Taylor Swift latest: Patti Smith responds to Tortured Poets mention in song that hits out at Matty Healy

Taylor Swift has released her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, and fans are busy unpacking everything from lyrics to her “Fortnight” music video.

The pop titan’s latest record, announced earlier this year when she won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album (Midnights), was released overnight on Friday 19 April and has already broken two Spotify records.

In a five-star review of the album, The Independent’s critic Helen Brown praised the “playful narratives” and “hooks like anchors”.

Fans have been surprised that many songs on the album seem to take aim at Swift’s ex Matty Healy, whom she briefly dated last year, instead of Joe Alwyn, her boyfriend of six years, whom she was reported to have parted ways with around April 2023.

Patti Smith has responded after she was namechecked on the title track, writing: “This is saying I was moved to be mentioned in the company of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Thank you Taylor.”

Taylor Swift releases ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ - key points

• Read The Independent’s review of Taylor Swift’s 11th album, ‘The Tortured Poets Department'

• How Taylor Swift takes aim at Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department

• Swift takes a shot at sparring partner Kim Kardashian

• Taylor Swift appears to share first song about boyfriend Travis Kelce

Taylor Swift enlists ‘Dead Poets’ Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles for Fortnight video starring Post Malone

09:30 , Roisin O'Connor

Comment: Taylor Swift is doing what all women would love to do – trash their exes in public

09:21 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift is doing what all women would love to do to their exes | Olivia Petter

How Taylor Swift takes aim at ex Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department

09:01 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift’s latest studio album The Tortured Poets Department dropped today, leaving fans both elated and confused.

Many fans expected the album would be heavily inspired by her six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn. However, Swift has taken everyone by surprise as it emerged that her songs instead seem to address her brief dalliance with The 1975’s frontman, Matty Healy.

News of Swift and Alwyn’s breakup was first reported in April 2023. A month later, the first rumours of Swift dating Healy emerged, after they were first linked back in 2014.

However, the relationship reportedly ended after just a few weeks. She is currently in a relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce.

Here are the songs where Swift seems to address her relationship with Healy:

How Taylor Swift takes aim at ex Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department

Jon Bon Jovi thanks Taylor Swift for enticing Prince William onstage to sing ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’

08:16 , Roisin O'Connor

Exclusive: Bon Jovi tells ‘The Independent’ that Swift ‘literally grabbed him by the arm and ran up on stage’

Bon Jovi thanks Taylor Swift for enticing Prince William onstage for singalong

Taylor Swift ‘thanks’ Kim Kardashian on Tortured Poets song

07:45 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift fans are convinced that the musician alludes to her years-long feud with Kim Kardashian on new album The Tortured Poets Department, as she seemingly makes several references to the reality star in her song “thanK you aIMee”.

The pop star released her 11th studio albumat midnight ET on Friday 19 April. Only a few hours later, she announced a surprise “2am version” that extended the record to a further 15 songs.

The first sign that the album’s 24th track from her new album might be a reference to Kardashian is the capitalisation of the letters K, I and M to spell out her first name.

There are other clues. It appears that Swift could be making a reference to Kardashian’s 10-year-old daughter North West dancing to her 2014 single “Shake It Off” on TikTok. “Shake It Off” is about ignoring “haters”.

She also mentions “Aimee” stomping over her grave, possibly nodding to the one she crawls out of in her music video for “Look What You Made Me Do”, from her 2017 album Reputation. This was widely interpreted as a “revenge album” after Swift was “cancelled” in 2016, after her feud with Kardashian errupted.

Who are The Blue Nile, the Scottish band Taylor Swift references on Guilty as Sin?

07:31 , Roisin O'Connor

Who are The Blue Nile, the Scottish band Taylor Swift references on Guilty as Sin?

Patti Smith responds to mention on ‘The Tortured Poets Club'

07:10 , Roisin O'Connor

Patti Smith has reacted after she was namechecked on the title track of ‘The Tortured Poets Society’, where Swift sings: “But you’re not Dylan Thomas/ I’m not Patti Smith/ This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel/ We’re modern idiots.”

“This issaying I wasmoved to bementioned inthe companyof the greatWelsh poetDylan Thomas.Thank you Taylor,” Smith wrote on her Instagram.

Taylor Swift promotes ‘Phantom Clear TTPD vinyl'

07:00 , Inga Parkel

Following the release of her highly anticipated studio album, Taylor Swift promoted the sale of the Phantom Clear version of the vinyl.

