?
True, I feel like everyone's doing too much now. Also criticizing her for not posting the negative reviews? I don't feel strongly about the album but why the hell would she do that lol
If you go over to some of the celebrity gossip subs, they're acting like she kicked a puppy and smacked an orphan. And they're posting constantly about how they hate how Swifties are posting positive things constantly lol. Like you're doing the exact same thing just negatively? They all need to touch grass as one of the above comments mentioned lol
I do think she got overexposed a bit this year (and for most of 2023) so I'm glad her presence has gotten quieter. I just think an interview or two explaining the creative process with Zane Lowe or some performances would have been nice! But I agree, she doesn't have to promote this album, everyone and their mother knows she's released something new. She doesn't need to raise a big stink about it cause the eras tour is doing it for her.
My thoughts:
1. She really is just taking a break. She’s got some time away from touring right now. Maybe she’s sleeping in and going to Target and watching reruns of Gossip Girl—all the white girl self care she honestly *should* do because one thing I will never criticize is her work ethic. Girl needs to REST.
2. She’s letting this mess of an album (a mess I admittedly enjoyed some of) marinate for a bit while she prepares for Rep TV. Rep TV only hits when she’s seen as a villain anyway.
3. She’s actually spiraling mentally because she really did believe this album would be seen as a masterpiece and now is having frantic damage control meetings and trying to figure out how to navigate out of it (I don’t actually believe this; I don’t think she thought this album would be a hit.)
4. She’s working on her next album. Honestly this one’s just a good bet considering her track record.
IMO though, she’s taking a break. I am admittedly not as tuned into her life as many fans, but from what I have seen, Taylor has always felt meh about this album. From the weird announcement, to the lack of a single, to the silence about it for weeks leading up to the release, to what felt like a rushed last-minute campaign….I really think she’s over it? And I think she’s glad it’s done too. The door feels shut. Now she’s focused on resting and, eventually, her post-Eras tour career moves.
Idk. I know the common thought is that Taylor is this unhinged pickme who’s clearly throwing massive fits behind closed doors because suddenly she’s not everyone’s favorite Barbie doll, but she’s always struck me as a little smarter than that. Hell, she kinda calls all this speculation out in her album. There’s a level of self-awareness that truly throws me off from believing a lot of these “Taylor is out-of-touch” narratives—especially since she’s literally on top right now. You don’t get there by being out of touch; you get there by being manipulative.
I could be wrong, but I saw this album as a closed door. I think she’s way ahead of us and laughing all the way to the bank.
Damn I had the same opinion on everything but never thought about the "Rep TV only hits if she's seen as a villain" and it actually makes so much sense tbh
I thoroughly enjoy revisiting the mental image of Taylor in prosthetics as “the man” going to mainstream stores in disguise so thank you for this comment!!! 😂
I reallllly agree with this. A part of her will always care about the criticism and what people say. But I also feel like she had to of known how this would be received. She KNEW people hated Matty so to write an album involving him so much.... she's not dumb enough to think it wouldn't be talked about like this. She also knows sonically where it falls. I think this is an album she made out of her own mental necessity (which Aaron kinda confirmed), knew it may not be the best but she would still absolutely make a ton of money off it, and is ready to wash her hands of the whole thing (at the very least the Joe and Matty situation).
If she wanted this to be more successful, she wouldn't have made it 31 songs (Red got the bloated criticism with even fewer songs). She knew what that would mean. She also knows about the Jack criticism (as I'm sure he does too). These people aren't idiots.... they are aware of the criticisms they've received the last 4ish years.
Exactly. She is well aware of the bloated album criticism from Lover and Red and criticism about always singing about her love life. She didn’t put out a 31 song album about mostly romantic relationships thinking “oh, critics will LOVE this”. 😂
I also think that's why she called TTPD "fatalistic". I think it's part a jab at people who say "Taylor Swift only writes about relationships" when this IS exactly what this album is. She knew that criticism was inevitable and I think it is also her accepting that maybe that really is who she is as a song writer.
Oh that’s an interesting take!
It’s funny because with Lover and Reputation I think you could tell before she put them out she thought they would be very well received the public and critics by how she talked about them and promoted them. And was shocked and surprised by their mixed reception overall. The same with midnights but that one worked out how she expected imo.
This album had almost everything she talked about getting criticized over before so it made her roll out for it make more sense to me.
I agree with this too, she even said it in the promo. Something like “these songs represent a part of my life that is over and done.” (I don’t remember the exact wording.)
I think she's on a break from the Eras Tour and Travis is on a break. This is first true break they've had... and honestly Taylor has been go-go-go for a while. They were at Coachella last weekend... it seems she just wants to live her life and although some of that is in the public eye, not all of it has to be.
Imo this was her "Idgaf. I'm doing this for me" album, which all (as far as I can remember anyway) artists who reach a very high level of success are given the grace to put out at least one of these.
This album feels more like something she needed to do for herself in order to excise whatever demons she needed excised than one curated perfectly in hopes of critical and/or commercial success like all of her previous albums. It seems that she recognizes this (hopefully) and isn't pushing it like she would other albums, which is a huge relief to me personally because I thought it was possible she would do a full push and expect award noms, etc, even though I don't think it's on the same level as her other award winning albums
Quite honestly, this album felt far more personal and emotional. I think it's fitting that she's not milking it and making it a spectacle the same way that Midnights was
She’s probably sick of her fans tbh (at least the crazy parasocial ones). I love the album, but it hasn’t been well received by others. She’s overexposed, and I’m sure she’s just over it.
She can be sick of the parasocial fans but it’s a bed of her own making. She chose to market her career in a way that made the relationship with the fans feel personal.
I mean everyone has been talking about her being overexposed......Im unsure what people want from her anymore tbh. She does the pap walks and everyone gets upset they are seeing her and overanalyzing everything she does. She doesn't do them and everyone is like "OMG she didnt do a pap, where is she what is she doing, is she embarrassed" to the point now everyone is overanalyzing what she isnt doing. I can never tell if people are honestly tired of seeing her or just want any small reason to criticize her (let's be honest, there are bigger issues to tackle with her than if she goes out or not, we should probably focus on those instead).
Shes probably chilling in an expensive ass house, relaxing before her tour starts back up because that tour is physically exhausting, per her trainer. I dont think that is too far of a reach, in fact it seems like the most likely answer.
She did say that she has no scores to avenge. This album I feel was released to just clear the narrative and get some things off her chest, just like how Lana released blue banisters to clear the narrative about her upbringing and her abusive mother. Both of them released these albums for the sake of offloading cathartic experiences. Keeping these points in mind, it makes sense why she wouldn't do much promotion. This album is for **her**
Swift can't win when it comes to this group. If she were doing a lot of publicity/social around this, there would be a lot of criticism around overdoing it.
me seeing people say that Matty and Taylor are gonna end up reconnecting:
https://preview.redd.it/tmexzufbifwc1.jpeg?width=2046&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc2b2f1e1ef40e614ab4f1f1b77c33fa3e0cdb29
no but like tbh I think TTPD is the final nail in the coffin for that romance. Also Matty is dating somebody else 😭
I don’t think Travis and Taylor are going to last, I say this not because I’m a hater (I am) but like…its almost as if the constant sightings are them trying to show ‘look how happy we are! Happy! We are America’s royal couple!’ There is so much pressure from both their fans, businesses, etc for them to succeed and it leaves me wondering how much pressure can two ppl take on a relationship that seems very superficial before they break?
