In her latest album, Taylor Swift has fans buzzing with a surprising reference to the popular video game franchise Grand Theft Auto (GTA).
Taylor Swift just dropped her highly anticipated 11th studio album ‘The Tortured Poets Department‘ on Friday, and fans have been feverishly decoding the lyrics ever since.
The album contains 15 tracks, more than many were expecting, and the lyrics are sparking heated speculation about who they could be referencing from Swift’s recent romantic life.
In one of her songs “So High School,” Swift surprisingly mentions a popular video game GTA stating: “Touch me while your bros play Grand Theft Auto.”
Full Lyrics:
“Truth, dare, spin bottles/ You know how to ball, I know Aristotle
Brand new, full throttle/ Touch me while your bros play Grand Theft Auto
It’s true, swear, scouts honor/ You knew what you wanted, and, boy, you got her
Brand new, full throttle/You already know, babe”
The lyric has sparked a range of reactions from fans and casual listeners alike.
Some are puzzled by the odd pairing of rhyming “Aristotle” with “Grand Theft Auto,” while others are simply amused by the mental image of Swift’s boyfriends gaming while she’s around.
But what exactly is the context behind this GTA reference? Let’s break it down:
The “You” She’s Singing About: Travis Kelce
According to reports, the “you” in the song is referring to NFL player Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kelce and Swift were rumored to be dating recently, providing the inspiration for many of the album’s themes about relationships and breakups.
According to some fans, this lyrics is interpreted as Swift admitting she and Kelce get sexually romantic while his friends are busy gaming with the notoriously violent Grand Theft Auto series in the next room.
Others think she’s just using GTA as an example of a quintessential “bros being bros” activity to contrast with her own highbrow interests like Greek philosophy (hence the “I know Aristotle” line).
Taylor Swift Namedrops Grand Theft Auto On Latest Album https://t.co/wHWcPJSW4w pic.twitter.com/NNRqTJ3eTv
— Kotaku (@Kotaku) April 19, 2024
Is Travis Kelce a Gamer?
While we can’t say for certain whether Kelce and his friends actually play GTA together, the reference suggests that video games – and potentially GTA specifically – are a part of their social activities.
The Unexpected Crossover
Regardless of the specific context, the fact that Swift name-dropped GTA in her music is an unexpected crossover between two vastly different entertainment spheres.
- On one hand, you have Swift, the quintessential pop idol with a massive mainstream following.
- On the other, you have GTA, the controversial but wildly popular video game franchise known for its satirical take on crime and urban culture.
While the GTA line came out of left field, Taylor has shown an appreciation for gaming in the past.
Her 2019 music video for “You Need to Calm Down” featured her as a trailer trash-themed character playing games and drinking beer.
She also recorded a song called “Eyes Open” for the soundtrack of the 2012 video game Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond.
Fans React: A Spectrum of Responses
As you might expect, this unlikely fusion has elicited a wide range of reactions from fans and observers:
Swifties (Taylor’s dedicated fanbase) are dissecting the lyrics for hidden meanings and personal references.
Gamers are amused and surprised to see their favorite pastime referenced in a pop song.
Music critics are analyzing the artistic choice of juxtaposing high and low culture references.
General audiences are simply entertained by the absurdity of the whole situation.
Here are some reactions to X (Twitter):
GTA in a fucking Taylor Swift song before GTA VI there’s no way pic.twitter.com/Ztp64dYsrY
— Katie⸆⸉ 💗🇵🇸 (@LuzTheWitch__) April 19, 2024
jason kelce starting a gta heist as travis is distracted by extra curricular activities with taylor swift pic.twitter.com/4Jr4KkMwFe
— 💆🏽♂️ (@ziyanm_) April 19, 2024
Y’all. We made it into a Taylor Swift song. I guess this whole #GTA thing might have legs. pic.twitter.com/VMq5Q8mRom
— Steven Trombetta (@alternagod) April 19, 2024
this girl taylor swift thinks I have time to “touch” her while I’m fighting for my life against dirty gta racers 💀 pic.twitter.com/kfL5sI5pA0
— PraviMVP🪄✨ (@your_awannabe) April 19, 2024
we got taylor swift mentioning grand theft auto before gta 6 #TSTTPD pic.twitter.com/3CrQoSbADs
— sum 𓆣 (@sitcomscarab) April 19, 2024
everyone’s focusing on the GTA part, but i just want to know what aristotle she’s read so badly now
i want to talk about aristotle with taylor swift so bad what are her Takes pic.twitter.com/fvbjabQnig
— cheer 🔆 (@cheer_wine) April 20, 2024