A Story That Demanded To Be Told
Covid hit in March 2020. Taylor Swift released folklore on July 24, 2020, as a surprise album, only telling fans about it 17 hours before the release. Swift had written the entire album during quarantine and recorded every track in her home in Los Angeles.
Not only was it a surprise drop, but it was also a surprise genre. Taylor Swift did not release a pop or country album, she released an indie record. In her announcement post Swift said folklore was “an entire brand new album of songs I've poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.”
Swift leans into one of her biggest strengths on this album, her storytelling. One of the most memorable aspects of this album is the fictional love triangle songs. A story of three teenagers comes to life in betty, cardigan, and august. The tale of a boy cheating on his girlfriend is told from all three points of view in each of their own respective songs and fans dissected every connection.
Things go much deeper later in the album as Swift gets more personal. In songs such as “my tears ricochet”, “mirrorball”, and “this is me trying” she draws from difficult emotions in beautiful and poetic lyrics. Feelings of inadequacy, people-pleasing, and lack of appreciation flood through the piano and sweeping orchestration.
Taylor Swift - my tears ricochet (folklore: long pond studio sessions) (Live/2020)
Taylor partners up with Bon Iver to make a chillingly beautiful duet titled “exile” which tells the story of the end of a relationship. Their drastically different voices come together to move listeners to empathize with both sides of the story. ‘illicit affairs” also tells the tale of an ending relationship, however, this one is a little messier. Swift provides the point of view of the girl who is with a man who has already taken. She shares the little details of this woman who is in love with a man she knows is not rightfully hers and how difficult it is to stay hidden.
Taylor Swift - exile (folklore: the long pond studio sessions | Disney+) ft. Bon Iver
Due to Taylor Swift releasing this album in the midst of quarantine, it was clear that live performances were not an option. To combat this, Swift released a special on Disney+ titled “folklore: long pond studio sessions” in which she discusses the songs on the record and the stories that inspired them. “folklore” is perfect for anyone ready for fall and rain, with intimate lyrics, emotional chords, and a handcrafted work of art.
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