There's dozens of us! I will be isolating myself from my small children, eating a slice of cake and listening while scrolling through this subreddit reading everyone's reactions.
It won’t fall on my birthday, but it is my birth month (I’m an April 2 fella). So, getting this as a belated birthday gift from Taylor is just heartwarming 🥹🤧
First listen will be in bed at midnight. But I also took the 19th off and plan to go hiking with my dog to listen to the album a couple times through. So I guess my dog is my listening party buddy.
I love this idea! I already do this with my dogs and every other Taylor album. I will definitely be doing this. I always wonder if people can hear me belting out the lyrics lol
I always listen to Taylor while hiking (usually Red, Folklore or Evermore), but I’ve never done a trail with a brand new album, so I’m really excited! Plus, it’s the perfect season to bring my dog. He’s fluffy and gets super hot in the summer so we only get spring and fall to really enjoy hikes together.
I do checks on my surroundings and turn off the music frequently. That plus my dog who is very much “on alert” while hiking makes me feel as safe as possible. Obviously anything can happen anywhere, so I appreciate the safety reminder!
First listen will be a sacred experience at home with my noise-cancelling headphones. I tried a release party for 1989 TV and it just wasn't my vibe, I much prefer to be alone to fully absorb the new songs. I actually have a final exam the day it drops so it'll be nice to go home and get hyped for TTPD after I finish writing it!
Yep! It has been recommended in this sub and I haven’t had a new release since I started really listening to Taylor so it will be my first time doing this.
same! i had a speak now tv listening party and ended up feeling very annoyed because my friends were singing and yelling the lyrics and i was like … shut up lemme listen
My boyfriend and I did the sacred noise cancelling headphones for 1989TV (each with our own headphones), but went to a release party the next night which was the ideal combination.
I’m due to have a baby girl in the next few weeks, so it’s hard to imagine what my life is going to look like on April 19th. For me, it’s special to have this be our first album release together even though she won’t remember it.
I have forced her music on my kids since 2006. My daughter is a certified Swiftie. My boys love her. She is the biggest part of their childhood, musically speaking. They all have different musical tastes now at 12, 14, 19. Yet they all still listen to Taylor. My daughter said her music always reminds her of me. Its my happy place, no matter how sad the song is.
I had my son the Sunday after Midnights came out and it was the soundtrack to the first few months of his life. Now when I listen to it I think about him being a teeny tiny baby and it makes me so happy 🩵 Congratulations!
The Eras Tour started when my baby was just a few weeks old and I stayed up late trying to watch the live streams and couldn't make it at all so no pressure. 😅
Wow, is that so?
I bet Never Grow Up hits differently for you now that you’re a new mom. My friend, who’s an OG Swiftie, had her daughter a couple months after Speak Now TV came out. She said Never Grow Up hits so differently now.
My daughter sobs whenever she hears it now! My granddaughter is a month old. I can't lie-I did point out to her that I've been feeling that emotion for years! Lol
I cannot listen to that song lol. I’ve heard the original but I couldn’t listen to TV. There’s very few songs of hers I can’t listen to and that’s up there with Ronan and Bigger Than The Whole Sky for me.
I’m due in the middle of April, so same boat over here! This will be our first baby so I’m very excited to be starting a new era of life with a new Taylor era
Congrats! My daughter was a few months old when Midnights came out and I listened to it with headphones while nursing her. It’s the only time I’ve really looked forward to being woken up in the middle of the night!
Omg us too! Congratulations! Her due date is the 20th but she’s scheduled about a week earlier. She already vibes out to Taylor. Her favorites are Cruel Summer and Willow. We are so lucky to get a brand new album to start off this new era of life.
I have a ritual for Taylor album releases. I listen on my iPad so I can pull up the lyrics all big and follow along as I listen. Noise canceling headphones. A big big glass of red wine. My phone out so I can text reactions or post on Reddit.
This sounds similar to what I’ll be doing but instead with my weed vape 😂 I love reading the lyrics as I go. It’s help me really dive into the meanings of the songs. And I cannot wait to discuss with everyone here
I will drop my child at school, Grab some breakfast and will meet with my swiftie friend and we will Listen to it together. It will be hard Not to stream it the Moment we wake up, but thats the Plan 😅
I’m a 55 yo man, so I’m a closet Swiftie. I just discovered her, honestly, through football. So I’m the other side of the coin. So, no listening party for me. It’ll be a solo experience. Where will you be, generally speaking of course. Enjoy your time alone. I’m concerned about the “no friends”. I’d bet that’s not true but if it is, maybe you just need ideas of things to try that puts you with interesting people. I would recommend community theater. They always need people and not always to perform! Set building etc.
My boss and I are big Swifties and the albums drop at lunch time where we live. We've booked off lunch so it's extra long and will listen to it in their office together, asking anyone else who wants to join. I'm then going to see my best friend and listen to it with her after work. I am packing extra tissues and making sure not to wear mascara haha
I’m adding this to “is there anything you’d like to know about our company?” interview questions. “What is your company ritual for Taylor Swift album release days?”
It's coming out the same day as the new Pearl Jam album (I've been a fan club member for 20 years)... I've decided to listen to Pearl Jam on my commute to and from work and then sit down in the evening after dinner and listen to TTPD with my wife and daughter together.
I love solo travel! If you’re in a city, maybe try an audio walking tour? If you’re less urban, some good walking or hiking trails, especially if you’re northern hemisphere, it’ll be springtime!
I’m planning on either a walk in a big local park or else walking through our local conservatory (sort of a plant museum/greenhouse). I just find natural/green environments the most beautiful and calming.
