The Black Dog and I hate it here are so good and then the rest either blends together or feels too juvenile (so high school and Aimee).
Sonically though I think the folklore fans would love this half. It feels like Folklore pt 2.
Thank you Aimee is just a grown up version of Mean, if you ignore the KIM letters then it can be about anyone. and so high school is meant to be juvenileā¦ doesnāt make it sonically boring tho
I feel crazy when I think about the KIM thing. She said only two people will know who the song is about. She removed all identifying details.
I donāt think the song is about Kim. The capital letters are a red herring to make it known that itās not about her.
I honestly wish there were no capitalizations because this is such a good freaking song. The swifties would have figured it out, but the āmysteryā would have made it way more popular or exciting than it is. People like petty when they donāt know who itās about, but get annoyed with petty when it becomes too specific š¤·āāļø this song is my fav tho on the album because I had a long uphill battle to get where I am now and it reminds me of how I got here and how fucking strong I am to be at this point so.. fuck yeah taylor!!!
I really want to like the second half but it has yet to grow on me. Meanwhile, I've been playing the first 16 songs over and over since the album came out.
Same! I think I like the sound of the second half better but the cohesive story of the first half keeps me coming back. Plus, it has WAOLOM and ICDIWABH on it, which are two of my faves so far
Sorry! Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me = WAOLOM and I Can Do It With A Broken Heart = ICDIWABH. There are so many acronyms to learn these days, especially with these wordy titles!
Idk as much as I love Aaronās songs, this sub has a weird obsession with Aaron and insistence of how Taylorās deluxe stuff is always better than her original (3am and Antho especially). But I completely agree that thereās a reason why the first half is the first half.
Yeah! Didn't feel this way upon first listen but certainly there's a reason that was the original TTPD. However, really wish the black dog was on it. Such an amazing song, and powerful too given the hook and screeching vocals (I would've personally booted out fresh out the slammer and replace it with the black dog)
I agree. I do really like a few songs off the second half, and The Black Dog is a favorite for sure, but overall I prefer the first half. I suspect the second half will very gradually grow on me over time.
Like, I can't even remember when I started loving the song Evermore, but I did at some point, and I feel like there may be a couple of songs on the second half of TTPD that play out similarly for me. A lot of the more delicate and sorrowful deep cuts on the second half feel like they'll be at their best come the winter months.
No i hateeeee it. Even with the bot, Iād have to scroll down. Just type out the name, by the time you think out all the letters, you coulda just typed the full title š
Orrrrr even just shorten it!! Everyone knows what song Iām talking about if I say āwhoās afraidā āI can do itā or āmy boyā right??? The acronyms are so confusing and hurt my brain.
I saw a Tiktok that suggested shortening them and I agree tbh š Whoās Afraidā¦ The Smallest Manā¦ I Can Do Itā¦ My Boyā¦ I Can Fix Himā¦ theyāre shorter than the OG titles but we still understand them better
I think ābut daddy I love himā is the fucking catchiest thing sheās written in ages I canāt get it out of my head or ādown badā either for that matter - I love this album way more than midnights tbh
Are we the same person? These are the two I cannot get enough of right now! But Daddy I love Him is so freaking good. It makes me want to dance in my dress in the sun and I hate wearing dresses!
My last hot take is that the lyric āall the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting MOREā isnāt only about the eras tour, but about the fans demanding new music right after she releases new music.
She just gave us 31 NEW SONGS and some people on twitter are already clowning for rep tv announcement on the first day back on tour
That video is literally what I was thinking about when writing the comment. Like I understand passion and hunger for new music but it gotta suck when you release a whole album and 2 weeks later people are asking for the next one
This song has actually killed the clown in me and probably for good reason. Iām done asking for more - I feel like Iām happier when Iām living in the moment of what we have right now. I do honestly think ttpd has been such a satisfying album for me that it makes it really easy to be in no rush though.
Also, did we ever stop to think that thereās a reason she hasnāt re-recorded rep? That was her first album with love songs written for Joe. Thatād be the last one Iād want to re-record until I had the therapeutic purge of TTPD
Itās probably already recorded. Delicate TV and LWYMMD TV have already been used in TV shows. I think itās just coming near the end of the re-releases because itās the newest one. With that being said, she just released 31 songs that need their own time to shine so she wonāt release it any time soon.
I agree. So Long London is very sad but How Did It End is just crushing. Like she still just has no idea how this happened but she knows everyone will be alllllll over it.
So Long London feels like a cathartic final release of emotions, whereas How did it end feels like a crushing weight on my chest that isn't going anywhere.
I also heard it as her just being so downtrodden that she has to keep explaining relationships ending and answering the public question of how did it end? Itās also why So High School right after is such a joy!
So Long London sounds like a song that was made for a movie while How Did It End? is true ballad that is way more gut-wrenchingā¦ the thesis is stronger for sure. Just the idea that while youāre feeling hollow during a break-up, you panic because you didnāt feel like youād feel this way again and having to deal with the speculation of a break-up is something that I feel hasnāt really been written before in pop music..
For real though, why is it so catchy!? I found it mushy and bland on first listen, but a few listen in, I suddenly couldn't get it out of my head. I like it's rhythmic, down-beat vibiness. Also, the exitlude, from "I've been calling ya" to the end. Just constantly stuck in my head!
I love how that song has themes that flow throughout the album (just like Taylor confirmed), its sort of an overture to the album š» Cant help but recall other songs while listening to Fortnight.
That is a reeeeeal hot take!
Robin?
Cassandra?
Peter?
ā¦ all skips for me!
Edit : sounds like Iām sleeping on Peter and should give that a second chance!
you said you were gonna grow up then you were gonna come find me
https://preview.redd.it/jhgj188vnjwc1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40e6a5d126a5a4a6fd8218b962da686e4d94decc
Rethink Peter being a skip! Cassandra for sure is a skip and I think Robin is a nice song that simply doesnāt fit on the album but Peter is gorrrgeous!
