Would you like to experience a musical fantasy where there are no boundaries between fiction and reality? Taylor Swift, the iconic pop artist, makes this dream possible by creating a relaxed, cottagecore aesthetic atmosphere through vivid storytelling in her eighth studio album, “Folklore.” The songs in this album are beautifully written folk songs that are filled to the brim with power, emotion, and young romance. Listening to this wonderful masterpiece will evoke in you feelings of nostalgia and introspection.

In contrast to many of Swift’s usual upbeat, country pop music, Folklore’s mellow, slow paced ballads and elegant melodies put a modern spin on traditional songwriting. The songs were written and recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic, when she let her imagination run wild in isolation. Released on July 24th, 2020, Folklore was a special surprise album, described by Taylor as “…a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness.” This incredible indie album was written and produced by Taylor Swift herself, alongside Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff.

Not only does Swift create beautiful music, but she has also woven together meaningful stories and connections throughout the album. One song, “the last great american dynasty”, is a historically accurate tale about Rebekah Harkness and her questionable actions. Taylor now owns the “Holiday House” in the song, which inspired the story. Another song, “mad woman”, is more of a gothic folklore and has a sharper, darker tone about witch hunting and bullying. The song “epiphany” was inspired by Swift’s grandfather Dean, who was a soldier landing on the beaches of Guadalcanal in 1942. This song also relates to modern times during the pandemic, because it reminds everyone that heroes are not only soldiers, but medical professionals as well, like the modern nurse mentioned in the lyrics.

Taylor Swift’s divine voice swims through intricate and ethereal instrumentation, creating harmonies to get lost in. In the song “exile” with Bon Iver, Swift’s soft, honeyed vocals contrast with Bon Iver’s deep rusted voice over stomping pianos and stirring strings. Their rising voices above each other replicate a couple arguing, presented in a musical way. In the brilliant composition of “my tears ricochet”, Taylor’s voice is adjusted to sound like a screaming echo at one point, painting the illusion that she is silently screaming inside her mind. The sharp, narrative folk song “illicit affairs” uses a similar technique. The words “it dies” is sung repeatedly, making it seem like it really dies a million times. Her voice is also higher pitched at some parts to emphasize the importance of “him.”

If you know anything about Taylor Swift, it’s that she loves to drop easter eggs in her songs. She hinted via Instagram that there is a collection of three songs referred to as The Teenage Love Triangle, which explore a love triangle from all three people’s perspectives at different times in their lives. Many fans have already guessed which songs they could be, but you can find out for yourself by listening to the album! On August 18, 2020, Taylor Swift released a bonus song in the album, called “the lakes”, reminding listeners that there are always more great things to come! On November 25, 2020, the film “folklore: the long pond studio sessions” was released as a behind the scenes concert available on Disney+, letting the audience in on the making of her album. In March of 2021, Swift’s Folklore won album of the year at the Grammy Awards show!

A folklore is a tale passed down and whispered around. By creating the Folklore album, Taylor Swift is memorializing love, childhood, and memories through beautiful singing and instruments. If you’re ready to dive deep into the past and experience magic, listening to Folklore will leave you reminiscing about those good old days. Just like a folk song, her music will be passed on.

aaa wow, this is so well-written! many congratulations ^^

Stariqe wrote:

aaa wow, this is so well-written! many congratulations ^^

thank you, congrats to you as well! uwu

this is beautiful music review I'm the biggest swiftie and this summarizes folklore so beautifully <3

oreowaffIes wrote:

this is beautiful music review I'm the biggest swiftie and this summarizes folklore so beautifully <3

tysm <33

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