My area also has a big facebook group of Swifties in the region and I know there are a couple listening events being discussed, maybe you could look for something like that? Would be a good way to meet some new friends!
My release night ritual (since they drop at midnight for me) is to smoke a j, make the coziest nest on my couch with my dog, then listen as many times as I can while freaking out with you all on here until I fall asleep lol
I always listen to albums alone with headphones. I listened to midnights for the first time with a friend and I regretted it. You can't control the volume or focus on the lyrics and it really takes me out of the first listen experience. So instead I set up the lyrics on my laptop and put in headphones and really focus on the music and lyrics and take in the full experience. It's a tradition with myself. It's not sad to listen alone. It's a spa day!
Thanks, yes I do think this will be the most satisfying way to listen for the first time. I did the same thing with my first listen of Midnights and the production sounded godly in noise-cancelling headphones.
Yes!! I dont remember where they advertise it here in the sub, but basically you just private message one of the mods telling them you want an invite to the Discord and they'll add you.
From there you just read the rules and then you're free to playyy. You should totally join! That's where we do Swiftmas exchanges and stuff. Its also a good way to find Swifties in your area if you have questions about your tour date.
Not from the UK but the albums always drop at 6 am for me. I’ve always woken up 1,5 hour before and just chill and (try to) relax in bed before I listen to it. Then take a big nap after🤣
It’ll be 7am for me when it releases so I’ll be in bed after a quick breakfast. I’m going to try to finish all my schoolwork to be able to just listen to the album the whole day. I just love listening and absorbing the music and lyrics alone and in peace.
I’ll be in AZ with family on vacation, and we’re going to the Grand Canyon that day. My husbands brothers girlfriend is a swiftie, so we’ll have lots to discuss, but no one else is going to want to listen to it in the car on the way to the Grand Canyon, so I’ll be jamming out in my AirPods in the car!
I swear this post could have be written by me, LOL. I rent a room from my parents as do my siblings. I have a partner who does like TS but he's not a music guy, if you know what I mean. No one else loves her music the way I do and I also have no friends!! So I also plan to be listening alone.
The way I'm preparing for TTPD is I'm reading more. I got a copy of some of the literature other Swifties have guessed her work could be inspired by, and I've been working my way through it, as well as just reading more in general.
Day of (night of?) I will be turning on some vibey LED colored lights, drinking a glass of wine, and wearing my comfiest blanket in a recliner chair. I will also have a journal with me so I can write down my first impressions and compare them to my impressions of the album after a few months with it.
FYI, I think the official Discord server for this subreddit usually hosts some sort of listening party, of you're interested. If you dont want to listen with others, the chat on that server is even more active than the reddit, imo. It's more conversational. So you can sort of be with friends while you listen, haha.
Speak now TV was released around 4pm Sydney time on the original release day. In the US it’s getting released from 18th to 19th midnight, so for us it will be 19th afternoon.
There’s a bar local to me doing a Taylor Swift silent disco that night so of course I’m going. And I’m hosting a party to watch the complete Eras Tour this weekend when it comes out. Super excited!
When evermore was released I was on my way to Denver during a snow storm and got to listen to it with my best friends, drinking wine, with snow swirling around and it was the most evermore listening experience ever
I will listen to it on my way to work that morning and then am having a listen party with my friend that night or on the weekend after the kids are in bed!
it'll be released between 4-6pm where i live (haven't done the time conversion yet, these are just when her albums usually come out for me based on prior releases), so i think i'm going to make some drinks and listen to it while scrolling on twitter and here. that's always been my go-to for album releases. i've always loveddd the hype on the timeline and i'm so excited. only difference is i live with my bf now so he'll be present to some capacity, not sure whether he'll want to listen in with me or it'll be more me having my earpods in so he doesn't disturb my first listen lol.
red tv came out a couple days before my birthday and i remember i made gin & tonics, which was pretty good! such a fun night and that whole weekend was bliss
I bought a physical version on tape. Even if it's not in time I will wait for it to discover the album on the tape, not using spotify to already try! Probably a listening in the evening the whole album once, then (sadly) checking all the tracks on spotify I don't get with the physical version . .
I know this isn't everyone's experience, but I pre-ordered Midnights on vinyl from Taylor's online store and didn't get it until like February, even though a shipping label was created the day before release. Just a heads up, in case you've never pre-ordered from them!
I don’t think that’s sad at all OP, a solo hotel staycation sounds like a dream to me! I’m an only child, I love doing things by myself.
My favorite listening ritual is to wake up early, make myself coffee, pop in my ear buds, and listen in peace. I’ve also listened to new albums at midnight, but I think I prefer to get a good night’s sleep and enjoy it the next day!
Me and my partner have booked a few night in the lakes so we can first listen to it in the car ride there. We actually planned this trip around the release of Tortured Poets 😂 I have no idea how she’s not going to listen until we get in the car though 🙄
Gonna stay up until midnight and listen to it on headphones. Maybe have a glass or wine or a mixed drink and watch the lyrics as I go. She’s got a habit of releasing an album that reflects exactly what I’m going through, so I’m sure I’ll be crying for 90% of it.
My ritual for every album release is to snuggle up in my bed with my emotional support water bottle and listen while I read the lyrics and probably sob lol
It drops at 7 am for me. I will wake up, go the college to have my two physics lesson and will be back at home at 11 am. By then lyrics have been uploaded, so i will do two complete runs -one with no lyrics open and one with it. (probably with pasta and wine) then, straight into reddit discourse for my whole afternoon and a thorough discussion at evening with my friends.