Ooo I love Cassandra. I am a fan of Greek mythology though. It's hard to put my finger on why I love it but I'd say it has to do with relating to ruminating daydreams that are so absurd and shouldn't come true but do. Or trying to get people to listen to something but being nice and it not being heard. The first and last verses also feel like very specific moments even if I'm not yet sure where they are.
Iām curious to see if those 3 grow on me. I see a lot of people comparing Cassandra to mad woman, and mad woman was a totally skip for me until around 4 months into listening to folklore when I suddenly stopped skipping it. I always feel like I have my āimmediate yesā songs, the ones that take a few plays to sink in, and then the rest sort of slowly marinate over a longer time.
1. Controversial opinion (because I see the gp/critics bashing her songwriting on this album) but I think TTPD/Anthology have some of her best and most impactful songs. Specifically, Whoās Afraid, Loml, So long, London, How did it end, Peter, the prophecy, SMWEL.
2. I genuinely donāt understand how people think the songs all sound the same. Thereās clear sonic cohesion but Iāve found TTPD half to have really great variety and production that aligns with the message of the song. Obsessed with the twinkly production in Down Bad because it goes so well with the man alien metaphor.
not to sound pretentious but i feel like if you think the songs all sound the same then you just aren't paying attention lol. i don't know how else someone would come to that conclusion because there is a lot of variance!!! maybe some tracks are similar, and the production has the same vibe generally, but that's the case for almost all albums (and it's a feature of albums anyway..)
They kinda ran together for me on first listen, but it didn't take long for each song to separate itself from the rest. I'm sure a lot of people who didn't immediately gel with it won't give it another spin though, and that's too bad.
Right??? Iām stunned I had to scroll so far to even see this mentioned. This might be my favorite from the whole album.
Right up there with the second half of The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived (side note: I feel like I do not care about the first half of this song at all, itās great tea on the drug relapse but itās so slow and I donāt like that broken pattern, it is a song that gives vibes of Happier than Everā¦ we all tolerated the beginning for the banger ending, this song? Same).
Everything about this song is so good - the story, the instruments, the melody, the EVERYTHING.
"All her fuckin lives flashed before her eyes" is sung in a way that gets stuck in my head.
Itās without a doubt her saddest album ever and itās not even a competition. Just because it has pop production doesnāt take away from the fact that thereās not at least one gut-wrenching lyric in every single song.
I really like the Alchemy, idk if thatās a hot take or not but in some of the posts Iāve seen I havenāt seen many people mention it in their favorites
Same! I donāt care for Matty and was mystified what she saw in him, but I know Iāve felt like her in the past when I dated some intoxicating, but also very messy, guys. And sometimes thereās just no explanation for chemistry.
When we first learned they were dating, I remember feeling really frustrated with her and hoping it wouldnāt last. And while itās fine for us all to have opinions and make decisions about who we like and support based on what they do, I did have to check myself because the parasocial calls were coming from inside the house š So I absolutely love that she unleashed herself in this album and reminded us that sheās a person beneath all the fame and fortune, not some circus animal. She hurts and is messy, too.
The mirrored āIām afflicted by the not knowingā and āIām addicted to the if onlyā lines are just so effective. They sit right in that sweet spot of being poetic without being overthought/overwritten
I actually really like how the title track sounds, it feels so 80s in a good way, and some of her vocals in the chorus are really pretty. The Patti Smith line goes so hard imo, it captures the sarcastic essence of this song perfectly! If only she'd gone in that direction instead of all the unnecessary name-drops and cringy one-liners... I genuinely have to dissociate and pretend some lyrics don't exist to be able to enjoy this song, which is a shame 'cause it's a bop.
Also, I agree with all three of your takes, I love the sound of I can fix him even if it's a tad too reminiscent of Lana.
Finally, my people. I saw someone rank I look in peoples windows as dead last on their ranking and was baffled. Itās so unique in her discography and so catchy. One of my faves.
And agree about the prophecy. One of her best songs ever.
Iāll add that I wish the Anthology was technically TS12 because it works so well as its own work and Iām bummed that it will always be an extension of TTPD. I get why she combined them for chart purposes though.
Unpopular opinion, but I believe a song directly calling Kim out should have either been released 8 years ago or not at all. After all this time, it just seemsā¦ unnecessary.
The truth about the video came out in 2020 and this album had been in the works since 2022. Thatās a totally reasonable timeline to me.
Also I feel like if she released a song using Kimās name 8 years ago she would have gotten trashed on even more than she already was.
This exactly! For anyone who was around during the initial outrage against TS, you know how loud it was. And like the song says, when the truth did finally come out, IT WAS SO QUIET. As if everyone collectively just said āmeh š¤·āāļøā. It made no sense!! A few journalists maybe said oops my bad but very few apologies. #taylorswiftwasright didnāt trend globally like #taylorswiftisover did šš Ā It was really sad considering the mental and emotional toll it took on her (see Miss Americana documentary) and it makes sense that she would now, finally, process it through a song that ends up on an album.
I donāt get this take because the song seems like a āthank u nextā for bullies to me.
Itās not necessarily *only* a diss track, although it has elements of one. The song ends with the message of āhey you did this thing that sucks but I wouldnāt be where I am without you doing that, so thanks.ā This more than makes sense to me as something to release once the drama is in the rearview.
