reacting to your UNPOPULAR Taylor Swift opinions *ttpd version* 💀

[@theswiftologist]

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[@Luke-lb2cv]

Congrats on becoming a large enough channel to get that Surfshark bag!

[@SUZSMITH]

By the way, I have something to show you that you’re going to absolutely love. How do I send a message to you? You have to promise me you’re not going to send it to to anybody else lol

[@kellybennett1790]

I think she didn’t want to give track 5 to Matty. It was a nod of respect to the turkey.

[@claudiabcarvalho]

I think it was a nod of respect to everyone that didn't want to listen about Matty Healy 😂

[@rabbiteboy7436]

I agree!

[@romancereadingfrenzy]

​@@claudiabcarvalho😂😂😂

[@saima.nijhum]

@@claudiabcarvalho🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@missymariebee]

Agree, this was my perception as well. It's a nod of respect to him to make it the track 5 (after cooking him for how BORING he is lol).

[@STEPS13]

"Your mother is flat and boring" is the best thing I've heard and I'm 20 seconds in

[@carlospinsvinyl]

Lol! Because But Daddy I Love Him is top tier song. Its my top song in this record.

[@digitaldorothy]

Came to make sure someone commented this … okay on to the video now. 🤣♥️

[@VocalStation.13]

they deserve it for insulting bdilh

[@iteachlit]

@@carlospinsvinylYES. Might change, but it will always be top three on this album (with “Guilty As Sin?” and “loml”) and always top tier.

[@sandradavidson4006]

Came here to say the same. I feel we don’t use “your mom” jokes enough these days and this was the perfect time to bring it back.

[@jeffergzl]

"rat that stank up her Nashville condo and killed all the koi fish" 😭😭

[@Ajlikestraveling]

I was gagged by that line 😭✌️

[@jannahshappymoments]

😂😂😂

[@aplant2133]

The flock of albatross had come to feast on the carcasses of the Koi fish lmao rip speak now you would've love but daddy i love him 💜💜💜

[@tabathaarria9558]

​@@Ajlikestraveling so was all the fish

[@Ajlikestraveling]

@@tabathaarria9558 you icon 💅✨

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

"I become a new and more damaged version of myself each time that I listen" is a great way to sum up my journey with TTPD

[@tabathaarria9558]

asylum fr

[@musicandmania]

Same! I watched myself down spiral in real time, lol

[@jackielehman8945]

The fact that i was bored by Robin at first but its now one of my favorite songs is wild to me. I think im also just getting old protective of the kiddos in my life.

[@sanjomaz]

My unpopular opinion- “the Prophecy” would’ve been a great Track 5. It doesn’t pertain to a specific guy but instead it’s a reflective piece on TS being a “tortured poet”, focusing on TS’ life of fame and how its come at the devastating cost of finding real love and companionship.

[@claudiabcarvalho]

PREACH! 🙌🏼

[@theswiftologist]

one incredible thing about this album is how many emotionally resonant track there are for a track 5!

[@lfior]

Ok I hadn’t thought of that but that’s such a good point

[@alpal764]

I think that would’ve helped break up the Anthology side of the album a bit. I like the Anthology more than the first half, but it can be exhausting by the time you get there. Just shuffling them together for better flow and cutting a few clunkers would’ve helped the entire thing, I think.

[@DianeLake-sw3ym]

I love the Prophecy

[@sarahlr1985]

With regards to doing it with a broken heart, you guys, she is also a LEADER, an employer. She has to be a good boss, she has to give that positive energy so her business, her employees thrive too. She had to fake that positive energy for not only the huge crowd, but for every individual person working close by her every night. It's actually very impressive that she rallied herself for everyone and did it with a broken heart.

[@mariai.3918]

We often forget that, you’re right. She is, apart from all the other things, a businesswoman who employs a serious amount of people.

[@karenvalentino3412]

It’s true, a lot of people depend on her for their livelihoods.

[@claudiabcarvalho]

Peter is a lullaby for a man who doesn't want to grow up and whose childish behavior is enabled by everyone. That's the beauty of the song.

[@theswiftologist]

IDC....it's not beautiful to me!

[@disneyqueen4960]

@@theswiftologistpop off king

[@liswane]

i gotta say, daughter’s song also called peter did that same topic in a more sonically interesting way. sorry not sorry 🤷‍♀️

[@claudiabcarvalho]

@@liswane Peter is just a lullaby, it's not meant to sound that interesting.

[@ttcgr]

ohhhh i don’t like it because i don’t tolerate men like that. peter is for the girls who need to decenter men it seems.

[@agamer4641]

I m dying opening the video with " your mother is flat and boring " is a vibe

[@MariaSCarr]

Yeas, So Long London is about the turkey, but THE most painful line in the song is “ I’m just mad as hell cause I loved this place for so long…”. It’s also a super sad goodbye to a place that she loved living in. That is why it is a track 5 song.

[@claudiabcarvalho]

I think she means she used to "love it cause of the light" (YLM), which then is a reference to the Lover house. She's not living the place she loves because of him; she leaving the place she no longer loves because she can't be with him.

[@dmclyn8926]

Metaphors: the place probably refers to Joe and the relationship. Not literal.

[@beccac6812]

He is London in the song , i don’t think any of it is abut the actual place

[@Inksplatter1991]

​@@beccac6812 my theory too

[@faegibb4043]

I scream this line. I scream sing this to my neighbours who I sold my house to get away from 😭😭😭

[@e.brewin9038]

Fav insight: even a billionaire can have a ratty healy interlude. A thought re MH: yes, they only dated for two weeks, but what died and took her down so hard was the death of the decade long "what if?", the promise of that deep connection they both felt and couldn't let go of. Also, the realization double punch between J and M that love isn't enough for a relationship, it's just a fraction of what's needed. That's enough to send anyone down bad, and to make them wonder if they ever grew up. 💔

[@alexandraeilise]

So I don’t think they connected like that at all in 2014. My feeling is when they hooked up in 2023 they had explosive sexual chemistry, and when the sexual connection is that intense it’s easy to mistake it for love.

[@jackielehman8945]

Yep.

[@oh.sorry.dont.mind.meeeee]

​​​@@alexandraeilisewell, from all of what I've seen I don't agree. I checked the document that showed all the times they interacted in 2014 and he sang the song fallingforyou to her when she was on a balcony with Karlie Kloss. he said "I'm not going to kiss anybody in front of Taylor Swift have some respect" or something like that. he was known even back then I guess to kiss random fans. that's the song where he says "all we need is my bike and your big house". imgonnagetyouback references it. no spaces. (the beginning of that song also sounds the exact same as the 1975 song Somebody to Love which was also produced by Jack) they wore each other's merch on stage and out and about. him a 1989 shirt her a 1975 shirt. and they flirted on social media. then there's footage of him crying on stage and saying "it's just girls man" etc. the timeline lines up for this to be about when she started dating someone. I think Calvin Harris but I'm not sure. there's also the clip of him talking about his typewriter and how he writes in his notebook about his dreams of "falling in love with popstars". then they dedicated songs to each other on stage, i think his was About You and he said "this is about you, you know who you are i love you" and she said those exact words before singing Cardigan. there's so many references to lyrics he's had in past songs, music videos, stage performances, only so much of that can be a coincidence. i mean, the 1975 has a song called An Encounter that sounds like an alien vibe 👽 🛸 We know she was a fan of the 1975 before she even met him in 2014. there's a lot to examine...

[@cb4435]

Nonsense. She wasn’t pining for ratty for a decade. Hilarious! The six years of love & youth given to a Joe was the catalyst for the MH episode. Haven’t we all had a person we were like “I wonder how we’d be together” about? It doesn’t take up that much real estate in our hearts or minds. Until she was so sick of where she & Joe were at. What do you do when you’re hurt and angry during the final breaths of a breakup? You revolt! Going straight to some dirty boy your lover likely hates sounds like the best idea then! You’re not in your right mind. That’s all Matty was. It’s all he’ll ever be.

[@jackielehman8945]

​@@cb4435 i do feel he was more than a rebelion, it sounds like she felt they had a genuine connection, and maybe they had, but it was when she was in a different place and kinda a different person. She has grown and he hasnt... which happens SO SO SO much in your 30s.