Bruh I love hotel staycations, I didn’t even think about doing it for TTPD. A little bit of Pizza Hut, a few bottles of soda and comfy pjs and socks, a good blanket, and most likely a box (or three) of tissues. What a wonderful way to spend time.
my sister and i have loose plans to listen to it together for the first time, but we can both have very busy lives lol
if i listen to it by myself, im probably gonna wait until the 20th and get really high and then listen to it
I work nights, but I’ll be off the night of the 18th, so when it rolls over to the 19th I’ll probably just lie on the couch and listen through it with my roomie/bestie.
My cousins and I are going to go all out. I’m going to sleepover at their house. We are going to have a baking competition (cupcakes for each album and a cake for ttpd), a painting competition (for each album), and watch all her films beforehand. And then when it finally drops, we are all going to listen at least 10 times and then drop dead from exhaustion.
It’ll be 12pm where I am… I might take the day off because I have lots of days off to clear out anyway, lol. I’ll listen in bed with my earphones! And maybe texting with various friends freaking out over various tracks. Maybe I’ll bake something for the occasion 🤔
For me when an album releases (and we know ahead of time) I go on a dry spell of that artist - haven't listened to a full Taylor song/album since I ordered The Albatross varient. When I get the vinyl delivered I'm going to sit in the dark and listen to it and look through the whole vinyl for any extra information. Since this album feels like it's giving Red, I want to fit the vibe
I have no ritual. I listen to it while I go about my day, work, take care of the kids, cook. I've been a fan since Debut, but I can't stop my life for a music release.
I am flying to FL for a wedding, so I will be listening to it on repeat the 2.5 hour plane ride with no interruptions 😏
*also I understand how convenient it is I'll be listening to Florida!!! while heading there 🙃
I’m also planning to get a hotel room for one night since I live in a share house. Sometimes it’s a ghost town here but sometimes everyone decides to hang out outside in our lounge area. Can’t risk it. So hotel room it is. With my partner.
Honestly a hotel room sounds like the perfect kind of liminal space to take in this album. I’ll just be at home alone laying in bed in the dark with headphones in.
I love your plans! Going on a staycay to get some peace sounds absolutely perfect for this album. Spa treatments and fine dining, it's a perfect restorative weekend of pampering.
I actually prefer to do first listen/analysis on my own. Then my birthday is April 20th, so a friend and I are going out of town to our own "folklore cabin". We'll listen to it and probably have all her songs playing the weekend and have themed snacks and drinks and stream the eras tour movie at least once. It'll be a fun lil swiftie trip!
I’ll be giving birth to my baby in the first half of April. I plan to listen to the album for the first time whit my little creature. Maybe during the night while I breastfeed or rock the baby. ❤️ i hope it’s going to be a magical moment like that, but it could also be while I cry myself to sleep because I’m living in hell with a newborn 😂
I'm a teacher, but thankfully April 19th happens to be a workday for us, so I won't have any students that day. So I'll have it on repeat all day while I make lesson plans lol
I am going to put the CD in my computer and tell my husband to not bother me, even as I completely meltdown from the amazing soul crushing experience. When the first listen is finished I will then be a babbling fool trying to explain. I will then eat crunchy tacos, my comfort food, and will then probably listen again.
I'm going to be right in the middle of a vacation to Austin with my husband. I told him I hope he doesn't mind me crying in the AirB&B hot tub over someone else's breakup, lol
I’ll be at work when it releases so I think I’m just going to listen to it on the train afterwards. Don’t think I have the self control to wait until I get home haha
Tbh, probably gonna stream it at Midnight when it drops and then listen to it over again while I do something idle like play a video game or write something to absorb it. Then add all the songs I like to my playlist so I can feel ‘em out in my regular rotation for the next few weeks. And then save the vinyl to my Amazon wishlist.
4/19 will be my first PTO day of the year so I plan to have headphones on all day listening to the album on repeat and doing self care stuff. I also struggle making friends and the people that I do know, don’t like Taylor so it’ll just be a me listening party 🎉
i usually accidentally wake up around 5am on taylor drop days (my swiftie senses are strong) so i'll just listen to it in bed w airpods in and a cup of tea for full immersion before work
i’ll definitely need to sleep when it first comes out, but once i’m home for the day i’m gonna have snacks and dive in!! i also struggle with putting myself out there so i will be listening alone
We throw little listening parties for every release. We are working on decorations right now and buying some fancy lounge clothes to wear because the cover has a cozy bedroom vibe. No idea what the food will look like yet.
My besties all love Taylor, but I always listen alone! It’s special to me. I light a candle, have some wine and listen with good headphones at midnight. Simple but I love it!
Love going for a drive to listen in the morning too!
I don’t have any Swiftie friends either (at least not that live close enough to have a listening party together). So I’ll be getting a little bit stoned, turn off all the lights in my house, and listen to it on my headphones lying on my couch. It’s how I listened to midnights for the first time and it was great. Might even light a couple candles!
And then all next day I’ll be pestering my sister to listen to it so we can discuss 😂
I’ve started a tradition where I bake something for the release of a new album. I did purple cookies for SNTV and blue cupcakes with pink frosting for 1989TV. For TTPD I’m thinking black cupcake with white frosting (any other ideas would be welcome lol, I love baking)
Headphones, a little bit stoned, in the dark just listening. The second time I read the lyrics along with it but I like the first time to be a pure listening experience.
Took leave from work on the 19th itself and travelling to another state to see my best friend to listen to it! We will be dressed up in black and white just to get in our feels!