“Entering the Phantom Clear TTPD vinyl into evidence,” she tweeted alongside a black-and-white clip of her flipping through a book. “Available exclusively at @Target now.”

WATCH: Taylor Swift teases ‘timetable’ for The Tortured Poets Department album in new video

06:00 , Inga Parkel

Shop Taylor Swift The Tortured Poets Department merch

05:00 , Inga Parkel

Whether you’re hosting a listening party for the new album or have tickets to the upcoming UK leg of her tour, here’s where to shop The Tortured Poets Department’s exclusive new merchandise. Swifties, assemble.

Read more:

Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department is here – shop the merch now

From jumpers to jewellery, celebrate the album’s launch with the singer’s merch

Taylor Swift appears to share first song about boyfriend Travis Kelce

04:00 , Inga Parkel

Taylor Swift fans were left reeling after it became apparent that her new album, The Tortured Poets Department, seems to spend more time reflecting on her short-lived romance with The 1975 frontman Matty Healy than it does her former boyfriend of six years, actor Joe Alwyn.

The pop titan released her 11th studio album at midnight ET on Friday 19 April. Only a few hours later, she announced that a surprise “2am version” extended the record to a further 15 songs.

One of the tracks on the first part of the album is “The Alchemy”, which appears to be the first song Swift has released about her boyfriend Travis Kelce, tight-end for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Read more:

Taylor Swift appears to share first song about boyfriend Travis Kelce

Pop singer is known to delve into themes of love and heartbreak with her songwriting

Fans unpack Swift's lyrics on ‘But Daddy I Love Him’

03:00 , Inga Parkel

Fans have quickly reached the concensus that Swift’s new song “But Daddy I Love Him” is a fierce rebuke to critics of her fleeting romance with Matty Healy.

She sings: “I’d rather burn my whole life down/ Than listen to one more second of all this bitchin’ and moanin’/ I’ll tell you something ‘bout my good name/ It’s mine along with all the disgrace/ I don’t cater to all these vipers dressed in empath’s clothing.”

Then on the bridge: “God save the most judgmental creeps/ Who say they want what’s best for me/ Sanctimoniously performing soliloquies I’ll never see/ Thinking it can change the beat of my heart when he touches me/ And counteract the chemistry/ And undo the destiny/ You ain’t gotta pray for me/ Me and my wild boy/ And all of this wild joy/ If all you want is gray for me/ It’s just white noise/ It’s just my choice.”

Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department review: Irresistible, country-hued tales of relationships past and present

02:00 , Inga Parkel

With its playful narratives and hooks like anchors, Swift’s 11th studio album is a terrific reminder of her storytelling powers, Helen Brown writes:

Taylor Swift’s country-hued tales of bad boys & good girls are irresistible – review

With its playful narratives and hooks like anchors, Swift’s 11th studio album is a terrific reminder of her storytelling powers

Jon Bon Jovi thanks Taylor Swift for enticing Prince William onstage to sing ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’

01:20 , Kevin Perry

The Independent spoke to Jon Bon Jovi on the eve of the release of The Tortured Poets Department, and the rock legend had fond memories of the time he, Swift and Prince William ended up belting out “Livin’ On A Prayer” together.

“She literally grabbed him by the arm and ran up on stage,” he recalled.

Read more here.

Look out for The Independent’s career-spanning interview with Bon Jovi on Sunday (21 April), in which the 62-year-old talks about the drug experience that scared him straight, his most extravagant purchases, and his son’s forthcoming marriage to Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown.

WATCH: Jimmy Kimmel trolls viewers by passing off Lara Trump song as Taylor Swift

01:00 , Inga Parkel

Michael J Fox says Taylor Swift ‘changes the way the world works’

Saturday 20 April 2024 00:00 , Inga Parkel

Days before Taylor Swift broke the internet with her new album, Michael J Fox has praised her, saying that she “changes the world works”.

Speaking to People for the magazine’s 50th-anniversary issue, the Back to the Future star, 62, admitted that he “didn't have an opinion about Taylor Swift when I first heard of Taylor Swift”.

“Now I have a wife and four kids who worship her,” he said. “I think she's going to be a really important person. I think she moves economies, she changes the way the world works, and that’s amazing.”

