Summary

• Taylor Swift accompanied the release of her eleventh studio album, The Tortured Poets Department, with a surprise second installment containing 15 extra songs.
• Assuming Taylor Swift incorporates the new album into The Eras Tour set list, some songs from The Tortured Poets Department are better suited to be performed live than others.
• Songs like “But Daddy I Love Him” and “Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?” would make for thrilling, captivating performances on The Eras Tour.

If Taylor Swift decides to incorporate her new double album, The Tortured Poets Department, into her shows on The Eras Tour, there are certain songs she must add to the set list. Two hours after Swift’s highly anticipated eleventh studio album was released at midnight on April 19, 2024, the songstress dropped a surprise second instalment containing 15 brand-new songs. Combined with the 16 original tracks, there are 31 songs on The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology double album.

Now that she’s embarked on this new musical era, The Tortured Poets Department will have to be incorporated into the live show somehow when Swift goes back on The Eras Tour on May 9, 2024. It’s unlikely that she will add a whole extra set considering The Eras Tour concert is already three-and-a-half hours long, but she may adjust the existing set list to make room for TTPD. At the very least, Swift is guaranteed to perform some selections from TTPD as surprise songs during her acoustic sets on tour.

If Swift does incorporate The Tortured Poets Department into the permanent set list, though, the Folklore and Midnights sets are the most at risk of receiving cuts since they’re tied for the longest eras with seven songs each. As the maximum for any set on The Eras Tour right now, seven is the most songs Swift can reasonably be expected to add from TTPD to the set list. For her selections, these seven songs from The Tortured Poets Department would translate best to a live performance on The Eras Tour.

7 But Daddy I Love Him

Written By Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner

On “But Daddy I Love Him,” Swift seems to be responding to the general public’s unsolicited disapproval of her dating certain men using the trope of a stubborn teenager rebelling against her disapproving parents. The song gives off Fearless vibes, particularly the Romeo & Juliet-centered “Love Story” due to their shared forbidden love narrative, and resembles “august” from Folklore in terms of the production, both of which make for great performances on The Eras Tour.

Many fans have speculated that this song might be about Swift’s short-lived public relationship with The 1975 frontman, Matty Healey, in the spring of 2023.

Of every song on The Tortured Poets Department, “But Daddy I Love Him” feels the most fit to be performed live. While listening to the theatrical track, it’s easy to visualize what a live performance would look and sound like. The lively, melodramatic chorus and post-chorus were made to be sung in a stadium in front of thousands and the end of the bridge conjures images of Swift frolicking around onstage à la “august” if the instrumental was extended.

Since she borrowed the title from Ariel in The Little Mermaid, a version of which Allie quotes in The Notebook, Swift could include an intro of these characters reciting the titular line before performing “But Daddy I Love Him.”

This song also presents so many opportunities for Swift to create a memorable concert experience. Since she borrowed the title from Ariel in The Little Mermaid, a version of which Allie quotes in The Notebook, Swift could include an intro of these characters reciting the titular line before performing “But Daddy I Love Him” or even reference them in her costume. Swift teasing the audience with “you should see your faces” after the fake out about “having his baby” is also poised to become an instantly iconic moment if she performed this song on The Eras Tour.

6 Florida!!! (Featuring Florence + The Machine)

Written By Taylor Swift & Florence Welch

Of the two tracks with featured artists on The Tortured Poets Department, “Florida!!!” featuring Florence + The Machine blows the album opener “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone out of the water. This ode to the Sunshine State is already an intoxicating song to listen to on the album, and it would be ten times more exhilarating to experience live on The Eras Tour.

Even if she doesn’t add it to the set list, Swift is guaranteed to perform “Florida!!!” as a surprise song during the acoustic set at one of her Miami shows, though.

If Swift added “Florida!!!” to the set list, the crowd stomping their feet along with the heavy drums on the chorus before belting out the titular lyric in unison, exclamation points and all, would be an unforgettable moment every night on The Eras Tour. The line “f**k me up, Florida” that repeats on the bridge and serves as the final lyric of the song would also feel liberating to shout out loud in a crowd setting, especially for the attendees at Swift’s three stops in Miami, Florida, between October 18 to 20, 2024.

Sadly, Swift is unlikely to add “Florida!!!” to the permanent set list since Florence + The Machine will not be joining her on The Eras Tour. She could still perform the song solo and sing Florence’s parts herself, but this is a long shot since there are no songs on the set list that originally have featured artists. Even if she doesn’t add it to the set list, Swift is guaranteed to perform “Florida!!!” as a surprise song during the acoustic set at one of her Miami shows, though.

Swift has brought out opening acts like Phoebe Bridgers and HAIM to perform their duets with her (“Nothing New” and “no body, no crime,” respectively) during the main show on The Eras Tour, but these were not permanently added to the set list.

5 Who’s Afraid Of Little Old Me?

Written By Taylor Swift

While most of the songs on The Tortured Poets Department most fit for a live performance are more on the upbeat and lighthearted side, “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” is the polar opposite. On this haunting track, Swift ruminates on her experience in the spotlight and the treatment she’s received as a public figure, calling out the hypocrisy of those who villainize her.