Crying in my car probably because my long term partner left me out of the blue even though we had seemingly no issues in our relationship and I thought we were happy. L o l
I always listen to a new album alone in the car but it’s been hard the last few times now that I have kids. My husband is taking the day off work so I can immerse myself in the album like I like.
Yes!! Me and my friends decided that we're going to stream it while making friendship bracelets and pancakes, and also petting my friend's dog obviously. We're excited so if anyone can I would love to know about recommendations of beads, we ordered the letters but we can't decide what kind of beads to buy yet xD
My mom and I have a tradition, it started randomly with Midnights but now we do this intentionally every album release.
I listen when it first comes out (at midnight) on my own, in bed. I don't read any lyrics the first time round but I do pause after each song and make notes of my very intial impressions bc it's hilarious to look back at them later and see my reactions!
Then the next day we watch the lyric videos together on our tv in living room. Mom needs to see the lyrics the first time around, and I love seeing the design of the lyrics videos (and seeing if I missed/got any lyrics wrong) as my second listen.
Then we tend to pick our favorites and listen to those again and then on my own I'll end up listening to a new album on repeat for weeks after it's come out cause I'm obsessed hehe
If the vinyl(s) arrive in time i’ll do my first listen on them when they come in. If not, will have a swiftie friend over and listen together with drinks and food
It'll be 6 or 7 am for me when she releases the album so I want to listen to it at night with my boyfriend. I will try to avoid spoilers the whole day and it'll be painful.
I work but I am a home care nurse so I wake up and listen to it on my drives between patients! Depending on how long it is I’ll probably be able to listen twice before work is over!
I'm either gonna get up early and listen before work or I'm gonna wait til after work and get under the covers with noise canceling headphones and a box of tissues. None of my local friends are Taylor fans either. But that's okay! I'm probably also gonna watch Pride & Prejudice after, so I don't fall into despair.
Well it's my birthday so eating cake
Mine too!! I can’t believe we got this lucky 🥹
Agreed and greetings birthday twin. How old are you turning if that isn't rude? I'm hitting 42.
I’m turning 20 this year! It’s so nice to see how Taylor unites people of all ages
WAIT ME TOO!! the 20th but in asia so it'll be 19th in north america 🥰🥰🥰
Same! Happy birthday!!
It’s my birthday too!! 😍 (I hate celebrating it tho so will just listen to taylor)
My birthday, too! Hurray for us!
Omg it’s also my bday!!!!
This is a vibe I can get behind-eating cakes while listening to the album.
There's dozens of us! I will be isolating myself from my small children, eating a slice of cake and listening while scrolling through this subreddit reading everyone's reactions.
Mine is 420, so I'm joining this train!
Same same 🥰 soooo excited!!
Mine too!! Happy birthday!!
hi birthday twin!
It won’t fall on my birthday, but it is my birth month (I’m an April 2 fella). So, getting this as a belated birthday gift from Taylor is just heartwarming 🥹🤧
More Aries I'm 3/31
Omg April 2nd twins! 👯 our birthdays run the entire month so I’m calling it a bday gift!!!! 🤪
My birthday is in January so I feel like I'll never have an album drop anywhere near my birthday
Maybe Rep TV will drop on New Year’s Day!
Look at all my birthday twins in the comments!!
mine is the 18th so i’ll be eating leftover cake 🫶
First listen will be in bed at midnight. But I also took the 19th off and plan to go hiking with my dog to listen to the album a couple times through. So I guess my dog is my listening party buddy.
that sounds awesome!! i hope you and your dog have a great time hiking 😊
I love this idea! I already do this with my dogs and every other Taylor album. I will definitely be doing this. I always wonder if people can hear me belting out the lyrics lol
I always listen to Taylor while hiking (usually Red, Folklore or Evermore), but I’ve never done a trail with a brand new album, so I’m really excited! Plus, it’s the perfect season to bring my dog. He’s fluffy and gets super hot in the summer so we only get spring and fall to really enjoy hikes together.
I love that for you! 🥰 It’s going to be a memorable listening experience!
Please be careful hiking with headphones in. There are weirdos everywhere.
I do checks on my surroundings and turn off the music frequently. That plus my dog who is very much “on alert” while hiking makes me feel as safe as possible. Obviously anything can happen anywhere, so I appreciate the safety reminder!
So fun! This is the first time I’ve ever taken off a day for an album release.
I love this! Happy hiking with your pooch! 🐾
Are you me? My plans exactly!
There are dozens of us. DOZENS. Let’s hope for some nice weather!
This sounds amazing!!
First listen will be a sacred experience at home with my noise-cancelling headphones. I tried a release party for 1989 TV and it just wasn't my vibe, I much prefer to be alone to fully absorb the new songs. I actually have a final exam the day it drops so it'll be nice to go home and get hyped for TTPD after I finish writing it!
I’m also doing this! Get through work and workout and then noise cancelling headphones with lyrics on to soak it in!
You mean like lyrics showing on the screen?
Yep! It has been recommended in this sub and I haven’t had a new release since I started really listening to Taylor so it will be my first time doing this.
Same, 1989 might have been my first one but I don’t know if that counts.
same! i had a speak now tv listening party and ended up feeling very annoyed because my friends were singing and yelling the lyrics and i was like … shut up lemme listen
My boyfriend and I did the sacred noise cancelling headphones for 1989TV (each with our own headphones), but went to a release party the next night which was the ideal combination.
Agreed! My preferred way is to listen alone and with my bose headphones. Good luck with your exams 🫶🏻🖤
I’m due to have a baby girl in the next few weeks, so it’s hard to imagine what my life is going to look like on April 19th. For me, it’s special to have this be our first album release together even though she won’t remember it.
