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 known as Twitter) a day earlier than the album got here out. However they have been so random, so outrageous, and so meta that I figured they needed to be pretend. Now that TTPD has been launched and everybody’s basking in its glory, I can verify 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 questioned what they might 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 ought to be an even bigger artist.” I’m not gonna lie, I needed to pause the music and snigger. 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 true world. Possibly it’s simply my private choice, however any time Swift makes a reference that’s a bit too trendy (like her “I come again stronger than a ‘90s development” lyric in evermore’s “willow”), I cringe a bit.
I truly agree with Taylor and Matty about Puth’s stardom. It’s about time he rises within the ranks. He’s liable for a few of the largest bangers of the late 2010s (“One Name Away” dominated the radio in 2015). His music is fairly formulaic, however each from time to time, he’ll unleash his artistic genius. Who else would write a music that features a literal gentle change sound?
Additionally, his capacity to determine 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 ought to be an even bigger artist, then he ought to be an even bigger artist.
Though the lyric feels random inside the context of “The Tortured Poets Division,” shouting out Puth particularly isn’t that random. However it 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 music “Consideration,” which was launched after their breakup, is imagined to be about Gomez.
In an interview with Genius, Puth defined that the music was about an ex who would invite him to sleep over however by no means truly slept with him, “which is completely fantastic. 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? In all probability. The truth that she references him implies that there’s no unhealthy blood behind the scenes. It additionally implies that she’s lifeless severe about Puth being an even bigger artist.
Her shoutout has already spiked Google searches of his title, based on Google Tendencies. 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.”