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****The Tortured Poets Department-Taylor Swift***^

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TCTTS
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In reply to TXCityAggie • 4:10p, 4/21/24
AG
I think people, myself included, simply wanted her to evolve with this album, and especially with her lyrics. I really like her music, and I mostly like her as a person. When she's not playing up the pop star persona, she seems genuinely nice and down-to-earth.

But in the wake of The Eras Tour - after celebrating such a wildly successful career - it was the perfect opportunity to take a step forward and, as a 34-year-old woman, finally leave behind all the petty high school grudge/victimhood/throne nonsense. Instead, it's almost like she double-downed on a lot of that stuff, and in return I think it's perfectly fair for some people to be like, "Really? We're still doing this?"

Granted, she obviously can't not play to her bread-and-butter teen girl demographic, and would be an idiot to leave them behind. But there's a way to still cater to them without all the woe-is-me crap, which is what many were expecting, especially since she seems so happy now with Kelce. Which, for the record, I think has only been a good thing. It somehow boosted both her profile and the NFL's, bringing NFL dads and their daughters together in some genuinely affecting ways.
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Less Evil Hank Scorpio
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4:19p, 4/21/24
AG
I was excited by the prospect this being more of a departure (before it was known that Antonoff & Dessner were the producers again) but I do enjoy this album, moreso than midnights. I think there is some solid evidence that this release is the end of a major chapter of her life and career so I am definitely excited for what's next. And all indications over the past few years are that it will probably be here sooner than later, much to the chagrin of the haters.
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4:52p, 4/21/24
TCTTS
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6:44p, 4/21/24
AG
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GreasenUSA
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6:54p, 4/21/24
AG
lol, I love this thread!

BTW, I've never listened to a Taylor Swift album, and only basically know her megahits. I listened to the first 4-5 tracks on this one, and found myself enjoying it. So I really have no point of reference, but it seemed good enough. Go figure.
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YouBet
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7:39p, 4/21/24
AG
Just wanted to chime in and say I still couldn't name a Swift song or even tell you if I've ever heard one. I also had to ask my wife this morning what the 4/20 thing with weed was all about.

Steadfast ignorance is an admirable quality of mine.
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Cliff.Booth
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7:53p, 4/21/24
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AGinHI
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8:01p, 4/21/24
AG
Seeing grown men arguing over Taylor Swift for 6 pages

is forcing me to head back over to F16.





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GumboGuy
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5:35a, 4/22/24
AG
Friday morning and afternoon I wasn't a big fan of the album.

Monday morning, after listening through it a couple times, it's definitely grown on me and starting to like it more.

I encourage everyone to give it another go at some point. I think a lot of people are on the Eras Tour high and wanted that energy.

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nai06
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8:50a, 4/22/24
AG
Holy **** I stepped away from this thread for half a day and came back to this mess?


To keep things on track, Im really liking the song Florida!!!

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Less Evil Hank Scorpio
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In reply to nai06 • 9:04a, 4/22/24
AG
nai06 said:
Holy **** I stepped away from this thread for half a day and came back to this mess?


To keep things on track, Im really liking the song Florida!!!

Florence has one of the best and most unique voices out there. I really enjoy that song too.
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aggierogue
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In reply to Cliff.Booth • 9:57a, 4/22/24
AG
Cliff.Booth said:
Bruce Almighty said:
This is just stupid. It's turning into the most over analyzed album of all time.


That's because she's the most over-analyzed musician of all time. She's a marginally talented musician with an unremarkable singing voice who writes catchy hooks about dating ******bags and how hard it is being a rich white girl. I don't mind people enjoying her music, especially when it is 12-25 year old girls who haven't been exposed to actually good music and don't really understand music, but people not realizing she's a manufactured industry plant makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills. She's 34 but looks and writes like she's in (community) college, I'm hoping that nearing 40 she'll finally hit the age where young listeners are finally like...why is this mom singing about this stuff.
What a hater. Marginally talented? Laughable.

If it were so easy, everyone would be printing money just like her. Some "good" bands can dream of having one or two great albums. She has been able to do it for nearly two decades in two different genres of music.

It's amazing how threatened and triggered some of you appear to be over Taylor Swift.

"She's terrible," according to you. Yet here you are reading and talking about her.
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Jim01
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11:17a, 4/22/24
AG
Not bothering to read through the mess from the last few pages.

On third complete listen this morning I really like this album. I was a little too harsh on the Antonoff songs the first time around. Being a huge folklore/evermore fan I dig the overall melancholy vibes of the album.

