We need to talk about the hologram in Taylor Swift’s apartment. That is, his 2024 deep-cut “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus,” where the singer-songwriter conjures up the intriguing image of an old flame entrenched in someone new with the opening line: “Your hologram fell into my apartment/Hands in someone’s hair in the dark.”
Released in 2024 as part of the extended version of her 11th album, “Chloé ou Sam ou Sophia ou Marcus” has become a fan favorite despite being filed away in the The Department of Tortured Poets: The anthology as track 20 of 31. It’s a devastating song about being haunted by a relationship never fully realized in over a decade. Now the song takes a while.
Online fans have increasingly shared their love for “Chloe, Sam, Sophia or Marcus” in recent weeks, leading to an increase in streams. From September 18 to the following week, September 25, the track saw a 37% increase in on-demand streams in the United States, according to Luminate. It also saw an overall increase in average streams, from around 48,600 daily streams per week to 60,900 last week, an increase of around 25 percent. While the actual daily peak in streams — 70,000 — isn’t huge, especially given the superstar’s mega-hit standards, it’s a notable jump for a Swift track that only peaked at No. 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its first week. “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus” was never supposed to generate commercial success, not with all its tortured energy about ghosts and wild horses and what-ifs. Instead, it’s more of a slow burn, conversation starter for those who welcome utter devastation via Aaron Dessner-produced piano.
The increased interest in the track is partly due to a particular online voice who understands emotional catharsis: Bald Ann Dowd. Yes, you read that correctly. That’s the name of the social media account and persona, run by New York-based designer Alison Sivitz, that pays homage to the award-winning actress of the same name, and even features a photoshopped image of the real Ann Dowd with a bald head. What started as a niche joke online a few years ago has now become ingrained in pop culture as celebrities like Rachel Zegler and Charli XCX have posted to thank Bald Ann Dowd. Earlier this year, Sivitz even interviewed the real Dowd.
Sivitz posts about anything and everything, whether it’s movies, new music releases, or just straight-up memes for his 70,000 followers. Over the past few weeks, she hasn’t been able to stop posting about Swift’s “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus.” As of this writing, the Bald Ann Dowd account has posted about the track on X nearly 30 times and has made six TikTok videos. The messages ranged from his funny reaction clips to his own version of lyrics like, “If you just watched this happen and I couldn’t watch it happen, then who the hell just happened to stumble into my apartment.” The messages were so frequent that some of his followers even contacted Sivitz with concern. “Guys I enjoy the feel-good dms but I promise I’m not sad. This song makes me feel like I can run through a wall. It’s like sick mode to me,” the creator wrote on X, comparing the dark song to Travis Scott’s 2018 hit.
Since then, Sivitz’s hyperfixation has become contagious on X and beyond. Other social media accounts – Stan accounts and others – also posted about the song. “Twitter opened my eyes to the angst and depression that this masterpiece represents,” wrote one user of X, which, interestingly enough, is a My Chemical Romance fan account. “I’m bringing the hologram that fell into my apartment to my job interview,” another X user wrote. A TikTok video of someone breaking down while singing the song has garnered 2 million views. Naturally, Bald Ann Dowd reposted the clip.
What is it about “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus” that makes listeners want to float in its melancholic orbit? Well, it’s the benchmark for Swift’s killer songwriting because it encapsulates the entire haunting story at the heart of Tortured poets in a three minute song. It also features a Swiftian bridge that builds and spirals until it shatters with the nonchalantly cruel admission: “Too weakened by my youth to know what to do.” As Bald Ann Dowd said, “If you ever catch me in this situation, really kill me.” »
After the release of Swift A Showgirl’s Life: The Encore to mixed reviews, fans looked back TTP with a new fondness, appreciating poetic words over The Encorethe four new bonus tracks. Swift’s 11th album has always been a “choose your own adventure” sort of thing, with enough songs to revisit, dissect, and fall in love with. “Guilty As Sin”, a non-single, also became popular within a few months of the album’s release.
In fact, with Swift’s vast catalog of songs, various deep cuts have been enjoyed long after they were first shared. “Right Where You Left Me” from Always and “Clean” disabled 1989 come to mind, just like Red“All Too Good” by and Lover“Cruel Summer,” which became a commercial success after fans stood behind the songs. It’s unlikely that “Chloe, Sam, Sophia or Marcus” will ever dominate the radio or take a top spot on the charts, but it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves. You just saw this happen.
Gn entert