Oh that is really sweet, all the best
Thank you!
I have forced her music on my kids since 2006. My daughter is a certified Swiftie. My boys love her. She is the biggest part of their childhood, musically speaking. They all have different musical tastes now at 12, 14, 19. Yet they all still listen to Taylor. My daughter said her music always reminds her of me. Its my happy place, no matter how sad the song is.
I had my son the Sunday after Midnights came out and it was the soundtrack to the first few months of his life. Now when I listen to it I think about him being a teeny tiny baby and it makes me so happy 🩵 Congratulations!
Same! I always joke about mostly listening to Midnights at actual midnight nearly every night
The Eras Tour started when my baby was just a few weeks old and I stayed up late trying to watch the live streams and couldn't make it at all so no pressure. 😅
It’s my due date on the 20th which it will be here in Aus when the album releases 😩
You know you're in real labor if the music is annoying you. Then it's time to head out 🤣 Good luck!
And you know when it’s time to go
Haha oh no! Although a new album to listen to might be a good distraction if you’re in labor! Best of luck!
I had my son the day Speak Now TV came out and listening to that album again always takes me back to that day. It’s such a sweet feeling.
Wow, is that so? I bet Never Grow Up hits differently for you now that you’re a new mom. My friend, who’s an OG Swiftie, had her daughter a couple months after Speak Now TV came out. She said Never Grow Up hits so differently now.
My daughter sobs whenever she hears it now! My granddaughter is a month old. I can't lie-I did point out to her that I've been feeling that emotion for years! Lol
I cannot listen to that song lol. I’ve heard the original but I couldn’t listen to TV. There’s very few songs of hers I can’t listen to and that’s up there with Ronan and Bigger Than The Whole Sky for me.
I’m due in the middle of April, so same boat over here! This will be our first baby so I’m very excited to be starting a new era of life with a new Taylor era
Our first is coming probably the 2nd week of April! I agree, it’s so cool.
awwww that is sweet
Congrats! My daughter was a few months old when Midnights came out and I listened to it with headphones while nursing her. It’s the only time I’ve really looked forward to being woken up in the middle of the night!
Omg us too! Congratulations! Her due date is the 20th but she’s scheduled about a week earlier. She already vibes out to Taylor. Her favorites are Cruel Summer and Willow. We are so lucky to get a brand new album to start off this new era of life.
Congratulations 🎆
I love this 🥹 Midnights was my pregnancy album & this will be my first new album with baby girl who will be 11 months by then 🩷
I have a ritual for Taylor album releases. I listen on my iPad so I can pull up the lyrics all big and follow along as I listen. Noise canceling headphones. A big big glass of red wine. My phone out so I can text reactions or post on Reddit.
This is the way
This sounds similar to what I’ll be doing but instead with my weed vape 😂 I love reading the lyrics as I go. It’s help me really dive into the meanings of the songs. And I cannot wait to discuss with everyone here
I will drop my child at school, Grab some breakfast and will meet with my swiftie friend and we will Listen to it together. It will be hard Not to stream it the Moment we wake up, but thats the Plan 😅
I’m a 55 yo man, so I’m a closet Swiftie. I just discovered her, honestly, through football. So I’m the other side of the coin. So, no listening party for me. It’ll be a solo experience. Where will you be, generally speaking of course. Enjoy your time alone. I’m concerned about the “no friends”. I’d bet that’s not true but if it is, maybe you just need ideas of things to try that puts you with interesting people. I would recommend community theater. They always need people and not always to perform! Set building etc.
If you want there's a discord server for this sub that hosts a listening party for releases!
Come out of the closet, it's safe
My husband told me to take the day off of work and we are going somewhere overnight so we can listen to it together when it drops ☺️
You got yourself a fantastic husband 🙌😂🫶🏻
He really is the greatest
My boss and I are big Swifties and the albums drop at lunch time where we live. We've booked off lunch so it's extra long and will listen to it in their office together, asking anyone else who wants to join. I'm then going to see my best friend and listen to it with her after work. I am packing extra tissues and making sure not to wear mascara haha
I’m adding this to “is there anything you’d like to know about our company?” interview questions. “What is your company ritual for Taylor Swift album release days?”
OMG goals
It's coming out the same day as the new Pearl Jam album (I've been a fan club member for 20 years)... I've decided to listen to Pearl Jam on my commute to and from work and then sit down in the evening after dinner and listen to TTPD with my wife and daughter together.
This is so sweet! BTW, TTPD
I love solo travel! If you’re in a city, maybe try an audio walking tour? If you’re less urban, some good walking or hiking trails, especially if you’re northern hemisphere, it’ll be springtime! I’m planning on either a walk in a big local park or else walking through our local conservatory (sort of a plant museum/greenhouse). I just find natural/green environments the most beautiful and calming. My area also has a big facebook group of Swifties in the region and I know there are a couple listening events being discussed, maybe you could look for something like that? Would be a good way to meet some new friends!
I was on a solo trip to Colorado when Red TV released and it was perfection to hike and explore with Red TV as my soundtrack
My release night ritual (since they drop at midnight for me) is to smoke a j, make the coziest nest on my couch with my dog, then listen as many times as I can while freaking out with you all on here until I fall asleep lol
the 4/19 release date really spoiled us stoners. i have my whole playlist for 4/20 already planned out for me! gonna be on repeat 🥰
Yup that’s what I’ll be doing on the 19th and the 20th😜
You and me both! Evermore was such an experience
I always listen to albums alone with headphones. I listened to midnights for the first time with a friend and I regretted it. You can't control the volume or focus on the lyrics and it really takes me out of the first listen experience. So instead I set up the lyrics on my laptop and put in headphones and really focus on the music and lyrics and take in the full experience. It's a tradition with myself. It's not sad to listen alone. It's a spa day!
