Latest news with #TheTorturedPoetsDepartment
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
From Swiftie lore to BTS deep dives: The best books for the Gen Z who lives & breathes music
If there is one generation that embodies the phrase 'a beat in my heart and a song on my lips,' it is Gen Z. Whether on the metro, in a cab, doing household chores, or even filing monotonous paperwork at work, this generation moves through life to the rhythm of their soundtrack. With curated playlists for every mood and an ever-present pair of earbuds, music is bow a lifeline, a companion, and a form of self-expression. From the introspective lyricism of Taylor Swift to the genre-defying sounds of BTS, here are five books that music enthusiasts might like to add to their bookshelves or audiobook libraries: A year after the release of The Tortured Poets Department, The Taylor Swift Book by Malcolm Mackenzie stands out as an ambitious attempt to codify the legacy of one of this generation's most influential cultural figures. Originally released in Kindle format in 2024, the book was marketed as the 'ultimate guide' to Swift's music, evolution, and myth-making. True to its promise, it offers a sweeping overview of Swift's career: from her early days as Nashville's teen prodigy to her present-day status as a global tastemaker, mogul, and lyrical auteur. It's not an authorised biography, but is part discography, part cultural commentary, part fan encyclopedia. Organised around albums and 'eras,' Mackenzie traces Swift's sonic experimentation: from country twang to synth-pop, indie folk to literary pop noir. The book's standout features include detailed breakdowns of Easter eggs, lyrical references, and song-by-song analyses It also touches on her fashion evolution, music video symbolism, and political outspokenness, giving readers a panoramic view of the artist not just as a performer, but as a cultural architect. If there's a limitation, it is that the book occasionally leans more celebratory than critical. Foor uses the artist's 2024 Met Gala appearance as a focal point to explore Dosanjh's rise from rural Punjab to international recognition in music, film, and fashion. The biography outlines Dosanjh's early struggles, entry into the Punjabi music industry, transition to Bollywood, and his increasing global profile. It also includes commentary on his public image, religious identity, and approach to style. The sections on the Met Gala provide behind-the-scenes context and consider how Dosanjh's appearance was received both within South Asian communities and the broader public. Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS was released in 2023 to commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the internationally popular K-pop band's debut. Now, two years on, the book merits a revisit as Suga (Min Yoongi), the last of the group members serving South Korea's mandatory military service has been discharged. Now, all seven members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook—have officially completed their national duties, and fans are eagerly waiting for their next project. Written by veteran K-pop journalist Myeongseok Kang, Beyond the Story was the first authorised chronicle of BTS's rise, spanning pre-debut struggles, chart-topping triumphs, and cultural impact. Structured in seven parts and compiled from over three years of interviews and archival reporting, the book eschews the gloss of celebrity for candour as members often without cameras or makeup. The book also leans into BTS's digital-native identity, with over 330 QR codes linking to trailers, music videos, and behind-the-scenes content. Pairing narrative with audiovisual memory, the book offers an immersive experience. Author William K Jones offers a chronicle of the artist's meteoric rise, from SoundCloud anonymity as Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini to viral stardom, Grammy wins, and cultural ubiquity. Released in May 2024, the book arrived at a time when Doja Cat has leaned further into subversion, stylistically, sonically, and personally. The title gestures at transformation, and Jones takes readers through the artist's many phases: the pastel-glossed pop darling of 'Say So', the darker, genre-fusing provocateur of 'Scarlet', and the internet-native icon whose career is as shaped by memes and controversy as it is by chart performance. What the book does best is document the work behind the spectacle. Through interviews and reported vignettes, we see how singles such as 'Juicy,' 'Kiss Me More,' and 'Attention' came to be. It also addresses personal elements, the struggles with fame, clashes with fan culture, and digital spats. Visually, the book is a feast. Behind-the-scenes photos, fan art, and stage shots make this a tactile experience, more coffee-table keepsake than traditional biography. Written by cultural critic and journalist Miles Marshall Lewis, the book offers a portrait