AP Taylor Swift

They are the hunters we are the foxes, and we run.  This week we’re covering “I Know Places” from 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Who’s running? Why are they running? What are the places they’re trying to get to? Does she actually know a place to hide? This is a dark and anxious song and we have questions! We explore how Taylor Swift uses metaphors to help make the relationship she’s singing about relatable. Then we examine how the music changes between the verses and the choruses, from anxious and scared to romantic and beautiful. And we’re left trying to answer the question: is this a reliable narrator? Tune in to find out!   Mentioned in this episode:  Fall episode Metaphors episode Pirates of the Caribbean Friends “Wonderland” episode Zootopia The Diary of Anne Frank Star Wars: Rogue One AIDA, Original Broadway Cast Recording  The Audacity of Hope Marxist episode Affiliate Codes:  Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off!  Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro   ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:15] How we do a deep dive [04:30] “It’s a scene and we’re out here in plain sight” [09:01] “Baby…I know places we won’t be found” [16:30] “Just grab my hand and don’t ever drop it” [21:52] Is there a bridge? [28:48] What’s the purpose of the song?   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.  

Now it’s too late for you and your white horse. What do white horses, foxes, vultures, and wolves all have in common? They all show up in our favorite Taylor Swift songs! This week, we’re looking to understand how Taylor Swift uses animals in her lyrics, through the lens of animal studies! Jenn takes us back to medieval times to help us understand the origins of the white horse and what that means for “White Horse” (Fearless, 2008). Then Jodi talks to us about the many connotations associated with foxes and vultures, which are referenced in “I know places,” (1989, 2014). And finally, Maansi talks us through the song “Daylight” (Lover, 2014) where there are implications of the animalistic concept of hibernation, and also references to wolves.  Mentioned in this episode:  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling  The Hobbit & Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkein  The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkein Rapunzel by the Brothers Grimm  Mythology by Edith Hamilton Hercules the Disney film Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (the film)  BBC’s In Our Time - Chivalry episode  BBC’s You’re Dead to Me  Shakespeare’s Sonnets Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott Le Morte D’Artur by Sir Thomas Malory Lancelot: The Knight of the Cart by Chretien de Troyes The Templar Knights by Dan Jones  Alison Weir Books   Zootopia  Mary Poppins  Brer Rabbit Disney’s Robin Hood The Dark Knight  Spiderman  Beowulf  The Wolf of Wall Street Twilight  Once Upon a Time  Little Red Riding Hood by the Brothers Grimm The Three Little Pigs Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:12] Introduction to Animal Studies [03:36] White horses in “White Horse,” Fearless, 2008 [23:05] Foxes & vultures in “I know places,” 1989, 2014  [38:19] Wolves in “Daylight,” Lover, 2019   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

All’s fair in love and poetry. The long-awaited album The Tortured Poets Department is officially out, and of course, we have thoughts! This bonus episode strays from our usual format to bring you as comprehensive of an overview as we can provide in one (rather long) episode. Be warned: you won’t find speculation about Taylor’s love life here. True to our usual content, we focus on the lyrics, the themes, and the literary choices Taylor makes to better understand what this album is all about. Join us as we give our first reactions, talk about Taylor’s “In Summation poem,” and briefly dissect a handful of songs that stood out to each of us.   Mentioned in this episode:  Check out our “The Tortured Poets Department” Booklist on Bookshop.org/APTS E29: Show and Tell - Aestheticism E27: Show and Tell - Poetic Repetition E23: Show and Tell - Mad Women E7: Show and Tell - Ecocriticism Bonus: "The Tortured Poets Department" Announcement E32: Deep Dive - Love Story    Episode Highlights: [02:48] Our initial album reactions [17:22] “In Summation” Poem overview [29:53] Is this what we expected TTPD to be? [38:16] loml  [44:39] I Can Do It With a Broken Heart [53:24] So High School [56:34] Florida!!! [59:20] Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me? [01:05:04] Down Bad [01:13:28] So Long, London [01:18:27] But Daddy I Love Him [01:27:00] How Did It End? [01:37:49] The Manuscript [01:46:08] What do we think the album is about?   Affiliate Codes:  Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off!  Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

