In a recent interview with The Irish Times, Billy Corgan, the frontman of Smashing Pumpkins, voiced his strong support for Taylor Swift’s latest musical endeavor. The 57-year-old rocker praised Swift for her ambitious 31-song double album, The Tortured Poets Department, dismissing criticism about its length.

"Taylor Swift is one of the most gifted pop artists of all time. How is it a bad thing that she’s releasing more music? I can’t follow that ... You can go on Spotify and just skip it," Corgan stated in the interview published on Monday, June 3. His words echo the sentiments of many Swifties who celebrate the singer’s prolific output.

 
Corgan, whose own band released a similarly extensive project, Atum: A Rock Opera in Three Acts, related Swift’s experience to his own. "People complained about the length of my last album, Atum. I thought, Well, just go make your own playlist," he said. "Just listen to the record one time – rag over the six or 10 songs you like and make your own record. Why is this such a strange concept? Have some sense of proportionality."

He further criticized the tendency of some fans to react dramatically, comparing it to reactions to the new Star Wars movies. "This hyperbolic thing – ‘They ruined Star Wars. My God, this is all too much for me to process' – it’s all a bit childish."

Swift, now 34, explained that the double album was a result of her creative overflow during the past two years. She shared her thoughts on Instagram in April, revealing the surprise nature of The Tortured Poets Department. "It’s a 2am surprise: The Tortured Poets Department is a secret DOUBLE album. I’d written so much tortured poetry in the past 2 years and wanted to share it all with you, so here’s the second installment of TTPD: The Anthology. 15 extra songs. And now the story isn’t mine anymore… it’s all yours. "

The announcement came on the heels of Swift winning the Album of the Year award for Midnights at the 2024 Grammy Awards, solidifying her status as a leading force in the music industry. Swift’s fans, known for their loyalty and enthusiasm, eagerly embraced the additional content, further cementing her influence in the pop music landscape.

In an unexpected yet heartwarming show of support, Flavor Flav also recently expressed his admiration for Swift. The legendary hype man mentioned wanting to "punch anyone" who hurt Swift’s feelings after listening to The Tortured Poets Department, underscoring the emotional impact of her music.

As debates about album lengths and artistic ambition continue, figures like Corgan and Swift remind us that music is an ever-evolving art form meant to be experienced in myriad ways, whether through full albums or personally curated playlists.