Rock legend Patti Smith shared her reaction to being featured on Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, which came out on April 19.
After learning that her name was included in the title track of the pop star’s 11th studio album, in the same verse as Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, the singer, 77, shared a kind message directly to Swift.
“This means I was touched to be mentioned in the company of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas,” she captioned two black-and-white photographs of her reading a copy of Thomas’ Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. “Thank you, Taylor.”
In the images, Smith may be smiling as she reads her book in a comfortable chair while rocking her hair in two braids.
Rock legend Patti Smith shared her reaction to being featured on Taylor Swift’s latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, which came out on April 19.
She was pointing out Swift’s lyrics in The Tortured Poets Department, in which she sings; “I laughed in your face and said / ‘You’re not Dylan Thomas, I’m not Patti Smith / This isn’t the Chelsea Hotel / We’re modern idiots.'”
Smith previously defended Swift when speaking about the 11-time Grammy winner’s level of fame.
“She’s a pop star who is under tremendous scrutiny all the time, and you can’t imagine what that’s like,” he said. The New York Times in 2019.
The Dancing Barefoot hitmaker continued: “It’s amazing not being able to go anywhere, do anything, have your hair messy.” And I’m sure he’s trying to do something good. She’s not trying to do anything wrong. And if that influences some of her avid fans to open their thoughts to her, so what?
Swift made several references to poets past and present, as well as other musical artists, such as Charlie Puth and Stevie Nicks.
Nicks even wrote a poem, which became the written prologue to the album.
The Fleetwood Mac artist, 75, who wrote the piece in Austin, Texas, on August 13, 2023, titled the poem To T and Me.
The poem says: “He was in love with her / Or at least she thought so / She was heartbroken / Maybe he was too.”
After learning that her name was included in the title track of the pop star’s 11th studio album, in the same verse as Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, the singer, 77, shared a kind message directly to Swift ( seen in February).
“This means I was touched to be mentioned in the company of the great Welsh poet Dylan Thomas,” she captioned two black-and-white photographs of her reading a copy of Thomas’ Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog. “Thank you, Taylor.”
Nicks’ work references a pair of star-crossed lovers, whom he described as “too hot to handle” and others “too high to try,” according to the outlet.
Nicks said TODAY.com Last fall he felt that his honesty in his art had rubbed off on Swift.
“I never stop telling the truth,” Nicks said. And I think that’s something that if Taylor Swift, she’s my friend, if Taylor got something from me, that’s what she got. I never lie in my songs, and if you broke up with me, I’m not saying I broke up with you. I tell the truth, always.’
Swift, 34, and Nicks have performed together in the past, singing the songs You Belong with Me and Rhiannon at the 2010 Grammys. Swift went on to say that performing alongside Nicks was a “fairytale and an honor,” according to People.
Nicks, who does not perform on the record, was also mentioned in Swift’s lyrics on the album in the song Clara Bow, with the lyrics: “You look like Stevie Nicks in ’75, the hair and the lips / The crowd turns crazy at your fingertips.” , half moonlight, a total eclipse.
She was pointing out Swift’s lyrics in The Tortured Poets Department, in which she sings; ‘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’ (seen May 2022)
Smith previously defended Swift when speaking about the 11-time Grammy winner’s level of fame and how she is “under tremendous scrutiny all the time” (pictured in March).
Swift also mentioned Puth, 32, in the title track, The Tortured Poets Department, with the lyrics: “You smoked and then you ate seven chocolate bars. We declare that Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist.”
Another possible pop reference on the album came with the song But Daddy I Love Him, which some fans interpreted as a reference to The Little Mermaid’s dialogue between Ariel and King Triton about Prince Eric, according to Today.com.
The track consisted of Swift narrating in contrast to the song’s other messages, saying, “I just found out that these people only raise you to cage you.”
On Friday, Swift left The Tortured Poets Department. The album has a total of four versions, as well as 16 songs and a bonus track titled The Manuscript.
The title of her latest work had caused fans to speculate that the name was directed at her ex, Joe Alwyn, 33. And earlier this week, Swift appeared to reference the actor while she shared the album’s lyrics on X.
Hours before the album dropped, Swift revealed that the album’s lead single would be Fortnight featuring rapper and singer Post Malone.