Solid songs that I took note of this listen:
  • Tortured Poets Department
  • But Daddy I Love Him
  • loml
  • The Alchemy
  • Clara Bow - That bass line!
  • The Black Dog
  • imgonnagetyouback - Even though it's similar in theme to Olivia Rodrigo's "get him back!"
  • Chloe or Sam or Sophie or Marcus
  • How Did It End?
  • So High School - love the guitar, makes it stand out from the rest of the tracks
  • thanK you aIMee - although I think the KIM aspect distracts from the song
  • Peter
  • The Bolter

In contrast to the previous poster, I think Florida!!! was my least favorite on the entire album. It's kind of corny.

The lyrics are better overall than people give credit for. Over 31 songs there are definitely some absolute turds, maybe half a dozen or so, but it's getting too panned IMHO.

It's loads better than Midnights, which stands firm as her worst.

I will say though that I can completely see if people are disappointed that she didn't grow more in this album and I can agree for the most part. After Midnights though I am happy to get a quality album with more of a folklore/evermore vibe to it.

What I would like to see now is her move on from Antonoff and Dessner. Those wells have been mined enough. As much as I am not a fan of the idea of her settling down with a football jock, my ideal next step for her would be to take 3-4 years off. Get married, have a kid, live life. Then come back with some truly fresh perspective and get a producer that is going to be demanding of her and set a high bar. When I listen to a Jason Isbell record, for example, I can hear that every lyric, down to the word and syllable, was poured over until it was just right. I want a produced that is going to demand that of her, and force her to give 12 songs of her best.

That said I am happy with this album and it's grown on me a lot already.
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Cliff.Booth
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8:58p, 4/22/24
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GumboGuy
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In reply to aggierogue • 2:47p, 4/30/24
AG
Her album is really struggling lol

Where did all the haters go?


Taylor Swift has dominated all 10 spots on Billboard's Hot 100 chart once before with "Midnights," and now the pop star is claiming the top 14 spots for her newest era "The Tortured Poets Department."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/taylor-swift-claims-top-14-spots-of-billboard-s-hot-100-with-songs-from-tortured-poets/ar-AA1nSj31?ocid=entnewsntp&pc=U531&cvid=2f1f6ff2b9504638c687fa67a2db702e&ei=14
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Another Doug
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3:21p, 4/30/24
AG
First week sales by album
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EclipseAg
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In reply to GumboGuy • 4:38p, 4/30/24
AG
Aggie Therapist said:
Taylor Swift has dominated all 10 spots on Billboard's Hot 100 chart once before with "Midnights," and now the pop star is claiming the top 14 spots for her newest era "The Tortured Poets Department."

Beyonce hardest hit.
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chase128
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In reply to Jim01 • 4:54p, 4/30/24
AG
Jim01 said:
Not bothering to read through the mess from the last few pages.

On third complete listen this morning I really like this album. I was a little too harsh on the Antonoff songs the first time around. Being a huge folklore/evermore fan I dig the overall melancholy vibes of the album.

Solid songs that I took note of this listen:
  • Tortured Poets Department
  • But Daddy I Love Him
  • loml
  • The Alchemy
  • Clara Bow - That bass line!
  • The Black Dog
  • imgonnagetyouback - Even though it's similar in theme to Olivia Rodrigo's "get him back!"
  • Chloe or Sam or Sophie or Marcus
  • How Did It End?
  • So High School - love the guitar, makes it stand out from the rest of the tracks
  • thanK you aIMee - although I think the KIM aspect distracts from the song
  • Peter
  • The Bolter

In contrast to the previous poster, I think Florida!!! was my least favorite on the entire album. It's kind of corny.

The lyrics are better overall than people give credit for. Over 31 songs there are definitely some absolute turds, maybe half a dozen or so, but it's getting too panned IMHO.

It's loads better than Midnights, which stands firm as her worst.

I will say though that I can completely see if people are disappointed that she didn't grow more in this album and I can agree for the most part. After Midnights though I am happy to get a quality album with more of a folklore/evermore vibe to it.

What I would like to see now is her move on from Antonoff and Dessner. Those wells have been mined enough. As much as I am not a fan of the idea of her settling down with a football jock, my ideal next step for her would be to take 3-4 years off. Get married, have a kid, live life. Then come back with some truly fresh perspective and get a producer that is going to be demanding of her and set a high bar. When I listen to a Jason Isbell record, for example, I can hear that every lyric, down to the word and syllable, was poured over until it was just right. I want a produced that is going to demand that of her, and force her to give 12 songs of her best.

That said I am happy with this album and it's grown on me a lot already.
This is such a weird post. "my ideal next step for her" just sounds creepy.
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GumboGuy
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In reply to chase128 • 5:01p, 4/30/24
AG
chase128 said:
Jim01 said:
Not bothering to read through the mess from the last few pages.

On third complete listen this morning I really like this album. I was a little too harsh on the Antonoff songs the first time around. Being a huge folklore/evermore fan I dig the overall melancholy vibes of the album.

