![Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' set to drop](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/61/00/b8/Taylor-Swift-s--The-Tortured-Poets--151345.jpg)
-
Manhunt underway in US after Kentucky highway shooting
-
Biden team, end in sight, keeps hope on Gaza truce despite setbacks
-
Sabalenka dedicates US Open to family 'who never gave up' on dream
-
Venezuela takes diplomatic jab at Brazil in spat over election
-
Multiple people shot along highway in US state of Kentucky
-
'Super proud' Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
In Papua New Guinea, Pope holds mass 'at the edge of the world'
-
Hewett stays positive for wheelchair tennis despite agonising defeat
-
Three things on US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka
-
Sabalenka downs Pegula to win US Open thriller
-
USA men land Paralympic basketball three-peat, Jiang takes 7th swim gold
-
USA slump to first home defeat against Canada in 67 years
-
Argentina hand Australia record 67-27 loss in Rugby Championship
-
England impress on Carsley bow, Germany, Dutch hit five
-
AFP photographer wins top prize for Gaza coverage
-
No Love for Packers for three weeks after ligament sprain: reports
-
Pedro Almodovar: chronicler of modern Spain crowned in Venice
-
Almodovar wins top Venice prize for end-of-life film
-
Trump sounds dark tone at rally, Harris 'ready' for debate
-
Wirtz and Musiala dazzle to kick-start new Germany era
-
Chinese teenager takes 7th gold of Paris Paralympics
-
England interim boss Carsley 'respects' divided opinions over anthem
-
Neuville moves to the front in the Acropolis Rally
-
Garfield, Pugh charm Toronto in new romance 'We Live in Time'
-
21 boys confirmed dead in Kenya school inferno
-
Over 100,000 protest in France against new prime minister
-
Golden 30 minutes takes China to swimming Paralympics swimming domination
-
Green leads Australia to T20 series sweep of Scotland
-
Nigeria, Cameroon win afer chaotic AFCON build-ups
-
Nicole Kidman: A-lister, cinematic chameleon, wins in Venice
-
'I had to prove myself', says Kolisi after win against All Blacks
-
Almodovar wins top prize at Venice film festival
-
Grealish savours England redemption after 'worst summer'
-
Carsley makes flying start as England interim boss in win over Ireland
-
Springboks close on Rugby Championship with storming win over All Blacks
-
Sri Lanka's De Silva and Kamindu Mendis defy England in third Test
-
Farrell's Racing lose on opening day of Top 14
-
Ireland and UK to 'reset' relations as Starmer visits Dublin
-
Dunbar takes second Vuelta stage as Roglic closes in on victory
-
Fritz eyes US Open glory to end 21 years of American hurt
-
Thousands protest in France against new prime minister
-
Death toll from Kenya school blaze rises to 21
-
Brazil's right rallies for 'freedom' after X suspended
-
Trump to hold rally in swing state, Harris preps for debate
-
Stone at the double as Sri Lanka collapse against England in third Test
-
French tennis player takes legal action over online abuse
-
Italy backs Kyiv's 'legitimate defence' as Zelensky presses allies
-
The Body Shop rescued from administration after deal
-
Martin roars to victory in San Marino sprint, extends MotoGP lead
-
Smoke and screams: The horror of Kenya's school dorm inferno
![Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' set to drop](https://www.berlinertageblatt.de/media/shared/articles/61/00/b8/Taylor-Swift-s--The-Tortured-Poets--151345.jpg)
Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' set to drop
Taylor Swift is primed to release her highly anticipated record "The Tortured Poets Department" on Friday -- the 11th studio album from the megastar who is already having a blockbuster year.
Swift announced the album's release at the Grammys in February, a night that saw the 34-year-old billionaire win a record-breaking fourth Album of the Year prize.
And with the album set to drop in the United States at midnight Eastern time (0400 GMT Friday), the artist could be on track for a fifth.
Since her bombshell announcement, her loyal legion of Swifties have been working around the clock shelling out fan predictions -- dissecting the tracklist, the guest appearances, and the hints.
The working theory is that "The Tortured Poets Department" centers on her ex, British actor Joe Alwyn, who Swift dated starting in 2016 until they broke up about a year ago.
Alwyn ("The Favourite") and fellow actor Paul Mescal ("Normal People") revealed in 2022 that they had a group chat entitled "The Tortured Man Club," which also included Andrew Scott ("Fleabag," "Ripley").
The Swifties think their queen's album title is a likely reference to that text circle, and the Instagram caption she wrote to go along with the initial social media promo of the record indeed implies she's got tea to spill.
"All's fair in love and poetry..." she wrote. "New album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT."
Prior to their breakup, Alwyn had songwriting credits under a pen name, William Bowery, on several of her most recent albums.
Swift already revealed the tracklist, with titles including "Down Bad," "So Long, London," "I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)" and "The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived."
Post Malone and Florence + The Machine are among those set to make cameos on the album.
- 'Shake up the world' -
Swift has made an award-winning routine of eviscerating her former lovers in song, including dropping lyrical takedowns of John Mayer and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Her current beau, Super Bowl-winning NFL tight end Travis Kelce, has already praised the new album.
"I have heard some of it, yes, and it's unbelievable," he told reporters in February.
"I can't wait for her to shake up the world when it finally drops."
Swift has already had an earth-shattering past year or so, staging the first billion-dollar tour with her ongoing series of Eras concerts, breaking myriad chart records and becoming the artist with more Album of the Year Grammys than anyone, surpassing Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon.
- Topping the charts with Beyonce -
Swift -- who was born in Pennsylvania on December 13, 1989 -- began writing songs professionally as a teenager, signing with Nashville's Big Machine Records as a country artist.
After a highly publicized dispute with Big Machine executives regarding ownership of her first six albums -- she'd fully embraced pop by then -- she made the cunning, risky decision to re-record those early albums to own their rights.
It paid off, delighting ardent fans, bringing new Swifties into the fold, and earning her renewed respect within the industry.
With "The Tortured Poets Department," she stands to make waves once more, although she'll face stiff competition from the likes of Beyonce and Billie Eilish next awards season.
Beyonce recently released her honky tonk of an album "Cowboy Carter," an electric, statement-making record that once again cemented her status as an era-defining artist.
But Queen Bey dropped that record March 29, offering a charts cushion -- whether intentional or not -- that would allow both her and Swift to notch wins.
The two reigning stars are often pitted against each other as rivals although they've never implied that themselves, instead taking steps over the years to dismiss the notion.
They will almost certainly be competing for next year's top Grammys, as will Recording Academy darling Billie Eilish, whose third album "Hit Me Hard and Soft" is due out on May 17.
But these wildly wealthy, supremely talented and conversation-commanding artists have all emphasized that at the end of the day, it's all about the music.
Writing her forthcoming album "kind of reminded me of why songwriting is something that actually gets me through my life," Swift told fans at a recent show.
"I've never had an album where I needed songwriting more than I needed it on 'Tortured Poets.'"
W.Lapointe--BTB