Taylor Swift Shifts From Kim to Ye With New Live Release of ‘thank You aimEe’: See Fan Reaction
In a new live bonus track from The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift is raising eyebrows simply by capitalizing a couple of letters.
On Thursday night (Aug. 15), Swift’s webstore announced the release of two new limited-edition digital versions of her latest album: One includes “The Prophecy (Long Story Short – Live From Lyon)” while the other includes “thank You aimEe (Mean – Live from London).” The curiously capitalized second track differs from how the title was stylized when it was first released as part of The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology expanded double album back in April. Then, it was titled “thanK you aIMee”; now, instead of capitalizing KIM (in an apparent reference to Kim Kardashian), the new version capitalizes YE (in a seeming reference to Swift’s longtime foe formerly known as Kanye West).
The move did not go unnoticed on social media, with Swifties going wild for the track’s new focus. “doing this right after blocking his album from number one… taylor swift the legend that you are!” one X user commented, in reference to Tortured Poets topping the Billboard 200 in its 16th week vs. Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 2 opening in the runner-up spot. “NOT THE CAPITAL LETTER CHANGE!!!! TAYLOR NATION YOU’RE SO MESSY AND I LOVE IT!!!!” another X user wrote.
Commenters are also speculating that the new stylization could signal the imminent arrival of Reputation (Taylor’s Version). The original 2017 album was recorded in the aftermath of Swift’s feud with the then-married couple — which surrounded Ye’s controversial “Famous” lyric about Taylor and a recording of a private phone call released by Kardashian — and addresses the impact on the pop star’s image among music fans and critics.
The new version of “thank You aimEe” was recorded at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 22 when Swift performed the song for the first time as a mash-up with the 2011 Speak Now single “Mean” during her acoustic set. “Someday I’ll be singing this song at Wembley,” Swift improvised to the melody of “Mean” during the performance. Swift is back at Wembley this week for five more dates before the European leg of her Eras Tour wraps up on Tuesday. She’ll pick the trek back up when she returns to North America in November, stopping first in Toronto.
See Taylor Nation’s announcement of the two new digital variants — which are only available until midnight ET tonight — below.
Katie Atkinson
Billboard