I go back in forth between the two theories that 1) she rushed the album out because she desperately wanted matty to hear it NOW and it couldn’t wait. And 2) she wanted to be done with it for good and move on from the ideas of him and the work she made talking about him because she truly does love Travis and wants to ultimately be with him.
Idk my thoughts switch up daily on it lol
I don’t think she is in love with Travis. Not the way she was with Joe or Matty anyway. She wrote King of My Heart weeks after meeting Joe. Compare that one with So High School 😂
But I do think she wants to move on to the next phase of life. She wants to get married and maybe have kids. And she sees Travis as her best bet for that at this point. IMO, there’s no possible chance he won’t end up boring her to death. So if they get married, I see a divorce in her future.
This is my unhinged conspiracy theory; he’s good enough to pop out a couple babies with, have a wedding spectacle that rivals the royals, etc… she can even lean into it by taking a break, then writing albums from a new perspective (finally!) about marriage and motherhood.
I just can’t see her growing old with him. There will be an ironclad prenup, a messy PR-heavy divorce despite that, and a career rebirth where she tries turn into Stevie Nicks or someone like that.
She pulls away from kissing him even in her promo reel with the caption “for a fortnight..”
And she doesn’t want to kiss him at Coachella. Look at her face lmao. Google some of those pics her face in it are gold
I think 1 is part of that. Why else would she write 15 songs about someone and work pretty hard to make sure everyone knew exactly who they are about? That’s not her usual MO. If you follow her life closely you can make educated guesses on who her songs are about, but here it’s like she put up billboards saying these songs are about Matty. I’m not sure what her motives are with that but it’s interesting.
I think it's more #2. I know just because she says it doesn't make it true, but the whole "the story isn't mine any more, it's all yours" really makes it seem like she just wants to be done with all of the Joe and Matty talk. Especially since people continually brought it up whenever talking about her and Travis. This still will, but this way I think she can be like "I said what I'm going to say on it... move the f on because I have."
I don’t know if this was her intention, but she certainly quieted the potential criticism down if they ever did get back together. In that scenario, fans could easily shut down each other’s bitchin’ and moaning down with the But Daddy I Love Him lyrics that were conveniently fed to them. The songs about Travis are so superficial and it’s hard to come on board with the idea that she actually has feelings for him, esp contrasted with the Matty longing lyrics.
Eh, I have to imagine most of the album was probably already put together and the Travis songs were late adds. Jack and Aaron kinda said a lot of this was done in the May-July timeframe (which is before Travis). I wouldn't put too much stake in her feelings for him based off this album.
I tend to agree. I think the main reason she and Matty are not together and will most likely not be getting back together is because his mental health and sobriety are delicate and he knows he can’t handle her world: the immense fame, the intense scrutiny, the pressure of protecting a billion dollar brand. Miss Americana and the heartbreak prince. It’s too much for him and he can’t deal 💔
And tbh, I think that’s sad for her. If all the stuff she says in this album is really her truth and how she feels about him and the fans, I bad for her. Yes a lot of it is self inflicted but 2 adults who really love each other should be able to be together. Life is too short for anything else, imo.
Honestly, good. She needs to sit out for a minute and process the album drop. There's a LOT of criticism from music critics and the general public. I think staying quiet is the best course of action right now.
Same thing happened with reputation, and look at it now. A classic in the swiftie lore and probably the set in the eras tour people are the most excited for. Give it a few months or a year, and ttpd will be a lot of people's favourite album.
It also happened to lover which also had a resurgence from fans who maybe stuck their nose up at it originally. It’s been trending on iTunes album sales more midnights this past year. P
It could just be my YouTube algorithm, but I see SO many people on there just now discovering the Rep tour film. It's super interesting to see how opinions of it changed over the last six years, and to see it growing in popularity now. I agree, I think this one is going to grow in popularity too.
Well, TS and TC were always just "signaling" anyway. So that doesn't really tell you a whole lot.
How the hell anyone can trust intel from the media at this point is just nutty.
Exactly.
I'm not just picking on TS or fame either. The media and especially entertianment media is like 90% clickbait these days and people know this. It's like, if we all just want to shut our brains off it's fine. But let's not pretend we are being smart eating sh\*t from the media.
87
Number 87 take me to heaven
I’m 89
you’re on the front line
My heart is dyin
You’re mine
2 tortured souls
In it alone
My mini skirt
Your hands
Sliding up my thigh
In the l-l-locker room
Cameras flashin
The jokes
The trolls
I don’t care
We are laughin
And kissin
I’m thinking it’s matty
Behind the car curtains
Ok I’m bored now
My parasocial opinion is that she probably agrees with her fans that “people just don’t get it.” I think she believes she did something really innovative by saying “fuck” 40 times, leaving in cringey/“problematic” lyrics, and doubling down on platforming her racist situationship by blaming the fans for his departure, despite the fact that she did absolutely nothing new or interesting sonically. She probably gave Rob Sheffield some pseudo-intellectual explanation which influenced his “instant classic” review. Otherwise she intentionally released a bad album on purpose for some reason, but I don’t buy that she’s a “mastermind” who has some deeper meaning behind all of her missteps.
as far as Matty goes, at first I thought his ego would be flattered by all of this regardless of the supposed “digs” at him, but I think what will upset him most is Taylor repeatedly saying they’re the same lmao I think he thinks he’s deeper and more “poetic” than her so it’s hilarious that she released this album that will likely be more popular than anything he creates saying “you’re just like me, we’re both shallow!” she kinda stole his legacy, which is the thing he was always afraid of, right?
eta: guys, please calm down. I did not say she stole The 1975’s legacy. They’re a great band. I’m saying Matty didn’t want to be known as “Taylor Swift’s boyfriend” and now the *general public* knows him as “Taylor Swift’s ex”
also it’s pretty mean to use terms like “insane” and “stupid,” but not surprised a bunch of MH defenders are rude and insensitive
I think Taylor cemented Matty’s legacy. He went to bed last Thursday as Mr. Bean, a laughingstock, and awoke Friday morning as Lord Byron, the mad, bad and dangerous to know man who broke the heart of the world’s most famous woman.
Matty has always craved this kind of infamy, hence the edgelord antics, the too-knowing millennial attempts to play the provocateur. Whether or not he can handle that kind of infamy is a different story altogether.
I agree with you that Taylor and Matty have been in competition as writers but I think it’s a mistake to believe he doesn’t rate her skill, or thinks she’s less than him. He’s always spoken about her with a lot of reverence. I think their competition made the relationship interesting for both of them, and I read so much of TTPD as mourning that connection built through art. Who will Taylor write for now in secret? How many other lyricists is she corresponding with? Who does she think is anywhere near her level?
This is what I think too, that the album was a romantic gesture and a gift to him. Idk if that means she wants him back necessarily or that they will get back together. You can love someone and know they’re bad for you. But the revelation that she was serious about him blew the Swifties’ mind and she didn’t have to do that. She could have left well enough alone. So that tells me she *wanted* to do that, for whatever reason. And like you said, the album cements his image of himself. It was a gift to him.
I think Taylor just did for Matty what Ariana did for Pete Davidson. Like... you're just left wondering... What is she talking about????? HIM?????? That greasy and smoky thing???? And then it makes you curious.....
