Taylor Swift recently revealed the lead single for her upcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” 10 hours before the album’s release. The first single, titled “Fortnight,” features Post Malone and was announced on Thursday afternoon. Swift expressed her admiration for Post Malone’s songwriting and musical experimentation, as well as her excitement for collaborating with him on the track. A music video for the song was set to be released on Friday at 8 p.m. ET.
Swift also hinted at something called the “For a Fortnight Challenge” in a video posted on YouTube Shorts, but did not provide further details. Fans first learned about the announcement after Swift added a countdown to her website, leading up to the release of the new single. The page featured references to “TTPD” and Swift’s lucky number, “13,” in typewriter font.
The singer has been mysteriously highlighting the number 2 in her promotional content since announcing her eleventh studio album. At the 2024 Grammys, she flashed a “two” with her fingers to indicate that she had been working on the album for the past two years. Swift, known for leaving clues for her fans through “Easter eggs,” has been using the peace sign emoji and the number 2 in recent social media uploads.
In preparation for the album release, Swift posted a video on Instagram called “the TTPD Timetable” featuring clocks set to 2 o’clock. The video showed various clocks in Swift’s “Midnights” room, as well as in a white office with two desks and typewriters. Timepieces set to the same time were also displayed at her Spotify pop-up shop in Los Angeles, reflecting themes from the album.
Fans have been speculating about the significance of the number 2 in Swift’s recent promotional content. Some theories include the release of multiple projects or an additional edition of the album at 2 a.m. Swifties have been actively discussing these clues and eagerly anticipating the release of “The Tortured Poets Department” on Friday, April 19. The meticulous attention to detail in Swift’s promotional content continues to engage and intrigue her dedicated fanbase.