Taylor Swift & Post Malone, Fortnight | Dazzling Duets

In the fifth edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Taylor Swift and Post Malone collaborate on “Fortnight.” 

Sometimes, two is better than one! That is the case when it comes to Dazzling Duets! On Dazzling Duets, we highlight ear-catching songs performed by two artists collaborating. These duets can be from any musical style, making Dazzling Duets a flexible, versatile column on The Musical Hype. In the fifth edition of Dazzling Duets (2025), Taylor Swift and Post Malone collaborate on “Fortnight.” Let the dazzle begin!

“Fortnight” is the opening track from Swift’s 2024 Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. A highly successful record, “Fortnight” spent two weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Although it won no Grammys, it was nominated for three at the 67^th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video. Fun fact, or not so fun for Swifties, Swift lost all three awards to Kendrick Lamar (“Not Like Us” was ubiquitous). Swift, Post, and Jack Antonoff wrote “Fortnight” while Swift and Antonoff produced it.

As the chorus, excerpted earlier, reveals, Swift had a brief relationship with a man that didn’t work out, and ultimately, now he is married and is her neighbor.  Not the plan! That is just one happening on “Fortnight.” Swift does the heavy lifting on this duet, but Post Malone contributes, albeit more modestly, beginning in the second verse.  His role expands on the bridge as well as the outro. Backtracking, in the first verse, Swift references hiding alcoholism and her ex-lover’s “quiet treason.” Hmm, what did he do, Taylor? In the second verse, assisted by Post selectively, she sings, “I took the miracle move-on drug, the effects were temporary / And I love you, it’s ruining my life.” She adds, “I touched you for only a fortnight.” There is that brevity again! In the second chorus, she expands the narrative, which is ‘all over the place’:

“And for a fortnight there, we were together

Run into you sometimes, comment on my sweater

Now you’re at the mailbox, turned into good neighbors

My husband is cheating, I wanna kill him.”

Those homicidal thoughts are dangerous.  Are they as dangerous as this love Swift’s character has for her ex? Post Malone puts his two cents into “Fortnight” on the outro: “Thought of callin’ ya, but you won’t pick up / ‘Nother fortnight lost in America / Move to Florida, buy the car you want / But it won’t start up ‘til you touch, touch, touch me.” Is that shade thrown at Joe Alwyn? Hmm 🤔. Analyzing “Fortnight” post- THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, I find myself more intrigued.  The songwriting is terrific, while Swift sings well, as does Post during the moments he appears. When they sing together, their voices mesh well, more subtle than overt. The backdrop is on the lighter side, but effective.  Ultimately, this duet is another winner for both artists.