The whole song would make for a chilling, powerful live performance, but hearing Swift scream the titular lyric on the chorus of “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” would be on another level.

“Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” is delivered with the same exasperated rage underneath a devilish grin as most of the songs from Swift’s Reputation era, especially the pre-chorus, “If you wanted me dead, you should’ve just said/Nothing makes me feel more alive.” The whole song would make for a chilling, powerful live performance, but hearing Swift scream the titular lyric on the chorus of “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” would be on another level.

The song is both sonically and thematically similar to “mad woman” from Folklore, as well. Though Swift does not perform “mad woman” on The Eras Tour, a good basis for comparison for how “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” would feel live is Swift’s harrowing performance of “my tears ricochet” from the Folklore set, which the TTPD track also resembles. All of these songs that bear similar themes, subject matter, and overall vibe as “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?” show how the TTPD track would translate perfectly to a live performance.

4 Imgonnagetyouback

Written By Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff

On “imgonnagetyouback” from the second installment of The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, Swift schemes to get her ex back, though she’s uncertain of her intentions for doing so. “Imgonnagetyouback” isn’t necessarily a stand-out track on the album, but the playful song lends itself well to a live performance that’s fun and entertaining for Swift and the audience alike. If executed properly, the lyrics on the bridge, “even if it’s handcuffed, I’m leavin’ here with you” and “pick your poison, babe, I’m poison either way,” and the lead into the final chorus could all be huge moments during the live performance.

By amping up the production and accompanying the song with some fun choreography, “imgonnagetyouback” has the potential to deliver a performance in line with the 1989 era. In fact, the line on the chorus about smashing up the subject’s bike is reminiscent of Swift smashing her boyfriend’s fancy car in the “Blank Space” music video, which she referenced via Easter egg on the Eras Tour by wielding a neon golf club during her performance.

3 So High School

Written By Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner

On the joyous and nostalgic “So High School,” Swift gushes about how her adult relationship makes her feel like a lovestruck teenager in the best way. She references teen-centric media like American Pie and Grand Theft Auto and games like “Kiss, Marry, Kill,” Spin the Bottle, and Truth or Dare. These details and the premise of the song as a whole provide endless possibilities for different high school-themed costumes, props, set pieces, and even choreography in a live performance of “So High School” on The Eras Tour.

It’s also widely speculated that “So High School” is about Swift’s relationship with her current boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, mostly because of the lyric, “you know how to ball, I know Aristotle.” She already shouts him out on The Eras Tour by changing the lyric on “Karma” from “guy on the screen” to “guy on the Chiefs,” but it would be a sweet gesture to include a song that’s (supposedly) about Kelce on the set list, especially for the shows where he’s in attendance.

2 thanK you aIMee

Written By Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner

On “thanK you aIMee,” Swift reflects on how she was ruthlessly tormented by the titular Aimee and realizes that the hell Aimee put her through pushed her to prove herself and succeed. The song is seemingly directed at a mean girl who bullied Swift in school but the deliberately capitalized letters in the title suggest that “thanK you aIMee” is actually a subtle jab at Kim Kardashian and their famous feud. Given this additional context, it might be controversial to include this song on The Eras Tour set list.

Hearing Swift call out bullies and sing about finding her strength would be such a significant experience for all the young children attending The Eras Tour who might be going through the same thing.

As a standalone song separate from any (unconfirmed) lore, “thanK you aIMee” is an empowering anthem about perseverance and overcoming bullying. Hearing Swift call out bullies and sing about finding her strength would be such a significant experience for all the young children attending The Eras Tour who might be going through the same thing.

The production on “thanK you aIMee” is quite understated on the album, but the instrumentals can be bulked up to create more of an atmosphere during the live performance. Given the deeply personal subject matter (whether it’s about Kardashian or a real childhood bully, or both), performing “thanK you aIMee” onstage every night would probably be a cathartic experience for Swift, especially the lyric, “I built a legacy that you can’t undo.”

1 The Bolter

Written By Taylor Swift & Aaron Dessner

A bit of a deep cut on The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology, “The Bolter” tells the tale of a woman who bolts (hence the title) at the first sign of trouble in a relationship. The third-person, unraveling narrative is reminiscent of the detached, fictionalized approach Swift took on Folklore, which has proved fruitful in delivering compelling performances on The Eras Tour.

The vast melodic diversity of “The Bolter” also creates sonic distinctions between the verses, chorus, post-chorus, and bridge, which would naturally translate to an engaging live performance.

Though it comes toward the end of the lengthy double album, “The Bolter” stands out due to Swift’s vivid storytelling and the varying pitches she sings in throughout the song. The vast melodic diversity of “The Bolter” also creates sonic distinctions between the verses, chorus, post-chorus, and bridge, which would naturally translate to an engaging live performance. Performing “The Bolter” would also provide Taylor Swift with the opportunity to whip out her acoustic guitar during The Tortured Poets Department set on The Eras Tour.