"'folklore' may have a steady beat throughout the album, but it is still appreciated with its truthful messages. This record will make one feel at peace with Swift as her words are carried directly to listeners’ ears and taken in fully."
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Must Listen
By Bruna Cucolo
Recommended songs: “mirrorball,” “this is me trying,” and “mad woman”
A joyful announcement surprised fans on an early morning when Taylor Swift tweeted, “Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my 8th studio album, folklore; an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into.” Only 11 months after the release of Lover, Swift delivered a record on July 24 that takes listeners to a special place personal to them, bringing an emotion of bliss.
Consisting of 16 songs, this hour-long magical experience is made up of raw and emotional lyrics expressing Swift’s own stories – of those she has met, those she has not, and some she wishes she had not. With her soothing vocals, she adds a storytelling tone, resembling almost the telling of bedtime stories. It all begins with the first track, “the 1.”
For a quick moment, only a soft piano plays, introducing the first track. The listener will become curious when hearing the relaxing, laidback beat and wonder how the record will really be like. “the 1” expresses thoughts of past wishes and reveals what it would have been like if they had come true with lyrics like, “and if my wishes came true it would’ve been you.”
With the release of its music video on the same night the album dropped, “cardigan” follows the first track. Thinking back and following the lyrics sung about the feelings of young love, the listener will appreciate the words that make them reminisce about those times, “and when I felt like I was an old cardigan under someone’s bed, you put me on and said I was your favorite.”
Featuring Bon Iver, “exile” starts with deep piano notes, warning the listener of trouble amongst ex-lovers who have seen each other after a tumultuous breakup. Iver and Swift’s voices are the opposite, with Iver’s being much deeper and Swift’s being soft and soothing. This works especially well in “exile.” One voice sings with its uniqueness to match their perspective while the other does the same with their own singing voice.
Continuing with the sound of calmness yet a slight upbeat tempo, “august” tells of a summer romance. But this romance was not the kind one wants. Instead, it consists of heartbreak. “betty” is the outcome of this track. This harmonica-filled tune tells of the character James who still dates Betty, his classmate. “The only thing I wanna do is make it up to” shows that they know they have done wrong but wants to fix things.
Swift sings of toxic relationships and its struggles in the final track, “hoax.” This one is a darker song in comparison to the rest of folklore. Listeners might identify with this one if they have been a part of a toxic relationship that has affected them deeply. Listening to this, however, feels like receiving a warm hug that comes from the music as Swift’s presence is felt through such powerful lyrics.
folklore may have a steady beat throughout the album, but it is still appreciated with its truthful messages. This record will make one feel at peace with Swift as her words are carried directly to listeners’ ears and taken in fully. Whether in the middle of the woods or on a drive to a favorite location, folklore will keep others company. The title of the album signifies a passed down tale, and Swift has shared, “Now it’s up to you to pass them down.”
