Charlie Puth Expresses Gratitude to Taylor Swift for Inspiring New Music Release with ‘TTPD’ Mention

Charlie Puth Thanks Taylor Swift for Tortured Poets Department Shout Out

Charlie Puth, Taylor Swift Steve Granitz/FilmMagic;Kevin Mazur/TAS24/Getty Images(2) for TAS Rights Management

Charlie Puth expressed his excitement about his upcoming album and a special song in particular. He mentioned that the song is different from his usual style and thanked Taylor Swift for inspiring him to release it. Puth shared this news on Instagram on Tuesday, May 21, while promoting his single "Hero," set to be released on Friday, May 24.

Swift, who is 34 years old, mentioned Puth in the title track of her 11th studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, released last month.

In the song, Swift sings, "You smoked, then ate seven bars of chocolate / We declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist."

Puth had previously acknowledged his mention by the TikTok Police Department (TTPD) when he released his song "Hero" earlier this month.

In a TikTok video posted on May 3, Puth shared, "These past few weeks have been quite hectic for obvious reasons, but I have something to tell you all." He explained that he sometimes feels nervous about being too honest in his music, which is why he had kept "Hero" on his hard drive for a while. However, he felt like it was a sign from someone that he needed to finally release it.

The singer known for "Marvin Gaye" then playfully changed Swift's lyrics, announcing that "Hero" will be released everywhere on May 24th as the first single from his new album. He expressed gratitude for the support received, acknowledging those who have shown it.

Puth shared on Tuesday that the upcoming single delves into the theme of witnessing a loved one causing harm to themselves and destroying good things in their life, despite efforts to help. He mentioned that this song was particularly challenging to write, describing it as one of the toughest he has worked on.

Years before Charlie Puth mentioned his "Tortured Poets Department," he received public praise from Matty Healy. Swifties speculate that Healy may have been the inspiration behind one of Puth's songs. In the spring of 2023, Healy, who is 35 years old, had a brief romance with Taylor Swift following her breakup with Joe Alwyn.

In a resurfaced screenshot, Healy expressed his admiration for a collaboration between Charlie Puth and Boyz II Men. He described the track "If You Leave Me Now" from Puth's album Voicenotes as "harrrrrd." The comment was made in May 2018 via X.

Puth retweeted the post and wrote, "Thanks Matty!"

In the song, Swift also mentions poet Dylan Thomas and singer Patti Smith in the chorus.

Swift sings in her song, "I laughed in your face and said, ‘You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith / This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel, we’re modern idiots."

Despite Thomas passing away at the age of 39 in 1953, Smith, who is now 77 years old, responded to the song on Instagram just last month.

The author of Just Kids expressed her gratitude for being compared to the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. She shared a photo of herself reading Thomas' Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog, thanking Taylor for the mention.

In the title track, Swift references "Lucy" and "Jack," leading fans to speculate that she is referring to Boygenius' Lucy Dacus and her close friend and collaborator Jack Antonoff.

Editor's P/S:

Charlie Puth's upcoming album promises to be a departure from his usual style, thanks in part to the inspiration he drew from Taylor Swift's "The Tortured Poets Department." The song, which Puth initially hesitated to release due to its raw honesty, delves into the heart-wrenching experience of witnessing a loved one self-destruct despite attempts to intervene. Puth's gratitude for Swift's influence is evident in his social media posts, where he acknowledged her support and credited her for emboldening him to share this vulnerable piece with the world.

The article also highlights the interconnectedness within the music industry, as evidenced by Matty Healy's praise for Puth's collaboration with Boyz II Men and Patti Smith's response to Swift's mention in her song. These instances underscore the power of collaboration and the mutual respect that exists among artists. Swift's lyrics have sparked discussions and speculations among fans, leading them to connect the dots between her references to various individuals and the broader music scene. Overall, the article provides a glimpse into the creative process and the impact that artists have on one another, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie within the industry.