[@jeffergzl]

"Golden retrievers are usually clean, first of all." 🔥🔥🔥

[@EmmaFrost-d4x]

My jaw fell off... 🤣

[@lindaamodeo3061]

Omg i love it 🤣

[@efstathiakositzidou2490]

That was pure gold😅😅Revenge for the golden retrievers😂😂

[@xeenie_weenie]

I was gagged

[@taracat7723]

More like a tattooed pitbull

[@bransonlincolnberger]

i’m not ready to hear the new “swifties” and their opinions in trying to be different 💀

[@anywaysssss]

me neither .. I just know that they’re gonna have quirky opinions

[@dreamchaser7603]

This!! Thanks for saying that… I get bullied by them occasionally…

[@christalyon6038]

💀💀 the way they are trying to be different is so stupid 💀💀

[@afkluis]

am I a new swiftie when I started listening before lover?

[@TaylortheBarbie13]

​@@afkluis nah, not really probably midnights or later is a new Swiftie

[@leviswift]

What I didn't like about the criticism this album got is that a lot of it was directed at taylor as a person rather than criticizing and judging the album itself.

[@jillsarah7356]

THIS. Constructive criticism is good. Anything else is Hateration.

[@Thepeanutcollector]

This comment literally describes the entire swiftly netural subreddit after ttpd came out. I tried to see others opinions on her album, and opening the subreddit was like stepping into a nuclear explosion of deep criticism and venom directed towards Taylor, and even towards the people who said the songs that they don't like were good. Literally no one was talking about the songs, just the lyrics that they didn't like.

[@KpopOpinionator]

​@@Thepeanutcollectorshe was one of the most loved artist the previous year now she is literally of the hated I am genuinely shocked how so many people haatee and trash her as tho she is hilter herself Most of the complaints I have heard of her albums r like -too many songs -it 's too complex to understand -very slow and sad apparently Like there r millions of artists who release music every few years and release more upbeat songs Like I wanna hear actual critic of the album not about her

[@SlayingSuperNerdX]

@@KpopOpinionatorhere’s a critique. For an album called poetry, many lyrics don’t seem very poetic. It’s overated in my opinion because it’s getting played constantly. I do not believe it deserves to win album of the year, Eminem’s new one is actually not bad. Many of the anthology songs are kinda off. thank you Aimee and Cassandra could have fit into Folklore or lost Woodvale better then TTPD because the Kim thing happened 8 years ago. 31 songs is a bit much and a slight step down from her 15 OG song quality

[@amandaleighplans]

If you don’t get so long London just wait until you’re 30 and breaking up with the person you thought you’d marry, then you’ll get it. If you think I’m talking about Taylor I’m not, I’m talking about me 😭 the girls that get it get it. She puts that into words perfectly - happiness is another great one for that situation

[@faegibb4043]

Trying so so hard to make it work and saying to yourself , no I'm 30 now it HAS to work. Yep. Also moved cities and countries after the break up. The song hits hard.

[@amandaleighplans]

@@faegibb4043 you are speaking my exact experience 🫠 it’s been 4 years, I’m 30, I CANNOT start over. Although lol it’s been 1.5 years since the breakup, I did start over, and I’ve had zero luck finding someone. And I’m only getting older! Yay OH and I moved states after my breakup! We are so on the same page 🫶🏼 yeah, anyone who doesn’t like SLL has never been through THAT 🤣

[@Jellybeansatdusk]

So long london is not just a death of a relationship but a death of a dream and a death of a future you had poured everything into and fully committed to.

[@amandaleighplans]

@@Jellybeansatdusk 100%!!!! Sometimes I had to ask myself if it was actually my ex as a person I was missing, or just the feeling of being lost that came along with having my life upended at 30 while I should have been planning a wedding.

[@ersguterjule]

Try that when you’re reaching mid 30 🤡🫠

[@xFolkmore]

My unpopular opinion is that I get what everyone is saying about So Long, London being the track 5, and I do agree with it, but I also can understand probably why it’s the track 5 and Zack touched on it a little. In my opinion it’s probably one of the only songs in entirety about Joe. Part of me also likes to think she didn’t want to give a Matty song the coveted spot on the album. Her relationship with Joe was longer, took up more of her life etc etc. and maybe she felt that was best fit for the track 5 (if that all makes sense lol).

[@mirrorball0912]

That is a really great point! I also think it's really sad and heartbreaking in the sense of wasting your late 20s when seemingly everyone around is getting married or having kids. Yes career and all that other stuff matters but the biological clock is real, and it's not stopping for anyone. Deep down as a woman, you always know that you can manage to eventually get over someone, even accept being heartbroken indefinitely, but you can never ever recover your "youth".

[@alexandrite61]

I also think it's worth pointing out that The Anthology's track 5 is How Did It End?, which is another Joe song. Ultimately, even with the Matty pile-up, I feel like at the very core of it all her heartbreak still started and ended with Joe. Matty was the middle stuff that was supposed to take her mind off of it but only made it worse instead.

[@TheSpiralLab]

I think anyone who has ever gone through and finally left a ling-term “you’re losing me/so long London” sort of relationship absolutely understands why this is Taylor’s track five.

[@franziska2521]

i mean matty treated her badly, but what hurts more than the person you imagined yourself marrying not being able to leave their problems behind and commit to you? when love just isn't enough? "you sacrificed us to the Gods of your bluest days" I think after all that was the most hurtful thing for her to realize and that's why it is track 5.

[@mikedebruyn]

The whole album is only possible because of So Long London. If Joe would have listened to her songs, even the one he penned the first verse for (Exile) and acted on it she would have gotten colour in her face and be ringed like she wanted instead of running to the idea of a man she build up in her head over the years and that most of the album is about.

[@sarahs7058]

Agree on But Daddy I Love Him….my first listen I knew it was one of the best songs she’s ever written…to me. It’s truly an album highlight.

[@wa11ie]

the first time i listened to ttpd was very disjointed and i only got to bdilh on my first listen before getting interrupted by going to work and i was listening to fortnight and i asked myself ‚oh no what is this‘ and then my boy only breaks his favourite toy was an instant fave but by down bad i was back to what are we doing here. but daddy i love him really made the album click the first time around.

[@imawakemymindisalive13]

yeah that was the song that gave me hope for the rest of the album lol. unfortunately it didn’t really get better but at least we got but daddy i love him!

[@natalie.m.newman]

The amount of joy I feel knowing that but daddy I love him is your favorite song on this record as well is insurmountable, it makes me so happy and so understood.

[@Reputation.133]

Whoever said BDILH is flat and boring deserves Jail and TSMWEL bridge being “Clunky” , WHAT!

[@wa11ie]

whoever said that needs to open a book and by that i mean something that‘s not faerie smut.

[@MissteriousMisstress]

I have a feeling they are 12 and have no idea- yet.

[@tabathaarria9558]

they deserve prison but they won't get time unfortunately

[@Ms_Writer22]

​@@MissteriousMisstressdon't insult 12 yrs olds. I'm myself 13 and I just love this album.

[@MissteriousMisstress]

@@Ms_Writer22 its not an insult ' I'm saying they have no point of reference for these songs (and nor should they)❤️

[@keiradouglas4621]

“she’s a billionaire but she’s also a human” is a mindset that everyone should have

[@claudiabcarvalho]

It depends. I don't see Melon Tusk as a human. If that makes me a bad person, so be it.

[@jillsarah7356]

Agreed. Identity is layered. Being privileged in one way doesn’t erase other identities. TS will always be held to a double standard bc she is a woman, no matter how rich and successful she becomes. Dehumanizing anyone is harmful to everyone involved!

[@tjc4085]

She’s an odd human in a good way. No amount of money and fame was able to kill the deep empathy and romantic vision she has towards life

[@florencehaber9847]

Every billionaire is human. Plus billionaires pay taxes and may not have a billion in the bank. I don't get why Swifties who I see online keep mentioning she is a billionaire. Taylor wants to be known for her talent. Rightly so. With Joe, Taylor even wrote the first year together was right but when time went on, she tried to get Joe back to how he was the first year. By the last few years, Taylor had it when they couldn't go out in public with Joe OK with it. The line about her friends telling her she is crazy by staying with him and Taylor says, no, no, she can get him back to how he treated her the first year. And of course she can't. She just wasn't ready to end it. When she saw Joe was never going to marry her (the alter) and she was sick of being in jail, the relationship had to end but by that time, she felt free. Not heartbroken since her other relationships that ended, she wasn't ready for, the guys ended it. Except for a couple. With Matty, Taylor thought it was going to go on and on. It was a shock to her he ghosted her so soon.

