Taylor Swift has made a reference to Glasgow’s The Blue Nile in her new album, The Tortured Poets Department. In the ninth track, named “Guilty As Sin?”, Swift mentions drowning in The Blue Nile. The indie band’s biggest hit, “The Downtown Lights,” was released in 1989, the year Swift was born, and this could be seen as a nod to The 1975’s Matty Healy, who once said that The Blue Nile was his favorite band of all time. Healy, who has previously been linked romantically with Swift, has also stated that his song “Love It If We Made It” is like “The Blue Nile on steroids.”
The Blue Nile, led by singer Paul Buchanan, are an underground band with a dedicated following. They are known for their melancholic melodies, restrained guitar arrangements, and influential alternative sound. Despite only four studio albums in their repertoire, they are considered one of the most inspiring alternative bands in history.
In The Tortured Poet’s Department, Swift has also hinted at other references to artists like Charlie Puth and Lucy, thought to be a nod to Lucy Dacus, a third of the Grammy-winning band Boygenius. Dacus has a connection to both Swift and Healy, who have previously been linked romantically.
Aaron Dessner, from The National, has spoken of his experience working alongside his brother Bryce and Bleachers’ Jack Antonoff on the album, stating that he is “forever grateful” for the opportunity.
In a three-star review of the album, NME has criticized the album for “chasing its own tail with frenzied attempts to respond to critics, despite Swift’s current stature.” While the review states that Swift has proven she can do better, there is a sense that The Tortured Poets Department, despite its flaws, comes from a place of need for Swift to write
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