of the Pulitzer Prize–winning rapper as a chronicler of a generation's inner life. Lamar, a Compton, California native raised amid gang violence and West Coast legacy, has been deeply rooted in Black American storytelling. Lewis traces his journey not just through biography, but through his poetry, dissecting the literary and sociopolitical forces at play in albums such as good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Interwoven with commentary from figures such as Ta-Nehisi Coates and Alicia Garza, the book reads like a conversation between Kendrick's music and the cultural moment that shaped, and was shaped by, it. Visually, the book is striking: dense with lyric excerpts, graphic design flourishes, and photographs that situate Lamar as a cultural icon.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Woman Gets Taylor Swift Lyrics Tattoo, Then She Sees the Spelling
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When Liz Corleone, 32, from Northwest Arkansas, planned a sentimental tattoo experience with her husband, she wasn't prepared for where it would end up. Corleone and her husband wanted tattoos in each other's handwriting, and opted for a lyric from Taylor Swift's sultry track "Guilty as Sin?" from The Tortured Poets Department. The lyric in question—"What if he's written 'mine' on my upper thigh?"—resonated with Corleone, and the idea was set. "We'd been thinking about getting tattoos in each other's handwriting for a bit," Corleone told Newsweek. "I know the song isn't necessarily about 'the one,' but that lyric felt cheeky and had a little sex appeal." Pictures from the viral video where the couple shared the "mine" tattoo idea. Pictures from the viral video where the couple shared the "mine" tattoo idea. @lizcorleone/Instagram The couple captured the journey to get the tattoo in an Instagram reel that has now gained attention, but for an unusual reason as the tattoo didn't turn out as expected. In a now-viral video, viewers see the moment before the inking, with a stencil reading what was supposed to be "Mine" in cursive. But after the tattoo session, nestled under plastic wrap and denim, the finished tattoo seemed to spell something quite different: "Mime." "I didn't notice the cursive misspelling until I was driving away," Corleone said. "We were running late to dinner, got bandaged up, and hopped in the car. Then I looked at the video I took and thought, 'Does that say Mime?'" She wasn't alone. The internet quickly chimed in, with many viewers offering theories, jokes, and even font analysis. Some questioned whether it was an artist's misinterpretation, while others suggested ways to "fix" the inking. "Kind of iconic actually," said viewer Kaelidance. While Imalil_lost wrote: "To be fair an n in cursive looks like a m." "Cute but that doesn't look like the stencil I fear the tattoo artist owes u a fix," said Purplegardenlover. A picture featuring the result of the tattoo, something the couple weren't expecting. A picture featuring the result of the tattoo, something the couple weren't expecting. @lizcorleone/Instagram Despite the unexpected "mime" spelling, Corleone isn't upset. "Do I think the artist intentionally messed it up? Absolutely not," she said. "They were great, we had awesome conversation. I just wish they followed the stencil a little more closely." Tattoos have risen in popularity over the decades, with The Pew Research Center finding, as of 2023, some 32 per cent of Americans have at least one tattoo, with 22 percent having more than one. And among 35-year-old Swift's generation—millennials—tattoo prevalence is even higher, with 46 percent of those aged 30 to 49 saying they have at least one tattoo. For Corleone, the error has instead turned into a point of humor for the couple. "I've got a great new nickname out of it," she laughed. "These things don't phase me. I've chuckled at myself countless times just thinking about the story." As the clip gained traction online, amassing nearly 4 million views since being shared at the end of May, Corleone's husband also chimed in, clarifying that he did, in fact, write "mine" in a comment that has over 15,000 likes. While it might not be the tattoo the couple planned, the result has become a fun and arguably more memorable moment for the pair. "Of course I couldn't plan for the misspelling, but I think life's funniest moments come from the unplanned," said Corleone. "After seeing the cursive, I was even more excited to share because I thought it might make other folks laugh, too—especially my fellow Swifties!" This isn't the first time a tattoo gone wrong has gained viral attention. Last week one millennial said she had "never regretted anything more" after having her eyebrows microbladed. While a dyslexic teen had a quote tattooed only to realize he had made a mistake in the spelling. Thankfully he saw the funny side, and so did the internet as it gained viral attention on Reddit.