[@lakenrutland8877]

@@claudiabcarvalhomy exact thought 🥲

[@vvieites001]

I’ll admit I loved the pop production on midnights. There were some indie pop elements that made it different enough from 1989 to be its own unique sound within her discography

[@MarcDoesNotKnow]

PERIOD and if I'm being honest I eat up the bleep bloop of it all

[@Dani-lc9hq]

that's why I found my way here, I wasn't into her older style (and had missed out on Rep and Lovers, which I went back to and also like a lot from), I don't think I'm the only one who enjoys her style now so much more.

[@Thepeanutcollector]

real I declared myself a full on swiftie after midnights like that shit got me running across my house in joy and then bawling on the floor.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Same! Midnights might actually be my fave modern album of hers sonically. Fearless (and maybe Speak Now) still sweeps the production competition. Just the fucking drums alone!

[@cassandral.5840]

THIS INTRO?! 💀🔥 gurl im seated.

[@Thepeanutcollector]

like he came for peoples throats with that canon fire of an intro

[@annalong9741]

Matty Healy isn’t an Italian greyhound he is a poorly bred chihuahua

[@Ajlikestraveling]

Real 😭

[@missmaggicasares6538]

Great now you just made me imagine a Chihuahua with a curly toupee (is that how it is written?)

[@annaphallactic]

CORRECT

[@lcpharm]

Chihuahua doesn’t have the right number of syllables, thus golden retriever (an amazing breed that doesn’t deserve this shame)

[@lcpharm]

Soo..I believe ttpd song is addressing *someone’s* pretentiousness . Shes writing about statements/beliefs that a pretentious person had about themselves. Or conversations they had . She knows him, she’s trying to bring him back to reality (Dylan Thomas, etc..) maybe trying to make the point made the lyrics not great, make she doesn’t care cuz she made the point she wanted

[@yairethcastro71596]

Loml and the black dog really reminded me of RED songwriting. So heartbreaking without all the complicated words and language, just simple and straight to the point. Why is no one talking about the heartbreaking ending to black dog that gasp at the end where her voice breaks off?! I fucking died. I still die.

[@ikaysiaprice326]

i haven’t even started the video yet & i’ve never felt so much instant serotonin. thank you for your service King

[@ManateeGhost]

Putting down champagne problems, august and Peter all in the same sentence killed me dead and sent me to my grave. Those are three of her best songs in my opinion. 💀💀💀

[@ericagoforth8793]

These songs express some of the deepest hurt both a girl and a woman can go through in her lifetime. Being left out and growing old.

[@soumyasam1]

I was thinking the same. Though i do respect his opinion but the way he says it just sounds rude because other people like it 🥰🥰

[@ericagoforth8793]

@@soumyasam1 Yeah totally! 🥰

[@Stellamarie_7]

I couldn’t of said it better myself 👏

[@byefelisha8883]

@@ericagoforth8793she has so many better songs that express this sentiment

[@alexnicole6806]

loml is boring?! Did you not gasp when she said you’re the loss of my life? @ anybody who finds it boring, consider yourself lucky for never experiencing something like that. Up there with Last Kiss and tolerate it for her saddest song

[@MarcDoesNotKnow]

the same people think that loml is about joe so yeah

[@Allly7]

​@@MarcDoesNotKnow obviously is about joe. Ratty? You have to be kidding me!

[@Clara_taylorsversion]

​@@Allly7 how is loml about joe?

[@Allly7]

@@Clara_taylorsversion First, I refuse to believe that this song is about ratty, but that's not objective. What is objective is what the lyrics of the song say: 1) "talking rings and talking candles" i meaannn... marriage. And we know who Taytay wanted to marry. 2) "who's gonna stop us from walzing back" Taylor only has one song in her entire career that is in fact waltz, which one is it? LOVER! 3) "i thought that i was better safe than stary ed" really her relationship with joe was a safe place but never an exciting place, she has said that many times throughout this album. how he felt without illusion, imprisoned in that relationship. those are some of the reasons why i think loml is about joe. As well the smallest men who ever live is about matty.

[@Lime1958]

I'm not a fan of this album with the reason that it sounds undercooked production wise. But Loml is classic Taylor swift poetry. It's so good!

[@E-v8l-e9i]

I agree with Zach 95% of the time, but I genuinely love "Peter" and I have since the first time I listened to it. I'm not going to criticize anyone for disliking it, but I honestly love it. And I'm not a "everything Taylor does is wonderful" person.

[@E-v8l-e9i]

@dontlikementhols_ Also, I've often hoped certain men would grow up and come find me. It's very relatable in that sense.

[@faegibb4043]

Agreed. It fills me with such a specific kind of sweet sadness which almost takes my breath away every time.

[@lovebug1116]

As a fellow "Taylor Swift scholar," as you say, the course material this semester is DENSE, and I am here for it.

[@paulaooook]

It requires you to go back to old albums and that’s what is so fun

[@lucynokata]

I see swiftologist, I click.

[@theswiftologist]

period

[@Shekoodoo17]

the intro was so unhinged it was hilarious. within 3 seconds “well your mother is flat and boring.” GODDAMN 😭😭

[@alexandrite61]

The "she's a billionaire" argument has gotten so old and stale tbh. All the money the world can't fix the heartbreak, loneliness, depression, self-loathing, and whatever else she was going through over night. Anyone who has ever felt those things know how well they can isolate you and make you feel as if the world is crashing down when in reality it could just be YOUR world. And you sometimes go through those things alone. She's human. She's allowed to feel all of those things. You're allowed to not relate to the stuff she's saying or hell, feel bad for her if that's what you don't want to do. But I don't understand completely dismissing how she felt and saying it was invalid. It just comes across as extremely unsympathetic to me.

[@lauraundisclosed3210]

And show me any other billionaire that is that industrious and prolific both physically and intellectually. She earned her billion. Very little passive income there.

[@brusselsprout7634]

Right and that billion dollars couldn’t fix her relationship with Joe or make Matty change. Money can buy things that make you happy but it can’t buy a non toxic relationship so i agree the billionaire take is just annoying

[@SASkinPro]

This is exactly what she’s saying in The Prophecy.

[@jillsarah7356]

Exactly!! Identity is layered and dehumanizing someone for any reason is harmful.

[@MayaMickaMicak]

I completely agree, as someone who's not very fond of billionaires, I know they're still humans, I don't like those who do their best to exploit their workers, but Taylor, to my knowledge, is pretty kind and generous. Also, most times the system that allows wealth disparity is the thing to blame, not individuals Although I would really love to be able to afford the best psychiatrists in the world when I'm going through heartbreak lol She is really lucky in that regard but that still doesn't negate her human emotions

[@alexnicole6806]

TSMWEL is my second favorite bridge after DBATC. Saying it’s clunky….cricket. CRICKET. Nobody moved.

[@cc1526]

Honestly it is clunky. But that’s why I LOVE IT. It’s so rambly and so textbook Taylor. Especially when the music changes with it. It’s almost like she stops singing and just goes off on him. It’s great, but absolutely clunky. Clunky doesn’t have to mean bad though. It may not be for everyone but it’s for me absolutely.

[@theseaofstories2959]

Peter and Champagne Problems being called mid is soooo astounding. I mean Peter and Champagne Problems are lyrically beautiful. Peter uses the symbolism of Peter Pan so well and the hook is beautiful. Champagne Problems' bridge is the most lyrically superior bridge of all time. You are missing out.

[@claudiabcarvalho]

I think it's the female gaze that he can't connect with. I'm 27, and I've seen so many guys that refuse to grow up and no one gives a sh1t, but I've been told I have to grow up since I was a literal child. With CP, it's all about feeling you're not entitled to happiness in love because you're a broken doll unable to fulfill the requirements set up for women, so you blame yourself and wish the best for the guys you love, and the best is not you.

[@veganpizza13]

ugh yes "love isn't lost when perspective is earned" the bridge of peter is one of my fav on the album

[@BORGNY2]

some people crave drama, and when there is none, just pure poetry they are bored.

[@kalehead0075]

Peter Pan is the one that I find myself coming back to for a good cry.