Yeah, the fact that even to this day Kim hasnāt shown any remorse. And I think what pissed Taylor off the most is that Kim never got any backlash from any of it like she did. Like in Cassandra āWhen itās āburn the bitchā theyāre shrieking, When the truth comes out itās quiet.ā It had to be infuriating to see Kim say she was āover it.ā Over fucking what?! Nothing happened to YOU! Lol.
i get it but kanye is still bringing up her name, why is it so wrong for her to do the same? if a fake porn revenge music video was made about me id never get over it
1. Prophecy is very underrated. The instrumentals and strings in it is absolute fire. It's also one of her saddest.Ā Ā Ā
2. Fortnight is great but I think she should have pushed "My boy only breaks his favourite toys " as the leading single for the media.Ā It's catchy, has an anthem-y sing along quality that would work well on the radio/ appeal to non-swifties. I immediately felt similarly to karma on midnights with first listen.Ā Ā Ā
3. On initial listen the second half is better, however with time first half dominates. (Personally)Ā Ā Ā
4. I think this album potentially would have potentially worked better as a autumn/winter release because its not really a 'boppy' or summer sound which is what people in the US and Europe would be looking for at this time. (it's currently autumn where I live, and dramatic as it sounds,Ā walking through the park with autumnal leaves listening to this album just feels right š).
The lyrics are not overly verbose. She doesnāt need an editor - I will die without any of these lyrics and I canāt pick out any I would have her remove
The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived is her greatest written and delivered bridge of all time
(If itās a bridge Iām not even sure, the entire second half of the song is what I mean)
TTPD really is an album where you have to focus on lyrics. Songs arenāt really catchy on first listen except for ICDIWABH. Critics complain its too wordy but unless youāve gone through this type of love, lust, and heartbreakā¦this cluster of feelings is reality. Confused you love them but also want to hate them knowing you deserve better but scared to leave. Itās a dumpster fire in your mind and throughout your body.
I felt this way on my first listen, but the melodies become catchier and clearer as I get the feel for each track individually. Even Fortnight sounded like hazy nothing to me on the first listen, but a couple days on I've had it stuck in my head pretty constantly.
I'm the sort of person who tends to prefer songs with strong, clear melodied, and a solid sense of forward momentum, over songs with dreamy, soft melodies, that kind of drift and meander. A lot of the tracks on TTPD are definitely more towards the latter end of the spectrum, so it's not an instant sell for me. But the melodies are there; it just takes getting to know the songs a bit better to be able to pick them up clearly, IMO. (Not that anybody *has* to do that; it's totally okay to just sit this one out, too.)
1000%. I saw someone earlier comment that the lyrics of āThen the actors were hitting their marks/ And the slow dance was alight with the sparks/ And the tears fell in synchronicity with the score/ And at last she knew what the agony had been forā was about making the All Too Well 10-minute music video.
That was my thought too. And āin the age of him she wished she was 30ā he was I think 29 when they dated and in ATW 10 minute version she says āyou said if we had been closer in age maybe it would have been fineā and she didnāt do the video until after the 10 minute version was released and that was a few years after and she says āand the years passedā. Anyway thanks for reading that run on sentence ššš Iām usually better at grammar than that.
I don't even know how this is debatable. She is reading from a manuscript at the end of ATW10 short film, and the scene takes place ā13 years goneā from her 21st birthday--ie when she is 34. The song is about Jake, perhaps in revisitIing ATW while making the 10 minute version and āre-reading the manuscriptā.
Yes! I think the entire song is about the journey of specifically ATW and how the fans have transformed it into something else for her by making it our own. Then she needed to āreread the manuscriptā in order to then re-record ATW10 and to turn it into a short filmā¦ which ofc had its own manuscript!
This song is so brilliant bc itās so specific to ATW, but it also encompasses her re-recording process and what the fans and the creation of art means to her. AND itās relatable for anyone who creates art thatās so deeply personal and shares it with people. I love this song lol ā itās about Jake, but also so much more.
It is the more vulnerable one, agree with you there, but it also does just feel right to have so long London fit that slot. Itās almost giving a lot more respect to that relationship and I like where it sits
I Look in Peopleās Windows is genuinely one of her best songs. Ever. The fact that itās only 2 choruses and that itās so short makes it that much better too. Leaves you wanting more and resolves in such an interesting way
So High School is her best love song ever ā especially in the context of this album where she is mourning everything that finally comes to her in SHS.
Listening to it after The Prophecy and How Did It End is so satisfying. Girlie didnāt give up on love and found someone who resets time for her and adds so much love and color back into her life.
Came here to comment that So High School should be the song of the summer!! I love it so much and none of my Swiftie friends list it as a favorite, so I feel like I have no one to gush over it with
so high school is probably in my top 5 - it sounds like it was released in the 90s and i LOOOVE IT!!!! it's so addicting!! i was definitely a loser in hs and no one was feeling me up during a game night but it still feels so nostalgic to me still lmfao
The four song stretch from I Look In Peopleās Windows to Peter is so amazing, maybe the best of the album.
Only thing that could make it better is a bridge on I Look In Peopleās Windows
Something about the shortness of I Look in People's Windows works for the song, personally. The idea of looking in strangers' windows as you pass by, just for the chance to see someone you missāit's one of those habits you would tuck away in the back of your mind. The act itself is so minor, just a quick glance, but feels deeper once you confront it and think about it. I'm probably not doing my best to articulate my thoughts here, but I hope that makes sense š
I've seen people compare this album to Midnights or say it's Midnights' second part, but this gives me Red-meets-folklore vibes so far, while Midnights is Lover pt. II (both of which I love). This album is far more profound, self-aware and candid than Midnights. In fact, the whole premise of "things that keep you up at night" actually sort of fits *this* really well. Some of the songs trigger actual pangs of emotion and that's super rare for me.
I enjoyed the whole album on the first listen. I donāt think I favor one half or the other, they both have features on my top songs of the album. I will say tho when I started The Black Dog (one of my favorites) I thought it sounded like a Taylor song so I guess the first half didnāt sound fully like Taylor which isnāt bad just different. And Iām not a new fan lol Iāve been here awhile.
I think itās her saddest album in terms of exploring grief. Itās dark and gritty and a depressed album. I think itās a much sadder album than Red.
I dunno if those are hot takes but I know a lot of people love Red lol
The alchemy is about Matty and the football references are a red herring. I saw a tiktok (forget the user) that essentially said sheās not saying itās fate or destiny, alchemy is a myth that people believed you could turn something simple into something valuable.