You were Romeo, I was a Scarlet Letter. This week we’re covering an oldie but goodie–Taylor Swift’s “Love Story”, from Fearless (Taylor’s Version). In this very narrative-driven song, we get a chance to explore who the protagonists are and what they’re trying to say about their love “story.  We explore why Taylor Swift references high school favorites “Romeo and Juliet” and “Scarlet Letter,” and what those metaphors may mean. The “Scarlet Letter” reference makes us look at this song from a whole new lens, forcing us to look at pronouns, verb tenses, and points of view–we promise you’ll never hear this song the same way again.    Mentioned in this episode:  Love Story, Fearless (Taylor’s Version)  Romeo and Juliet Titanic The Notebook  Tarzan of the Apes Tim McGraw Enchanted Pride and Prejudice  Cinderella How I Met Your Mother Scarlet Letter Easy A I Did Something Bad Jane Eyre Emma & Juliet  Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead Don’t Matter, Akon   Affiliate Codes:  Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off!  Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro   ***   Episode Highlights:  [1:30] How we do a deep dive [08:19] “You’ll be the prince and I’ll be the princess” The fairytale references [14:50] “I was a Scarlet Letter” What this reference may mean [20:32] “All that’s left to do is run” Where it all takes a turn [28:42] “When I met you on the outside of town” We approach the bridge [41:11] What we think the purpose of “Love Story” really is Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

Fever dream high in the quiet of the night. What’s an AP class without a not-so-brief discussion about Shakespeare? Join us as we compare Taylor Swift to William Shakespeare, and find out why we think Shakespeare may have been the original pop star of his day. Shakespeare’s plays remain so relevant even today, so it’s only natural that Taylor Swift would find ways to allude to his works in her music. In this Show & Tell, we each pick one Shakespeare play and a Taylor Swift song that we feel best references and represents that play. Maansi ties Romeo & Juliet to “Love Story” (Fearless 2008), Jenn talks us through Julius Caesar references in “Bad Blood” (Reputation 2017), and Jodi draws parallels between Midsummer Night’s Dream and “Cruel Summer” (Lover 2019). We really put the AP in APTS with this discussion so push up your reading glasses, dust off your old Shakespeare text books, and get ready to get nerdy with us!   Mentioned in this episode:  William Shakespeare The Tempest, William Shakespeare The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer Come Clean, Hilary Duff Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare Love Story, Fearless 2008 William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, 1996 film version Romeo and Juliet, 1968 film version Jenn’s Zac Efron version of 1960 Romeo and Juliet West Side Story Bad Blood, Reputation 2017 Shakespeare Birth Trust TL;DR Folger Shakespeare Library Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare Julius Caesar, Performed at the Globe Theater, 2015 Bridgerton Shakespeare in a Divided America, by James Shapiro A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1999 film version  Cruel Summer, Lover 2019 Affiliate Codes:  Bookshop.org - Use code APTS at checkout for 10% off. Limited time offer. Expires April 10, 2024!  Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off!  Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro   ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:00] Shakespeare: The original pop artist [09:38] Romeo & Juliet’s Love Story [30:34] Julius Caesar’s Bad Blood [51:06] Cruel Midsummer Night’s Dream   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

What must it be like to grow up that beautiful? In this episode, we deep dive into the beautiful “gold rush.” We dive into the historical context of the real-life gold rush and how the gold rush was presented to us as kids versus today as adults. Then, we dive into how the reality of history affects how we interpret this song. We also explore how fame or popularity connects to this song. Finally, we examine the siren call motif and the speaker's ultimate decision to resist the temptation of the gold rush. Ultimately, our takeaway is the importance of agency, boundaries, and the speaker’s decision to not engage with a gold rush.    Mentioned in this episode:  Oregon Trail (website) Empty Mansions by Bell Deadman and Paul Clark Newell Mean Girls Harry Potter series Mythology by Edith Hamilton Glee David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Villette by Charlotte Bronte “You’re Beautiful” by James Blunt Affiliate Codes:  Bookshop.org - Use code APTS at checkout for 10% off. Limited time offer. Expires April 10, 2024!  Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off!  Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro   ***   Episode Highlights:  [05:15] - Introduction to historical context of the gold rush  [09:12] - The speaker’s perspective [14:38] - The temptation to “jump in”  [24:08] - The siren call [31:10] - The structure of the song [38:52] - The convenience of a dream [48:50] - Is this person worth it? Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm →  tinyurl.com/aptslibro This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