Solid songs that I took note of this listen:
  • Tortured Poets Department
  • But Daddy I Love Him
  • loml
  • The Alchemy
  • Clara Bow - That bass line!
  • The Black Dog
  • imgonnagetyouback - Even though it's similar in theme to Olivia Rodrigo's "get him back!"
  • Chloe or Sam or Sophie or Marcus
  • How Did It End?
  • So High School - love the guitar, makes it stand out from the rest of the tracks
  • thanK you aIMee - although I think the KIM aspect distracts from the song
  • Peter
  • The Bolter

In contrast to the previous poster, I think Florida!!! was my least favorite on the entire album. It's kind of corny.

The lyrics are better overall than people give credit for. Over 31 songs there are definitely some absolute turds, maybe half a dozen or so, but it's getting too panned IMHO.

It's loads better than Midnights, which stands firm as her worst.

I will say though that I can completely see if people are disappointed that she didn't grow more in this album and I can agree for the most part. After Midnights though I am happy to get a quality album with more of a folklore/evermore vibe to it.

What I would like to see now is her move on from Antonoff and Dessner. Those wells have been mined enough. As much as I am not a fan of the idea of her settling down with a football jock, my ideal next step for her would be to take 3-4 years off. Get married, have a kid, live life. Then come back with some truly fresh perspective and get a producer that is going to be demanding of her and set a high bar. When I listen to a Jason Isbell record, for example, I can hear that every lyric, down to the word and syllable, was poured over until it was just right. I want a produced that is going to demand that of her, and force her to give 12 songs of her best.

That said I am happy with this album and it's grown on me a lot already.
This is such a weird post. "my ideal next step for her" just sounds creepy.


As much as I am not a fan of the idea of her settling down with a football jock, my ideal next step for her would be to take 3-4 years off. Get married, have a kid, live life.

"Hey Alexa, play lavender haze"

I'm sure Taylor is all about listening to a man telling her to settle down and have kids!

She might have written a bunch of songs about this…..just my guess.
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Definitely Not A Cop
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7:01p, 4/30/24
AG
https://instagr.am/p/C6WiZHFqoPw
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Tabasco
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In reply to GumboGuy • 6:09p, 5/4/24
AG
Aggie Therapist said:
Possibly.

I feel like Katie would do well on F16
Just reading through this thread on my bookmarks. LOL. What a bizarre take.
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GumboGuy
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In reply to Tabasco • 6:10p, 5/4/24
AG
People looking for attention with weird takes on Twitter lol
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Tabasco
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In reply to Tailgate88 • 6:16p, 5/4/24
AG
Tailgate88 said:
Wondering how many heterosexual males are on this thread.
I'm one. A unicorn. A white male married to a white female.
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Tabasco
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In reply to TCTTS • 6:21p, 5/4/24
AG
TCTTS said:
I never said it wouldn't be popular, numbers-wise. Rather, based on early reactions, I said it was looking like it wasn't going to be one of her better-received albums, critically speaking, and basically that the tide seemed to be turning in regards to her infallibility.

Both of which have turned out to be true, as this album is getting all kinds of sh*t online, certain reviews have been pretty brutal, and I'm seeing an annoyance with Swift in general that I haven't seen in years, re: her lyrics, her attitude, etc.

Even in this thread there are people saying it's one of her more forgettable albums, if not outride one of her worst, and that their own daughters are underwhelmed.

Again, I wasn't rooting for either outcome, nor was I predicting anything. I was merely stating what I was objectively observing pre-release, which has now carried over to a swath of the general public, it seems, post-release.

None of which takes away from it obviously getting massive amounts of play, which anyone and their dog could have guessed.
LOL, take the L and say you were wrong for once.
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Tabasco
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In reply to Cliff.Booth • 6:31p, 5/4/24
AG
Cliff.Booth said:
Bruce Almighty said:
This is just stupid. It's turning into the most over analyzed album of all time.


That's because she's the most over-analyzed musician of all time. She's a marginally talented musician with an unremarkable singing voice who writes catchy hooks about dating ******bags and how hard it is being a rich white girl. I don't mind people enjoying her music, especially when it is 12-25 year old girls who haven't been exposed to actually good music and don't really understand music, but people not realizing she's a manufactured industry plant makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills. She's 34 but looks and writes like she's in (community) college, I'm hoping that nearing 40 she'll finally hit the age where young listeners are finally like...why is this mom singing about this stuff.
Hear Here!

(Titanic rich guy at dinner table with Jack and Rose).

And Warren Buffett? He sucks and doesn't know anything about investing. Yeah he had a few good years, and got lucky on a stock or two.

And that Rothchild dude. Sure, he made some money in banking, but WTF does he know.