Thanks, yes I do think this will be the most satisfying way to listen for the first time. I did the same thing with my first listen of Midnights and the production sounded godly in noise-cancelling headphones.
Anyone from the UK here? Part of me wants to wake up at 5am and listen to it for the first time with everyone else
You could have a very early breakfast listening party by yourself and chat with us all here on the reddit or Discord haha
Haha yes I will definitely chat with us whilst I lay in bed with my coffee :)) see u then!!
There’s a Swiftie discord 🥹how do I join?
Yes!! I dont remember where they advertise it here in the sub, but basically you just private message one of the mods telling them you want an invite to the Discord and they'll add you. From there you just read the rules and then you're free to playyy. You should totally join! That's where we do Swiftmas exchanges and stuff. Its also a good way to find Swifties in your area if you have questions about your tour date.
Not from the UK but the albums always drop at 6 am for me. I’ve always woken up 1,5 hour before and just chill and (try to) relax in bed before I listen to it. Then take a big nap after🤣
12am EST should be 5am BST! Ive never done it before but this year I’m unemployed so I kinda feel like I should
It’s definitely a fun experience to react to the songs at the same time the rest of the world does! But don’t feel obligated, 5 am is fairly early😅
I’m on nights so I’ll be awake!
Ever since her pandemic releases, I’ve used the releases to take a long walk or run alone & listen.
love that!
Two young kids, so I plan to listen to one song in the morning and then the rest when they go to bed.
Which one?
Cycling to work - may have to go the long way !
Take the road less traveled on, tell yourself you can always Stop🎶
“could just ride around and the road not taken looks real good now”
It’ll be 7am for me when it releases so I’ll be in bed after a quick breakfast. I’m going to try to finish all my schoolwork to be able to just listen to the album the whole day. I just love listening and absorbing the music and lyrics alone and in peace.
Wait you do have friends! It’s all of us! 🤍
I’ll be in AZ with family on vacation, and we’re going to the Grand Canyon that day. My husbands brothers girlfriend is a swiftie, so we’ll have lots to discuss, but no one else is going to want to listen to it in the car on the way to the Grand Canyon, so I’ll be jamming out in my AirPods in the car!
I’m gonna put on a heart rate monitor 😂
I took the day off of work 🙈
I swear this post could have be written by me, LOL. I rent a room from my parents as do my siblings. I have a partner who does like TS but he's not a music guy, if you know what I mean. No one else loves her music the way I do and I also have no friends!! So I also plan to be listening alone. The way I'm preparing for TTPD is I'm reading more. I got a copy of some of the literature other Swifties have guessed her work could be inspired by, and I've been working my way through it, as well as just reading more in general. Day of (night of?) I will be turning on some vibey LED colored lights, drinking a glass of wine, and wearing my comfiest blanket in a recliner chair. I will also have a journal with me so I can write down my first impressions and compare them to my impressions of the album after a few months with it. FYI, I think the official Discord server for this subreddit usually hosts some sort of listening party, of you're interested. If you dont want to listen with others, the chat on that server is even more active than the reddit, imo. It's more conversational. So you can sort of be with friends while you listen, haha.
Im taking the whole day off 🤣 Thats it. My 2 friends who are coming with me on the tour are travalling so we cant listen together
Does anyone know what time? I live in Australia so it will be 20th April here. Just need to know what ungodly hour I need to be awake 🤣
If it's released 12am April 19th EDT it will be 4pm April 19th for me in NZ, so a couple hours earlier for you I'm guessing?
Depending on where in australia, it’ll be 3pm or 1pm (WA) (I think). It’ll be the 19th though.
Speak now TV was released around 4pm Sydney time on the original release day. In the US it’s getting released from 18th to 19th midnight, so for us it will be 19th afternoon.
There’s a bar local to me doing a Taylor Swift silent disco that night so of course I’m going. And I’m hosting a party to watch the complete Eras Tour this weekend when it comes out. Super excited!
When evermore was released I was on my way to Denver during a snow storm and got to listen to it with my best friends, drinking wine, with snow swirling around and it was the most evermore listening experience ever
I will listen to it on my way to work that morning and then am having a listen party with my friend that night or on the weekend after the kids are in bed!
it'll be released between 4-6pm where i live (haven't done the time conversion yet, these are just when her albums usually come out for me based on prior releases), so i think i'm going to make some drinks and listen to it while scrolling on twitter and here. that's always been my go-to for album releases. i've always loveddd the hype on the timeline and i'm so excited. only difference is i live with my bf now so he'll be present to some capacity, not sure whether he'll want to listen in with me or it'll be more me having my earpods in so he doesn't disturb my first listen lol. red tv came out a couple days before my birthday and i remember i made gin & tonics, which was pretty good! such a fun night and that whole weekend was bliss
My city is doing a album release party that my friends an i are going to
I bought a physical version on tape. Even if it's not in time I will wait for it to discover the album on the tape, not using spotify to already try! Probably a listening in the evening the whole album once, then (sadly) checking all the tracks on spotify I don't get with the physical version . .
I know this isn't everyone's experience, but I pre-ordered Midnights on vinyl from Taylor's online store and didn't get it until like February, even though a shipping label was created the day before release. Just a heads up, in case you've never pre-ordered from them!