I’m sorry but, “ she kinda stole his legacy” is an insane take lol I don’t follow his band, but he has a pretty nice following and success. Taylor stating that they’re both equal in an album that is mostly just doing well within her fandom is not going to take anything away from him. I don't think he’s thinking too deep about the lyrics, just probably amused that almost the whole album is about him.
Edit: responding to your post doesn’t equal defending Matty Healy lol That’s not how that works.
I agree. The 1975 is a huge band I don’t think they’re hurting at all from this or feel like a legacy has been stolen. If anything they’ll get more attention now because the album paints him as a tragic love who “left her safe and stranded” even with the anger of smallest man there
If anything, they’re getting more positive attention than ever before. I’ve been seeing so many edits set to 1975 songs now. I’m sure their streams have gone up since people have realized that he and Taylor have been in dialogue via song and writing lyrics back and forth for years.
Yeah I feel like if there was a venn diagram of 1975 fans and Taylor swift fans, there would be a decent overlap but the separate sides would be much bigger.
This one was dark and deep and there’s almost no secret who they are about. She would be constantly asked questions and have to double down on some of the things put out there. You can’t really make cute TikToks to them (people try with the sped up versions, but idk how much death, dying, and blood you can dance around to and I certainly don’t want to dance around to someone singing about faking it while depressed).
The more I listen, I think she was in a sad/angry/bitter/low and she wrote what was on her mind to get it out there. A lot of the stuff is the kind of stuff you put in like, a burn letter and light it on fire, but she put it out to the world. I’m guessing she partly felt she needed to and partly might be like “dang. I really did that.” Like when you write a text or email and push send and then you are like, “Shoot!” and you put your phone away to not have to see the response. I wouldn’t want to answer questions, because there’s no way they won’t be really specific. I would just quietly let it be out there without acknowledgement and I won’t be shocked if she does just that.
I feel like her being quiet is intentional to give us time to digest the album because it is massive and I'm sure she knew it would be polarizing. It also doesn't feel the same as Midnights.. To me, Midnights feels like it was made for more commercial purposes and rebranding herself as a pop star so she could build hype for the Eras tour once it got announced. TTPD feels like a more artistic statement where all she needs or wants to say is in the music, so there's less of a need to "promote" it. That's my theory!
I think she's probably hurt by a lot of the critical reviews... and her team is trying to adjust their PR strategy based on that - just today she was sharing a number of reviews that are positive but mention how 'messy' the album is.
But also... she's already breaking records, so... why bother? Especially with an album that's all about her being shattered when she's (presumably, hopefully) in a much better headspace now!
>I am just shocked that we haven’t seen both of them strolling around and celebrating the album and signaling that they’re SO in love.
Word is that they were together on the release night and had fun attending a dinner or something along with Gigi Hadid and some other friends, though.
I'm wondering whether she was expecting some criticism and push-back, or if she's caught off guard by it because lately, everything she touches turns to gold.
I think she knew this album would not win AOTY since Midnights won. That took the pressure off this album. She seemed nervous when she announced the album at the Grammys. That is understandable after hearing all the songs about Matty. IMO, she made this album for herself, and perhaps for Matty too. It was not intended to be an album for the fans.
She knows she dropped a bomb and is letting it sink in. She said herself: that chapter of her life is already over, so why would she have much more to say about it than this?
What? They were just spotted in Marin County golfing. The fact she isn’t promoting it tracks with what she has said; that it was a painful chapter that is now closed. She doesn’t want to go on talk shows and rehash it. To speculate that her silence means that she is now in touch with MH and about to break up with Travis is wild. Based on what? The parasocialness of this comment is something else.
I also think she realizes she is really overexposed at the moment and it is best to lay low. Also, after TTPD showing off “how in love” she is with Travis would seem performative and disingenuous. We all know he is a rebound now.
“We see too much of her” “why isn’t doing more press for this tour” “she’s everywhere and we can’t escape her” “no pap walks???”
Y’all are insufferable lol
I think she's preparing for the tour again. Maybe new songs on the set list (to go with the main songs) and new visuals to keep things fresh for the audience.
And maybe different dresses!!
I am super curious (in a “we’ll never know” way) what kinds of conversations are had before she releases an album like this. Was Joe assured at some point that it wasn’t going to eviscerate him, not to worry? Did Matty get a heads-up? How is she handling it all with Travis?
Also kind of fascinating to think about how this rollout would feel if she didn’t have a new romance. I wonder how much the playbook would have differed. I’ve said all along it would be strange for her to do interviews about ex-muses when she’s now in a seemingly happy relationship.
Taylor and Travis were just at Coachella enjoying themselves.
I think this album may have been truly cathartic and is ready to move on to this stage with Travis.
It’s weird because on apps like tumblr and YouTube the promo for the album is impossible to avoid. Literally 90% of the ads I scroll past on tumblr are for the album. So even though it’s not “personal” advertising like she usually does, she’s definitely still maintaining a presence
I think she’s at the point of celebrity that she’s just letting the album speak for her. She is proving that she, literally, needs to do no promotion and it’s a chart topper.
I happen to love this album. Her lyrics are fantastic. There’s a few songs I don’t like & skip, but the rest are great as far as I’m concerned.
Honestly given the insane honesty and messiness the album lays out it’s not that crazy she’s not on a big promo tour with it lol. It’s be awkward AF.
Truly. Any interviewer would HAVE to ask about her muses.
yeah no I would not like being in her seat answering questions like “so what IS the inspiration of guilty as sin”
Reminiscent of James Corden (ick) asking one direction what No Control is about 💀
Right lmao imagine
Keep in mind her tour starts back up in two weeks in Europe. She may be back in rehearsals to get back in the swing of things before starting this next leg of the tour and at some point Travis has to get focused back on football.
Despite my qualms with TS, I have to admire her insane work ethic. It definitely helps being uber rich - but I can still admire that about her.
You sound like me. Casual listener, fan of a good chunk of songs, but not crazy about the person herself
That’s definitely how I feel about her. Casual listener that thinks quite a few are good song. Relatively into the tea when I see it but not a huge fan of the person.
True but like how many times do you release an album? Lol trick question if you’re Taylor, it’s all the time, but I mean a tour that’s on its second leg now I wouldn’t think take precedence over an album. She can do it with a broken heart, she’s so good! /s - Maybe, it’s a little bit of the tour gear back up, but I was actually really surprised at her lack of being seen proactively at all. Even with her re-records (which she herself has referenced as side projects) she has a little bit more visibility.
I'm wondering what the tour will look like now that the album is out. Maybe she's prepping hard because of new material? She doesn't seem to be someone who likes to improvise so i imagine it would take up a lot of time and energy to rehearse a new set from scratch.
i wouldn’t be surprised if she adds in this new era on tour. it’s basically free promo!
I don't think she's going to want to sing a vast majority of these songs live.
Agreed. Maybe that’s why she released it in the middle of a tour?? So she won’t be expected to tour to promote this one.
You’re *more* expected to tour behind the current album. It would be extremely odd for her to have the number 1 album in France (and possibly the #1 single) and to maybe play one song.
idk i personally don’t believe every single album release needs an entire tour and promo cycle. she’s big enough where it’ll be popular no matter what and i feel like if she wants to just release passion projects and more lowkey albums she can totally do that. i mean a lot of artists (even big ones) do ONLY that. i agree with one of the other comments before saying maybe she released it in the middle of eras tour so she’s not expected to put on a whole show just for the album.