Every bait and switch was a work of art. It’s time to get theoretical! In this week’s episode, we cover Aesthetic Theory–the experience of beauty, for the sake of beauty. Jodi starts us off quite literally with “Gorgeous” from reputation (2017). This prompts a discussion of “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde, and the similarities between the song’s obsession with the subject’s beauty, and the book’s fixation on the beauty and youth of Dorian Gray. Naturally, we talk about gender roles and the negative sides of focusing exclusively on a person’s beauty. Then, Jenn brings in “willow” from evermore (2020) as an example of a song that gave her an aesthetic experience. And Maansi brings it home with “gold rush,” also from evermore (2020), focusing on the detailed, artistic descriptions of beauty throughout the song.  Mentioned in this episode:  “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Oscar Wilde  “The Giver,” Lois Lowry  “The Giver” movie “Gorgeous,” reputation  “willow,” folklore “gold rush,” folklore The Aeneid, Virgil The Pit and the Pendulum, Edgar Allen Poe The Odyssey, Homer    Important definitions:  Aestheticism: aestheticism promoted an "art for art's sake" philosophy, celebrating beauty as free of moral or utilitarian considerations Hedonism: the pursuit of pleasure; sensual self-indulgence. Ekphrasis: the use of detailed description of a work of visual art as a literary device.    Affiliate Codes:  Bookshop.org/ - Use code APTS until 4/10/24 for 10% off any order! Krowned Krystals - krownedkrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off!  Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:10] Introduction to Aestheticism  [08:59] “Gorgeous,” reputation  [26:03] “willow,” evermore [40:37] “gold rush,” evermore   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.  

That’s What People Say (ooh ooh). In this deep dive episode, we get into the groove of Taylor Swift's “Shake It Off” from her album 1989 (Taylor’s Version). We start by discussing how the song acts as a strategic move by Swift to rebrand herself as a pop artist and connect with a larger audience. We look at how Taylor addresses the haters and criticisms she’s received over the years through her lyrics. And we make the case that this is not a simple song–it’s a therapeutic anthem of resilience, empowerment, and growth. Jodi and Jenn get flashbacks to grad school thinking about this song, and Maansi…well, listen to hear what Maansi really thinks about this song.  Mentioned in this episode:  “Shake It Off” How Taylor Swift Made Me a Better Marketer The Spare Clare @colormelovely Mean  TIME Person of the Year profile Risky Business, the rock band at Ross Mean Girls   Affiliate Codes:  Krowned Krystals - KrownedKrystals.com use code APTS at checkout for 10% off Libro.fm - Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist and use code APTS30 for 30% off books found here tinyurl.com/aptslibro   *** Episode Highlights:  [02:15] How “Shake It Off” fits into Taylor’s musical catalog  [07:01] “It’s gonna be alright”  [10:44] Taylor as a marketing GENIUS [16:41] “I stay out too late” [22:52] Looking at this song 10 years later [30:30] Was there another option as the first single? [37:25] The purpose of the song Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