Who are The Blue Nile, the Scottish band Taylor Swift references on Guilty as Sin?

Friday 19 April 2024 23:45 , Kevin Perry

Taylor Swift fans are scrambling to decipher the US artist’s many lyrical references on new album The Tortured Poets Society.

The Grammy-winning artist released her 11th studio album at midnight (5am GMT) on Friday 19 April, then announced an extended “anthology” version shortly after.

Swifties were surprised to learn that the majority of songs do not, in fact, appear to be about her six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn, with exceptions such as “So Long, London” and “loml”.

Instead, much of her songwriting seems inspired by her brief fling with The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy, whom she dated around April and May last year.

On “Guilty as Sin?” she sings about “fatal fantasies” for someone from her past who sends her the 1989 song “The Downtown Lights”, by Scottish band The Blue Nile (she might have felt a particular affinity for the song as it was released the year she was born).

Read more:

Who are The Blue Nile, the Scottish band Taylor Swift references on Guilty as Sin?

Song from new album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ namedrops her ex Matty Healy’s favourite band

Taylor Swift breaks her own record (again)

Friday 19 April 2024 23:30 , Kevin Perry

Spotify have just announced that The Tortured Poets Department is already their most-streamed album in a single day, with Taylor Swift also becoming the most-streamed artist in a single day in the history of the platform.

It is the first album to ever exceed 200 million streams in a single day. The previous record was also held by Swift, who now has the top three most streamed albums in a single day, with The Tortured Poets Department followed by Midnights and 1989 (Taylor’s Version).

Why fans think Taylor Swift will perform at Coachella weekend two

Friday 19 April 2024 23:00 , Inga Parkel

Taylor Swift fans are speculating that she may perform at Coachella's weekend two after releasing her new album The Tortured Poets Department.

The singer, 34, is rumoured to be performing with her friend and fellow Jack Antonoff collaborator Lana Del Rey this weekend.

It comes after she was spotted enjoying the festival’s first weekend with boyfriend Travis Kelce. Swift was last spotted attending the festival in 2016.

Read more:

Why fans think Taylor Swift will perform at Coachella weekend two

Swift was spotted enjoying the festival’s first weekend with boyfriend Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce’s ex asks trolls to ‘leave her alone’ as Taylor Swift releases new album

Friday 19 April 2024 22:30 , Inga Parkel

Hours before Taylor Swift released her new album, Travis Kelce’s ex, influencer Kayla Nicole, addressed some of the criticism she’s seen about her on social media.

“I’m unproblematic. Mind my business,” she tweeted on Thursday (18 April). “Never respond to the constant vitriol. Solid as they come & don’t expect a pat on the back for it either.”

However, she then hit back at the criticism, before asking her followers to put an end to it. “Just know everyone has a breaking point & would love for ‘yall’ (because you know exactly who you are) to leave me alone,” she concluded.

The American football star dated Nicole off-and-on from 2017 to 2022, before Kelce is believed to have started dating Swift in September 2023.

Read more:

Travis Kelce’s ex Kayla Nicole asks trolls to ‘leave her alone’ as Taylor Swift releases new album

Travis Kelce and Kayla Nicole dated off-and-on from 2017 to 2022

Taylor Swift easter eggs: All the clues so far from The Tortured Poets Department

Friday 19 April 2024 22:00 , Inga Parkel

Ahead of the record’s release, Swift partnered with streaming service Spotify to create an open-air library at The Grove in Los Angeles.

The surprise pop-up led to fans scrambling to decipher clues left behind. She also shared a video teaser that follows the camera as it exits the Midnights room and enters the Tortured Poets Department, a stark office with bright white lights.

Here are the clues fans have deciphered (or think they’ve worked out) so far, from an artist with a notorious love of easter eggs.

Read more:

Taylor Swift easter eggs: All the clues so far from The Tortured Poets Department

Pop star teased fans with clues ahead of her new album

All of the famous names dropped in Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets album

Friday 19 April 2024 21:30 , Inga Parkel

Taylor Swift’s new record, The Tortured Poets Department, name-drops a handful of famous names, some expected and some (very much) not.

Swift does much of her name-checking in the album’s title track.

“I laughed in your face and said, ‘You're not Dylan Thomas, I'm not Patti Smith,’” she sings, referring to the famous poets. “This ain't the Chelsea Hotel, we'rе modern idiots.”