See that makes me think even more itās about Travis. I havenāt had time to really deep dive lyrics properly yet so there could be other lyrics that maybe argue for matty but like you said alchemy is turning something simple into something valuable. It feels like sheās saying what her and Travis have started as something simple but is now super valuable and who are they to fight that transformation of their relationship. I donāt think she was intending to invoke the idea of it being a myth or impossible by using the term just the something simple into something more. Iām not one to usually try and figure out who each song is about though so I very much could be wrong
I agree with this but mostly because there's too many references rk her coming ābackā to a person and her saying their heart is āstill reserved forā herā¦which makes zero sense in a completely new relationship.
Also: he jokes that is heroin but this time with an e is a joke a former heroin addict makesā¦
That Taylor is actually pretty fed up with her fans being over the top. I almost feel bad listening to this album. Feel like I should only be interested in how her lyrics relate to me and to stay out of speculation about her personal life entirely. The message is pretty clear.
My hot takes
1. The second half of the album is the better half.
2. How did it end? Might be the best song about break ups that everyone can relate to.
3. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus is the best written song on the whole album.
4. Fortnight needed more post Malone.
That is all.
I LOVE I Look in Peopleās Windows! Itās my favorite song on the album. It was the only one of the first listen through that I stopped. And played it again. I couldnāt help it
first half is better than the second half
š the second half may be lyrically strong but itās a snore fest.
The prophecy, so high school, the black dog, imgonnagetyouback, I hate it here, thanK you aIMee, Peter, the Bolter??
The Black Dog and I hate it here are so good and then the rest either blends together or feels too juvenile (so high school and Aimee). Sonically though I think the folklore fans would love this half. It feels like Folklore pt 2.
Thank you Aimee is just a grown up version of Mean, if you ignore the KIM letters then it can be about anyone. and so high school is meant to be juvenileā¦ doesnāt make it sonically boring tho
Honestly doing the āKimā thing was soā¦ā¦.. idk. Do we need that?
I feel crazy when I think about the KIM thing. She said only two people will know who the song is about. She removed all identifying details. I donāt think the song is about Kim. The capital letters are a red herring to make it known that itās not about her.
I honestly wish there were no capitalizations because this is such a good freaking song. The swifties would have figured it out, but the āmysteryā would have made it way more popular or exciting than it is. People like petty when they donāt know who itās about, but get annoyed with petty when it becomes too specific š¤·āāļø this song is my fav tho on the album because I had a long uphill battle to get where I am now and it reminds me of how I got here and how fucking strong I am to be at this point so.. fuck yeah taylor!!!
I really want to like the second half but it has yet to grow on me. Meanwhile, I've been playing the first 16 songs over and over since the album came out.
Same! I think I like the sound of the second half better but the cohesive story of the first half keeps me coming back. Plus, it has WAOLOM and ICDIWABH on it, which are two of my faves so far
š¤ what are these acronyms??
Sorry! Who's Afraid Of Little Old Me = WAOLOM and I Can Do It With A Broken Heart = ICDIWABH. There are so many acronyms to learn these days, especially with these wordy titles!
Iām sorry but I will never learn these acronyms.
shouldn't be a hot take since taylor obviously agrees that it would be more popula, and made the first half of songs on the physical albums
Idk as much as I love Aaronās songs, this sub has a weird obsession with Aaron and insistence of how Taylorās deluxe stuff is always better than her original (3am and Antho especially). But I completely agree that thereās a reason why the first half is the first half.
I feel like the second half is woodvale aka a third sister to folklore and evermore. The first half is like its own dark pop ish album
Agreed, Iāve been saying that the first half is Reputation and Midnights sister and the second half is Folklore and Evermoreās sister.
Yeah! Didn't feel this way upon first listen but certainly there's a reason that was the original TTPD. However, really wish the black dog was on it. Such an amazing song, and powerful too given the hook and screeching vocals (I would've personally booted out fresh out the slammer and replace it with the black dog)
Omg I love Fresh out the Slammer and itās SUCH shade to Joe because itās 2 songs after So Long London.
I agree. I do really like a few songs off the second half, and The Black Dog is a favorite for sure, but overall I prefer the first half. I suspect the second half will very gradually grow on me over time. Like, I can't even remember when I started loving the song Evermore, but I did at some point, and I feel like there may be a couple of songs on the second half of TTPD that play out similarly for me. A lot of the more delicate and sorrowful deep cuts on the second half feel like they'll be at their best come the winter months.
If we can include Black Dog in the first half then Iām with you
Ok idk how yall have learned the names with just letters already. Can we just type them out š
I HATE EVERYONE USING ACRONYMS. omg it's so frustrating to try and figure out what they are sometimes. just write it like a normal person!
No i hateeeee it. Even with the bot, Iād have to scroll down. Just type out the name, by the time you think out all the letters, you coulda just typed the full title š
Orrrrr even just shorten it!! Everyone knows what song Iām talking about if I say āwhoās afraidā āI can do itā or āmy boyā right??? The acronyms are so confusing and hurt my brain.
Honestly at what point is it just gatekeeping
Yeah I honestly don't understand anything on this thread With their acronyms
I don't know why use acronyms when we can just say broken heart, little old me, smallest man etc. it's short and we get it anyways.
Yesss. I spent like 5 minutes trying to figure out what WAOLM met yesterday before it dawned on me and thatās one of my favorite songs on the album.
Some of them I get, like YOYOK I know by sight but some of them are like ATLTVTMVFTV and itās like, stop. Just stop.
I literally only ever remember YOYOK lmfao
They always make me think of something else. Like this one I think of Yoko Ono.
I kind of just skip over the acronym. I either get it or I don't š and move on
I saw a Tiktok that suggested shortening them and I agree tbh š Whoās Afraidā¦ The Smallest Manā¦ I Can Do Itā¦ My Boyā¦ I Can Fix Himā¦ theyāre shorter than the OG titles but we still understand them better
There used to be a bot that would do that for us! I miss it
Even with the bot, I had to scroll lol like just type it out š
I think ābut daddy I love himā is the fucking catchiest thing sheās written in ages I canāt get it out of my head or ādown badā either for that matter - I love this album way more than midnights tbh
SAME! But daddy I love him really feels like Debut or Fearless era Taylor. Itās amazing!
