You put in a lot of effort and are devoted. "It's been a long time / And seeing the shape of your name / Still spells out pain," Swift sings in the first verse. Taylor Swift released her eighth studio album "Folklore" on Friday. Before now, the singer's relationships have suffered and failed when exposed to the spotlight, as she describes in "I Know Places" ("See the vultures circling, dark clouds / Love's a fragile little flame, it could burn out"). ", The poem famously concludes: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.". Are you more "cardigan" or "exile"? Less than five months after Taylor Swift dropped " Folklore " the blockbuster made-in-quarantine album that reintroduced this country-turned-pop star as an introspective indie balladeer she's. Its production is every kind of thing fans have heard and loved on breakup albums in the last decade. Both albums proclaim the importance and immortality of Swift's own stories. Madeline Miller and Rebecca Caprara reexamine the women of Greek mythology : NPR's Book of the Day Today's episode starts with a familiar feeling - the way your heart drops when a book character . Appropriately, both of these mentions signaled impending breakups, a kind of emotional danger. Seven. In the intro, Swift sings, "Eyes like sinking ships on waters / So inviting, I almost jump in.". Obsessed with travel? His typical narrator is a wallflower pining for validation from the life of the. Before Rosalind Newbury is to wed the Duke of Marlow, there are a few things she wants to accomplish. Taylor Swift's newest album "Evermore," her second surprise release of the year, is another shining example of the singer's songwriting prowess. Unlike "Exile," however, Bon Iver's appearance shifts the song in a more positive direction. We chose to wander deeper in.. It could also just be a flex about releasing one of 2020's best and most beloved albums. She also revealed that one of the songs on "Evermore" is about "what happens when [Dorothea] comes back for the holidays and rediscovers an old flame.". Swift said on her Instagram post. Every detail and Easter egg you may have missed on Taylor Swift's album 'Folklore'. "I was thinking, 'Wow, her husband just tolerates her. warps a positive image in "Invisible String" ("Something wrapped all of my past mistakes in barbed wire"). "She chose Olive Garden and a few days later I sent her the song and asked if they would sing on it. The two other characters in the trio, James and Ines, happen to be the names of the two daughters of Swifts friends Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, deepening the connection to her real-life friend circle and the Swiftian world we know. / Did I shatter you?". "I hope she'll be a fool," Daisy says of their young daughter. Perhaps Swift is suggesting that the concept of "forgiveness" isn't as powerful as it seems, especially if you believe that it could magically absolve many years of pain. Pick a caption for your gang on Instagram. The sonic details of Evermore are radiant and meticulous; the songwriting is poised and careful. The second verse of "Gold Rush" contains the most obvious lyrical reference in the song: "My mind turns your life into folklore. "Where's that man who'd throw blankets over my barbed wire?" These threads could be what's left of the invisible string Swift sang about on Folklore, a thread that kept her and her lover eternally connected. trivia quiz for die hard taylor swift fans! Any Swift fan knows that she loves to hide winks, hidden details, and thematic parallels in her songs and videos. With so few events to attend, live music still mostly canceled and many artists postponing their work, fresh projects are bound to find rapt audiences whether or not they are coming from Taylor Swift. Thank you so much! Hoax, a quiet piano ballad, details a relationship flawed but lasting. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. Want to get your very own quizzes and posts featured on BuzzFeeds homepage and app? "Cowboy Like Me" also flips the climax of "Getaway Car" on its head. This echoes another image from "Mirrorball" ("And when I break, it'sin a million pieces"), but ties in a reference to "Delicate," a beloved "Reputation" single that grapples with the fragility of a new relationship. "Never wanted love / Just a fancy car / Now I'm waiting by the phone / Like I'm sitting in an airport bar," she sings in the former. As Larocca wrote, "it's a 'Lover' era message wrapped in '1989' production about overcoming her 'Reputation' mistakes.". She continued writing songs with the Folklore brain trust of producers and musicians primarily Aaron Dessner of the National, who plays most of the instruments and collaborated on 14 of 15 songs. For . "And I was catching my breath / Floors of a cabin creaking under my step," she sings, evoking the cottagecore imagery of "Folklore," as well as the music videos for "Cardigan" and "Willow. This may be a callback to the image of a ship in "Willow," but it's also a reference to "Gorgeous," a "Reputation" single that Swift has confirmed was inspired by her boyfriend ("Ocean blue eyes looking in mine / I feel like I might sink and drown and die"). In quarantine, any album release finds new resonance. 2023 TIME USA, LLC. "Teenage Love Triangle" is a love triangle of 3 teenagers created by Taylor Swift. ", "In the last chorus, the person goes inside, and finally is warm, and finally is safe," Swift told Lowe. brought you flowers the next time they see youeven small gifts can make you happy. She told fans, "I think it sounds like casting a spell to make someone fall in love with you," which strengthens its thematic connection to "Love Story." And when she sings You drew stars around my scars on the same song, close followers might flash back to the guitar string scars of Lover.. willow. "Before I knew it there were 17 tales, some of which are mirrored or intersecting with one another," she added. "Champagne Problems" especially its references to bottles, Dom Perignon, and toasts also reminds fans of "New Year's Day," the sweet closing track on "Reputation," inspired by the holiday most closely associated with champagne. Taylor Swift surprised the world when she dropped folklore on July 24, 2020, just hours after she announced the project on social media. Keep reading to see our track-by-track breakdown. In releasing Folklore, Swift was clear and direct about her intent and her work. The