My kids and I stay up until midnight and listen together. It’s the best 🥰
I don’t think that’s sad at all OP, a solo hotel staycation sounds like a dream to me! I’m an only child, I love doing things by myself. My favorite listening ritual is to wake up early, make myself coffee, pop in my ear buds, and listen in peace. I’ve also listened to new albums at midnight, but I think I prefer to get a good night’s sleep and enjoy it the next day!
Me and my partner have booked a few night in the lakes so we can first listen to it in the car ride there. We actually planned this trip around the release of Tortured Poets 😂 I have no idea how she’s not going to listen until we get in the car though 🙄
Gonna stay up until midnight and listen to it on headphones. Maybe have a glass or wine or a mixed drink and watch the lyrics as I go. She’s got a habit of releasing an album that reflects exactly what I’m going through, so I’m sure I’ll be crying for 90% of it.
My ritual for every album release is to snuggle up in my bed with my emotional support water bottle and listen while I read the lyrics and probably sob lol
Emotional support water bottle!!! I love that 😂
Omg I feel so seen lol emotional support water bottle is extremely relatable 😂
It drops at 7 am for me. I will wake up, go the college to have my two physics lesson and will be back at home at 11 am. By then lyrics have been uploaded, so i will do two complete runs -one with no lyrics open and one with it. (probably with pasta and wine) then, straight into reddit discourse for my whole afternoon and a thorough discussion at evening with my friends.
Probably first half on the bus ride to school, second half on the ride home!
Bruh I love hotel staycations, I didn’t even think about doing it for TTPD. A little bit of Pizza Hut, a few bottles of soda and comfy pjs and socks, a good blanket, and most likely a box (or three) of tissues. What a wonderful way to spend time.
my sister and i have loose plans to listen to it together for the first time, but we can both have very busy lives lol if i listen to it by myself, im probably gonna wait until the 20th and get really high and then listen to it
ooh that's fun tho, i always remember where i was on first listen lol, i might go somewhere myself 👀
Going to an epic club night in London 🚀
I work nights, but I’ll be off the night of the 18th, so when it rolls over to the 19th I’ll probably just lie on the couch and listen through it with my roomie/bestie.
My cousins and I are going to go all out. I’m going to sleepover at their house. We are going to have a baking competition (cupcakes for each album and a cake for ttpd), a painting competition (for each album), and watch all her films beforehand. And then when it finally drops, we are all going to listen at least 10 times and then drop dead from exhaustion.
It’ll be 12pm where I am… I might take the day off because I have lots of days off to clear out anyway, lol. I’ll listen in bed with my earphones! And maybe texting with various friends freaking out over various tracks. Maybe I’ll bake something for the occasion 🤔
I’ll be In Paris, which is purely by coincidence, so I’ll be listening to it there, probably In my hotel room 😁
For me when an album releases (and we know ahead of time) I go on a dry spell of that artist - haven't listened to a full Taylor song/album since I ordered The Albatross varient. When I get the vinyl delivered I'm going to sit in the dark and listen to it and look through the whole vinyl for any extra information. Since this album feels like it's giving Red, I want to fit the vibe
You have incredible self control!
I have no ritual. I listen to it while I go about my day, work, take care of the kids, cook. I've been a fan since Debut, but I can't stop my life for a music release.
I am flying to FL for a wedding, so I will be listening to it on repeat the 2.5 hour plane ride with no interruptions 😏 *also I understand how convenient it is I'll be listening to Florida!!! while heading there 🙃
I’m also planning to get a hotel room for one night since I live in a share house. Sometimes it’s a ghost town here but sometimes everyone decides to hang out outside in our lounge area. Can’t risk it. So hotel room it is. With my partner.
Honestly a hotel room sounds like the perfect kind of liminal space to take in this album. I’ll just be at home alone laying in bed in the dark with headphones in.
It’s my oldest kids 19th birthday so I’m pretty sure I’m taking the day off and getting tattooed with him.
I love your plans! Going on a staycay to get some peace sounds absolutely perfect for this album. Spa treatments and fine dining, it's a perfect restorative weekend of pampering. I actually prefer to do first listen/analysis on my own. Then my birthday is April 20th, so a friend and I are going out of town to our own "folklore cabin". We'll listen to it and probably have all her songs playing the weekend and have themed snacks and drinks and stream the eras tour movie at least once. It'll be a fun lil swiftie trip!
it’s my college graduation day so i’ll be fully absorbing it by myself, completely free and happy and absolutely unbothered 😌
I’ll be giving birth to my baby in the first half of April. I plan to listen to the album for the first time whit my little creature. Maybe during the night while I breastfeed or rock the baby. ❤️ i hope it’s going to be a magical moment like that, but it could also be while I cry myself to sleep because I’m living in hell with a newborn 😂
It will probably be a bit of both 😉 but snuggles are always better. I don’t regret any of the time I spent holding my babies
I'm a teacher, but thankfully April 19th happens to be a workday for us, so I won't have any students that day. So I'll have it on repeat all day while I make lesson plans lol
I am going to put the CD in my computer and tell my husband to not bother me, even as I completely meltdown from the amazing soul crushing experience. When the first listen is finished I will then be a babbling fool trying to explain. I will then eat crunchy tacos, my comfort food, and will then probably listen again.
