Taylor Swift released her much-anticipated album "The Tortured Poets Department" on Friday, surprising fans with an additional 15 tracks at 2 a.m., dubbing it a "double album." Immediately, fans delved into the lyrics, trying to decipher the subjects of the songs. Speculation suggests that many of the tracks are inspired by her former flames, Matt Healy and Joe Alwyn. But who exactly is Joe Alwyn?
Who is Joe Alwyn?
Alwyn, a 33-year-old British actor, was romantically involved with Swift starting in 2016, with their relationship coming to an end last year during her Eras tour. He is recognized for his roles in acclaimed films such as the Oscar-nominated "The Favourite" and "Mary Queen of Scots."
Swift, known for weaving tales of her high-profile romances into her music and dropping subtle hints for fans to interpret, has previously confirmed that she has drawn inspiration from Alwyn. In a 2022 interview with Entertainment Tonight, she revealed that the track "Lavender Haze" from her album "Midnights" was penned about the desire to hold onto the intoxicating feeling of love, even when faced with challenges.
"Similar to my long-lasting relationship, we've had to navigate through strange rumors and tabloid gossip, but we choose to overlook it. This song is a reflection of how we ignore the noise to protect what truly matters," she explained.
Alwyn has also made musical contributions to Swift's albums under the alias William Bowery. He is acknowledged in the song "Sweet Nothing" on "Midnights" as well as multiple tracks on "Folklore" and "Evermore," her two albums from 2020.
Swift confirmed in her documentary "Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions" that Alwyn had involvement in those albums. He co-wrote "Exile," "Betty," "Champagne Problems," "Coney Island," and "Evermore," earning a Grammy for his contributions.
Residing in London, Alwyn's presence in the track "So Long To London" from "The Tortured Poets Department" has sparked speculation about their potential split.
Following a public dispute with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in 2016, Swift disclosed to Time Magazine during her "Person of the Year" feature last year that she "relocated to a foreign land." "I didn't step out of a rental property for an entire year. I was hesitant to engage in phone conversations." These sentiments are echoed in the song's lyrics.
Several tracks on the latest album delve into the theme of a challenging breakup, such as "Down Bad," "My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys," "Fresh Out the Slammer," and "Fortnite," a collaboration with Post Malone.
Who is Matty Healy?
Healy is a member of the band 1975. He and Swift have supported each other's music throughout the years – with the pop star attending one of his concerts in 2014.
Romance rumors swirled then, and Healy said in a 2016 interview with Q Magazine that he had a "flirtation" with Swift, which gained him news coverage, but that she "wasn't a big impact" on his life.
Healy once wore a t-shirt promoting Swift's 1989 album during a concert and Swift was photographed wearing a 1975 shirt.
When "Midnights" came out in 2021, Healy admitted his band recorded a song with Swift for the album but it didn't make the cut.
Fans speculate her song new, "Fortnight," is about Healy because of the several blatant references to their mutual friends.
"Sometimes I wonder if you're gonna screw this up with me, But you told Lucy you'd kill yourself if I ever leave," she sings, seemingly referring to Lucy Dacus, a member of the band Boygenius.
Swift's Love Story with Travis Kelce
Following a brief relationship with musician Matty Healy, Taylor Swift found love in the arms of Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce. The romance blossomed after Kelce attended one of Swift's Eras tour concerts, sparking a whirlwind of media attention and fan frenzy.
Swift made headlines when she was spotted at a Chiefs game in September 2023, becoming a regular fixture at Kelce's matches and even gracing the Super Bowl with her presence, where the team emerged victorious. Her support for Kelce extended beyond the field, with reports suggesting that her presence boosted sales of his jersey.
Speculation arose that Swift's latest song, "Alchemy," may be a tribute to Kelce, as the lyrics contain subtle references to football. Lines like "So when I touch down, call the amateurs and cut 'em from the team" hint at a football-themed love story between the singer and the athlete.
As the couple continues to travel to spend time together, fans dissect lyrics like "These blokes warm the benches, we've been on a winning streak," seeing parallels between the song's words and their real-life romance.
"Where's the trophy? He just comes runnin' over to me," fans speculate that this line from Swift's song may capture the moment of celebration between Swift and Kelce after his Super Bowl victory.
Kim Kardashian
On her latest album, Taylor Swift released a track titled "thanK you aIMee," with the letters KIM capitalized. Fans speculate that this song is a direct reference to Kim Kardashian.
In the song, Swift mentions a "bronze spray-tanned statue," a nod to Kardashian's love for spray tans. The lyrics also seem to allude to the aftermath of the feud between Swift, Kardashian, and Kanye West, also known as Ye.
The tension between Swift and Ye dates back to the 2009 VMAs when Ye interrupted Swift's acceptance speech. Despite attempts to move past the feud, it seems to linger in their interactions.
Swift previously expressed her discomfort with Ye's lyrics about her in a 2016 song. However, Kardashian later shared a recording of a phone call between Swift and Ye, where Swift seemingly approved the mention in the song.
"All that time you were throwin' punches, it was all for nothin'," Swift sings in "thanK you aIMee."
In another track, Swift reflects, "I wrote a thousand songs that you find uncool, I built a legacy, which you can't undo, But when I count the scars, there's a moment of truth, That there wouldn't be this if there hadn't been you."
After multiple attempts at reconciliation, it seemed like the feud between the three had finally come to an end. Kanye West had sent Taylor Swift flowers, and both Kim Kardashian and Swift were spotted dancing together at one of West's performances at an awards show. However, the fallout from the feud had taken a toll on Swift's reputation, with many fans speculating that her album "Reputation" was inspired by the controversy. In an interview with Time, Swift referred to the scandal as "a career death."
