Hi, hello, it's officially The Tortured Poets Department release day, which means it's time to spiral about anything related to Taylor Swift. It's just the name of the game! But whether you're busy deep-diving into lyric explainers surrounding the album or checking the pulse on Joe Alwyn's ~thoughts~, it's important to study up on Tay's collaborators, including one of the greatest musical poets of our generation: Florence Welch. You may know her as Florence + The Machine as she's dropped hypnotizing songs like "Dog Days Are Over" and "Shake It Out" over the years.
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While she joins forces with Taylor on the Tortured Poets track "Florida!!!" the two actually go way back thanks to a mutual best friend of theirs: Blake Lively. So, let's get into Taylor Swift and Florence Welch's full friendship timeline now that their collaboration has officially changed our lives forever, 'kay?
October 27, 2009
Blake Lively met Florence for the first time after her first show in NYC at the Bowery Ballroom. According to a 2011 Glamour interview, Blake met the musician backstage. "You got the band pizza, and they instantly fell in love with you. It was so sweet," Florence said. However! The singer and the Gossip Girl alum wouldn't meet Taylor until 2015.
May 3, 2015
During an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, Florence opened up about seeking relationship advice from Taylor. "I know it sounds cliché, but she's good to talk to about boys," she said. "She knows her stuff." She also looked back on a Met Gala after-party that Taylor threw, saying, “Lena Dunham was there, and Spike Jonze and Reese Witherspoon and Zooey Deschanel, eating pizza, talking about boys. I'd already asked loads of taxi drivers and everyone else I'd met [for advice], so I thought, why not Taylor Swift and Spike Jonze too?" Name something anything more iconic!
May 15, 2015
Florence graced the cover of Billboard and revealed the advice Taylor had given her. "Taylor said that you must sing about what's happening in your life," Florence said during the release of her album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful. She added that she tries to visit Tay every time she's in New York.
Tay also lent a quote to the publication, essentially gushing about the "Spectrum" singer. "What sets Florence apart? Everything," she gushed. "Every time I've been around her, she is the most magnetic person in the room—surrounded by people who are fascinated by the idea of being near her. But when she meets people, she pays them a warm compliment and immediately disarms them. There are very few people I've met in my life who are truly electric, and Florence is one of them." Taylor continued, "She's the most fun person to dance with at a party, but then five minutes later you find yourself sitting on the stairs with her having an in-depth conversation about love and heartbreak."
October 5, 2015
During an interview with USA Today, Florence was asked whether she would make a guest appearance on stage at Taylor's 1989 World Tour. "Our schedules haven't crossed over enough, but I'd obviously love to perform," she dished. "Mainly, I just want to see the show. I'm sad I haven't been able to yet, but I really want to."
The musician also shared that "Shake It Off" was her favorite T. Swift song at the time because "it just makes me so happy."
February 15, 2016
During an interview with E! News at the 2016 Grammys, Florence admitted she was nervous to put out her album How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful while hanging out with Taylor. "After I finished the record, I saw her out and I was really nervous because I felt like I had made such a personal record," she explained. "You know, she manages to, like, use elements of her life but with such grace. I was just nervous about it and she was like, 'It's going to be fine!'"
January 13, 2023
A few years later, Taylor made an appearance at The 1975's show at London's O2 Arena to perform her track "Anti-Hero" along with a cover of the band's 2013 song, "The City." Matty Healy's mom, Denise Welch, snapped a pic with Taylor backstage as Florence watched in the background.
February 5, 2024
Taylor announced her upcoming album The Tortured Poets Department when she won Best Pop Album at the Grammys. She then posted the tracklist across her social platforms, including a collaboration called "Florida!!!" with Florence. 👀
April 19, 2024
The Tortured Poets Department officially debuts, and "Florida!!!" is every bit as iconic as fans hoped it would be.
But because we know you're curious, we've gone ahead and dissected the lyrics to reveal who it could potentially be about...👀. Ahem:
Your Essential Guide to 'The Tortured Poets Department'
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