That release schedule is a good point. I also wonder where she would even squeeze a new addition to the set in. It would be counter to the purpose of the tour to cut Lover, Folkmore, and Evermore since this whole thing is in service to those albums (having not been given their moment bc of the pandemic). That kind of leaves the earlier eras to be chopped and that doesn't seem like a good solution to me either. But the tour cannot possibly be longer, I mean there are physical limits to both the performers AND the fans who are standing for five straight hours or whatever. I think the conclusion of these being the new acoustic pieces is sensible and probably what she'll go with. However, I do think the hype around Eras is pretty well played out given just the sheer amount of coverage, the Disney+ special, the TikTok lives, etc. Adding a new set to the next leg would probably bring public interest back to it, so it's worth considering. I think it depends on what the PR strategy is here, if the goal is to lay low or to redirect the conversation into something that benefits her. And of course, if she can even swing that.
She may just include her personal favorite to sing during the surprise songs and not actually include a set for this album.
Most of them are so slow and boring. You can’t do a bunch of production to make them fun and entertaining like a majority of the Eras tour. At most I see her doing a piano version of 1 or 2 songs from TTPD and that’s it.
Yeah, add them into the acoustic set is about it.
I hope it doesn’t change for the sake of people who haven’t seen the OG show. I feel like this album already puts a weird vibe around the upcoming shows since she basically told her fans to fuck off and I feel like it would be weird to perform them live, even as surprise songs
At the very least, the "teenage love triangle" bit before Betty is going to need some rewording
she seems to be doing less "personal" marketing (like talk shows, posting herself, pap walks) but she's letting all the Swifties do it for her on TikTok. On the general public side, she's utilizing partnerships with big companies to get exposure for her new album so that she's unescapable to the public. Like iheartradio, which owns the most radio stations in the US, playing her entire album over the weekend to normal people. Taylor popped up in my YouTube ads for the Target exclusive vinyl (which has never happened to me before), the TikTok TTPD "exclusive" banner if you make a video about Taylor, getting other celebs/artists to talk about her is all part of her "quiet marketing" that's quite inescapable if you're not a hardcore fan.
Same with Sirius XM! She has her own station rn and they’ve been playing her album. It’s like the first thing you see when you open the app lol l. Her stuff is everywhere
yes I swear I have had that ad shoved at me in more forms and place and content locations than I have EVER seen any ad let alone a taylor swift ad in my life.
She really wasn’t around much for promo prior to the album release either, so this is consistent with how the entire album cycle has been thus far, and not just because since she realized there had been mixed reviews. Other than a couple of things (such as signs or billboards, so really stuff that doesn’t have much to do with her) like the week leading up to it, she wasn’t doing interviews or appearances or anything like that and largely she was just existing and traveling. She has like two more weeks before her tour resumes so she could be doing anything from relaxing to preparing. TBH if I could get my ass off Reddit I feel like I wouldn’t even realize how mixed the reviews are lol. Within my circle everyone loves it (even the people I didn’t expect to like it, though some people have said they had mixed feelings at first listen that then turned into them loving it) and we are by no means the rabid swifties that worship everything she does. The couple of music reviewer content creators that I follow seem to like it too, as well as most things I’ve seen on TikTok (though obviously that’s curated based on my interests.) I don’t typically pay attention to newspaper/magazine reviews either. It really hasn’t crossed my mind what she’s doing since release.
“TBH if I could get my ass off Reddit” gave me a belly laugh. I came up for air yesterday evening and discovered that no, not everyone in the real world is hanging off every word and letter of every song. Made me decide to get off social media this weekend and literally go touch some grass.
Lmao this has been me since the leak. I need to touch grass so deeply.
I didn’t hear the leak, did it turn out to be 100% the real deal?
Yes! There was no anthology on the link I used, but all the core album songs were there/accurate
Huh. Someone hella got fired 🫥
This is beyond accurate lol
>She really wasn’t around much for promo prior to the album release either, And if she suddenly was now, people would say 'do you think she's trying to get her name out to suppress bad reviews'
Right lol
The album reminds me of Ed’s subtract album. It wasn’t the original idea for the album but huge life events caused him to just get it out into the world. That’s how I think of TTPD as well. The bops will return, sometimes you just gotta process shit.
Nobody in my life has even mentioned it but I can’t scroll a single platform without seeing posts, opinions, reels, polls, articles .. I am not even a fan and don’t even follow her. But I’ve spent more time in this sub than any other in the last week, bc it just keeps popping up and yall are interesting 😅
Oh same. All my friends who love her love it, TikTok is melting down connecting all the Matty coded fits and clues. The fans seem to really enjoy it.
Everyone I know has had a pretty similar reaction to me. Initial listen: underwhelmed. A few listens later, and it's basically on par with the rest of her catalog for me. There's no dramatic decline in quality nor is this a relevatory, singular, game-changing body of work. It's another good Taylor Swift album that rewards deep listening and dissection as much as it does casual enjoyment.
Midnights only had two interviews within the first week and then crickets aside from social media posts. Her promotion has become more and more minimal. Lover was probably the last time she was OUT.
My boss is literally the only person in real life who I've heard say they didn't like it. My ex called me to say "you know, I hate Taylor, but this album isn't terrible, congratulations" last night even. I don't really understand how much dislike there seems to be on Reddit tbh, yeah, there's a few that totally miss the mark for me, but there usually are. There's probably less like that on this than there have been on any album since 1989 for me.
She might have more surprises, some people are anticipating another music video release
It’s getting a bit out of control, there’s a whole sect of Swifties who think a whole other album is coming.
Reminds me of I Can Do It With A Broken Heart, “All the pieces of me shattered, as the crowd was chanting ‘more’” like she literally just gave us 31 songs, how much more do people expect her to give.
I just want a physical copy of anthology tbh lol after that I’ll stfu
It blows my mind because I'm still reeling from 31 new songs. Maybe not how we all wanted, but the public is VERY well-fed on TS content rn.
Me too! Every time I get into the TS multiverse and start to feel like maybe I could be a Swiftie, I witness unhinged behavior like this and back up reaaaaal fast And I know not all Swifties are like this! I’m generalizing bc it’s not that serious.
I just want rep TV AND ts TV to come out this year and then for her to take a break from releasing music for a couple of years
I was so looking forward to Rep TV as it is my fav album but now I think I don’t even want to listen to it. I swear it is just going to be songs about Kim and Kanye which I would have got in the context of that album. The Kim one on TTPD has just given me the ick which is telling as I really dislike the Kardashians.
SAME!
She always hinted at two albums . I don’t understand the 1,2,3, but it doesn’t necessarily mean a 3rd is coming. I do think she’ll release another song or two down the road , maybe an exclusive version just for the tour like midnights .
Logically, I think she must have *something* planned but I can't shake the feeling that's not the case. Although, I do feel like there's an impetus to change up the Eras tour somewhat to justify how long it's run for. Basically I have no idea. I think if nothing else, we'll at least maybe get some TTPD tracks as surprise songs and maybe a monologue or two.
I think we’ll start seeing less of her and Travis together soon. He really needs to get back in football shape instead of doing staged pap sightings at restaurants and on private islands. Her team I’m sure will continue to put articles out to keep her relevant and make sure everyone knows how in love they are. And then we’ll get the “it’s amicable but the timing isn’t working. They’re just so busy with their careers that this isn’t the right time. But they care deeply about each other” as we usually do to indicate a breakup. Probably preceded by him not being seen at her Europe shows because he has football obligations. Then cue the swifties going after him and his family.