She then surprised fans when she celebrated fellow artist Charlie Puth, singing: “We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.”

Elsewhere in the song, she appears to mention her frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff and Boygenius’s Lucy Dacus.

“Sometimes I wonder if you’re gonna screw this up with me / But you told Lucy you’d kill yourself if I ever leave / And I had said that to Jack about you, so I felt seen,” she sings.

Finally, in her “Clara Bow” song, titled after the late Twenties actor, she also names singer Stevie Nicks. “You look like Stevie Nicks in '75 / The hair and lips / The crowd goes wild at her fingertips / Half moonshinе, a full eclipse.”

Matt Healy ‘still thinks very highly’ of Taylor Swift even after new album release, source claims

Friday 19 April 2024 21:00 , Inga Parkel

Swift’s ex, The 1975 frontman Matt Healy, has reacted to her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department.

Following the release of her album, fans were left surprised that Swift seemed to spend more time dissecting her brief fling with Healy rather than her six-year relationship with Joe Alwyn.

“Matty still thinks very highly of Taylor but we were all nervous about what she might have said on the album,” an insider told US Weekly. They also claimed that Healy “couldn’t be happier” with how Swift’s record turned out.

“Matty’s family knew about the relationship,” the insider said. “And they were worried that Taylor was going to rip him apart. Matty has struggled with life in the public eye, and he’s been doing really well, but the last thing that he needs is for every Swiftie in the world to think he’s a villain.”

Read more:

How Taylor Swift takes aim at Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department

Fans expecting a post-mortem of the musician’s six-year relationship with Joe Alwyn have been left surprised, as Swift seems to spend more time dissecting her brief fling with The 1975 frontman

The New York Times thinks Taylor Swift’s album could’ve done with an editor

Friday 19 April 2024 20:30 , Inga Parkel

While many early reviews of Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department have been quite laudatory, The New York Times’s music critic Lindsay Zoladz declared that the album could “use an editor”.

“Over 16 songs (and a second LP), the pop superstar litigates her recent romances,” Zoladz writes. “But the themes, and familiar sonic backdrops, generate diminishing returns.”

Calling it a “curiously insular album”, she adds that it is “often cradled in the familiar, amniotic throb of Jack Antonoff’s production”.

“As the album goes on, Swift’s lyricism starts to feel unrestrained, imprecise and unnecessarily verbose.”

Taylor Swift fans sent into frenzy as new album The Tortured Poets Department ‘leaked’

Friday 19 April 2024 20:00 , Inga Parkel

Days before the release of Swift’s 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, it appeared to have been leaked online sparking a frenzy of debate among fans.

Read more:

Taylor Swift fans sent into frenzy as new album The Tortured Poets Department ‘leaked’

Swifties have branded the leak a ‘slap in the face’ to the artist’s hard work

Taylor Swift ‘thanks’ Kim Kardashian on Tortured Poets song as she reflects on feud

Friday 19 April 2024 19:30 , Inga Parkel

Taylor Swift fans are convinced that the musician alludes to her years-long feud with Kim Kardashian on new album The Tortured Poets Department, as she seemingly makes several references to the reality star in her song “thanK you aIMee”.

Read more:

Taylor Swift ‘thanks’ Kim Kardashian on Tortured Poets song as she reflects on feud

Several signs point towards Kardashian being the topic of song ‘thanK you aIMee’

Taylor Swift’s 10 greatest breakup songs, ranked

Friday 19 April 2024 19:00 , Inga Parkel

Taylor Swift knows how to write about breakups. Her candid, confessional songwriting style has traversed love in all its forms, but among her most adored songs are the ones that delve into the confusion, grief and loss that swirl around a relationship’s end. Others, while still addressing a romantic split, are about acceptance, and the ability to reflect on the past while still pushing forwards.

Read more:

Taylor Swift’s 10 greatest breakup songs, ranked

The night before the release of Swift’s highly anticipated 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, Roisin O’Connor took a look at the singer’s extensive catalog and ranked the most devastating of the bunch.

Travis Kelce reacts to Taylor Swift singing about ex-partners on new album

Friday 19 April 2024 18:30 , Inga Parkel

Travis Kelce has said he has “has zero concern” about Taylor Swift singing about former boyfriends on her new album, The Tortured Poets Department.

According to a source, Kelce has said he is not concerned about his partner addressing her past relationships on her records.

