taylor swift - folklore
by sophia fineza
let me preface this by saying: i was not emotionally prepared for ts8. did it single-handedly save 2020? most likely. this album tore me apart, built me back up, and then tore me apart again.
image source: the ringer
it was just so beautiful.
listening to it makes me feel like i’m in some sort of alternate universe, or something. when you listen to it in the right setting, just laying in bed in the dark, anytime after 12 am, you literally feel like you’re floating. taylor swift was named artist of the decade for a reason, people. folklore has that whole ethereal feeling to it, transporting you to a different world with every song, seeing the lives of these characters that swift has created through their eyes. the whole cottage-core thing might not be your aesthetic, but listening to folklore will make it your aesthetic. i love the whole idea of this album. making up the characters, and writing their stories in song form is so so so cool.
speaking of stories, the ‘teenage love triangle’??? i live for that sh*t. for those of you that don’t know, taylor confirmed that within folklore, there’s a collection of three songs that she refers to as the ‘teenage love triangle’. most fans (myself included) believe that these three songs are ‘betty’ as james’s pov, ‘cardigan’ as betty’s pov, and ‘august’ as the pov of the girl james cheated with. some other fans believe that instead of ‘august’, the pov of the mistress is ‘illicit affairs’, and it really could be, but ‘august’ has the “remember when i pulled up and said ‘get in the car’” line that’s also referenced in ‘betty’. i don’t want to go into the whole theory now, but there’s a bunch of twitter, reddit, etc. threads about it , so if you wanna read up, just look up ‘teenage love triangle theories taylor swift folklore’, or something similar. if you’re a taylor swift fan, not necessarily a die-hard fan, you know how she loves to continue storylines over the course of an album, maybe two. i love the whole idea of the love triangle. it’s kinda weird, yeah you shouldn’t cheat on your s/o, but they’re so interesting to read about.
the promo pictures and 8(!!!) different covers have me shaking.
before i reveal my favorite song, let’s have some honorable mentions. i also recommend listening to the song as you read what i have written, as it will ~enhance your experience~
exile (feat. bon iver) - this collab makes me cry. their voices sound so incredible together. the line “i think i’ve seen this film before/and i didn’t like the ending” kind of hurts me inside. the story of falling out of love, told in such a floaty (i can’t think of another word, that’s the best i could come up with), but broken way makes me feel emotions i didn’t even know i had. even if you’ve never been in love, this one hurts.
august - the bridge of this song is my new gospel. the way taylor sings ‘meet me behind the mall’ and “you weren’t mine to lose” is actually angelic. i mean, this whole song is angelic, but especially those parts. ‘august’ is the epitome of having a summer love. the way she almost whispers the verses echo the story told by the song, and i really love that extra touch. taylor swift proving she’s a genius for the millionth time.
the last great american dynasty - this song makes me think of the great gatsby movie. totally different storyline, but it gives me those vibes, you know what i mean? this song i love in a more technical way. the beat is *chef’s kiss*. the chords are simple as hell, but are still incredibly beautiful. although the vocals aren’t too crazy, but they are still dreamy and make you feel like you’re laying on a cloud, if that were even possible.
this is me trying - this song. ugh. these lyrics are so so so inspiring. the whole message saying “i don’t know what you want from me, but i want to do my best for you” definitely broke me. it’s so raw and real. it’s a confessional song, and one that you cry your eyes out to. at least i know i did. it can be applied to so many different situations as well, like a relationship that is slowly breaking down, or even in your own head, wanting to do better for yourself.
favorite song? ‘betty’, hands down. it’s such a fun, almost country-ish vibe, which takes me back to og t. swift, specifically her speak now album. i stan the little harmonica moments throughout the song. i also love the little story it tells (see my rant about the ‘teenage love triangle’ above), james’s perspective is really sweet. the lyrics through the song, especially “would you have me?/would you love me?” are a masterpiece. the innocence in her voice, the longing and wishing are probably my favorite parts of this whole song. it makes me want to fall in love. maybe it’s the fact that i’m a hopeless romantic, but this song is the one i would love to live through. this is the kind of thing everyone dreams about, having someone show up at your door asking to take them back. it’s that perfect rom-com moment that really pulls you into the song. i think it’s so funny how blake lively and ryan reynolds really announced their third child’s name in a freaking taylor swift song. they’re doing life right. i also read in the comments of the lyric video “only taylor swift could curse and make it an aesthetic”, and they are not wrong.
go stream folklore. go go go go stream it right now! it’s truly a beautiful album, and even if you’re not a taylor swift fan, it’s worth a listen. it kind of gives me lana del rey crossed with cottagecore vibes, so if you’re into that, definitely give it a listen. it’s astounding lyrically, musically, and emotionally, and it might not completely overturn your life, but it might change how you see the world a little.