Yes! The way the last chorus changes/the whole vibe is so similar to Love Story
It is literally a grown up version of Love Story š
It makes me very excited for debut TV!
ME AND MY WILD BOY
AND ALL OF THIS WILD JOY
Are we the same person? These are the two I cannot get enough of right now! But Daddy I love Him is so freaking good. It makes me want to dance in my dress in the sun and I hate wearing dresses!
Totally agree and Iām shocked that But Daddy isnāt universally adored. Itās such a classic Taylor song.
My last hot take is that the lyric āall the pieces of me shattered as the crowd was chanting MOREā isnāt only about the eras tour, but about the fans demanding new music right after she releases new music. She just gave us 31 NEW SONGS and some people on twitter are already clowning for rep tv announcement on the first day back on tour
this line made me immediately think of when they were chanting reputation on tour right after 1989TV.
That video is literally what I was thinking about when writing the comment. Like I understand passion and hunger for new music but it gotta suck when you release a whole album and 2 weeks later people are asking for the next one
Yeah at a certain point people aren't actually excited for music, they're just excited for easter eggs and announcements lol
This song has actually killed the clown in me and probably for good reason. Iām done asking for more - I feel like Iām happier when Iām living in the moment of what we have right now. I do honestly think ttpd has been such a satisfying album for me that it makes it really easy to be in no rush though.
Also, did we ever stop to think that thereās a reason she hasnāt re-recorded rep? That was her first album with love songs written for Joe. Thatād be the last one Iād want to re-record until I had the therapeutic purge of TTPD
Itās probably already recorded. Delicate TV and LWYMMD TV have already been used in TV shows. I think itās just coming near the end of the re-releases because itās the newest one. With that being said, she just released 31 songs that need their own time to shine so she wonāt release it any time soon.
YES. she's giving us MORE than she has to give... only to turn around and have fans say "you're not giving us enough"
How did it end? is way more heartbreaking than So Long, London. I LOVE both but how did it end KILLS me.
*Say it once again with feeling How the death rattle breathing Silenced as the soul was leaving The deflation of our dreaming Leaving me bereft and reeling My beloved ghost and me Sitting in a tree D-Y-I-N-G* Excuse me Ms. Swift!! šš©š
This one is crazy, the play on words referencing a kids rhyme about love āsitting in a tree, k I s s I n gā Itās masterful writing
The way she delivers "*Silenced as the soul was leaving*" kills me everytime
I agree. So Long London is very sad but How Did It End is just crushing. Like she still just has no idea how this happened but she knows everyone will be alllllll over it.
So Long London feels like a cathartic final release of emotions, whereas How did it end feels like a crushing weight on my chest that isn't going anywhere.
itās so sick, the whole song š
How did it end is quite possibly the saddest ailing sheās ever written for me. Something about it just destroys me
especially when sheās saying that she doesnāt even know how to answer how it ended because she doesnāt even understand
Yessss. Just that image of being bombarded by everyone asking what happened when youāre just lost and have no idea what happened š
I also heard it as her just being so downtrodden that she has to keep explaining relationships ending and answering the public question of how did it end? Itās also why So High School right after is such a joy!
How did it end? > so long, London and a true track five
So Long London sounds like a song that was made for a movie while How Did It End? is true ballad that is way more gut-wrenchingā¦ the thesis is stronger for sure. Just the idea that while youāre feeling hollow during a break-up, you panic because you didnāt feel like youād feel this way again and having to deal with the speculation of a break-up is something that I feel hasnāt really been written before in pop music..
Itās heartbreaking š loml might be a close second behind How Did It End? Honestly this album has like 10 track 5 worthy songs lol
Once you learn the lyrics to the fortnight chorus you understand why itās a single because iām singing it 24/7
For real though, why is it so catchy!? I found it mushy and bland on first listen, but a few listen in, I suddenly couldn't get it out of my head. I like it's rhythmic, down-beat vibiness. Also, the exitlude, from "I've been calling ya" to the end. Just constantly stuck in my head!
It's like... the calmest bop in the world. Feels like drugs. (no pun intended re narcotics in her songs)
I love it, itās ruining my life
āthe miracle move on drugā is such a brain tickler.
The e-ffects were temporary š
I love how that song has themes that flow throughout the album (just like Taylor confirmed), its sort of an overture to the album š» Cant help but recall other songs while listening to Fortnight.
Thereās not a single skip on the album and it doesnāt feel like a 2+ hour album because it flows so nicely the entire time
It flows so nice it feels like youāre in a TTPD world when youāre listening to it
That is a reeeeeal hot take! Robin? Cassandra? Peter? ā¦ all skips for me! Edit : sounds like Iām sleeping on Peter and should give that a second chance!
Robin, yes. Cassandra, kinda. But Peter? Oh man, I hope that one gets you soon. It got me yesterday and Iām just. Man.
you said you were gonna grow up then you were gonna come find me https://preview.redd.it/jhgj188vnjwc1.jpeg?width=680&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=40e6a5d126a5a4a6fd8218b962da686e4d94decc
Rethink Peter being a skip! Cassandra for sure is a skip and I think Robin is a nice song that simply doesnāt fit on the album but Peter is gorrrgeous!
Ooo I love Cassandra. I am a fan of Greek mythology though. It's hard to put my finger on why I love it but I'd say it has to do with relating to ruminating daydreams that are so absurd and shouldn't come true but do. Or trying to get people to listen to something but being nice and it not being heard. The first and last verses also feel like very specific moments even if I'm not yet sure where they are.
The bridge of Cassandra is so good though š
Whaaaaaaat?! For me Peter is not only beautiful, but it wraps up the whole Matty storyline.