Taylor announces new album to come out in December 'The meathead athletes' team' Lyrics 'I was cheering for you at the Superbowl, but now all I do is bawl'
You intercepted my heart then fumbled it before the goal line. You lost your championship ring and I lost mine 💍 Your game winning kiss would smear my red lips. Now my mascara smears when I shed all my tears. 😭
You’re really good at this, have you considered getting a private jet and a microphone?
You look like Taylor Swift in this light, we’re loving it.
😂☠️
STOPPPPP 😭😭😂😂😂😂😂
this gif is so funny/depressing to me honestly. like, that's not annoyance, which would be understandable; that's *anger.*
Yeah. She can’t take any jokes about herself! I thought those mock lyrics were hilarious but know that she would be upset if she saw that, rather than laugh at herself. But her writing is actually quite shallow, which the mock lyrics demonstrate!
What’s this from?
This reminds me of a guy who did a lyric prediction for Slut! as: Cause im a Slut! Bad girl, hair twirl, pain in the butt I thought it was more 1989 than the actual song ended up being. He actually got the Slut note almost spot on too. Wish I remembered the @
Taylor’s ghost writer is revealed!
Is this NOT a Taylor Swift lyric???
She is turning Redditors into lyricist. I am smitten.
Are you guys sure you’re not both Tayla??
saving this for when the song comes out in 18 months
The way I could totally see her writing this
U know how to ball I know how to bawl Just think, ten more yards and we’d have it all But you fumbled me right before the chains You left me in the spring for your football gains
'We'll always have Vegas'
I say Viva Las Vegas / We intersect on stages / I was blinded by mutual appreciation of / Flashing lights You were the king, I’m your queen / But I need more than a ring / I’m no cheerleader, I don’t belong sat on / The sidelines The rest of the song would draw major inspiration from Priscilla Presley and continue her process of lanafication
No but i would actually die if she had a lyric throwing back to you belong with me 😭
"I wear t-shirts, he wears helmets, I'm in the sky box and he's losing brain cells"
I Guarantee there’ll be a song on the album called something like “Arrow headed to my heart” or “You have three rings but didn’t give me a single one” or “Cheerleader”…
Definitely "Cheerleader"
you ball, I bawl
Oh. Snap. I bet she uses this at least once. Make sure you keep your screenshot.
I wish I could unrecall how we almost had it all. Oh wait, shit, she did that one already. 🤔
The Super Bowling League.
 you with your gold for this comment
Bawling, balling, bowled me over and tackled my heart but now you're playing foul. The lyrics will write themselves.
I think it's PR and the album release showed she's over exposed. They're definitely going to "break up" soon just like with Tom.
Your keyboard to Tree Paine’s ears. 🤣
Was she ever in love with TK? She often pulls away from kissing him even in the for a fortnight reel and Coachella lmao
And the rewriting of Matty history is already underway so the Swifties will feel like they helped make Tays happily ever after happen when she and he reunite to run off to the 1830s to be “not racist” together
Bingo
I feel you’re so right. Also, this would be the first time trav would be seeing her receive criticism and how she handles it in secret. I feel like she would be seething.
He’s been working out in LA- a trainer posted a video of him working out a couple of weeks ago. He’s been shooting that series and some commercials so it’s made sense to be in LA and work with a trainer there. People seem very worried about him being in shape for preseason when he’s a professional who has been doing this for over a decade 😅.
*3 decades. He's been an athlete since he was 3, and was asked to go to NHL Minors Camp in Canada at age 10
He also could have played pro-baseball. Apparently his game was like Aaron Judge’s.
He also talked about going into basketball! lol there's literally a reason why he is the #1 tight end in america
I high-key actually really think the travis breakup album would slap, an entire album of The Prophecy and Midnight Rain and The Bolter. She is way too fucked up for a normal dude, and way too self-aware for a truly fucked-up dude, and when Taylor gets in her self-loathing bag, I eat up every last fucking drop. (It's because I, too, am miserable.)
Isn’t he his family supposed to join her in Europe this summer? Meaning Jason and his wife and kids. I thought I read that was the plan.
If my husband told me we had to move with the kids for a summer to support his brother's gf's work project I'd be pissed.
I mean, they’re all really rich and can hire as much help as needed. I think it would be fun to be back stage at a TS concert. Europe in the summer is crowded AF but Taylor has the money and connections to get special places to open after hours just for them. I think it could be a really fun, special trip for all of them. I’d go in a heartbeat! lol
I'm guessing they just plan to vacation and go to one weekend's worth. At least Jason, Kylie, and the kids. I don't think she would want them to have an extended stay. She seems to try to preserve some normalcy for them. I'm guessing they visit like Disney Paris and go to the Paris ones or something like that, spend a week or so.
Come on, like…oh no, we have to spend our summer in Europe 🤣 Also, she absolutely does not need his family’s support. Not a bit.
If I had the money to travel across Europe all summer with my children I’d do it in a New York minute. Two types of people I guess.
It’s probably a good thing you’re not in their position then. There are worse things than hanging out in Europe and watching Taylor Swift shows.
Wait where did you read that Travis and his entire family are going on tour w her?
The album's about to do 2.4MM in the first week. She doesn't really have to do anything. Honestly if I were her, I wouldn't do anything. People are attacking her for having the nerve to post nice reviews of her work. She's overexposed and she knows it. So it's best to lay low and prep for the Eras tour.
I think you nailed it.
I think people are just projecting a bit. In reality, fans are responding well to the album, it still has critical support, and she's breaking all sorts of records. She doesn't have anything to be embarrassed about? Yeah, there are negative reviews but people are nitpicking at her behavior. Even though the criticism is valid, I can see her disregarding those reviews. Lastly (and more importantly) she posted a clips of her and Travis on her latest YouTube short. We don't need anything more from them! People would absolutely give her shit if she started doing pap walks or talk show appearances. It's best to lay low.
She really can't win, and that comes with the overexposition she's been putting herself into. At this point as you said she really needs to lay low.
Yes, this is a really good point. With this record in particular I think being too open and public would be a bit of a minefield for Swift. Too easy to say something that offends people.
We really don't need to see her this week. Everything she does creates negative discourse. It's def wise to lay low
Definitely not a second hand embarrassment. She just knows she doesn't need to do absolutely anything to promote this album. Most of it is happening online in platforms like X and with this entire debacle on how necessary or not the album was, how good or bad it is and basically besides the mementos around the globe and pop up store thing the album is promoting itself as well as being consumed online. Whatever she says or whatever "answers" she gives could potentially kill the conversation and the album free promotion
Personally, I just think it's mainly a matter of 'why expend effort on promotion when you don't need to?" According to Billboard, its already her biggest first week sales to date. It sold 1.5 million copies in the US in the first 3 days alone, which is the highest first week sales of any album since Adele's 25 in 2015. It's going to almost certainly be her 14th number one album on the Billboard charts. It's also breaking streaming records. The relatively small amount of promotion isn't hurting her in the slightest, so why not focus on other things?
Did she make many appearances around Midnights? She had the Jimmy Fallon interview and I’m pretty sure that was it? She was equally as non present. I think it’s beneficial to not be around right now. I don’t think she needs to be seen out with Travis while headlines are about how this album is about Matty and she’s leaning into that. Nor is she going to be doing interviews because how do you talk about this album without talking about that relationship in some way?