They are all overrated!

It's cool if you hate the music, but the proof is in the pudding. Really hard to argue about that (yes I understand psychology, marketing, social contagion, etc)
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TCTTS
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In reply to Tabasco • 6:32p, 5/4/24
AG
Did you really just bring up this two-week-old post?

And no, I'm not going to "take the L," weirdo. I quite often admit when I'm wrong - on box office predictions, a movie's/show's quality, when a rumor or news doesn't pan out - but in this instance, from the jump, I was clearly talking about the critical angle, which remains true.
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GumboGuy
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In reply to TCTTS • 6:42p, 5/4/24
AG
Take the L dude lol

Taylor is dominating the charts. You were "critically" wrong.



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Tabasco
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In reply to TCTTS • 6:46p, 5/4/24
AG
TCTTS said:
Did you really just bring up this two-week-old post?

And no, I'm not going to "take the L," weirdo. I quite often admit when I'm wrong - on box office predictions, a movie's/show's quality, when a rumor or news doesn't pan out - but in this instance, from the jump, I was clearly talking about the critical angle, which remains true.
Yes I did. I have been extremely busy and just now catching up on things. You implied this would flow (I know, you will say the critics would pan it so not specifically consumer rejection.... wrong). You have been totally wrong about hollywood things in the past, but if you say you have admitted to being wrong, I accept that.
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TCTTS
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In reply to GumboGuy • 6:53p, 5/4/24
AG
This isn't complicated, but because you clearly lack reading comprehension skills and an understanding of nuance, I'll explain it yet again…

Popularity and critical reception are two completely different things.

Something that is often made apparent in movies much more.

This is like me saying "critics aren't liking the new Star Wars movie" before it goes on to make a billion at the box office. Followed by you weirdly going "LOL just take the L."

Both things can be true at once.

This album can be massively popular in terms of radio/streaming play, but that doesn't negate the fact that I've ALSO never seen so much critical negativity toward one of Swift's albums.

This isn't a weird or controversial take, you're just desperately trying to turn it into one.
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Tabasco
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In reply to TCTTS • 6:53p, 5/4/24
AG
TCTTS said:
Tabasco said:
Beatles released 2 albums a year


… in the 1960s, which was obviously a completely different media era. They also burned bright, and were together only seven years. Swift has been at this for 18 years.

I'm just saying, given the rarified air she was in last year, she should have pulled a Costanza and left fans wanting more. She needed to disappear for a bit and come back next year instead. Otherwise, she's risking over saturation, which many people, including fans, are already feeling. You can see it on social media, in the way this album is being covered, etc. IMO, it's too much, too soon.

All that said, if this album ends up being legitimately good, I'll be back tonight/tomorrow to eat crow…
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Tabasco
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In reply to TCTTS • 6:54p, 5/4/24
AG
TCTTS said:
This isn't complicated, but because you clearly lack reading comprehension skills and an understanding of nuance, I'll explain it yet again…

Popularity and critical reception are two completely different things.

Something that is often made apparent in movies much more.

This is like me saying "critics aren't liking the new Star Wars movie" before it goes on to make a billion at the box office. Followed by you weirdly going "LOL just take the L."

Both things can be true at once.

This album can be massively popular in terms of radio/streaming play, but that doesn't negate the fact that I've ALSO never seen so much critical negativity toward one of Swift's albums as well.
K
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TCTTS
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In reply to Tabasco • 6:58p, 5/4/24
AG
I didn't like the album. So I didn't come back to eat crow.

Neither of which have anything to do with how much play the album is getting.

Again, this isn't complicated.

You realize how pathetic and bizarre these weird ass take-down attempts are, right?
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20ag07
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7:01p, 5/4/24
She's not going to win Album of the Year- much less be nominated for it.

And she'll probably write a whole album about how she wasn't.

Everyone knows how much she cares about that stuff.

It's OK to acknowledge that an album wasn't particularly good, but was still listened to by a lot of people bc she's the most high-profile artist in the world.
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Tabasco
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In reply to TCTTS • 7:02p, 5/4/24
AG
TCTTS said:
I didn't like the album. So I didn't come back to eat crow.

Neither of which have anything to do with how much play the album is getting.

Again, this isn't complicated.

You realize how pathetic and bizarre these weird ass take-down attempts are, right?
Thank you for letting me know it's not complicated.
Not a take-down attempt. I'm just saying, to use a metaphor, you are rotten tomatoes hollywood critic rating of 18%, but the user rating is 90%. Fair enough?

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TCTTS
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In reply to Tabasco • 7:06p, 5/4/24
AG
Which is what I've been saying the entire time, and the complete opposite of the point you were just attempting to make. Glad you finally admitted it. JFC.
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