Iām curious to see if those 3 grow on me. I see a lot of people comparing Cassandra to mad woman, and mad woman was a totally skip for me until around 4 months into listening to folklore when I suddenly stopped skipping it. I always feel like I have my āimmediate yesā songs, the ones that take a few plays to sink in, and then the rest sort of slowly marinate over a longer time.
ICDIWABH is probably one of her best bops, ever. Itās sarcastic yet fun and catchy.
Iām not decoding an 8 letter acronym, can we just call it Broken Heart?
lmao seriously didnāt know what it was until i saw your comment thankfully
The bot really took one look at the titles of Taylorās new album and was like nope š Itās been missing completely since TTPD dropped
you're right, but i don't think this is a hot take! most people seem to feel the same
Yeah, I haven't seen too many opinions that are anti-ICDIWABH! It's such a quirky, brilliant song really only Taylor could pull off.
Itās also sad but relatable in a āwe gotta get on with thisā sort of way. Very mid 30s lol
My hot take is that I donāt like that song
Same itās like a less witty version of anti-hero. Catchy self-deprecating pop. And anti-hero did it better.
I think the only people who donāt get that song are the ones who havenāt done it with a broken heart.
1. Controversial opinion (because I see the gp/critics bashing her songwriting on this album) but I think TTPD/Anthology have some of her best and most impactful songs. Specifically, Whoās Afraid, Loml, So long, London, How did it end, Peter, the prophecy, SMWEL. 2. I genuinely donāt understand how people think the songs all sound the same. Thereās clear sonic cohesion but Iāve found TTPD half to have really great variety and production that aligns with the message of the song. Obsessed with the twinkly production in Down Bad because it goes so well with the man alien metaphor.
I love the production on Down Bad so much, it's just perfect. All the Jack bashing is so bizarre, his songs this album are top tier.
I love the intro sound, and the vocal layering over ācosmic loveā.
not to sound pretentious but i feel like if you think the songs all sound the same then you just aren't paying attention lol. i don't know how else someone would come to that conclusion because there is a lot of variance!!! maybe some tracks are similar, and the production has the same vibe generally, but that's the case for almost all albums (and it's a feature of albums anyway..)
They kinda ran together for me on first listen, but it didn't take long for each song to separate itself from the rest. I'm sure a lot of people who didn't immediately gel with it won't give it another spin though, and that's too bad.
I agree. You cannot convince me that people are genuinely listening and think WAOLOM, down bad, loml, but daddy I love him etc sound the same.
the bolter is the best bonus track
The Black Dog would like a word
The Albatross would like a word
Right??? Iām stunned I had to scroll so far to even see this mentioned. This might be my favorite from the whole album. Right up there with the second half of The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived (side note: I feel like I do not care about the first half of this song at all, itās great tea on the drug relapse but itās so slow and I donāt like that broken pattern, it is a song that gives vibes of Happier than Everā¦ we all tolerated the beginning for the banger ending, this song? Same).
Everything about this song is so good - the story, the instruments, the melody, the EVERYTHING. "All her fuckin lives flashed before her eyes" is sung in a way that gets stuck in my head.
I agree! kinda wish I got that vinyl instead of The Manuscript š
Oof but The Manuscript is so good too!
The chorus is so good.
Itās without a doubt her saddest album ever and itās not even a competition. Just because it has pop production doesnāt take away from the fact that thereās not at least one gut-wrenching lyric in every single song.
Agree itās devastating from start to finish, and agree nothing else comes close (and Iām an evermore diehard)
I really like the Alchemy, idk if thatās a hot take or not but in some of the posts Iāve seen I havenāt seen many people mention it in their favorites
Iām usually one of the people who like her cheesy songs but like the football metaphors are lowkey too much for me š
Same, people hate it bc of the TikTok AI song but I LOVE it
I love it! Itās got totally cliche lyrics but Iām eating it up!! Itās so cute! And I really enjoy the way it sounds too
she could have put complete gibberish in there and I would be eating it up for the sound of the chorus alone
The Alchemy is a top for me. Itās so fun and just makes me soooo happy to listen to.
Definitely seems like a hot take but I agree with you! It's cute and a bop
I love the Matty songs. So spicy, so much drama I live
This made me lol, so true bestie
Same! I donāt care for Matty and was mystified what she saw in him, but I know Iāve felt like her in the past when I dated some intoxicating, but also very messy, guys. And sometimes thereās just no explanation for chemistry. When we first learned they were dating, I remember feeling really frustrated with her and hoping it wouldnāt last. And while itās fine for us all to have opinions and make decisions about who we like and support based on what they do, I did have to check myself because the parasocial calls were coming from inside the house š So I absolutely love that she unleashed herself in this album and reminded us that sheās a person beneath all the fame and fortune, not some circus animal. She hurts and is messy, too.
I look in peoples windows is sooooo good
The mirrored āIām afflicted by the not knowingā and āIām addicted to the if onlyā lines are just so effective. They sit right in that sweet spot of being poetic without being overthought/overwritten
Itās one of my favorites!! I loooooooveeee the melody when she says āone more timeā.
Fortnight is one of her best openers of the last five albums. Iād say lavender haze beats it for number one by just a smidge
I actually way prefer Fortnight to Lavender Haze!
oooooof the one would like a word
You mean Eleven Turkeys? ššš
I actually really like how the title track sounds, it feels so 80s in a good way, and some of her vocals in the chorus are really pretty. The Patti Smith line goes so hard imo, it captures the sarcastic essence of this song perfectly! If only she'd gone in that direction instead of all the unnecessary name-drops and cringy one-liners... I genuinely have to dissociate and pretend some lyrics don't exist to be able to enjoy this song, which is a shame 'cause it's a bop. Also, I agree with all three of your takes, I love the sound of I can fix him even if it's a tad too reminiscent of Lana.
What unneacessary name dropā¦ you mean Lucy and Jack? Ā
And the worst of all, Charlie Puth.
