Hello, hi, we’re here to talk about—what else?—Taylor Swift’s upcoming album The Tortured Poets Department. Specifically, a super interesting theory fans have about the black-and-white photography in the album's various editions. But to get us caught up real quick:
'Kay, back to the theory!!! Taylor announced Tortured Poets at the Grammys and then dropped the first album cover, which featured a moody black-and-white photo of herself lying down:
She then revealed The Bolter edition while playing a show in Melbourne, which showcased yet another black-and-white image in a slightly different colorway.
Taylor then announced The Albatross edition while performing in Sydney, which featured yet another black-and-white snap of herself in yet another slightly different tone:
At this point, fans clocked the shifting hues and began coming up with theories—specifically ones that suggested The Tortured Poets Department's variant colors represent the five stages of grief:
- Denial
- Anger
- Bargaining
- Depression
- Acceptance
Taylor obviously has a long and compelling history of using Easter eggs, but this might be her most complex and ingenious one yet. And if fans are on the right track with the whole "stages of grief" thing, we should expect the singer to reveal two more editions with two more bonus tracks—potentially at one of her upcoming performances. Reminder: She's about to play a ton of shows in Singapore before taking a break in April and then heading to France in May, soooo...stay tuned!
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