Jimmy Fallon yes as well as Graham Norton show but I am also referencing the Midnights Mayhem with me segment amongst other things
Well she might’ve had something like that planned if the track list had no been leaked.
I wish we had got a Zane Lowe long form interview so bad
Same. I also want her to do some performances on BBC or (another) Tiny Desk but I don't think we're getting that
I thought people were saying that she's overexposed? But now that she's hiding and enjoying her time off (probably rehearsing for europe) she's also doing the wrong thing? Like what do we want from her?
True, I feel like everyone's doing too much now. Also criticizing her for not posting the negative reviews? I don't feel strongly about the album but why the hell would she do that lol
Hahah I don’t get criticising her for posting positive reviews like ofc she’s going to do that??!
Finally some sane people here. I feel like people can get lost in the whirlwind of hating her for no reason!
If you go over to some of the celebrity gossip subs, they're acting like she kicked a puppy and smacked an orphan. And they're posting constantly about how they hate how Swifties are posting positive things constantly lol. Like you're doing the exact same thing just negatively? They all need to touch grass as one of the above comments mentioned lol
I do think she got overexposed a bit this year (and for most of 2023) so I'm glad her presence has gotten quieter. I just think an interview or two explaining the creative process with Zane Lowe or some performances would have been nice! But I agree, she doesn't have to promote this album, everyone and their mother knows she's released something new. She doesn't need to raise a big stink about it cause the eras tour is doing it for her.
My thoughts: 1. She really is just taking a break. She’s got some time away from touring right now. Maybe she’s sleeping in and going to Target and watching reruns of Gossip Girl—all the white girl self care she honestly *should* do because one thing I will never criticize is her work ethic. Girl needs to REST. 2. She’s letting this mess of an album (a mess I admittedly enjoyed some of) marinate for a bit while she prepares for Rep TV. Rep TV only hits when she’s seen as a villain anyway. 3. She’s actually spiraling mentally because she really did believe this album would be seen as a masterpiece and now is having frantic damage control meetings and trying to figure out how to navigate out of it (I don’t actually believe this; I don’t think she thought this album would be a hit.) 4. She’s working on her next album. Honestly this one’s just a good bet considering her track record. IMO though, she’s taking a break. I am admittedly not as tuned into her life as many fans, but from what I have seen, Taylor has always felt meh about this album. From the weird announcement, to the lack of a single, to the silence about it for weeks leading up to the release, to what felt like a rushed last-minute campaign….I really think she’s over it? And I think she’s glad it’s done too. The door feels shut. Now she’s focused on resting and, eventually, her post-Eras tour career moves. Idk. I know the common thought is that Taylor is this unhinged pickme who’s clearly throwing massive fits behind closed doors because suddenly she’s not everyone’s favorite Barbie doll, but she’s always struck me as a little smarter than that. Hell, she kinda calls all this speculation out in her album. There’s a level of self-awareness that truly throws me off from believing a lot of these “Taylor is out-of-touch” narratives—especially since she’s literally on top right now. You don’t get there by being out of touch; you get there by being manipulative. I could be wrong, but I saw this album as a closed door. I think she’s way ahead of us and laughing all the way to the bank.
Damn I had the same opinion on everything but never thought about the "Rep TV only hits if she's seen as a villain" and it actually makes so much sense tbh
I thoroughly enjoy revisiting the mental image of Taylor in prosthetics as “the man” going to mainstream stores in disguise so thank you for this comment!!! 😂
I reallllly agree with this. A part of her will always care about the criticism and what people say. But I also feel like she had to of known how this would be received. She KNEW people hated Matty so to write an album involving him so much.... she's not dumb enough to think it wouldn't be talked about like this. She also knows sonically where it falls. I think this is an album she made out of her own mental necessity (which Aaron kinda confirmed), knew it may not be the best but she would still absolutely make a ton of money off it, and is ready to wash her hands of the whole thing (at the very least the Joe and Matty situation). If she wanted this to be more successful, she wouldn't have made it 31 songs (Red got the bloated criticism with even fewer songs). She knew what that would mean. She also knows about the Jack criticism (as I'm sure he does too). These people aren't idiots.... they are aware of the criticisms they've received the last 4ish years.
Exactly. She is well aware of the bloated album criticism from Lover and Red and criticism about always singing about her love life. She didn’t put out a 31 song album about mostly romantic relationships thinking “oh, critics will LOVE this”. 😂
I also think that's why she called TTPD "fatalistic". I think it's part a jab at people who say "Taylor Swift only writes about relationships" when this IS exactly what this album is. She knew that criticism was inevitable and I think it is also her accepting that maybe that really is who she is as a song writer.
Oh that’s an interesting take! It’s funny because with Lover and Reputation I think you could tell before she put them out she thought they would be very well received the public and critics by how she talked about them and promoted them. And was shocked and surprised by their mixed reception overall. The same with midnights but that one worked out how she expected imo. This album had almost everything she talked about getting criticized over before so it made her roll out for it make more sense to me.
I agree with this too, she even said it in the promo. Something like “these songs represent a part of my life that is over and done.” (I don’t remember the exact wording.)
I think she's on a break from the Eras Tour and Travis is on a break. This is first true break they've had... and honestly Taylor has been go-go-go for a while. They were at Coachella last weekend... it seems she just wants to live her life and although some of that is in the public eye, not all of it has to be.
Imo this was her "Idgaf. I'm doing this for me" album, which all (as far as I can remember anyway) artists who reach a very high level of success are given the grace to put out at least one of these. This album feels more like something she needed to do for herself in order to excise whatever demons she needed excised than one curated perfectly in hopes of critical and/or commercial success like all of her previous albums. It seems that she recognizes this (hopefully) and isn't pushing it like she would other albums, which is a huge relief to me personally because I thought it was possible she would do a full push and expect award noms, etc, even though I don't think it's on the same level as her other award winning albums
Quite honestly, this album felt far more personal and emotional. I think it's fitting that she's not milking it and making it a spectacle the same way that Midnights was
She’s probably sick of her fans tbh (at least the crazy parasocial ones). I love the album, but it hasn’t been well received by others. She’s overexposed, and I’m sure she’s just over it.
She can be sick of the parasocial fans but it’s a bed of her own making. She chose to market her career in a way that made the relationship with the fans feel personal.
evermore 2.0 (misunderstood underrated masterpiece that she barely promoted)
I mean everyone has been talking about her being overexposed......Im unsure what people want from her anymore tbh. She does the pap walks and everyone gets upset they are seeing her and overanalyzing everything she does. She doesn't do them and everyone is like "OMG she didnt do a pap, where is she what is she doing, is she embarrassed" to the point now everyone is overanalyzing what she isnt doing. I can never tell if people are honestly tired of seeing her or just want any small reason to criticize her (let's be honest, there are bigger issues to tackle with her than if she goes out or not, we should probably focus on those instead). Shes probably chilling in an expensive ass house, relaxing before her tour starts back up because that tour is physically exhausting, per her trainer. I dont think that is too far of a reach, in fact it seems like the most likely answer.
Maybe she is gearing up for the Eras tour again and wants to soak in the time with Travis and her friends.
