I loved "The Prophecy" and so many of the other songs too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the new album and making insightful comparisons between it and other literature. "The Winter's Tale" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I never would have noticed a connection between "The Winter's Tale" and "THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT" but your comparison makes sense.
It's going to take me a while to digest and absorb all of the new songs. They're all so good, but I often feel mentally and emotionally stuffed after listening to long (and good) albums. as if the artist had just served me a huge, delicious feast. The better the long album is, the more stuffed I feel, because while I'm always happy when an album has as few weak spots as possible, long good albums have few or no places that I can tune out of because I want to absorb everything. There's no dish at this musical feast that I don't want to at least try a little of, but it's a lot to take in at 1 sitting. (I could rant good-naturedly all day about ideal album lengths and ideal song lengths, but I'll end it here).
I've added the clean versions of the explicit songs from the first or standard part of "THE TORTURED POETS' DEPARTMENT" to my "Taylor's Clean Version" playlist.
And incidentally, I'm the same Penelope who recommended Sting's "If On A Winter's Night..." album to you a while ago (and I'm so glad you liked it, it meant a lot that you gave it a try and that you liked it), and I'd say "THE TORTURED POETS' DEPARTMENT" is Taylor Swift's most Sting-like album so far because of all the poetic and literary references (Yes, I'm a Swiftie and a Sting fan, my musical tastes are quite quirky).
I'm not a Swiftie (though I enjoy quite a few of her songs!) but just dropping by to say LOVE the Winter's Tale reference, which is also my favorite Shakespeare... ❤️
I came across your essay just now as a result of a google search because I'm looking into the Swift/Plath connection! I wrote an essay on my theory that Swift has been using Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes lives and poetry as inspiration since possibly "All Too Well". I'd love it if you'd read it!!
I loved "The Prophecy" and so many of the other songs too! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the new album and making insightful comparisons between it and other literature. "The Winter's Tale" is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I never would have noticed a connection between "The Winter's Tale" and "THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT" but your comparison makes sense.
It's going to take me a while to digest and absorb all of the new songs. They're all so good, but I often feel mentally and emotionally stuffed after listening to long (and good) albums. as if the artist had just served me a huge, delicious feast. The better the long album is, the more stuffed I feel, because while I'm always happy when an album has as few weak spots as possible, long good albums have few or no places that I can tune out of because I want to absorb everything. There's no dish at this musical feast that I don't want to at least try a little of, but it's a lot to take in at 1 sitting. (I could rant good-naturedly all day about ideal album lengths and ideal song lengths, but I'll end it here).
Totally agree, Penelope. I'm STILL working through the album. It's heavy!
I've added the clean versions of the explicit songs from the first or standard part of "THE TORTURED POETS' DEPARTMENT" to my "Taylor's Clean Version" playlist.
Great thank you Penelope!
And incidentally, I'm the same Penelope who recommended Sting's "If On A Winter's Night..." album to you a while ago (and I'm so glad you liked it, it meant a lot that you gave it a try and that you liked it), and I'd say "THE TORTURED POETS' DEPARTMENT" is Taylor Swift's most Sting-like album so far because of all the poetic and literary references (Yes, I'm a Swiftie and a Sting fan, my musical tastes are quite quirky).
Aw, you're welcome. Now I just have to add the clean versions of the "ANTHOLOGY" songs. :-D
I loved The Prophecy too! I love this reflection on the album. I'm still re-listening my way through it because, I agree, it's all in the words.
I'm not a Swiftie (though I enjoy quite a few of her songs!) but just dropping by to say LOVE the Winter's Tale reference, which is also my favorite Shakespeare... ❤️
Brilliant! (You AND Taylor Swift 😉.)
So enjoyed reading this post! (You were a wonderful Hermione....).
Was thinking of you as I wrote it!
A wonderful analysis of this song!!
I came across your essay just now as a result of a google search because I'm looking into the Swift/Plath connection! I wrote an essay on my theory that Swift has been using Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes lives and poetry as inspiration since possibly "All Too Well". I'd love it if you'd read it!!
https://theangryyogi.substack.com/p/taylor-swift-is-making-erudite-art