[@imawakemymindisalive13]

@@claudiabcarvalhogirl there’s no way you abbreviated champagne problems as CP i literally thought you meant child cornography and had a heart attack 😭

[@RalphEssers-qf4rh]

Just for context: I am a 49 year old male that just became interested (by accident) in Taylor's music and life a few months ago. I watched some of the Swiftologist videos on Joe and all of the ones about Matty, listened to some of the 1975 songs and watched some Matty on KZbin. For me, that was more than enough to understand the situation she was in. Then TTPD was released, and it simply hit me like a truck. It became immediately clear that this was not about Joe, and that a veil was being lifted for us. We could see her true inner feelings and how she was devastated loosing her true love like this. For me, this album (including the anthology)) is really a 9,5/10. It is epic and will, at least for me, always remain a monument that showed me how music is capable of conveying truly deep feelings to an audience in a very profound and beautiful way. And please don't hate me, but the best lyric"of them all for me is "like a tattood golden retriever". Every time I hear this, I immediately feel how Matty felt to her. Sure, for the general public his is no golden retriever, but in those moments (when she was scratching his hair) he was HER golden retriever, falling asleep on her lap. And I feel her love for him. Truly amazing song writing! One last remark: the black and white theming of the album is a deliberate reference to the 1975 I think. Their albums are also black and white.....

[@misssophie1409]

Love your point of view!

[@lem2373]

Love ❤

[@sammiemm9397]

Exactly! Honestly, I'm convinced she and Joe A would have split up sooner if it wasn't for the pandemic. The circumstances that bought them together were also the circumstances that revealed they weren't compatible. Taylor is Miss Americana, she will never have a low key life and she needs someone who can withstand that. As for the Matty of it all, well if hey are meant to be, they will find each-other despite all the drama but he'll have to be able to put up with her world, if not...

[@muskaan3711]

Agree! Matty was like a golden retriever to HER black cat, not us lmao. Why don't people understand that we don't know him personally like Taylor did.

[@vanyl.d]

hairologist??? gorgeous waves omg

[@dreamchaser7603]

Someone is pulling Harry Styles

[@theswiftologist]

thank u

[@dramaminedream22]

I’m convinced that the people who think that TTPD is boring or not lyrically interesting haven’t had any life experience. Hearing this album was like reliving so many of my life experiences. The catharsis is real.

[@theswiftologist]

period

[@kalehead0075]

Agreed- I'm in my 30’s now and I bawled!!!

[@agathamethyst45]

Or people just listen to a lot if artists that aren't Taylor...idk food for thought.

[@carolinamansur113]

​@@agathamethyst45 your reply doesn't even make sense to the conserve you're replying to.

[@Rachels7777]

@agathamethyst45 According to my Lastfm, I’ve streamed over 500 artists across dozens of genres, and I still love TTPD 🤷‍♀️

[@Spudiffer]

Champaign problems and Peter are not in the same category 😂

[@joshuyuh13]

Very much not

[@borathebrat]

Peter is better yup!

[@graciekinsey2735]

@@borathebrat21:18

[@beingthisyoungisart13]

@@borathebratyup! Yup! Yup!

[@theyoutubeanalyst3731]

Wait... What is up with all of this Champaign problems slander?

[@poppy6989]

Newer Swiftie here. I have been listening to her catalog and watching reactions for variety and following the Swiftologist for some sensible commentary. I agree with him most of the time and respect the differences of opinion. I absolutely LOVE this album. loml is super sad, I agree.

[@nancypal]

i have a theory that Taylor googles “top 10 most viral terms used by genz” and incorporates them into her lyrics. it’s why we get lines like golden retriever, I felt seen, down bad, etc

[@dreamchaser7603]

That would be awesome!! 😂🤣😅

[@belmoon8711]

I think Taylor's lyrics combine different events, tattooed golden retriever might be relating to more than one person.

[@anagham4700]

I’ve noticed that too but I don’t mind it as long as it transforms into;being something greater than the colloquial use of the term itself. For example, hits different, living in my head rentfree from lover, the term eras like these are phrases that were in popular use when she added them to her discography. Like I said I don’t mind it as long as it doesn’t feel out of place and can take on a different meaning

[@sinforoso.]

i hope she stops doing it fr... it's kinda cringe 💀

[@rachelbelanger4726]

@mrscootysupremacybecause people describe their “golden retriever” boyfriends all the time lol

[@pinkshgum]

i'm conviced taylor wrote the title track while high

[@theswiftologist]

lmao

[@piitu3691]

I totally agree. Those silly, stupid lyrics about tattood golden retriever represent the unhinged things you think/say while being high. That's why it comes right after lines about smoking and eating too many chocolate bars.

[@Deb_Elle]

That’s what I thought at first. Until somebody explained the 7 bars of chocolate is a reference to a 1975 song Chocolate.

[@Sylveonny233]

i think the song has a lot of specifics that maybe only her, ratty and a few of her friends will know about.

[@KyleOgilvie1]

I think the Black Dog could have also been a good track five. It honestly reminds me of a mix of All Too Well and Last Kiss.

[@jamiekay3650]

The Black Dog is the best song on this album. And relatable while being specific.

[@theswiftologist]

it is nothing like either of those songs lol but I do love it

[@mariai.3918]

I agree that it’s giving Last Kiss!

[@hanna-hl9oi]

If the black dog has no fans I’m dead. The girls that get it get it

[@emmaj8337]

@@theswiftologist I think they mean thematically

[@teresagormley903]

Thinking of Matty as Peter to Taylors Wendy makes so many songs hit different going back over a long period.She did weave him into all of her poems.

[@AylalikeKaylawithouttheK]

I love how Cardigan is the prelude to Peter!! Cardigan- “Peter losing Wendy” “you’d be standin in my front porch light” Peter- “the woman who sits by the window has turned out the light”

[@anagham4700]

I know a lot of people are running with this theory but I really disagree about him being the Peter to her Wendy and cardigan being woven into this theory. It’s pretty clear when you listen to the album that her desire and *need* to be with Matty was not fuelled because he was this long lost love of hers but rather it was a result of her being broken due to her relationship with a Joe. Also Matty didn’t renter her life until midnights was being produced and being around someone who you once shared something with while your LTR that once felt like forever is dying a slow death, it makes sense why she deluded herself into believing that Matty was actually her fate all along. We need to understand that when her relationship with Joe ended, it also took with it an entire belief system constructed around him being her saviour. If it was written in the stars then why did it end in such a slow agonising way where he refused to try to make it better. It was easier for her to cling to the idea that it was Matty who was her lost love and than come to terms with the fact that “there were no signs of soulmates. Hence why, she dedicated of cardigan to him not because she was always secretly in love with him but rather because that’s what she convinced herself of. We need to understand that GaS? is a delusional song and the wake up from that it realising that it was actually counterfeit and never real, that is why it’s embarrassing for her. Because she let herself fall for it and deluded herself to a point where she herself was convinced that she had always secretly loved him. So, thesis statement, she didn’t weave him into all of her poems she just convinced herself that she did because that was easier to digest than confronting the slow demise of her LTR that she was convinced was going to last forever. She describes it that way herself in the summation poem, it was manic phase, it was self harm it wasn’t this buried desire that stayed with her all the while she was with Joe. It got triggered because he re entered her orbit while she was already in a bad place

[@MayankSingh-do2vy]

Why did I have a feeling that somehow peter was about her letting harry styles go🤡. Cause if you do think about it, matty did return to her, he just didn’t grow up, but Harry grew as both an artist and as a person and didn’t really try to return to her, when I really think that in the back of her mind, she has a what if where he returns. Also, the lost to the “lost boys chapter” may or may not have a connection with 1D

[@musicjunkie31karma]

THIS!!! Thank you! I for one am a Matty Healy fan (gasp!) and think he’s got a lot of bs that’s undeserved. Unpopular opinion I know

[@monsemora2964]

Thisss​@@MayankSingh-do2vy

[@saima.nijhum]

"Your mother is flat and boring" is the only 'yo mama' sass we approve of.

[@jaqihinkle3481]

Peter defender moment for me- it’s my most listened to song of ttpd and I’m incapable of knowing if it’s at all an objectively good song because it PERFECTLY describes the tragedy of some fictional characters I’m obsessed with. Plus I think her vocal delivery of the verses is really gorgeous. I’m over here in my bubble thinking about the YA novel the raven boys

[@MarcDoesNotKnow]

now that I'm thinking about it, the bars of chocolate and golden retriever lines being so close to each other is basically her saying that ratty is self destructive bc you know... dogs and chocolate.. still a weird ass line bc it's such a strange metaphor and it doesn't fit in with the entire song (not that the rest of the song is clear and coherent anyway) but a perspective opened up for me suddenly lol

[@dreamchaser7603]

As a cat person I didn’t get the metaphor 😂

[@florencehaber9847]

The Black Dog Taylor has walking in her Fortnight video, Matty before that had a black dog walking in his video . What people don't realize is that Taylor used words from Matty's interviews, his videos, his album covers etc. It was like she was "obsessed " with following Matty. Even Taylor marching was taken from Matty marching. I don't know if Taylor was trying to tell Matty she watched everything he did and it is possible since she really fell for him in the ten years.