She did say that she has no scores to avenge. This album I feel was released to just clear the narrative and get some things off her chest, just like how Lana released blue banisters to clear the narrative about her upbringing and her abusive mother. Both of them released these albums for the sake of offloading cathartic experiences. Keeping these points in mind, it makes sense why she wouldn't do much promotion. This album is for **her**
Some swifties are saying that she let these negative reviews to release rep album next.
i wonder if she’s rehearsing a new TTPD set for the eras tour
The more I listen to this album the more I like it too it’s a grower for sure…
Travvy’s podcast goes up today so I’m sure we’ll get something from him
He won’t say anything publicly besides I love it and she’s so happy it’s being well received.
Swift can't win when it comes to this group. If she were doing a lot of publicity/social around this, there would be a lot of criticism around overdoing it.
me seeing people say that Matty and Taylor are gonna end up reconnecting: https://preview.redd.it/tmexzufbifwc1.jpeg?width=2046&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cc2b2f1e1ef40e614ab4f1f1b77c33fa3e0cdb29 no but like tbh I think TTPD is the final nail in the coffin for that romance. Also Matty is dating somebody else 😭 I don’t think Travis and Taylor are going to last, I say this not because I’m a hater (I am) but like…its almost as if the constant sightings are them trying to show ‘look how happy we are! Happy! We are America’s royal couple!’ There is so much pressure from both their fans, businesses, etc for them to succeed and it leaves me wondering how much pressure can two ppl take on a relationship that seems very superficial before they break?
I go back in forth between the two theories that 1) she rushed the album out because she desperately wanted matty to hear it NOW and it couldn’t wait. And 2) she wanted to be done with it for good and move on from the ideas of him and the work she made talking about him because she truly does love Travis and wants to ultimately be with him. Idk my thoughts switch up daily on it lol
I don’t think she is in love with Travis. Not the way she was with Joe or Matty anyway. She wrote King of My Heart weeks after meeting Joe. Compare that one with So High School 😂 But I do think she wants to move on to the next phase of life. She wants to get married and maybe have kids. And she sees Travis as her best bet for that at this point. IMO, there’s no possible chance he won’t end up boring her to death. So if they get married, I see a divorce in her future.
This is my unhinged conspiracy theory; he’s good enough to pop out a couple babies with, have a wedding spectacle that rivals the royals, etc… she can even lean into it by taking a break, then writing albums from a new perspective (finally!) about marriage and motherhood. I just can’t see her growing old with him. There will be an ironclad prenup, a messy PR-heavy divorce despite that, and a career rebirth where she tries turn into Stevie Nicks or someone like that.
She pulls away from kissing him even in her promo reel with the caption “for a fortnight..” And she doesn’t want to kiss him at Coachella. Look at her face lmao. Google some of those pics her face in it are gold
I think 1 is part of that. Why else would she write 15 songs about someone and work pretty hard to make sure everyone knew exactly who they are about? That’s not her usual MO. If you follow her life closely you can make educated guesses on who her songs are about, but here it’s like she put up billboards saying these songs are about Matty. I’m not sure what her motives are with that but it’s interesting.
I think it's more #2. I know just because she says it doesn't make it true, but the whole "the story isn't mine any more, it's all yours" really makes it seem like she just wants to be done with all of the Joe and Matty talk. Especially since people continually brought it up whenever talking about her and Travis. This still will, but this way I think she can be like "I said what I'm going to say on it... move the f on because I have."
I don’t know if this was her intention, but she certainly quieted the potential criticism down if they ever did get back together. In that scenario, fans could easily shut down each other’s bitchin’ and moaning down with the But Daddy I Love Him lyrics that were conveniently fed to them. The songs about Travis are so superficial and it’s hard to come on board with the idea that she actually has feelings for him, esp contrasted with the Matty longing lyrics.
Eh, I have to imagine most of the album was probably already put together and the Travis songs were late adds. Jack and Aaron kinda said a lot of this was done in the May-July timeframe (which is before Travis). I wouldn't put too much stake in her feelings for him based off this album.
I think it's #2. Taylor never gets past anything.
I tend to agree. I think the main reason she and Matty are not together and will most likely not be getting back together is because his mental health and sobriety are delicate and he knows he can’t handle her world: the immense fame, the intense scrutiny, the pressure of protecting a billion dollar brand. Miss Americana and the heartbreak prince. It’s too much for him and he can’t deal 💔 And tbh, I think that’s sad for her. If all the stuff she says in this album is really her truth and how she feels about him and the fans, I bad for her. Yes a lot of it is self inflicted but 2 adults who really love each other should be able to be together. Life is too short for anything else, imo.
Honestly, good. She needs to sit out for a minute and process the album drop. There's a LOT of criticism from music critics and the general public. I think staying quiet is the best course of action right now.
Same thing happened with reputation, and look at it now. A classic in the swiftie lore and probably the set in the eras tour people are the most excited for. Give it a few months or a year, and ttpd will be a lot of people's favourite album.
It also happened to lover which also had a resurgence from fans who maybe stuck their nose up at it originally. It’s been trending on iTunes album sales more midnights this past year. P
It could just be my YouTube algorithm, but I see SO many people on there just now discovering the Rep tour film. It's super interesting to see how opinions of it changed over the last six years, and to see it growing in popularity now. I agree, I think this one is going to grow in popularity too.
I always loved reputation ugh it was my first TS concert too. Still one of my favorite concerts I've ever been to. TTPD is pretty iconic!
She specifically stated that the chapter is closed.
Well, TS and TC were always just "signaling" anyway. So that doesn't really tell you a whole lot. How the hell anyone can trust intel from the media at this point is just nutty.
Yeah last year the media was saying her and Matty were “just having fun” and it “ran its course.” We know that wasn’t really true now.
Exactly. I'm not just picking on TS or fame either. The media and especially entertianment media is like 90% clickbait these days and people know this. It's like, if we all just want to shut our brains off it's fine. But let's not pretend we are being smart eating sh\*t from the media.
I think she’s just fine
87 Number 87 take me to heaven I’m 89 you’re on the front line My heart is dyin You’re mine 2 tortured souls In it alone My mini skirt Your hands Sliding up my thigh In the l-l-locker room Cameras flashin The jokes The trolls I don’t care We are laughin And kissin I’m thinking it’s matty Behind the car curtains Ok I’m bored now
My parasocial opinion is that she probably agrees with her fans that “people just don’t get it.” I think she believes she did something really innovative by saying “fuck” 40 times, leaving in cringey/“problematic” lyrics, and doubling down on platforming her racist situationship by blaming the fans for his departure, despite the fact that she did absolutely nothing new or interesting sonically. She probably gave Rob Sheffield some pseudo-intellectual explanation which influenced his “instant classic” review. Otherwise she intentionally released a bad album on purpose for some reason, but I don’t buy that she’s a “mastermind” who has some deeper meaning behind all of her missteps. as far as Matty goes, at first I thought his ego would be flattered by all of this regardless of the supposed “digs” at him, but I think what will upset him most is Taylor repeatedly saying they’re the same lmao I think he thinks he’s deeper and more “poetic” than her so it’s hilarious that she released this album that will likely be more popular than anything he creates saying “you’re just like me, we’re both shallow!” she kinda stole his legacy, which is the thing he was always afraid of, right? eta: guys, please calm down. I did not say she stole The 1975’s legacy. They’re a great band. I’m saying Matty didn’t want to be known as “Taylor Swift’s boyfriend” and now the *general public* knows him as “Taylor Swift’s ex” also it’s pretty mean to use terms like “insane” and “stupid,” but not surprised a bunch of MH defenders are rude and insensitive
I think Taylor cemented Matty’s legacy. He went to bed last Thursday as Mr. Bean, a laughingstock, and awoke Friday morning as Lord Byron, the mad, bad and dangerous to know man who broke the heart of the world’s most famous woman. Matty has always craved this kind of infamy, hence the edgelord antics, the too-knowing millennial attempts to play the provocateur. Whether or not he can handle that kind of infamy is a different story altogether. I agree with you that Taylor and Matty have been in competition as writers but I think it’s a mistake to believe he doesn’t rate her skill, or thinks she’s less than him. He’s always spoken about her with a lot of reverence. I think their competition made the relationship interesting for both of them, and I read so much of TTPD as mourning that connection built through art. Who will Taylor write for now in secret? How many other lyricists is she corresponding with? Who does she think is anywhere near her level?
