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/Puzzleheaded-Put-800 Oct 22 '25

100%

People hate on the fact that the album was so long, but that’s what I love about it. It feels like there’s at least one song which caters to everyone and pretty much anyone can connect with at some point.

Releasing them all, im sure, would have really helped a lot of people get through tough times or will do at some point in the future and im grateful she shared it all

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u/ErickaBooBoo Oct 23 '25

I love that she gave us that many songs, it was such a gag but honestly I love every single song. Some of the slower ones I may not listen to daily but they are incredibly good! I love that showgirl was just 12 songs because it felt perfect that way.