Taylor Swift Album Detail Sends Internet Into Meltdown

Taylor Swift's much-anticipated 11th album, The Tortured Poets Department (TTPD), has finally been released—and fans have noticed one interesting detail.

Two hours after TTPD dropped, Swift revealed the ultimate bombshell to her legions of fans: she was releasing a secret double album. The second part is titled The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology and includes 15 extra songs. As TTPD is made up of 16 new songs—including collaborations with Post Malone and Florence + The Machine—this takes the total of newly released songs to 31.

Swifties have noticed that 31 is 13 backward, which Swift considers her lucky number. In an interview with MTV News in 2009, she said: "I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks."

Newsweek emailed Swift's publicist for comment via email Friday.

People took to X (formerly Twitter) after the second album was released to point out the reference to the singer's favorite digit.

"Of course it's 31 songs. Because we all know she could never write just 13. That's our little tortured poet," one fan wrote.

"So many songs, 31 songs in total. 13 backwards. Will have to listen to the rest of The Anthology this weekend—have to work in the morning. @taylorswift13 doesn't rest!" said another.

"GUYS THE FULL ALBUM IS 2HRS AND 2MINS LONG WITH 31 SONGS; 13 backwards and also 3-1=2 PLUS A DOUBLE ALBUM. The f****** 2 situation SHES A MASTERMIND," a third user commented.

A fourth added: "31 songs total?? And what's 31 backwards? 13."

Others expressed how thankful they were that their favorite singer released so many new songs for them to enjoy.

"There is no way she gave us 31 songs tonight #TSTTPD @taylorswift13 DO YOU KNOW HOW INCREDIBLE YOU ARE," @presleycc13 posted.

"our mother is indeed a saintly woman who gave us 31 songs," said @mirrorswifft.

User cruelstaylor added: "Girlie just casually released 31 songs during a 2 month break of HER BIGGEST WORLD TOUR."

Swift made the announcement on her Instagram account, where she also showed off the new album cover.

"It's a 2am surprise: The Tortured Poets Department is a secret DOUBLE album. I'd written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here's the second instalment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn't mine anymore... it's all yours," she wrote.

Swift is no stranger to hiding Easter eggs for her dedicated fan base to try and figure out. Before the second album was announced, some Swifties had theorized that this would happen.

One person to pose the theory was TikToker and super fan Emerson (@swiftlyobsessed). In her viral video, Emerson suggested that TTPD would be a "double-album drop," with Swift releasing another LP alongside it.

Emerson pointed to a QR code as evidence. A mural appeared in Chicago's River North District on Monday night, reading "ttpd13." When scanned with a phone camera, the mysterious code led to a 13-second clip on Swift's YouTube page.

The video featured a piece of blank paper, with a typewriter printing "Error 321" across the page and what appeared to be a faint "13."

However, Emerson theorized that Swift's second album drop would be a re-recording of her sixth studio album, Reputation (2017), which was incorrect. While not everyone agreed with this exact theory, they did agree with Emerson's belief that something else might drop alongside TTPD.

Other TTPD theories to go viral include Easter eggs regarding Swift's ex-boyfriend, British actor Joe Alwyn, and that the music icon will include some of her new tracks in the Eras Tour.

Swift dated Conversations With Friends star Alywn for six years before they split in April 2023. To promote the release of TTPD, Swift created five Apple music playlists depicting "the five stages of heartbreak"—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Many fans believed the playlists documented her break-up with Alwyn.