You go talk to your friends, talk to my friends, talk to me. Let’s get ready for "The Tortured Poets Department" and explore the concept of poetic repetition in Taylor Swift's songs. From understanding epizeuxis and anaphora to seeing how Taylor uses these devices in “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”’ “Shake It Off” and “This Love,” we discuss how repetition can seem deceptively simple while still communicating a clear message. Understanding the purpose of any text can help enrich your experience of that art, and this week’s episode helps us understand the power of some of Taylor’s less complicated lyrics. Tune into this week’s conversation to see why simplicity can be powerful, and perhaps we may even convince you to appreciate a song you don’t necessarily want to listen to on repeat.  Note: This episode was recorded before the "The Tortured Poets Department" announcement. We hope it helps us all prepare for the album!   Helpful definitions: Epizeuxis (a.k.a. palilogia) - the immediate repetition of a word or phrase for rhetorical or poetic effect. For example, "the children squealed with glee, with glee” or “Shake it off, shake it off” Anaphora - repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect. For example, Lincoln's "we cannot dedicate—we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground.” OR “Please don’t be in love with someone else, please don’t have somebody waiting on you.”  Epistrophe - repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect. For example, Lincoln's "of the people, by the people, for the people.” or “And it was enchanting to meet you / All I can say is it was enchanting to meet you”    Mentioned in this episode:  Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens King Lear by William Shakespeare Walden by Thoreau  Macbeth by William Shakespeare Mean Girls  Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling Friends   Looking for an audiobook? Check out our Libro.fm playlist tinyurl.com/aptslibro   Affiliate Codes:  Libro.fm:  Receive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership by using the code APTS - Redeem here or at tinyurl.com/aptslibro  Get 30% off any audiobook from the AP Taylor Swift playlist with the code APTS30 - Audiobooks eligible for promo code found here: tinyurl.com/aptslibro ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:25] Introduction to Poetic Repetition [06:43] “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Red (Taylor’s Version) [22:00] “Shake It Off,” 1989 (Taylor’s Version) [40:45] “This Love,” 1989 (Taylor’s Version)   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → tinyurl.com/aptslibro   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

"It’s coming over you like it was all a big mistake." In this week’s episode, we dive into the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) classic “Haunted.” We discuss how Taylor Swift’s song captures the haunting and fragile nature of relationships, the devastation of loss, and the immediate aftermath of a breakup. In true form, we also tie the idea of a haunting break up back to our careers, and what it can feel like when you are constantly wondering “what if” about your past decisions. Whether you want some strong emotions or a bit of verb tense analysis, we get into it all in our conversation about “Haunted.”    Mentioned in this episode:  Broadway Sings Taylor Swift Phantom of the Opera Romeo and Juliet  Madeline  Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier “The Crown” Netflix "The Year of Taylor Swift” from The Daily Slaughterhouse Five  Moulin Rouge    Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI ***   Episode Highlights:  [00:25] Introduction to "Haunted" [02:35] The theme of haunting in Taylor’s music [14:18] When you’re haunted by work or other relationships [22:24] When you’re haunted by the “what if” [37:56] The purpose of “Haunted”    Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

All they keep asking me, is if I’m gonna be your bride. We’re a literary-focused Taylor Swift podcast, so it was only a matter of time before we brought Jane Austen into the mix. In this episode, we explore three songs in relation to Pride and Prejudice. Jenn focuses on the sisterly relationship between Elizabeth and Jane with “I’m Only Me When I’m With You.” Maansi zooms into the moment Darcy confesses his love to Elizabeth, only to be brutally rebuffed, with the song “Haunted.” And Jodi explores the connections between the societal pressure to get married in Pride and Prejudice and “Lavender Haze.” It is a truth universally acknowledged that any conversation on this podcast will find literary and pop culture references to Taylor Swift, and this episode is no different!    Mentioned in this episode:  Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen  “I’m Only Me When I’m With You,” Taylor Swift  & Juliet  The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, Anne Bronte “Haunted”, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) Hamilton Emma, Jane Austen “Lavender Haze,” Midnights  Bridgerton Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:14] Introduction to Pride and Prejudice [05:39] “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” - Taylor Swift  [27:23] “Haunted” - Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) [43:31] “Lavender Haze” - Midnights    Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen? In this week’s deep dive episode, we discuss the evermore bonus track, “right where you left me.” We explore themes of feeling stuck, the haunting presence of the narrator, the plea for help, and how we see attitudes in the song mirrored in society. This beautiful and ultimately sad song also inspired a wide range of references from Elle Woods to Charles Dickens to Foucault. This song definitely has some layers, so join us as we unpack their meaning and ultimately try to get to the purpose of “right where you left me.”    Mentioned in this episode:  Arrested Development Ghost (the movie)  School Spirit (show on Netflix) "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens  The Man Who Can’t Be Moved (song) "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde  "The Age of Adelaide" (film)  "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue"  "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling Legally Blonde  The Last Five Years "No Exit" by Jean-Paul Sartre "1984" by George Orwell "Discipline and Punish" by Foucault  "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury  Jeremy Bentham’s body  Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI *** Episode Highlights:  [0:35] - Introduction to “right where you left me”  [2:45] - Setting the scene of the song  [7:07] - Metaphorically and literally being stuck  [10:00] - The characters in this song  [17:50] - “the glass shattered on the white cloth”  [24:52] - The Panopticon and society’s expectations [36:15] - Taylor’s use of “haunting” as imagery [43:09] - The song as a metaphor for mental health    Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