[@Clara_taylorsversion]

Oh that kinda makes sense

[@missmaggicasares6538]

Somebody mentioned that it might have to do with a song that the 1975 band has either called "high" or something (hence the reference to smoke) and THAT song has a 7 bar verses or something (hence the 7 bars of chocolate) now this could all be delulu... But I wouldn't put it past her to use it as a reference that only HIS fans, HIM and people that might know this will recognize it while the rest of us are like "WHAT on earth does she mean with the 7 bars of.chocolate?"

[@angelamarie4137]

Maybe she was just trying to show what a digusting weird ass Ratty is. Dude gets stoned and binges on chocolate and then sits and wants to be petted like a dog, acting all docile. It shows how damaged he is, and I think a real part of her likes taking care of people because she is a people pleaser.

[@brittneylove1011]

the overwriting for me really leans into the whole tortured poetry vibe of it all. Would love to see what your thoughts are so far about next years grammy with all the heavy hitters that have released albums this year.

[@MarcDoesNotKnow]

same thoughts! i never really found any problems with songs being overwritten or under edited bc both cases fit the poet theme either way. i fjnd it strange how the general population doesn't see it that way

[@mauraisacat]

On the relatability of "I can do it with a broken heart"- it also really reminded me of the Katy Perry documentary where she's sobbing backstage because of the dissolution of her relationship but then she enters the stage with a smile like it never happened!!! Billionaires have emotions too!!

[@addiegabriel9333]

Some of these unpopular takes are something else. Someone needed to call them out on their contrarian shit. Swiftologist always up to the job.

[@SUM41Y4]

5:50 i think a lot of the lyrics in tortured poets point to the fact matty and taylor had this illict but none existent relationship since like 1989... there's too many 'coincidences' (which do not exist in Taylor's world) that align with the 1975 and also the past...like even in guilty as sin? the, arguably, underlying theme of the song is emotional cheating. She even says in the smallest man 'it wasnt sexy once it wasn't forbidden'. So that is why it hit her so hard and hurt because it only got real and out there for that short period of time we saw. To summarise, they've been each others muses for a while. Not to dismiss or invalidate Taylor's feelings, but that's probably the reason why the lyrics are unhinged and chaotic (if that makes sense)

[@claudiabcarvalho]

That's an old saying among artists that dating a muse brings bad luck. I'm pretty skeptical myself, but maybe there might be some psychological truth to that.

[@knowitnone]

I never understood the Archer slander. It’s a deeply conflicted song, perfect track 5 for an album that’s ultimately deeply conflicted about its subject matter. “Help me hold on to you” is one of her most devastating lyrics, and it perfectly encapsulates the tension between “love is sweet” and “love is pain” that’s at the core of Lover.

[@starcloud_er]

Swiftologist is an EXAMPLE swiftie - no way are you a hater. You are not afraid to express you're opinions (that are always well justified tbh) and call out taylor when occasionally she does something wrong. i wish more swifties were as well rounded as you, then the fandom wouldn't have the almost toxic reputation it does.

[@theswiftologist]

[@britneyc.3341]

1000% agree on loml being one of the saddest songs Taylor has ever written. "Our field of dreams, engulfed in fire" always hits me so hard and it's one of the last lines of the song

[@JustLuai]

Melodically, I get a little Lana on Fortnight. Especially the first verse. Lana practically makes a cameo on "and what about your quiet treason?"

[@brittanytiera3299]

True

[@the_piano_nerd4960]

I never thought of that! The most Lana I heard was on the verses in So Long London. It was somewhere between spoken and sung. (I’m also not a huge Lana fan yet btw - going to be but haven’t gone through her discography yet - so if there any other Lana fans here that could confirm I’d love more thoughts)

[@LDRverse1949]

The production on Fortnight kinda reminds me of an unreleased song by Lana, named 'Hollywood'. But that's just a synthwave inspired sound, which almost every pop artist has it somewhere in their works.

[@inesnanunino]

imo, Fresh out the slammer sounds sooooo Lana productions wise (and I love it!)

[@MayaMickaMicak]

I also think people are associating her songs to Lana's is because Taylor is using her deeper voice more, and it some instances it sounds like Lana's way of singing, especially because a lot of people who don't really listen to diverse music and diverse ways of singing (nothing wrong with that of course) only know that type of singing voice as Lana's because for them she's the one who popularised it and brought it to mainstream music. I also don't know many mainstream and pop singers who sing that way, the only other one that comes to mind is Lorde

[@kjay9177]

It irks me when there are people who say that she is not experimenting enough with her music as compared to other artists and she should reinvent herself. Like HELLO? She has been in the industry for almost 2 decades and she literally had to reinvent herself every era! She has put out 11 albums and all of them have their distinct sounds. Let her reinvent and experiment with her music at her OWN pace! she has proven enough time that she certainly can!

[@cheesecakelasagna]

I just want a full-on rock album from her ala Speak Now and some off of Red.

[@Jo.j.13-l9v]

While they Sound different, their selling point is the same. Espiecally since folklore and evermore, its the heartbreaking big Bridges and the Wordiness and I LOVE that shit but, it doesn't suprise me or make me think or feel something new. I'm the first one to say that she doesn't have to deliver anything more than what she wabts to and what she is good at but I would love to see it anyway espiecally if I am to believe in her infiinte Talent. Plus it does feel like because she is on top of the World she maybe isnt being challenged to sit on a song longer because we love every scrap she writes, and then she makes a Ton of good song but maybe if everyone was a bit more critical there could be more masterpieces. But I mean again she can do what she wants. We should all listen to other music as well anyways.

[@emilykelleher6147]

When it comes to the billionaire thing, I think The Prophecy says it all. You can be rich and have so many dreams come true but that doesn’t guarantee you true love. At heart T Swift is a poet/romantic

[@eonopa]

The TTPD title track for me is like Gorgeous or London Boy. You just need to accept and vibe😂 And I’ll happily stumble back home to cats and eat as many bars of chocolate as Taylor wants ahahah. There is really a place for that kind of song on Taylor’s discography Edit: I also died on your Ratty characterisation here😂

[@Rachels7777]

I love Gorgeous and London Boy but I hate The Tortured Poets Department 😭 I wish I liked it but there’s endearing cringe and there’s embarrassing cringe and it’s firmly the latter to me.

[@temsikdoos]

honestly i feel like 'loml' would have been an interesting title for the whole album.especially when you hear the song, it fits the vibe. he was the love of her life, he was the loss of her life. i dont know if that makes sense but i think it would have been a fun way to throw people off and i bet new swifties would have 100% believed it was gonna be about travis or something lol

[@emma22581]

Yes I agree but also the TTPD had so many like marketing possibilities so ig that’s why they went with that

[@ivanaloncar5320]

The BIGGEST slap to JA is actually not making break up album everyone had expected. I am dead sure JA messed up pretty big (hence great unfollowing), however the queen slapped back by telling the world her situation-ship had been deeper and more meaningful to her than their 6 years ups and downs and dedicating two songs to their end (out of 31!) telling him “you’ll find someone”. This hurts so much more😊. And MH got what he deserved - revenge album and female rage (and some of her best songs, to be honest, few of them being Guilty as sin, Fresh out of slammer, Imgonnagetyouback). Btw, your hair looks great!

[@theswiftologist]

thank you!! x

[@Donna754]

I see your point and it’s definitely a huge possibility. But another interpretation could be that because they spent those 6 years together and he preferred to stay extremely private this was a way to show her respect for their long relationship. Coupled with the fact that we now in hindsight know that Midnights was partly an album depicting the break down of their relationship ending with You’re Losing Me

[@imaneel2043]

Unpopular opinion : TTPD was a turning point in me becoming a swiftie. I always enjoyed her music but the raw honesty and poetry on the last record made me a stan

[@imaneel2043]

Made me revisit the whole discography too

[@itssmehailey]

14:25 yes!! i’m a newer swiftie and this is my first NEW taylor album! Im so so happy that I knew things about what or who the songs could be about bc it helped me enjoy all of them so much more!

