Taylor Swift pays tribute to New Jersey musicians Patti Smith, Charlie Puth on new album

New Jersey is the hot spot for generational music talent.

That's the word from Taylor Swift, who name-checks two Jersey musicians — icon Patti Smith and contemporary hitmaker Charlie Puth — on her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

The album was released Friday, April 19.

“It's very Jersey of her to do this!” said Rob Acampora, deejay for 95.9 FM the Rat in Lake Como and host of “The A-Game with Rob Acampora” podcast. “Now I have heard she is a Charlie Puth fan — the name-check is a compliment I would think for him! In her reference to Patti Smith, she says 'I’m no Patti Smith …' I mean who is! This one is where she puts Patti in the same vein as other famous poets and musicians.”

Smith and Puth are is mentioned on the album's title track.

“I laughed in your face and said, 'You’re not Dylan Thomas. I’m not Patti Smith. This ain’t the Chelsea Hotel. We’re modern idiots',” sings Swift on the song.

Smith, the punk rock poet from Deptford, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007. Her band members have Jersey roots, including Lenny Kaye (North Brunswick), Tony Shanahan (Milltown) and the late Ivan Kral, who owned a record store in New Brunswick.

Their hits include “Because the Night,” “Dancing Barefoot” and “People Have the Power.”

“It's a pretty straightforward, factual reference,” said Caryn Rose, author of “Why Patti Smith Matters.” “It's interesting that she matches her with Dylan Thomas and not someone else more contemporary to her.”

Thomas is the 20th-century Welsh poet whom Bob Dylan took his name from.

“She's specifically saying 'I'm not her,' which I think is interesting after Courtney's recent comments,” Rose said.

Courtney Love, who is not from New Jersey, shared her thoughts on Swift to the British outlet, The Standard,

"(Swift) is not important,” Love said, adding she “might be a safe space for girls, and she's probably the Madonna of now, but she's not interesting as an artist."

“I hope that if Swifties would like to learn more about Patti Smith that they pick up my book!” Rose quipped.

More: K-pop hitmakers Stray Kids releasing 'Lose My Breath' single with NJ star Charlie Puth

More: 'Rock 'n' roll was my salvation': Patti Smith looks back before Camden, Red Bank concerts

Swift also referenced Puth in the same song.

“You smoked then ate seven bars of chocolate, declared Charlie Puth should be a bigger artist,” Swift sings.

Puth is a native of Rumson whose hits include “We Don't Talk Anymore,” “Marvin Gaye,” “One Call Away,” “Light Switch” and “Left and Right.”

He's had one Swiftian moment on the charts: his collab with Wiz Khalifa on “See You Again” from the “Fast and Furious” series has been viewed more than 6 billion times on YouTube.

No single Swift song has more than a billion views on YouTube.

Swift, 34, has Jersey roots. She and her family summered in Cape May during her childhood, and the young Swift was a regular at the Coffee Talk coffeehouse in Stone Harbor.

“The Tortured Poets Department” was produced by Jersey native Jack Antonoff, who lives in Colts Neck.

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at @chrisfhjordan; [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Taylor Swift honors Patti Smith, Charlie Puth on new album