NBC News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have date night at Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce stepped out for a hockey-filled date night. The couple was spotted holding hands as they made their way to their seats at the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida, to watch Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers on June 12. Video of their arrival was shared on X by the NHL's official account. Swift, who recently purchased the rights to her music, looked stylish in a beige two-piece jacket and shorts set. Her hair was in a long braid and sported her signature red lip. Kelce, on his end, opted for a red sweatshirt and shorts matching set, as well. The Kansas City Chiefs star was also seen rocking a Panthers and Palm Tree Crew hat. Photos and video of Kelce and Swift continued to make their way online. Sports Center shared a snap of the two when they were shown on TV and Sportsnet posted a clip of the commentators calling the couple 'musical and sporting royalty.' They also mentioned the singer's song 'Florida!!!' off her album 'The Tortured Poets Department.' Throughout the night, the pair was seen cheering on the Panthers while sitting in the team's section. It's a rare public outing for Swift and Kelce who, aside from being photographed in New York heading to dinner, usually steer clear of large events. While they may not be spotted out and about as frequently, Kelce does support the superstar whenever he gets a chance. In May, after a years-long battle and re-recording of four of her albums, Swift revealed she now owns her master recordings. 'To say this is my greatest dream come true is actually being pretty reserved about it. To my fans, you know how important this has been to me — so much so that I meticulously re-recorded and released 4 of my albums, calling them Taylor's Version,' she wrote in part. 'The passionate support you showed those albums and the success story you turned The Eras Tour into is why I was able to buy back my music.' Shortly after, in a 'New Heights' podcast episode, Kelce congratulated Swift on the accomplishment. When guest Shaquille O'Neal played and told Kelce that 'I Knew You Were Trouble' was his 'favorite song in the world,' Kelce happily praised the pop star. 'Shout out to Tay Tay. Just got that song back, too,' he said. 'Just bought all her music back so it's finally hers, man.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift shared a sweet selfie with a fan at Oilers-Panthers
For one Taylor Swift fan, Thursday night at the Stanley Cup Final became a night they'd never forget. The 14-time Grammy winning singer attended Game 4 between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers with boyfriend Travis Kelce. Swift and Kelce seemingly had a blast as the couple took in the game action with all the drama on the ice, got snapped canoodling and even became a fun meme that everyone shared. At one point, the The Tortured Poets Department singer posed to take a selfie with a young fan in the adjoining suite. After snapping a couple pics, Swift made sure to have the fan show off her cardigan -- which was one of the merchandise options for Swift's 2022 Midnights album -- for the camera. It was an adorable moment and the resulting picture is one she will certainly cherish. 🚨| Taylor telling the fan to show off her 'Midnights' cardigan for the photo 💙! — Taylor Swift Updates (@TSUpdating) June 13, 2025 She wasn't the only one in the suite that got to have a memorable night as Swift greeted everyone and made a little boy's night by bringing Kelce over to say hello. 🚨| Taylor Swift met a fan and took several pictures with her— she complimented her 'Midnights' cardigan and said hi to her friends! —Taylor also greeted other fans nearby and even called Travis over when they asked if they could meet him too🥹! — Taylor Swift Updates (@TSUpdating) June 13, 2025 Truly a magical night for those Florida fans (minus the outcome of the game). This article originally appeared on For The Win: Taylor Swift selfie with a fan at Oilers vs. Panthers was so sweet
USA Today
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
A wedding invite sparked Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce marriage speculation
A wedding invite sparked Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce marriage speculation Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce went to a wedding last weekend, celebrating the nuptials of a Kelce family connection. The photos of the power couple spread far and wide as the The Tortured Poets Department singer and Kansas City football player smiled and posed along side the bride, groom and guests. Apparently, it also wasn't the only wedding the couple was invited to recently. An Instagram story by wedding planner Ellie Nottoli created quite the buzz when she posted a video showing off the beautiful details of Chicago Bear Cole Kmet and his longtime girlfriend, Emily Jarosz. In the clip, Nottoli -- who is @elliestyled on the social media platform -- panned over the florals, fabrics, table decorations, candles and invitations for the fancy affair. It was one envelope that riled up Swifties, however, as it read "Taylor and Travis Kelce" above "Table 13." Despite this formatting to address a couple that is just dating and not married, some people online got all spun up over it. Others also pointed out the perfection of the table assignment as 13 is well known to be Swift's lucky number. Obviously, we don't know with 100 percent certainty, but the 14-time Grammy winner and three-time Super Bowl champion are most likely not secretly married. That won't stop folks from speculating.