There’s nothing like a mad woman, what a shame she went mad.  What better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than with some songs about women scorned? In this episode, we bring to you three songs that represent mad women. Maansi kicks off the discussion with the scornful, vengeful mad woman in “Better Than Revenge,” Jodi walks us through the woman who’s driven to insanity in “mad woman,” and Jenn wraps up the discussion with an example of the mad woman who is stuck in bonus track “right where you left me.” We close out the discussion by acknowledging how all of these songs are indicative of a movement that’s giving women everywhere the opportunity to reclaim the “mad woman” stigma. Did we know this episode would drop on Valentine’s Day when we recorded it? No. Are we mad about it? Not at all!   Mentioned in this episode:  Hildegard of Bingen Sigmund Freud Mean Girls “Before He Cheats,” Carrie Underwood “Mama’s Broken Heart,” Miranda Lambert “Jolene,” Dolly Parton “Vigilante shit,” Taylor Swift The Country of the Blind, HG Wells Game of Thrones Great Expectations, Charles Dickens Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf Pride & Prejudice, Jane Austen Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte The Female Malady, Elaine Showalter  Villette, Charlotte Bronte Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See Cinderella’s Sisters: A Revisionist History of Foot Binding, Dorothy Ko “Mama’s broken heart,” Miranda Lambert Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI ***   Episode Highlights:  [01:47] Intro to “mad women” & hysteria [09:43] “Better than revenge,” Speak Now [33:52] “mad woman,” folklore [50:52] “right where you left me,” evermore [1:13:02] Reclaiming the mad woman   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

We’ve all been in a lot of lonely places. In this week’s deep dive, your hosts take you back to one of the original sad songs from Taylor’s debut album, “The Outside.” Perhaps more of a deep cut, this song cuts straight to the heart of what it feels like to be left out. Join us to discover what this song meant to us in our high school years vs today. We’ll explore how Taylor’s writing and musical styles may have changed, but she’s always known how to capture some of the most universal experiences, particularly for women! TW: We do discuss eating issues and disorders in this episode. We are fortunately recovered so the ultimate result is body positivity, but FYI!  Mentioned in this episode:  The Outside - the song  Pride & Prejudice  Lizzie McGuire  Untangled by Lisa Damour Queen Bees & Wannabes  Robert Frost The Good Enough Job  Mean Girls  Hamilton   Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   *** Episode Highlights:  [00:56] Introduction to “The Outside”  [02:59] Lizzie McGuire captures the spirit of “The Outside”  [09:11] Taylor references Robert Frost [17:01] “I’ve never been on the outside”  [21:35] Is there a bridge in this song?  [24:09] Feeling on “the outside” when you start a new job  [30:48] The purpose of “The Outside”  Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

And so I enter into evidence…In this very special BONUS episode, your Unofficial Professors of Taylor Swift go deep into the artifacts that Taylor has released for her upcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” From the album art, the title, and the poem, to the track titles, we discuss it all! Is this album going to be more intellectual or emotional? Is Taylor on defense or offense? How wrong will all of our predictions be when the album is actually released? Well, we give you our hypotheses for the first two questions, but we will all have to wait until April 19th to see how well this conversation ages!      Mentioned in this episode:  Euphues by John Lyly (origin of “all’s fair in love and war”) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf  The Poetry of Dorothy Parker Mythology by Edith Hamilton Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise Tick, Tick…Boom! by Jonathan Larson, Directed by Lin Manuel Miranda   Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI ***   Episode Highlights:  01:08 - Analyzing the Album Cover 03:07 - The Title: "Chairman of the Tortured Poets Department" 07:12 - The Poem: "And So I Enter Into Evidence" 36:30 - All's Fair in Love and Poetry 45:36 - Tracklist Analysis 54:11 - The Back Cover Image Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

