Analyzing Taylor Swift’s ‘Emotional Anthems’ Playlist Focused on Anger

Breaking Down Taylor Swift s TTPD Apple Music Playlist About Anger

Taylor Swift. John Shearer/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Taylor Swift is famous for expressing her anger through her popular songs.

To celebrate her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift, who is 34 years old, released a set of playlists on Apple Music. These playlists are inspired by the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. The denial playlist was titled after a line from one of her TTPD covers: “You Don’t Get to Tell Me About Sad Songs.”

Swift shared that all the songs in the playlist were written during moments of anger. She mentioned that she has discovered that anger can be expressed in various ways, but for her, the healthiest outlet is through songwriting. Writing a song about her anger often helps her move past it.

Listeners are introduced to the playlist with Midnights’ track titled “Vigilante S—t.” Released in 2022, this song has been recognized as a revenge anthem.

Swift sings about drawing a cat eye sharp enough to kill a man and reflects on her own actions in the lyrics. She wonders about the lies told and hints at seeking vengeance through her appearance, dressing neither for women nor men.

Although Swift never officially confirmed the meaning behind the song, her fans speculated that it could be a subtle jab at Scooter Braun. Braun, who bought the masters of Swift's first six albums from her former label in 2019, faced criticism from Swift for not allowing her to own her own work. Despite Braun eventually selling the discography, Swift took matters into her own hands by re-recording the albums, with only a few yet to receive the "Taylor's Version" treatment.

Breaking Down Taylor Swift s TTPD Apple Music Playlist About Anger

Taylor Swift. Kevin Winter/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management

Continuing with the anger playlist, we have songs like “High Infidelity” and “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve” from Midnights, and “Exile” from Folklore. Following that, we have tracks like “Illicit Affairs,” “Mad Woman,” “Tolerate It,” “Bad Blood (Taylor’s Version),” “Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version),” “I Know You Were Trouble (Taylor’s Version)” and “We Are Never Getting Back Together (Taylor’s Version).”

Fans speculated that “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve” was inspired by Taylor Swift's past relationship with John Mayer, as it was a bonus track on her album, Midnights (3am Edition).

"I would have never danced with the devil at 19, and truth be told, the pain felt like heaven. Now that I'm older, I'm afraid of ghosts," she sings, as fans recognize Swift's connection to Mayer when she was 19 and he was 46. "Memories seem like weapons, and I wish you had left me wondering."

She goes on to say, "If clarity comes with death, why does this pain linger? Years of breaking down our relationship, you and I, enjoying the satisfaction of hurting each other. Give me back my innocence, it was mine to begin with."

The lineup includes songs like “The Last Time (Taylor’s Version),” “The Moment I Knew (Taylor’s Version),” “Babe (Taylor’s Version),” “I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor’s Version),” “Dear John (Taylor’s Version),” “Better Than Revenge (Taylor’s Version),” “Tell Me Why (Taylor’s Version),” “You’re Not Sorry (Taylor’s Version),” “Forever & Always (Taylor’s Version),” and “Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor’s Version).”

One fan on X site recently pointed out that “almost half” of the tracks were from Red (Taylor’s Version). Originally released in 2012, Red is known for its popular breakup songs like “All Too Well” and “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” which are rumored to be about her ex-boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal.

Are you a fan of Taylor Swift's re-recorded albums? In June 2021, Swift took to Instagram to announce her reimagined version of Red. She shared that the album was a reflection of heartbreak, with its music and lyrics capturing the emotions of a broken heart. Swift described Red as a collection of feelings that may seem scattered but ultimately come together harmoniously in the end.

Swift's playlists based on the five stages of grief are connected to fan theories about her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, set to release on April 19. Fans believe that the album tells the story of Swift mourning a breakup, possibly with her ex-boyfriend, British actor Joe Alwyn, whom she dated from 2016 to 2023. Speculation is rife that songs like “So Long, London,” “But Daddy I Love Him,” “Fresh Out the Slammer,” “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)” and “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” were inspired by this heartbreak.

Although Swift has now found love with NFL star Travis Kelce, she has not publicly discussed the inspiration behind her lyrics for the new album. However, she has mentioned in a concert in Australia that her songwriting process has been a "lifeline" for her, helping her navigate through life.

The Tortured Poets Department drops on Friday, April 19.

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, is generating immense anticipation among her fans. The recently released playlists inspired by the five stages of grief have ignited speculation about the album's potential themes and inspirations. Swift's ability to express anger through her music has always been a powerful outlet for her, allowing her to move past difficult emotions. The anger playlist features songs that delve into themes of revenge, heartbreak, and betrayal, offering a glimpse into the raw and vulnerable side of Swift's artistry.

The article also highlights the significance of Swift's re-recorded albums, which have given her ownership over her music and allowed her to revisit and reinterpret her past experiences. The inclusion of several songs from Red (Taylor's Version) in the anger playlist suggests that Swift is revisiting and re-examining her past relationships, providing fans with a deeper understanding of her emotional journey. The upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, promises to be a poignant and cathartic exploration of heartbreak and healing, showcasing Swift's growth as an artist and her ability to transform personal experiences into universal anthems.