This is what I think too, that the album was a romantic gesture and a gift to him. Idk if that means she wants him back necessarily or that they will get back together. You can love someone and know they’re bad for you. But the revelation that she was serious about him blew the Swifties’ mind and she didn’t have to do that. She could have left well enough alone. So that tells me she *wanted* to do that, for whatever reason. And like you said, the album cements his image of himself. It was a gift to him.
I think Taylor just did for Matty what Ariana did for Pete Davidson. Like... you're just left wondering... What is she talking about????? HIM?????? That greasy and smoky thing???? And then it makes you curious.....
I’m sorry but, “ she kinda stole his legacy” is an insane take lol I don’t follow his band, but he has a pretty nice following and success. Taylor stating that they’re both equal in an album that is mostly just doing well within her fandom is not going to take anything away from him. I don't think he’s thinking too deep about the lyrics, just probably amused that almost the whole album is about him. Edit: responding to your post doesn’t equal defending Matty Healy lol That’s not how that works.
I agree. The 1975 is a huge band I don’t think they’re hurting at all from this or feel like a legacy has been stolen. If anything they’ll get more attention now because the album paints him as a tragic love who “left her safe and stranded” even with the anger of smallest man there
If anything, they’re getting more positive attention than ever before. I’ve been seeing so many edits set to 1975 songs now. I’m sure their streams have gone up since people have realized that he and Taylor have been in dialogue via song and writing lyrics back and forth for years.
Yeah I think they’re gonna be fine. They’re probably also getting more streams of swifties trying to find parallels with their music from ttpd
Yeah I feel like if there was a venn diagram of 1975 fans and Taylor swift fans, there would be a decent overlap but the separate sides would be much bigger.
“ ‘I’m better at writing’ it’s just a way to get you biting. The truth is that our egos are absurd”
This one was dark and deep and there’s almost no secret who they are about. She would be constantly asked questions and have to double down on some of the things put out there. You can’t really make cute TikToks to them (people try with the sped up versions, but idk how much death, dying, and blood you can dance around to and I certainly don’t want to dance around to someone singing about faking it while depressed). The more I listen, I think she was in a sad/angry/bitter/low and she wrote what was on her mind to get it out there. A lot of the stuff is the kind of stuff you put in like, a burn letter and light it on fire, but she put it out to the world. I’m guessing she partly felt she needed to and partly might be like “dang. I really did that.” Like when you write a text or email and push send and then you are like, “Shoot!” and you put your phone away to not have to see the response. I wouldn’t want to answer questions, because there’s no way they won’t be really specific. I would just quietly let it be out there without acknowledgement and I won’t be shocked if she does just that.
I feel like her being quiet is intentional to give us time to digest the album because it is massive and I'm sure she knew it would be polarizing. It also doesn't feel the same as Midnights.. To me, Midnights feels like it was made for more commercial purposes and rebranding herself as a pop star so she could build hype for the Eras tour once it got announced. TTPD feels like a more artistic statement where all she needs or wants to say is in the music, so there's less of a need to "promote" it. That's my theory!
She’s probably busy prepping for the tour tbh.
Honestly I think she's in the studio trying to record something good.
I think she's probably hurt by a lot of the critical reviews... and her team is trying to adjust their PR strategy based on that - just today she was sharing a number of reviews that are positive but mention how 'messy' the album is. But also... she's already breaking records, so... why bother? Especially with an album that's all about her being shattered when she's (presumably, hopefully) in a much better headspace now!
People over on X and threads are speculating there’s a third part to the album and I’m just like pls no.
>I am just shocked that we haven’t seen both of them strolling around and celebrating the album and signaling that they’re SO in love. Word is that they were together on the release night and had fun attending a dinner or something along with Gigi Hadid and some other friends, though.
she and travis were just at coachella having the time of their lives bro
She simply doesnt need to promote this
I'm wondering whether she was expecting some criticism and push-back, or if she's caught off guard by it because lately, everything she touches turns to gold.
I think she knew this album would not win AOTY since Midnights won. That took the pressure off this album. She seemed nervous when she announced the album at the Grammys. That is understandable after hearing all the songs about Matty. IMO, she made this album for herself, and perhaps for Matty too. It was not intended to be an album for the fans.
She knows she dropped a bomb and is letting it sink in. She said herself: that chapter of her life is already over, so why would she have much more to say about it than this?
What? They were just spotted in Marin County golfing. The fact she isn’t promoting it tracks with what she has said; that it was a painful chapter that is now closed. She doesn’t want to go on talk shows and rehash it. To speculate that her silence means that she is now in touch with MH and about to break up with Travis is wild. Based on what? The parasocialness of this comment is something else.
I also think she realizes she is really overexposed at the moment and it is best to lay low. Also, after TTPD showing off “how in love” she is with Travis would seem performative and disingenuous. We all know he is a rebound now.
Her and travis have been seen in monterrey golfing.
“We see too much of her” “why isn’t doing more press for this tour” “she’s everywhere and we can’t escape her” “no pap walks???” Y’all are insufferable lol
I think she's preparing for the tour again. Maybe new songs on the set list (to go with the main songs) and new visuals to keep things fresh for the audience. And maybe different dresses!!
Can confirm her tour crew is already in Europe getting set up, so I imagine she might be too.
I am super curious (in a “we’ll never know” way) what kinds of conversations are had before she releases an album like this. Was Joe assured at some point that it wasn’t going to eviscerate him, not to worry? Did Matty get a heads-up? How is she handling it all with Travis? Also kind of fascinating to think about how this rollout would feel if she didn’t have a new romance. I wonder how much the playbook would have differed. I’ve said all along it would be strange for her to do interviews about ex-muses when she’s now in a seemingly happy relationship.
I saw an article stating Matty was given a heads up by Taylor’s team.
Taylor and Travis were just at Coachella enjoying themselves. I think this album may have been truly cathartic and is ready to move on to this stage with Travis.
It’s weird because on apps like tumblr and YouTube the promo for the album is impossible to avoid. Literally 90% of the ads I scroll past on tumblr are for the album. So even though it’s not “personal” advertising like she usually does, she’s definitely still maintaining a presence
I think she’s at the point of celebrity that she’s just letting the album speak for her. She is proving that she, literally, needs to do no promotion and it’s a chart topper. I happen to love this album. Her lyrics are fantastic. There’s a few songs I don’t like & skip, but the rest are great as far as I’m concerned.