Review: "Folklore" Album by Taylor Swift
/
On July 24th of 2020 in the middle of the corona virus pandemic Taylor Swift surprised fans with her album ‘Folklore’.
‘Folklore’ demonstrates how prolific of a story teller Swift is. Swift has always been characteristically good at being able to tell stories; not only through her poetic writing but also through her production. However, Taylor Swift’s ‘Folklore’ takes her storytelling to the next level: making her an elitist of telling stories. ‘Folklore’ reveals an imaginative scene out of her own self-produced artistry, just like a movie. Making Taylor Swift not only a writer and musician, but also a fantastic director. The thing makes this album different than others in her discography is the flow of her albums. Swift’s albums tend to tell a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. But I’ve spent time with this album, and the take away is that this isn’t a whole story. It’s a scene.
But first, as listeners and audience members, we have to understand the groundwork for this album…
A folklore. What is a folklore? Well, according to Google, folklore is “the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed down through generations by word of mouth”. Wow, so as listeners, we are expecting exactly that. A sample from Swift’s repertoire of life experiences.
But from what I understand, Swift uses this album to share not only her folklores but also those of close friends and family. One song, one story unto the next, opening the scene with its first story: “the 1”, which embodies the nostalgia of a lost relationship.
As soon as the first second of this song plays, you’re weightlessly carried to that late-night campfire with your dearest friends. The smell of firewood interwoven into your cardigan, and the humming sounds of the night time insects. You’re invited in, with unencumbered love and unconditional peace. Everyone gathered in an energy bliss, sharing their honest vulnerabilities. One story blending into another. Laughter, tears, fears, and love all roaming within.
‘Folklore’, is exactly this place. A campfire with your best friends: bliss. A place to be reflective about your past relationships as well as those around you, a place to have unapologetic vulnerability, and a place where your stories are heard.
Swift as well as her co-writers (Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Bon Iver, Justin Vernon and so many other talented artists) all have ‘Folklore’ as a place to share some of their own personal insecurities like “Betty”. A song written by Swift and William Bowery (who is believed to be Swift’s brother under pseudonym). A confession: a song written as an apology for how William once treated a girl: betty. ‘Folklore’ gives a place for these insecurities and stories to belong: a safe place.
And what safer place than a campfire?
Swift chooses her co-writers and producers wisely. Handpicking those best in the folk industry. The best at capturing exactly what the atmosphere of this campfire of folklores would be like. Swift’s album ‘Folklore’ is impressive in its ability to capture the true grit of their stories; targeting the real, raw emotion involved in these stories. Swift’s ‘Folklore’ is an album that is beautiful, and Swift should receive accolades on her ability to bring life to these stories and place them into an album.