I’ve a confession to make: I by accident noticed a snippet of leaked lyrics from The Tortured Poets Division (TTPD) on X (previously often called Twitter) a day earlier than the album got here out. However they had been so random, so outrageous, and so meta that I figured they needed to be faux. Now that TTPD has been launched and everybody’s basking in its glory, I can affirm that these lyrics are very a lot actual — and the well-known singer they name-drop is gonna get up to a complete lot of web “consideration.”
Followers speculate that observe 2 on the album, titled “The Tortured Poets Division,” is a glance into Taylor Swift’s short-lived relationship with The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy. Followers had a lot to say about Swift’s option to rebound from her six-year relationship with Joe Alwyn with Healy. Many puzzled what they may presumably have talked about with one another (they’ve acquired fairly totally different vibes). Apparently, the reply is Charlie Puth.
Within the second verse, Swift sings, “We declared Charlie Puth must be an even bigger artist.” I’m not gonna lie, I needed to pause the track and snicker. No shade to Charlie Puth — I solely laughed as a result of the shoutout jolted me out of The Tortured Poets Division and again into the actual world. Perhaps it’s simply my private desire, however any time Swift makes a reference that’s a bit too trendy (like her “I come again stronger than a ‘90s pattern” lyric in evermore’s “willow”), I cringe a little bit.
I truly agree with Taylor and Matty about Puth’s stardom. It’s about time he rises within the ranks. He’s accountable for a few of the greatest bangers of the late 2010s (“One Name Away” dominated the radio in 2015). His music is fairly formulaic, however each every so often, he’ll unleash his artistic genius. Who else would write a track that features a literal mild change sound?
Additionally, his capacity to establish particular person music notes at any given time is critically spectacular. If Swift and Healy, two of the most important singers on this planet, say that Puth must be an even bigger artist, then he must be an even bigger artist.
Though the lyric feels random throughout the context of “The Tortured Poets Division,” shouting out Puth particularly isn’t that random. But it surely is complicated. In 2018, Puth confirmed to Billboard that he had a fling with Swift’s bestie, Selena Gomez. The 2 singers collaborated on the 2016 duet “We Don’t Discuss Anymore” (which might be true given their historical past). Puth’s track “Consideration,” which was launched after their breakup, is purported to be about Gomez.
In an interview with Genius, Puth defined that the track was about an ex who would invite him to sleep over however by no means truly slept with him, “which is completely wonderful. However after just like the fifth time of that occuring, I knew what she was doing.”
Does Swift know what went down between Puth and Gomez? Most likely. The truth that she references him implies that there’s no unhealthy blood behind the scenes. It additionally implies that she’s useless critical about Puth being an even bigger artist.
Her shoutout has already spiked Google searches of his title, based on Google Developments. He’s additionally trending on X, the place followers immediately made memes in regards to the lyric.
Puth has but to touch upon the lyric, however I’m guessing that Taylor’s solely “one name away.”