Halsey's Hit Song Inspired by Ex Sees Surge in Streams Post 'The Tortured Poets Department' Release

Halsey Claims to Be Trapped in A Madhouse In New Message

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Taylor Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, features artists like Patti Smith, The Black Dog, and even includes a Halsey song from 2015.

Released on April 19, the album, known as TTPD, explores Swift's relationship with Matty Healy from The 1975. The album has broken streaming and sales records, and has also brought attention to "Colors," a song from Halsey's debut album, Badlands. According to @HalseyData on X, the song saw a significant increase in streams on Spotify, with 122,027 plays following the release of TTPD.

Halsey's song "Colors" was inspired by her relationship with Healy, who is 35 years old. They were rumored to be together in 2015.

In an interview discussing their brief romance, Halsey mentioned, "We both have a fascination with unique individuals, and we recognized that quality in each other. I observed him closely, while he enjoyed the attention. However, if you believe he is the first musician I've been linked to who enjoys red wine and wears skinny jeans, you are mistaken."

In her song "Colors," Halsey sings about a situation where a young brother may not express his love openly, and a mother who appears happy only on television. It is worth noting that Healy's mother, Denise Welch, is a host on the UK talk show Loose Women. The lyrics also touch upon a partner who seems to find happiness only when the other person is under the influence of drugs. Healy himself has been candid about his struggles with heroin addiction.

Halsey explained in a 2016 interview that the song delves into the experience of witnessing someone you care about losing their spark. It could be due to issues like substance abuse, work stress, or engaging in negative behaviors that alter their personality from the vibrant individual they once were.

Halsey’s latest album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, released in 2021, was produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails. The album showcased a shift towards an industrial sound, moving away from Halsey's previous pop music ventures. This album also marked the end of Halsey's collaboration with Capitol Records, as their relationship with the label came to a breaking point in May 2022. Variety reported that Halsey had accused Capitol of not promoting their song "So Good" unless it went viral on TikTok. In response, Capitol released an open letter affirming their support for Halsey, who eventually parted ways with the label in April 2023.

In June 2023, Halsey signed with Columbia Records, a move that seemed to allude to the challenges they faced in the music industry. This was hinted at in an Instagram Story shared on Sunday, April 22.

I love Spirited Away because I can relate to feeling lost and far from loved ones, like taking a job in a chaotic place under a strange contract. The industry is like a "madhouse" with greedy monsters, making it hard to remember who I really am.

Halsey hinted at new music coming soon earlier this year. She shared a video on February 24, mentioning trying to write from a healed perspective but feeling the urge to speak her mind. The caption read, "Is it yes or is it save for later?"

Editor's P/S:

Taylor Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," has sparked renewed interest in Halsey's 2015 song "Colors." The song,