[@maryem9225]

what’s crazy about the I Can Do It With a Broken Heart slander is that if she were doing the opposite - if she were writing about how awesome it is to be a billionaire and singing about private jets PEOPLE WOULD FREAK. People say they don’t want her playing the victim, but they would also have no room for Taylor playing the victor and winner. So Taylor mighg as well do what it is she does which is be vulnerable and talk about her feelings.

[@MarcDoesNotKnow]

she's standing on an insanely thin line rn where anything she does will be ostracized one way or another. let her be human!!

[@cc1526]

I feel like the reason some people are put off by ICDIWABH isn’t the song at all - it’s the ending. “Try and come for my job” - really? The job millions of people are literally STARVING on the streets of Hollywood trying to have? The job she herself said she would “die if she made it.” I feel like that part is the part that takes me out. It’s smug and it doesn’t add anything to the song. I think that’s what’s made people go “oh try and come for your job? How about having a broken heart and having to work in a hospital everyday and tell a new mother their baby is stillborn or having to tell parents their kid’s cancer is terminal.” I don’t think most people have an issue with her gassing herself up and celebrating that she’s still killing it even with a broken heart. Good on you girl! You put on a fantastic show and never let any of those breakups keep you from going out on the stage. But being all smug and saying “try and come for my job” is what led to people saying “oh hey I’ll gladly come perform every night in thousand dollar designer gowns and go home to my mansion on my private jet and dry my heartbroken tears with hundred dollar bills - you can have my life-threatening construction worker job and barely make enough to feed your family in this economy while still having that same broken heart - let’s trade right now.” Do you understand where I’m coming from? It’s not that she’s not allowed to have a broken heart or that her being a billionaire makes her problems nonexistent. That’s not it at all! It’s the attitude in that song that’s a little tone deaf and off putting. Just to play devils advocate as someone who very much likes that song, but I do get where people are coming from. It’s a lack of humility that most people aren’t used to with Taylor since she’s usually very self aware about her privilege.

[@horselover40]

I think " try and come for my job" is a call out to the Kim and Kanye fiasco, to the constant attempts to cancel her or criticise her work.nothing todo with saying sing on a stage is hard, its more about recognizing that so many people have tried to tear her down while she keeps going

[@tarathoughts13]

@@cc1526 yea I see where you’re coming from but I also think it’s liek her saying ‘try and come for it!’ as in ‘no matter what happens in my love life/personal relationships, no one can beat me at my job’ bc let’s be honest, Taylor works hard af at her job even when her personal life is falling apart, and its generally acknowledged that even if you dislike her music, she works hard to perform every night and release liek 50 projects every year, so to me it wasn’t her saying ‘my job is harder than everyone elses’ it was more just her acknowledging that a lot of average people would probably be unable to do her job or would break under the pressure of it all, and how she is ‘able to do it with a broken heart’ and imo she is allowed to be a little smug since even if she is privileged (and we can acknowledge that don’t get me wrong) she has worked hard and she’s allowed to be a little smug imo.

[@cc1526]

@@tarathoughts13 I guess I just don’t like that smugness because I don’t believe the narrative that “no one can do it like her.” There’s plenty of people who could but don’t have the money, recognition, or nepotism to get them there. Plus, there was people before her who were just as good if not better like Michael Jackson and there will be people after her that will be just as good too. But I don’t just feel that for Taylor - I feel that way for everyone. I think a big lesson I’ve had to learn lately is as far as our jobs go, we are 100% replaceable. Someone did your job before you and someone will do your job when you’re gone. I just experienced this firsthand at my company. A very important manager decided to take a new job at a new company. She had worked there for years and was very important to the company. I honestly didn’t know how we’d go on without her, but I showed up Monday morning to an office that felt like nothing changed. We all just moved on like nothing happened. It was really eye opening for me how important we can be while we’re there but how quickly people can move on when we’re gone. It really made me realize how unimportant jobs are in the grand scheme of our life and how much more important our actual family and friends are because those are the only people who will truly miss your presence when we’re gone. All of this to say - I don’t think there’s any point in being smug in how “good” you are at your job. You can be proud of your work sure, but there will always be someone better than you so there’s no point in getting a big head because that’s when you get humbled lol But like I said, I was playing devil’s advocate. I like the song and I think she’s incredibly talented and puts on a great show. Humility is just very important to me because it shows character.

[@14NRossi]

As I get closer to my thirties, I understand more and more that So Long, London is devastating. I think the fast tempo disguises just how sad it is. Women unfortunately do have a clock over our heads if we want marriage and children, and sacrificing that youth to him for nothing, for free, and realising that she wasted all of that precious time is honestly heartbreaking.

[@lfior]

I don’t understand the “for free” part, and I’m also getting closer to my thirties. Nothing is free, you experienced it, so you got something out of it. You were there, you wanted to stay there for a while, presumably because something was being gained, why would it have been ‘free’? Would marriage for example have made it better if they had broken up in the end?

[@takemetothelakes2412]

@@lfior are you a woman?

[@faegibb4043]

​@lfior well no, but she would have gone into the marriage expecting it to be forever. I don't think "for free" is the best phrase but as an unmarried, childless 35 year old, I would honestly be so mad if my partner broke up with me now 😂 I'm pushing my final hot years I don't want them wasted 😂

[@takemetothelakes2412]

@@lfior you don't know what she got out of it though. no one does lol. we don't know these people personally. not for you or anyone else to police words she uses to describe her own feelings and experiences.

[@jordanhebert7240]

I can 100% agree to this especially because TS has made it very clear she does want marriage and kids and that is the ultimate goal for her and for Joe to just kinda take her youth from her and want to change her and hold it over her head is devastating.

[@Svenny21]

One thing to note is that Taylor perhaps saw Matty as a Golden Retriever, and the tattoos imply that other people don't see him that way. because Golden Retrievers are really obedient to their owner and would not get tattoos. It's a stretch but yeah, it's vague imagery. Good video as always!

[@florencehaber9847]

Taylor referred to Matty as a tattooed golden retriever because when she sang to him at her concert he looked like to her a tattooed cocker spaniel the way he was standing seeming in love.

[@barbara6064]

TTPD is a masterpiece! Keep coming back to it everyday! Ps: I love your hair!! Looks amazing rn

[@theswiftologist]

thank you

[@barbara6064]

Keep up the great work ❤

[@phoebedemontefalcon1423]

I think tattooed golden retriever is a juxtaposition metaphor for Taylor.. like a bad boy but sweet on the inside.. she's showing to the listeners a side of him that is not known to everyone. He can be soft when he wants to . Or maybe she just wants to say that bad boy matty looks adorable when when sleeping.

[@SASkinPro]

This is a great point. We see the dirty ratty, but through her eyes at the time, he was adorable, sweet and warm.

[@claudiabcarvalho]

We know that, it's just that the picture that those words paint is weird. Tattooed... Golden Retriever? It's like Rebekah dying the dog key lime green, but that actually made sense. I don't want to picture a tattooed dog, that's animal cruelty 😭

[@muskaan3711]

Why is it so difficult for people to understand that maybe matty was like a golden retriever to HER in private. It doesn't matter whether we think he's a golden or not cause we don't know him personally 🤷

[@Adouglasses]

As a Peter lover….. I have to objectively agree , I love the bridge but it’s not one of her greatest. My subjective opinion however is another thing

[@LarissaMonteiro-vm5zo]

It’s one my favorites from the anthology, but definitely not my favorite bridge( even though I also like it)

[@snowfoxxie]

I love the theme of Peter and I like the song! a relationship you always plan to go back to but don’t-been there! repetition is a bit much for me in it though, but maybe that’s how she feels thinking about this person often again and again. Makes sense to me personally but I get that it’s not everyone’s tea😊

[@raphynette]

I’m going to need a coffee and advil for this 😭😂

[@raphynette]

I spit out the sip of coffee I was drinking when you read aloud the opinion that the black dog cover is hideous

[@UGAIMES]

I have three Italian Greyhounds. Ratty WISHES he could be compared to them.

[@JetpackLiamG]

Peter is one of the best songs Taylor has ever written, I get not liking how it sounds but it's so magical and emotionally powerful And of course it's a self write

[@kaamini9160]

Peter is ok, but Taylar said in Stockholm that it was her favourite.