If I was a [rich] man, I’d be the man. Curtain up! Light the lights! Today we are finally devoting an entire episode to one of our favorite topics: MUSICALS. Jenn identifies “The Outside,” from Taylor Swift, as the perfect song for the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. (Never seen it? No worries, Jenn gives a full synopsis!). Then, Jodi finds parallels between “The Man” and “If I Were a Rich Man,” from Fiddler on the Roof. And finally, we can’t talk about musicals without Hamilton! Maansi brings it home by comparing “Midnight Rain” to “Satisfied,” and we wonder if (and when!) Lin Manuel Miranda and Taylor Swift will bring their lyrical genius minds together.    Mentioned in this episode:  “The Outside,” Taylor Swift, 2007 Phantom of the Opera Movie Phantom of the Opera, Gaston Leroux Book Phantom of the Opera: Live from London  “Musicals that wouldn’t exist if the man had just gone to therapy”  “The Man,” Lover, 2019 Fiddler on the Roof “If I Were a Rich Man,” Chiam Topol, Fiddler on the Roof (1971) “Midnight Rain,” Midnights, 2022 “Satisfied,” Hamilton Hamilton Singin’ in the Rain Mean Girls  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat   Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   *** Episode Highlights:  [02:01] Curtain up: Introduction to Musicals [06:47] “The Outside” and Phantom of the Opera [23:34] “The Man” and “If I Was a Rich Man,” Fiddler on the Roof [36:50] “Midnight Rain” and “Satisfied,” Hamilton   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

None of it was accidental. This week we’re going deep into Midnights favorite “Mastermind.” After looking at this Taylor Swift song from the perspective of satire in our previous episode, we take another look to examine what Taylor is actually “mastermind”-ing. Is it a relationship? Or is it a nod to her many (many) easter eggs she leaves her fans? Maansi explores how Taylor weaves strategic language into the lyrics to reclaim the idea that she’s “calculating.” Jodi finds connections to The Odyssey, Oedipus Rex, and Greek mythology to bring this to an AP-level conversation. And Jenn shares more context about why “all the wisest women had to do it this way,” has deep roots in literature and history. Join us as we unpack this cryptic and potentially Machiavellian song! Mentioned in this episode:  TIME Magazine December 7, 1981 “Crazy Over Cats”  TIME Magazine Person of the Year 2023 Phantom Thread Mythology, Edith Hamilton  The Odyssey, Homer, Emily Wilson translation   Oedipus Rex, Sophocles   Guys and Dolls Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen  Hamilton  Founding Mothers, Cokie Roberts RBG  Jackie The Voices of Neims, Suzannah Lipscomb  Matilda, Roald Dahl   Harry Potter, JK Rowling   Broadway Sings Mean Girls  The Woman in Me, Britney Spears Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë Gone Girl, Gillian Flynn I Care A Lot   Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   ***   Episode Highlights:  [02:23] “And now you’re mine” - WHO? [05:05] Mastermind: Benji’s Vision  [10:00] “The planets, and the fates…” Greek mythology  [16:26] “We were born to the the pawn in every lover’s game” [26:44] “I’ve been scheming like a criminal ever since” The Bridge! [33:40] “I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian cause I care”  [43:31] “Check Mate: I couldn’t lose”  [47:23] What is the purpose of this song? Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig akaScotty Z.

