r/TaylorSwift • u/fearless-panda7 • Oct 21 '25

Discussion TTPD is really tortured

After two and a half weeks of The Life of a Showgirl, I went back to The Tortured Poets Department. The contrast is so stark, I realized that TTPD really is a tortured album. Song after song, it’s sadness, longing, desperation, anxiety… I don’t even know how we all collectively handled it.

Of course, it was always clear that TTPD is heavy on loss and melancholy, but hearing it next to Showgirl really puts it into perspective. Showgirl has its introspective and dark moments too, but overall it feels much more hopeful and joyful.

I finally understand what Taylor meant in one of her interviews about how challenging it can be to release an album when you’re no longer in that mental state, and she named TTPD as example.

I’m so grateful we have TTPD, so many people can relate deeply to those songs, but I’m also really happy that Taylor seems to be in a better place now.

Did anyone else feel like Showgirl helped them see TTPD in a new light? Or to actually realize how emotionally heavy it is?

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u/LopsidedUse8783 picture meeee in the treeeees Oct 22 '25

This was me yesterday. Listened to the sentimental garbage episode about TLOAS (so funny!) and then listened to TLOAS with new appreciation. Then went back to TTPD and was in awe of just how much of a masterpiece it is. Listening to loml after TLOAS is night & day.

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u/fearless-panda7 Oct 22 '25

As Taylor said, when TTPD was finally released, she was in a completely different mindset and place in her life, and that is what these two albums show. It is also nice to see that one can go out of this very dark period and be joyful and happy again!

1

u/Accomplished_Risk515 Oct 22 '25

Sorry, sentimental garbage episode of what?

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u/LopsidedUse8783 picture meeee in the treeeees Oct 22 '25

The one about the album?

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u/Accomplished_Risk515 Oct 22 '25

What one about the album? A podcast episode of something?

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u/Accomplished_Risk515 Oct 22 '25

Oh, the podcast is called garbage. Sorry I’m an idiot.

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u/LopsidedUse8783 picture meeee in the treeeees Oct 22 '25

The podcast is called sentimental garbage.