[@Izzywildflowerr]

for some reason i just don’t like how it starts. after the first line of the song i like it idk why the first line annoys me so much 😭

[@kalehead0075]

@@Izzywildflowerr Really? Its one of my favorites for some reason.

[@taylorcollins8254]

9:14 loml literally wrecked my entire soul because it was the most painfully accurate representation of how traumatic my relationship with my daughter’s dad truly was. And I was just finally getting to a place where I was truly ready to move on so it was deeply therapeutic while also causing my soul to leave my body & leave me in a puddle of tears. Anyone who dares to slander that particular piece of brilliance has clearly not been through quite enough pain in their lives yet 🤣

[@AylalikeKaylawithouttheK]

All of the criticism about the album I have learned to completely ignore. It’s just upsetting and annoying to see how many people are looking to hate on this album or purely just do not understand the album. This album is by far my most played Taylor album I’ve listened to. It’s vulnerable and raw and truly expresses so much of the joy and pain and depression of relationships that don’t go how you wish they would have. It’s just perfect.

[@ambreschweitzer722]

Agreed. I also feel like if you don't connect, that's fine. That's an individuals feeling but a lot of people choose to use their feelings of not liking it to either generate hate or want to speak for everyone else. Like "only Swifties are delusional to like this". I have friends who don't like her music and all loved TTPD and I've seen older people coming on board that didn't give her a shot before. An individual can only speak for themselves and nobody else. I am going to like what I like and nobody can take that away because they don't ❤

[@maggielangevin1208]

I thought this was definitely that Red unhinged vulnerability. I have also noticed that the people that have the biggest beef with this album were also the ones petitioning Taylor or supporting the petition (Sarah's and Hannah's) to break up with Matty Healy. They refuse to admit while it was a short thing it was meaningful for Taylor.

[@Dani-lc9hq]

I can see that being true, I've read a comment from someone saying they felt offended by what she says in "But Daddy I love him" and needs to distance herself now from her... as if talking about someone she knows personally... people have such severely toxic parasocial ties, from feeling entitled to telling her who to date to feeling personally offended by her lyrics, it's wild...

[@rachelbelanger4726]

@@Dani-lc9hqFor real. I can’t help but raise an eyebrow when I watch people flip out over MH. Just enjoy the music or don’t 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@the_piano_nerd4960]

Something I’m finding funny about this album is it seems a lot of people agree that cuts should’ve been made, but no one can agree on what songs should’ve been taken out. I’ve arrived to selecting my favorites and not begrudging others for having access to songs that I don’t personally care for. As much as I like a streamlined, concise album experience, I’ve been having a good time meandering around this 31 song sprawl we’ve got

[@spellhex6213]

imo, the bridge of the smallest man who ever lived is the best bridge on the album

[@theswiftologist]

well yes

[@tvil8]

Saw a reactor talk about the title track and said it's intentionally cringe because it's her basically saying, I know I'm not a tortured poet.. the concept of the album is that its satire. And it just works on another level with matty cuz he thought he was a tortured poet. It rang somewhat true to me.

[@CliodhnaCunningham]

Strong Lana influence in the way she throws her voice like in My Boy "Called the rain to end our days of wild, the sickest army doll purchased at the mall, rivulets descend my plastic smile". Also I think Peter is autobiographical as she is waiting for a man to grow the f up and then turning off the light for him and moving on. Thanks for your content swiftologist always in awe of the content and the glossy lip and skin

[@henrywayne5724]

Tortured Poets is dense and vulnerable lyrically so I'll give her that but her safest album musically. It is so so painfully safe melodically, production wise...That is actually my problem with this project. Had the lyrics been backed by interesting melodies and more inspired production, this would have easily been her magnum opus imo.

[@MarcDoesNotKnow]

right?? it's kinda underwhelming how she stays in this basic pop progression and reused midnights and 1989 tv vault track melodies. she literally did tolerate it she can do so much more omg. the most this album has in store was the switch up in the outro of fresh out the slammer and that's it.

[@earthlingphilosophy3531]

I very much agree with this

[@marciarocapupuche2343]

So true, the lyrics have so many layers, its sad the melodies cant follow

[@pamelagoodman7559]

Maybe complain to her multiple award winning producer - sure, he’ll say omg you’re right please come do my job 🤣

[@TheCinder24]

The point is that she is calling back to other songs in some of these melodies. There is a purpose in everything she does. I also think some things will make more sense when the Rep Vault is finally open.

[@jonasreich3607]

It's a beautiful Sunday when the swiftologist posts. I have never clicked on a notification faster Love u zach!!❤

[@theswiftologist]

[@makananigrace]

LITERALLY YES TAYLOR JUST NEEDS MORE DRUMS some live instruments is exactly what her songs need

[@Deb_Elle]

I second, third and fourth this!!!! 100% needs drums. In the past couple of albums the drums were beautifully crafted and actually very well thought out but I miss a good strong drum sounds.

[@Rachels7777]

Most of The Anthology does incorporate live instruments! I’m not sure about drums but there are violins, cellos, french horns, etc. It says so in the descriptions of her uploads on KZbin.

[@cmwattam]

"don't we ALL have to do it with a broken heart though???" yes that's because it is good, relatable songwriting, chad. It's honestly a little impressive that she wrote a song about being on a world tour that literally anyone with their boring old life can relate to

[@Midnightskiddo]

Not you saying Italian greyhound 🤣🤣😭 the fact that i see it 😭

[@kristenmollner4910]

In my head, whatever the track 5 is, it's her personal 'this was the hardest moment for me' and not necessarily what always sounds the most sad. So we can say it doesn't sound sad enough to be track 5, but ultimately I think it's not a choice that's really about us. 🤷‍♀

[@Sadielady1978]

I'm surprised people think TSMWEL is about Scooter. That's a weird opinion I keep hearing. "It wasn't sexy once it wasn't forbidden " is a lover...period.

[@Lainey4096]

I loved your honest reaction to the unpopular opinions. This album is definitely a grower. I have been listening to the album and anthology everyday and I am finding new gems everyday.

[@Esti89dec]

I see the golden retriever line as how Taylor saw him at that time. Incredibly loving, loyal, laying in her lap. When I think of their time together, I can see him acting that way to convince her he loved her so much.

[@liswane]

but the full line is "tattooed golden retriever" and i agree with the swiftologist, it's clunky and unclear. i think she could've conveyed the same meaning you describe without "tattooed" and it wouldn't sound so odd.

[@franciethompson6457]

Peter is a great song in my opinion but I would never go so far as to say one of the best bridges of all time. I think its one of those songs like champagne problems and august that is about a situation you hear of a lot and that translates as “relatable,” even though I know this many people cannot POSSIBLY be relating to these songs because it is such a sort of fantastical, rare situation (rejecting marriage proposal, being the girl he cheats with, having a boy not come back to you). Now the Smallest Man Who Ever Lived Bridge…. PERFECTION.

[@MrsShimmyOnDown]

How can you not see the juxtaposition inherent in "tattooed golden retriever", "tattooed" implying rebellious and wild and "golden retriever" symbolising docile, square and bourgeois. I take it as her saying he tries to come across as risqué and brave, but really he's tame and acquiescent.

[@wannabe_dreamgirl]

the mental gymnastics is CRAZY but i kinda get it

[@wa11ie]

the ‚underneath the scary exterior he‘s really just a good boy‘ juxtaposition was so obvious to me. i do think golden retriever bf is just something the kids say to describe a guy who‘s really kind hearted and cute, without the class implications but in spirit i agree with your take here. again, very obvious juxtaposition. doesn‘t stop it from feeling clunky and ‚how do you do fellow kids‘ of her but for some reason, people seem to be having a hard time reading these lyrics because they convey simple concepts in overcomplicated ways.

[@MrsShimmyOnDown]

@@wa11ie I didn't intend to imply any class connotation; 'bourgeois' was what my dictionary gave me for the German class neutral term 'spießig' that I was reaching for, which means something that is the opposite of wild/rebellious/dangerous. (English is not my first language).

[@annaphallactic]

​@@MrsShimmyOnDown Was the word you were looking for "conventional"? That's what I'm taking away from your comment, since bourgeois is sometimes used in a similar way. Matty strikes me as someone who desperately wants to be seen as weird and extraordinary but is really just an average dude deep down.