I’m dying to see how this one ends. We talk about satire - what it is, how it’s different from parody or hyperbole, how Taylor uses it and why. Jodi starts with the quintessential satirical example from Taylor’s catalog - “Blank Space,” Jenn argues that Reputation is actually a satirical album, and Maansi makes a case for satire in “Mastermind.” Find out what witch hunts and chess have to do with it all. We acknowledge that satire is an intellectual form of comedy, which requires us to examine what Taylor is saying in a more nuanced way. Hear our first read interpretations, and then hunker down for the second read interpretations that unravel the threads of satire a bit to get to the heart of what she’s trying to say. Mentioned in this episode:  "Blank Space" 1989 "I did something bad" reputation "Mastermind" Midnights Oxford languages dictionary, Satire The Onion SNL Weird Al  Animal Farm, George Orwell Best in Show Scary Movies Hunger Games Weekend Update, SNL “A Modest Proposal” Jonathan Swift, 1729 Aristophenes English Professor Discusses Satire & Performs Rhetorical Analysis on Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” Witches, midwives, and nurses, Barbara Ehrenreich The Prince, Machiavelli The Art of War, Machiavelli Queen’s Gambit Looking for an audio book? Check out our Libro.fm playlist https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI *** Episode Highlights:  [00:38] What is satire and how is it different from Parody? [04:33] Jonathan Swift satire [07:33] Blank Space [20:28] I did something bad [32:28] Mastermind   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree →linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts Libro.fm → https://tidd.ly/47uhRVI This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.

My, my, my, my. We get deep into our feelings on this deep dive today with “Death By a Thousand Cuts,” from Lover. With a title referencing an imperial form of torture, what is this Taylor Swift song really about? As always, our hosts look at the lyrics from very different perspectives based on our own personal experiences, from moving out of a childhood home (“chandelier still flickering here”) to a breakup (“You said it was a great love”) to Spiderman (“I see you everywhere”). We talk about idioms, loss, grief, the emotional burden of pain, and how asking the traffic lights for answers maybe isn’t as far-fetched as some of us originally thought. Will we ever hear this song the same way again? “I don’t know!” Mentioned in this episode:  The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald “Death By a Thousand Cuts,” Lover (2019) “Death By a Thousand Cuts” Tiny Desk Concert Wikipedia definition of “death by a thousand cuts” Tom Holland’s Umbrella Lip Sync Battle Finding Nemo  Great Expectations, Charles Dickens The Notebook Moby Dick, Herman Melville  Love Again  Someone Great  Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, Lori Gottlieb    *** Episode Highlights:  [02:15] Defining “death by a thousand cuts” [08:18] My, my, my, my: What is this opening? [15:50] United we stand: The things shared in a relationship  [20:03] Paper thin plans: Connecting this song to “Paper Rings” [22:11] Trying to find a part of me you didn't take up: Why this love is so hard to get over  [28:11] I ask the traffic lights: Looking anywhere for answers [34:00] It's just a thousand cuts: The purpose of the song   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree → linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.  

Feeling so Gatsby for that whole year. Taylor Swift loves to make direct and indirect references to the classic American novel, The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald. So we decided to dive into those connections and see what all the fuss is about. In this week’s episode, we each picked a song that we wanted to relate to The Great Gatsby. Join us as Maansi brings the party with “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” Jenn explores Gatsby’s motivations with “Death by a Thousand Cuts,” and Jodi brings it all together by digging into the character of Daisy with “happiness.”  Mentioned in this episode:  “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things” reputation  “Death by a Thousand Cuts” Lover  “happiness” evermore "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald  Taylor’s 2014 Gatsby-Inspired People Magazine cover  "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" by J.K. Rowling “Funny Girl”  Zelda Fitzgerald - The History Chicks Podcast  "Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald," by Therese Anne Fowler "The Edible Woman" by Margaret Atwood  "Romeo & Juliet," by William Shakespeare   ***   Episode Highlights:  [00:30] Introduction to The Great Gatsby  [07:25] “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things,” reputation [23:21] “Death by a Thousand Cuts,” Lover [34:35] “happiness,” evermore   Subscribe to get new episode updates: aptaylorswift.substack.com/subscribe   Follow us on social!  TikTok → tiktok.com/@APTaylorSwift Instagram → instagram.com/APTaylorSwift YouTube → youtube.com/@APTaylorSwift Link Tree → linktr.ee/aptaylorswift Bookshop.org → bookshop.org/shop/apts   This podcast is neither related to nor endorsed by Taylor Swift, her companies, or record labels. All opinions are our own. Intro music produced by Scott Zadig aka Scotty Z.