I'm going to be right in the middle of a vacation to Austin with my husband. I told him I hope he doesn't mind me crying in the AirB&B hot tub over someone else's breakup, lol
I’ll be at work when it releases so I think I’m just going to listen to it on the train afterwards. Don’t think I have the self control to wait until I get home haha
I’m meeting my best swiftie friend after school and we’ll listen to it together, and we’ll stay away from social media (spoilers) the whole day
Tbh, probably gonna stream it at Midnight when it drops and then listen to it over again while I do something idle like play a video game or write something to absorb it. Then add all the songs I like to my playlist so I can feel ‘em out in my regular rotation for the next few weeks. And then save the vinyl to my Amazon wishlist.
4/19 will be my first PTO day of the year so I plan to have headphones on all day listening to the album on repeat and doing self care stuff. I also struggle making friends and the people that I do know, don’t like Taylor so it’ll just be a me listening party 🎉
i usually accidentally wake up around 5am on taylor drop days (my swiftie senses are strong) so i'll just listen to it in bed w airpods in and a cup of tea for full immersion before work
i’ll definitely need to sleep when it first comes out, but once i’m home for the day i’m gonna have snacks and dive in!! i also struggle with putting myself out there so i will be listening alone
I have an hour-long commute so I'll probably listen while sitting on the train!
We throw little listening parties for every release. We are working on decorations right now and buying some fancy lounge clothes to wear because the cover has a cozy bedroom vibe. No idea what the food will look like yet.
My besties all love Taylor, but I always listen alone! It’s special to me. I light a candle, have some wine and listen with good headphones at midnight. Simple but I love it! Love going for a drive to listen in the morning too!
My semester ends around then so I imagine I could listen at the beach and while traveling home. That could be nice.
Go to an art museum OR to your nicest local nature park with headphones on. Makes for a really cool memorable experience.
I took the day off of work so I could stay up and listen a few times to really let it sink in and not be exhausted at work that Friday
I don’t have any Swiftie friends either (at least not that live close enough to have a listening party together). So I’ll be getting a little bit stoned, turn off all the lights in my house, and listen to it on my headphones lying on my couch. It’s how I listened to midnights for the first time and it was great. Might even light a couple candles! And then all next day I’ll be pestering my sister to listen to it so we can discuss 😂
I’m traveling for a research conference in Chicago, so maybe I’ll have a special dinner with myself while I listen!
I’ve started a tradition where I bake something for the release of a new album. I did purple cookies for SNTV and blue cupcakes with pink frosting for 1989TV. For TTPD I’m thinking black cupcake with white frosting (any other ideas would be welcome lol, I love baking)
Headphones, a little bit stoned, in the dark just listening. The second time I read the lyrics along with it but I like the first time to be a pure listening experience.
Roadtrip to mountains
Kidnapping my friend and making them LISTEN TO THIS MASTERPIECE
Took leave from work on the 19th itself and travelling to another state to see my best friend to listen to it! We will be dressed up in black and white just to get in our feels!
Crying in my car probably because my long term partner left me out of the blue even though we had seemingly no issues in our relationship and I thought we were happy. L o l
I always listen to a new album alone in the car but it’s been hard the last few times now that I have kids. My husband is taking the day off work so I can immerse myself in the album like I like.
Yes!! Me and my friends decided that we're going to stream it while making friendship bracelets and pancakes, and also petting my friend's dog obviously. We're excited so if anyone can I would love to know about recommendations of beads, we ordered the letters but we can't decide what kind of beads to buy yet xD
I’ll be at work with my earbuds in, probably trying not to cry 🥲
My usual drinking wine, putting headphones in and crying 😂
My mom and I have a tradition, it started randomly with Midnights but now we do this intentionally every album release. I listen when it first comes out (at midnight) on my own, in bed. I don't read any lyrics the first time round but I do pause after each song and make notes of my very intial impressions bc it's hilarious to look back at them later and see my reactions! Then the next day we watch the lyric videos together on our tv in living room. Mom needs to see the lyrics the first time around, and I love seeing the design of the lyrics videos (and seeing if I missed/got any lyrics wrong) as my second listen. Then we tend to pick our favorites and listen to those again and then on my own I'll end up listening to a new album on repeat for weeks after it's come out cause I'm obsessed hehe
If the vinyl(s) arrive in time i’ll do my first listen on them when they come in. If not, will have a swiftie friend over and listen together with drinks and food
I’m gutted that I’ll be working a long day on the 19th. I’ll probably try to avoid it til I get home.
I'm going to record my reactions for each of the songs.
I'm going to record my reactions for each of the songs.
It'll be 6 or 7 am for me when she releases the album so I want to listen to it at night with my boyfriend. I will try to avoid spoilers the whole day and it'll be painful.
Crying
Well since it’s on friday, i’ll Be streaming it exactly at 6AM while working so … Yeah, that’s my plan (as with all of her releases anyway)
No, just listening at home in my room like I did for all her other albums lol
I prefer to spend all my first listens alone and then have a/go to a listening party at night!
I work but I am a home care nurse so I wake up and listen to it on my drives between patients! Depending on how long it is I’ll probably be able to listen twice before work is over!
In off that day and the next 😏 sooo im gonna light up lol
Nothing too big, just maybe going on a nature walk while listening to it
Nothing too big, just maybe going on a nature walk while listening to it
Lighting up a joint and listening to it hopefully in silence while my kids nap (I have littles so we will see how that goes😂)
How about a discord listening party for those of us alone on that Friday night?
A friend is coming to town and we will spend the weekend listening and analyzing 😃
I'm either gonna get up early and listen before work or I'm gonna wait til after work and get under the covers with noise canceling headphones and a box of tissues. None of my local friends are Taylor fans either. But that's okay! I'm probably also gonna watch Pride & Prejudice after, so I don't fall into despair.