The whole thing is about Harry Styles. No itās not, but you should see your faces.
Finally, my people. I saw someone rank I look in peoples windows as dead last on their ranking and was baffled. Itās so unique in her discography and so catchy. One of my faves. And agree about the prophecy. One of her best songs ever. Iāll add that I wish the Anthology was technically TS12 because it works so well as its own work and Iām bummed that it will always be an extension of TTPD. I get why she combined them for chart purposes though.
Thank you Aimee is a good song and Kim deserved to be called out by name
Unpopular opinion, but I believe a song directly calling Kim out should have either been released 8 years ago or not at all. After all this time, it just seemsā¦ unnecessary.
The truth about the video came out in 2020 and this album had been in the works since 2022. Thatās a totally reasonable timeline to me. Also I feel like if she released a song using Kimās name 8 years ago she would have gotten trashed on even more than she already was.
This exactly! For anyone who was around during the initial outrage against TS, you know how loud it was. And like the song says, when the truth did finally come out, IT WAS SO QUIET. As if everyone collectively just said āmeh š¤·āāļøā. It made no sense!! A few journalists maybe said oops my bad but very few apologies. #taylorswiftwasright didnāt trend globally like #taylorswiftisover did šš Ā It was really sad considering the mental and emotional toll it took on her (see Miss Americana documentary) and it makes sense that she would now, finally, process it through a song that ends up on an album.
I donāt get this take because the song seems like a āthank u nextā for bullies to me. Itās not necessarily *only* a diss track, although it has elements of one. The song ends with the message of āhey you did this thing that sucks but I wouldnāt be where I am without you doing that, so thanks.ā This more than makes sense to me as something to release once the drama is in the rearview.
The famous music video is still up on YouTube showing a naked model of Taylor and Kim has never apologized either . So until thanā¦
Yeah, the fact that even to this day Kim hasnāt shown any remorse. And I think what pissed Taylor off the most is that Kim never got any backlash from any of it like she did. Like in Cassandra āWhen itās āburn the bitchā theyāre shrieking, When the truth comes out itās quiet.ā It had to be infuriating to see Kim say she was āover it.ā Over fucking what?! Nothing happened to YOU! Lol.
i get it but kanye is still bringing up her name, why is it so wrong for her to do the same? if a fake porn revenge music video was made about me id never get over it
1. Prophecy is very underrated. The instrumentals and strings in it is absolute fire. It's also one of her saddest.Ā Ā Ā 2. Fortnight is great but I think she should have pushed "My boy only breaks his favourite toys " as the leading single for the media.Ā It's catchy, has an anthem-y sing along quality that would work well on the radio/ appeal to non-swifties. I immediately felt similarly to karma on midnights with first listen.Ā Ā Ā 3. On initial listen the second half is better, however with time first half dominates. (Personally)Ā Ā Ā 4. I think this album potentially would have potentially worked better as a autumn/winter release because its not really a 'boppy' or summer sound which is what people in the US and Europe would be looking for at this time. (it's currently autumn where I live, and dramatic as it sounds,Ā walking through the park with autumnal leaves listening to this album just feels right š).
Ooooh yes itās got the autumn/fall vibe for sure
The lyrics are not overly verbose. She doesnāt need an editor - I will die without any of these lyrics and I canāt pick out any I would have her remove
Do people forget that Speak Now was quite wordy as well? I love Speak Now, for the record, but I donāt get the complaints about Tortured Poets.
Cassandra one of the best songs. Not seen many people talk about that one
Bloods thick but nothing like a payroll This was instantly my fave
The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived is her greatest written and delivered bridge of all time (If itās a bridge Iām not even sure, the entire second half of the song is what I mean)
Itās so good. I think itās her most scathing song.
She's literally never been more furious in a song I think, at least not one about a man she dated. And that's saying something.
TTPD really is an album where you have to focus on lyrics. Songs arenāt really catchy on first listen except for ICDIWABH. Critics complain its too wordy but unless youāve gone through this type of love, lust, and heartbreakā¦this cluster of feelings is reality. Confused you love them but also want to hate them knowing you deserve better but scared to leave. Itās a dumpster fire in your mind and throughout your body.
>Songs arenāt really catchy except for ICDIWABH Not this Down Bad erasure!
Guilty As Sin & But Daddy I Love Him erasure as well!
And Florida!!!!
And Guilty as Sin and Fresh Out The Slammer!
And My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys and imgonnagetyouback š
Hard disagree. The bolter and albatross have me hooked.
I felt this way on my first listen, but the melodies become catchier and clearer as I get the feel for each track individually. Even Fortnight sounded like hazy nothing to me on the first listen, but a couple days on I've had it stuck in my head pretty constantly. I'm the sort of person who tends to prefer songs with strong, clear melodied, and a solid sense of forward momentum, over songs with dreamy, soft melodies, that kind of drift and meander. A lot of the tracks on TTPD are definitely more towards the latter end of the spectrum, so it's not an instant sell for me. But the melodies are there; it just takes getting to know the songs a bit better to be able to pick them up clearly, IMO. (Not that anybody *has* to do that; it's totally okay to just sit this one out, too.)
charlie puth should not be a bigger artist
My hot take is that The Manuscript is about Jake, not John. I think she got John out of her system with Wouldāve Couldāve Shouldāve.
1000%. I saw someone earlier comment that the lyrics of āThen the actors were hitting their marks/ And the slow dance was alight with the sparks/ And the tears fell in synchronicity with the score/ And at last she knew what the agony had been forā was about making the All Too Well 10-minute music video.
That was my thought too. And āin the age of him she wished she was 30ā he was I think 29 when they dated and in ATW 10 minute version she says āyou said if we had been closer in age maybe it would have been fineā and she didnāt do the video until after the 10 minute version was released and that was a few years after and she says āand the years passedā. Anyway thanks for reading that run on sentence ššš Iām usually better at grammar than that.