Swift has released her 11th studio album today (19 April) and seems to have surprised fans by taking aim at Matty Healy, whom she briefly dated last year, instead of her boyfriend of six years Joe Alwyn, whom she was reported to have parted ways with around April 2023.

Read more:

Travis Kelce ‘has zero concerns’ about Taylor Swift singing about former boyfriends on new Tortured Poets album

Swift’s new album includes several references to some of her former paramours, including Matty Healy and Joe Alwyn.

Swifties share hilarious reactions to extensive 31-track album

Friday 19 April 2024 18:00 , Inga Parkel

Last night/early this morning (at 2am), Taylor Swift surprised fans with the news that The Tortured Poets Department was actually a secret double album.

So, in addition to the original 16-track album, she also released The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, which includes 15 extra songs.

“I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD,” Swift wrote on Instagram.

With 31 songs in total, The Anthology is a whopping two hours and two minutes long.

Here are the best reactions from fans who listened to the entire album at the crack of dawn.

Taylor Swift says new album isn’t about settling scores

Friday 19 April 2024 17:30 , Inga Parkel

When announcing the release of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, Swift described it as “an anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time – one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure”.

“This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up. There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed,” she wrote on Instagram.

“And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted. This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it,” Swift added.

“And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.”

Aaron Dessner celebrates Taylor Swift’s ‘brilliant’ album

Friday 19 April 2024 17:15 , Inga Parkel

The National frontman Aaron Dessner has celebrated Swift’s latest album, writing on Instagram: “I'm so excited and honoured to share that I have contributed to my dear friend and collaborator @taylorswift's brilliant 11th album.

“We started working on these songs over two years ago and it feels like they have kept us company and evolved in beautiful and unexpected ways through so much life lived during this process. It's hard to believe Taylor and I have now recorded over 60 songs together (17 across this anthology!!) in the 4 years since we began working together on Folklore in 2020. I am forever grateful to Taylor for sharing her insane talents with and trusting me with her music,” Dessner added.

“I believe these songs are some of the most lyrically acute, intricate, vulnerable and cathartic Taylor has ever written and I am continually astonished by her skills as a songwriter and performer.”

Dessner, 47, and Swift, 34, first crossed paths on Saturday Night Live in 2014, when The National performed as the musical guest. Swift was there in support of her friend, comedian and Girls star Lena Dunham.

Swifties flood Charlie Puth’s social media after name-drop on new album

Friday 19 April 2024 17:00 , Inga Parkel

Among the many big names dropped on Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department is fellow singer Charlie Puth.

In the title track of the album, Swift sings: “We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.”

Following Swift’s complimentary declaration, several of her followers (Swifties) flooded the “See You Again” singer’s Instagram.

“Who is here after TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT,” one person commented below his latest post, celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday.

“Wake up you were mentioned in the tortured poets department!” a second commented with another writing: “How does it feel to get a shoutout from Taylor?”

Puth has previously expressed his adulation for Swift. “This is why she’s such a genius, man,” he said after a 2021 performance of her old hit “Teardrops on My Guitar”.

“These are the chord changes. It’s wonderful. I think it’s wonderful.”

Midnights review - what did our critic say about Taylor Swift’s last album?

Friday 19 April 2024 16:31 , Roisin O'Connor

Midnights is Taylor Swift’s darkest and most cryptic album yet - review

Taylor Swift teases ‘timetable’ for The Tortured Poets Department album

Friday 19 April 2024 16:16 , Roisin O'Connor

How Taylor Swift takes aim at Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department

Friday 19 April 2024 16:01 , Roisin O'Connor

Fans expecting a post-mortem of the musician’s six-year relationship with Joe Alwyn have been left surprised, as Swift seems to spend more time dissecting her brief fling with The 1975 frontman.

How Taylor Swift takes aim at Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department

Friday 19 April 2024 15:46 , Roisin O'Connor

Message from T Swift:

The Tortured Poets Department. An anthology of new works that reflect events, opinions and sentiments from a fleeting and fatalistic moment in time - one that was both sensational and sorrowful in equal measure. This period of the author’s life is now over, the chapter closed and boarded up. There is nothing to avenge, no scores to settle once wounds have healed. And upon further reflection, a good number of them turned out to be self-inflicted. This writer is of the firm belief that our tears become holy in the form of ink on a page. Once we have spoken our saddest story, we can be free of it.And then all that’s left behind is the tortured poetry.THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT is out now.

Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt perform ‘Barbenheimer’ duet to Taylor Swift song in ‘SNL’ monologue

Friday 19 April 2024 15:16 , Roisin O'Connor

Who are The Blue Nile, the Scottish band Taylor Swift references on Guilty as Sin?

Friday 19 April 2024 15:01 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift fans are scrambling to decipher the US artist’s many lyrical references on new album The Tortured Poets Society.

The Grammy-winning artist released her 11th studio album at midnight (5am GMT) on Friday 19 April, then announced an extended “anthology” version shortly after.

Swifties were surprised to learn that the majority of songs do not, in fact, appear to be about her six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn, with exceptions such as “So Long, London” and “loml”.

Instead, much of her songwriting seems inspired by her brief fling with The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy, whom she dated around April and May last year.

On “Guilty as Sin?” she sings about “fatal fantasies” for someone from her past who sends her the 1989 song “The Downtown Lights”, by Scottish band The Blue Nile (she might have felt a particular affinity for the song as it was released the year she was born).

Full story:

Who are The Blue Nile, the Scottish band Taylor Swift references on Guilty as Sin?

Taylor Swift ‘thanks’ Kim Kardashian on Tortured Poets song as she reflects on feud

Friday 19 April 2024 14:45 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift ‘thanks’ Kim Kardashian on Tortured Poets song as she reflects on feud

Stevie Nicks shares surprise message for Taylor Swift on The Tortured Poets Department

Friday 19 April 2024 14:31 , Roisin O'Connor

Stevie Nicks has written a poem to accompany Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Society.

The legendary singer-songwriter’s words are included as a prologue for the pop star’s 11th studio album, which is already receiving early rave reviews from critics.

The poem reads, in part: “He was in love with her / Or at least she thought so / She was broken hearted / Maybe he was too / Neither of them knew,” Nicks writes.

“She was way too hot to handle / He was way too high to try...”

Full story:

Stevie Nicks shares message for Taylor Swift on The Tortured Poets Department

Travis Kelce says relationship with Taylor Swift is 'a crazy ride'

Friday 19 April 2024 14:15 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department review: Irresistible, country-hued tales of relationships past and present

Friday 19 April 2024 14:01 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift’s country-hued tales of bad boys & good girls are irresistible – review

Who are The Blue Nile, the band Swift references on ‘Guilty as Sin?'

Friday 19 April 2024 13:33 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift fans are scrambling to decipher the US artist’s many lyrical references on new album The Tortured Poets Society.

The Grammy-winning artist released her 11th studio album at midnight (5am GMT) on Friday 19 April, then announced an extended “anthology” version shortly after.

Swifties were surprised to learn that the majority of songs do not, in fact, appear to be about her six-year relationship with British actor Joe Alwyn, with exceptions such as “So Long, London” and “loml”.

Instead, much of her songwriting seems inspired by her brief fling with The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy, whom she dated around April and May last year.

On “Guilty as Sin?” she sings about “fatal fantasies” for someone from her past who sends her the 1989 song “The Downtown Lights”, by Scottish band The Blue Nile.

“Drowning in The Blue Nile/ He sent me ‘Downtown Lights’,” she sings. “I hadn’t heard it in a while/ My boredom’s bone deep/ This cage was once just fine/ Am I allowed to cry?”

Healy has mentioned his love for the Glasgow-formed trio on several occasions, calling them his “favourite band off all time”.

He also said that The 1975’s song “Love It If We Made It” was inspired by “The Downtown Lights”, calling it “Blue Nile on steroids”.

“Musically, they’ve inspired me so much,” he told Vulture in a 2016 interview. “There’s so much drama. It’s perfect nighttime music. It’s beautiful, romantic music with British sensibilities. The sounds on it are amazing.”

Taylor Swift Eras tour: When is the pop star performing in the UK?

Friday 19 April 2024 13:21 , Roisin O'Connor

Taylor Swift Eras tour: When is the pop star performing in the UK?

How Taylor Swift takes aim at Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department

Friday 19 April 2024 08:45 , Roisin O'Connor

Fans expecting a post-mortem of the musician’s six-year relationship with Joe Alwyn have been left surprised, as Swift seems to spend more time dissecting her brief fling with The 1975 frontman

How Taylor Swift takes aim at Matty Healy on The Tortured Poets Department