[@annaphallactic]

​@@MrsShimmyOnDown Was the word you were looking for "conventional"? That's what I'm taking away from your comment, since bourgeois is sometimes used in a similar way. Matty strikes me as someone who desperately wants to be seen as weird and extraordinary but is really just an average dude deep down.

[@Midnightskiddo]

Tbh i felt called out listening to i can do it with a broken heart bec i can't do shit when im depressed lmao

[@Lilhlc]

I just want to say that I too was ghosted by a three month situationship and I still think about it to this day lmfao. There's something about someone leaving you before the relationship gets bad is another type of pain

[@claudiabcarvalho]

Matty was the perfect storm. She was doing everything she could to make her relationship with Joe still alive, because she clearly loved him and they spent to much time together; she craved more from Joe, and then Matty came and was giving her just what she wanted. Add that to the fact she thought she wasted her youth in an unfruitful relationship, that her time as a viable suitor is going away with her age. When she realized that Matty was available for her, she was like "that's it, he's my only hope", just for literally everyone else to say she shouldn't be with him. Those are the reasons why she was so defensive with Matty. She compares herself to a young woman in a small town in BDILH, but the truth is that the feeling she had was actually the desperation of a women facing the fact and stigma of getting old. Some people say TTPD is brutally honest, and I can't help to disagree. She's trying to make herself accessible to younger audiences, hiding behind teenage allegories when she could've wrote about her feelings as a woman in her 30s.TSMWEL is so good because we feel the weight of her experience when she's judging Matty; for her, from all of the men she's ever dated, he was the smallest, and that means something! She also feels like a grown up woman in Peter, SLL, TBD, Clara Bow and The Prophecy, and this is why I love those songs so much. She needs to act her age fr. Edit: added Clara Bow

[@tarathoughts13]

Exactly! I’m kinda getting sick of the whole ‘I’m just a small girl’ like GIRL NO YOURE NOT. You’re in your 30s and you’re a billionaire who has immense power and can literally buy the music industry, it was okay when she was younger or when she was talking about people who were in higher powers of her, but I think she’s having trouble accepting that SHE is now the one in power. I definitely think she is someone who sort of mentally has this high school fantasy when it comes to love, like the ‘bad boy is gonna come and save me from my palace’ thing, and I think it’s just an outcome of her being raised in the public eye. But I agree with you that all of her songs where she acknowledges that she’s matured (Peter being the main one) are her best works, I’m not against her being cheeky in songs, but I like when she’s cheeky in songs like I can do with a broken heart more than when she’s cheeky in songs like but daddy I love him (not saying I dislike that song at all, I love it, but only when you take it out of th context that Taylor is in her 30s and not a teenager)

[@syrina1561]

New swiftologist video, time to drop everything I am doing and tune in. The supreme leader is speaking, everyone sit the fuck down and listen 🫵

[@brookxcx]

your hair looks incredible diva

[@TaterCot]

I REALLY don't understand the negative reviews of this album. I know that I am in no way objective when it comes to Taylor, but the album is just so damn interesting, plain and simple, that I can't hear the negative comments without thinking the reviewer is just being captious. Or they just didn't really pay enough attention.

[@santaclara6112]

I watched a review from a critic I've followed for years. He's been acting like a boomer lately, so I was losing interest in his content. However, his review of this album felt off and kinda mean. It felt more like a response to Taylor Mania than the actual album. I don't think I want to watch him anymore. If you want a good review of the album, watch Spectrum Pulse's review. He is critical of some aspects of the album, but overall he liked it and treats Taylor with empathy.

[@belmoon8711]

@@santaclara6112 I noticed that (Taylor Mania) also from someone I’ve followed for years, their reaction felt insincere.

[@Lime1958]

I've been a swiftie since the John mayor era. And I barely have nice words to say bout this album. My main take on it's just undercooked production wise. You can hear that it's rushed seeing how all songs start blending into one melody at some point. This the first time I had to work to rearrange the playlist research other swifties playlist just so that I can enjoy it. But it's just that forgettable no matter how much I arranged it. My ears would still go to the vault tracks of 1989 and midnights. The only songs I liked were the prophecy, Loml, down bad, WAOLOM. The music production and lyrics were just seamless together. And I can't listen to ICDIWABH, hearing Taylor be so broken is too much. I just wished some helped her in rearranging the music a lil better and kept a few of the songs in that vault to marinate. And maybe she could have released a free fan only album where she could put all the songs that were clearly just for the fan lore. Another swiftie said "TTPD is Taylor's Marvel" too many Easter eggs that it alienates new fans and non swiftie listeners. It Swifties being so condescending "well if you must now this is a clue for" let's be real. MOST PEOPLE DONT CARE. Paying listeners just want to listen to good music. Taylor's always been a champion in that. Just this time around she missed. I just hope Taylor learns from all the legit criticisms.

[@miladeseitan]

It's the lyrics for me. There are some songs that are beautifully written, but in general her songwriting here was disappointing... her worst when it comes to writing I'd say.

[@barbara_99]

Whats the name of the reviewer PLS?? ​@@santaclara6112

[@claudiabcarvalho]

When Taylor says I Can Do It With a Broken Heart, she's talking about the marks she hit, how she can excel even in her lowest emotional point. Most of us have to keep ourselves together for a shitty job that doesn't demand the emotional investment that something like The Eras does. She went through 2 devasting breakups in 6 months, she had to fake smiles at the beginning of the tour and again around summer.

[@eny11]

I think we have been attributing credit to muses that aren't really the muse. if anything I learned about her I'm the last album is that she protects her real muse often. I think matty was in rep. with endgame maybe others. "Question" was about Matty again but she hinted at Harry to purposely through us off. This to say, we don't know who to attribute the best muse anymore for alot of her songs.

[@hurta_]

I’m not going to argue that the bridge is the best of all time, but the fact that you can’t relate to the feeling Peter conveys, the wanting someone to come back and change and save and them not delivering, well that’s on you. Yes I will die on the Peter hill, and I don’t care how many times you say it’s mid. I love it and it’s the Taylor song that’s made me cry the most.

[@brookebecker4785]

I think the track 5 being the only clear Joe track was a way of her really giving us the cue that this is the end of her writing about him. She really is saying so long to him as a partner and a muse. So she gave him that last little important spot as her final blow as she moves on

[@alex08v]

You know what I don't like? That the album is literally called "The Tortured POETS Department" but then when she is being "Poetic" people say 'omg she's trying so hard to be wordy and poetic' ... Amm... That's the whole point! Were you NOT expecting poetry?? Like, what?

[@juditbalogh21]

The only thing I think Taylor wrote for the lore is “red blood, white snow, blue dress on a boat”. I cannot be convinced those are old lines. She knew she will gag with them because knew how significant those imisgea became in the fandom

[@wa11ie]

she writes plenty for the lore, the line ‚you smoked then ate 7 bars of chocolate‘ is a reference to some 1975 song where they use chocolate as an analogy for weed or something. the scarf line in atw is for the lore because she wore the red gucci scarf on a pap walk with jake gyllenhaal. ‚stained glass windows in my mind‘ in wcs is for the lore because john mayer lived in a church. there‘s probably so much more that i can‘t think of but taylor writes lines for the lore all of the time and she has been doing so since fearless. what is the entirety of cornelia street if not establishing lore? ask any swiftie who‘s been to nyc in the past five years, they all went to cornelia street. people brought flowers there when her break up with joe alwyn was announced. yes she wrote ‚red blood white snow‘ recently, same with fuck the patriarchy. some of these vault songs were shelved ideas she‘s reworking now for the rereleased versions, i don‘t think that‘s a real secret and i don‘t think it‘s a bad thing of her to do. she probably had the ideas at the time but they‘re just taking a new shape with the power of hindsight.

[@jillsarah7356]

It irritates me that people insist the f the patriarchy line couldn’t have been written back then. Just bc y’all never learned about 2nd wave Feminism doesn’t mean it wasn’t a thing back then. It ABSOLUTELY was. There is no doubt in my mind that Jake Gyllenhaal could have gotten a f the patriarchy keychain from one of his hipster Brooklyn friends or at an art market. I was a Gender Studies minor at a college just outside NYC a few years before that song was written and ppl were 1000% saying f the patriarchy.

[@jillsarah7356]

*2nd wave Feminism was the 70s, for clarity I mean plenty of people knew about the history of Feminism and were talking about gender in the 00s.