Taylor Swift set the world ablaze on Sunday with the announcement of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department. It was wholly unexpected — most Swifties thought some news on Reputation (Taylor’s Version) was more likely — but the surprise got fans in a frenzy quickly.
The excitement remained when the back cover of the album, and therefore the track list, was released on Monday evening. The black-and-white image shows Swift anguished as the phrase “I love you, it’s ruining my life” is added.
Fans immediately started making a connection to the back of Swift’s seventh album, Lover. While the pose in both pictures is similar, The Tortured Poets Department shows a more emotional version of the 14-time Grammy winner, while Lover is more open and hopeful.
the back cover of Lover Vs The Tortured Poets Department pic.twitter.com/iCoqqbSrXv
— r (@swifttwigs) February 6, 2024
It feels like Swift’s upcoming April 19 release is a spiritual partner, or the closing of a chapter, of Lover. It’s going to be a long wait to find out.