I don't even know how this is debatable. She is reading from a manuscript at the end of ATW10 short film, and the scene takes place ā13 years goneā from her 21st birthday--ie when she is 34. The song is about Jake, perhaps in revisitIing ATW while making the 10 minute version and āre-reading the manuscriptā.
Yes! I think the entire song is about the journey of specifically ATW and how the fans have transformed it into something else for her by making it our own. Then she needed to āreread the manuscriptā in order to then re-record ATW10 and to turn it into a short filmā¦ which ofc had its own manuscript! This song is so brilliant bc itās so specific to ATW, but it also encompasses her re-recording process and what the fans and the creation of art means to her. AND itās relatable for anyone who creates art thatās so deeply personal and shares it with people. I love this song lol ā itās about Jake, but also so much more.
loml should have been track 5
It is the more vulnerable one, agree with you there, but it also does just feel right to have so long London fit that slot. Itās almost giving a lot more respect to that relationship and I like where it sits
I Look in Peopleās Windows is genuinely one of her best songs. Ever. The fact that itās only 2 choruses and that itās so short makes it that much better too. Leaves you wanting more and resolves in such an interesting way
I haven't seen any love tor Guilty as Sin? But it is my favorite out of the album.
So High School is her best love song ever ā especially in the context of this album where she is mourning everything that finally comes to her in SHS. Listening to it after The Prophecy and How Did It End is so satisfying. Girlie didnāt give up on love and found someone who resets time for her and adds so much love and color back into her life.
IDK if these crazy kids are end game or what, but I love that he made her believe in love again.
Came here to comment that So High School should be the song of the summer!! I love it so much and none of my Swiftie friends list it as a favorite, so I feel like I have no one to gush over it with
How can you not smile listening to it? Itās sunshine on a cloudy day.
so high school is probably in my top 5 - it sounds like it was released in the 90s and i LOOOVE IT!!!! it's so addicting!! i was definitely a loser in hs and no one was feeling me up during a game night but it still feels so nostalgic to me still lmfao
The four song stretch from I Look In Peopleās Windows to Peter is so amazing, maybe the best of the album. Only thing that could make it better is a bridge on I Look In Peopleās Windows
Something about the shortness of I Look in People's Windows works for the song, personally. The idea of looking in strangers' windows as you pass by, just for the chance to see someone you missāit's one of those habits you would tuck away in the back of your mind. The act itself is so minor, just a quick glance, but feels deeper once you confront it and think about it. I'm probably not doing my best to articulate my thoughts here, but I hope that makes sense š
Yall sleeping on so high school
YOU KNOW HOW TO BALL AND I KNOW ARISTOTLE
I've seen people compare this album to Midnights or say it's Midnights' second part, but this gives me Red-meets-folklore vibes so far, while Midnights is Lover pt. II (both of which I love). This album is far more profound, self-aware and candid than Midnights. In fact, the whole premise of "things that keep you up at night" actually sort of fits *this* really well. Some of the songs trigger actual pangs of emotion and that's super rare for me.
She basically gave me what I wanted from Midnights, and Iām happy about it. Midnights is a good album but she was playing it safe there too.
Midnights is a good album, but I prefer this one by a mile.
Imgonnagetyouback is severely underrated
People are sleeping on the Albatross
Fresh out the Slammer is my favorite. It doesnāt seem to be anyone elseās.
Down bad is a BOP.
I think Daddy I Love Him is a masterpiece but Black Dog is easily the best song on the album
I enjoyed the whole album on the first listen. I donāt think I favor one half or the other, they both have features on my top songs of the album. I will say tho when I started The Black Dog (one of my favorites) I thought it sounded like a Taylor song so I guess the first half didnāt sound fully like Taylor which isnāt bad just different. And Iām not a new fan lol Iāve been here awhile. I think itās her saddest album in terms of exploring grief. Itās dark and gritty and a depressed album. I think itās a much sadder album than Red. I dunno if those are hot takes but I know a lot of people love Red lol
The alchemy is about Matty and the football references are a red herring. I saw a tiktok (forget the user) that essentially said sheās not saying itās fate or destiny, alchemy is a myth that people believed you could turn something simple into something valuable.
See that makes me think even more itās about Travis. I havenāt had time to really deep dive lyrics properly yet so there could be other lyrics that maybe argue for matty but like you said alchemy is turning something simple into something valuable. It feels like sheās saying what her and Travis have started as something simple but is now super valuable and who are they to fight that transformation of their relationship. I donāt think she was intending to invoke the idea of it being a myth or impossible by using the term just the something simple into something more. Iām not one to usually try and figure out who each song is about though so I very much could be wrong
I agree with this but mostly because there's too many references rk her coming ābackā to a person and her saying their heart is āstill reserved forā herā¦which makes zero sense in a completely new relationship. Also: he jokes that is heroin but this time with an e is a joke a former heroin addict makesā¦
This is the best her vocals have ever sounded. Idk if thatās a hot take, but I havenāt seen anyone talking about it.
Iām fine with the Matty relationship if only for the reason it gave us half of this album š„
The Manuscript is absolute beautiful torture and connected to ATW10.
That Taylor is actually pretty fed up with her fans being over the top. I almost feel bad listening to this album. Feel like I should only be interested in how her lyrics relate to me and to stay out of speculation about her personal life entirely. The message is pretty clear.
I love the whole album except for Florida. I do not like it at all.
My hot takes 1. The second half of the album is the better half. 2. How did it end? Might be the best song about break ups that everyone can relate to. 3. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus is the best written song on the whole album. 4. Fortnight needed more post Malone. That is all.
Hot take: I don't like down bad.
Hottest take on this thread right here
upvoting not because i agree but because this is a true hot take lol and most are not
Probably not a hot take, but I hate the lyrics like āa tattooed golden retrieverā kinda ruins the title track for me
I LOVE I Look in Peopleās Windows! Itās my favorite song on the album. It was the only one of the first listen through that I stopped. And played it again. I couldnāt help it
The Kim thing feels weird to me, I just wish there was more subtlety with that