tale of how evermore came to be is the stuff of first loves, holiday rom-coms, and Taylor Swift songs. Take this quiz with friends in real time and compare results. Mikael Wood is pop music critic for the Los Angeles Times. A $300-million (minimum) gondola to Dodger Stadium? theyre all amazing women and i love them, favorite color because what do you expect, this is the yes answer but if you click it you really just *think* youre straight, pick a folklore song (picking the one the character is from will not increase your odds of getting them >:(, pick an evermore song (again, song with character doesnt increase odds), literally any of the boys mentioned by name (cory & drew from self titled, james from folklore, etc. As Larocca noted, Bon Iver could be interpreted as a stand-in for Alwyn, who cowrote the song. But in context, this is reminiscent of how Nick, the book's narrator, describes his early impression of Gatsby. When news of Braun's sale broke in November, Swift said she already knew because Shamrock sent her a letter. Long Story Short. Aaron, 47, previously collaborated with the Pennsylvania native on her albums Folklore, Evermore and Midnights, and recently made a surprise appearance to perform with Swift on her Eras Tour in . Swift's "Cowboy Like Me" character tells her new partner, "You're a bandit like me." It's as though Swift's "Cowboy Like Me" character has received warnings from those songs' characters. ", Swift described Dorothea as "the girl who left her small town to chase down Hollywood dreams." "I loved the escapism I found in these imaginary/not imaginary tales," Swift wrote in her release announcement. The singer-songwriter's 10th studio album returns to the pop sound she left in 2019, and explores a familiar subject: how she is perceived, and how she perceives herself. Evermore almost exclusively deals with romantic relationships (besides marjorie, ittg and closure, which can be interpreted romantically, and maybe nbnc), while folklore has tlgad, mtr (which can be interpreted romantically too though), mirrorball, seven, timt, mad woman, epiphany and half of hoax. The first verse ends with a reckoning: "I haven't met the new me yet.". In "Happiness," however, Swift doesn't nod to the character's famous parties, or the Roaring '20s when the story takes place. Most obviously, the second pre-chorus of "Coney Island" is an extended reference to "Meet me behind the mall," a crucial symbol of nostalgia in "August.". You decide to watch. Indeed, "Dorothea" is addressed to its titular character just like "Betty," the 14th track on "Folklore.". Obsessed with travel? Taylor Swifts new Evermore contains some world-beating songs and some that feel like leftovers from Folklore., Evermore comes less than five months after Swifts previous album, Folklore., Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The 10 best albums of 2020: Taylor Swift, Fiona Apple, more, Gordon Lightfoot, mournful Canadian singer-songwriter, dies at 84, Tim Bachman, founding guitarist of Bachman-Turner Overdrive, dies at 71, Ed Sheeran blasts music expert for criminal testimony in Marvin Gaye copyright trial, Paul Stanley of KISS dives into debate over transgender acceptance versus kids transitioning. Later in the first verse, Swift sings, "Did I close my fist around something delicate? Like Folklore, Evermore is crafted from these same storylines, and now, Swifties are pointing the finger at Prince Charles and Princess Diana's tragic romance, as portrayed in The Crown. "There's not a direct continuation of the betty/james/august storyline, but in my mind Dorothea went to the same school as Betty James and Inez," Swift told fans in a YouTube comment. Swift honed this tradition with "Folklore" and doubled down with "Evermore," adopting different perspectives and creating storylines that augment and enrich the listening experience. However, Swift told Apple Music's Zane Lowe that "Tolerate It" was largely inspired by "Rebecca," a 1938Gothic novel by Daphne du Maurier. "Cowboy Like Me" can be compared to Evermore's version of "Love Story."Instead of Romeo and Juliet, the perfect match is found in two thieves in the night. A full body orgasm at the L.A. Phil? Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. In Champagne Problems, the narrator turns down an earnest proposal, singing, Sometimes you just dont know the answer/Til someones on their knees and asks you. The music is an elaborate, evolving sigh, starting with low-fi, oompah piano chords that grow entwined with guitar arpeggios and a choir of aahs. All would probably make my top 25. "Long limbs and frozen swims / You'd always go past where our feet could touch," Swift sings about her grandmother. "But are you still the same soul I met under the bleachers?" Rather, it's a sister album that only crystallizes Swift's. The July 23 release of Folklore, her 16-track eighth album, came as a surprise even to devout followers: only 11 months after Lover, it was the first time shed put out a project on less than a two-year schedule. What distinguishes Folklore from Evermore, of course, was the element of surprise not in how the albums appeared (which shocked fans and industry insiders alike in both cases), but in the stylistic shift Folklore embodied. "Lost in your current like a priceless wine" also seems to reference "August," the eighth track on "Folklore" ("August sipped away like a bottle of wine"). Crafting the woodsy surprise album folklore in isolation, Taylor felt the spark of something exciting and new, and knowing all things must pass, wanted to make it linger just a little longer. "During the time away, I really, really wanted to connect with you in any way that I possibly can. Folklore: TLGAD, My Tears Ricochet, August, This is Me Trying, Betty. she sings in verse two. "Right down the rabbit hole" is likely a nod to "Wonderland," the 14th track on the deluxe edition of "1989" ("Flashing lights, and we / Took a wrong turn, and we / Fell down a rabbit hole"). Mad Woman, for instance, is the story of a misfit widow getting gleeful revenge, according to her note on social media. Alone, this would not seem like a literary reference. Some fans believe that "Coney Island" is littered with subtle references to Swift's ex-boyfriends, reflecting on the general feeling of loss. The "fallen" refers to a character named Este, who's murdered by her husband before Swift's character murders him in return. That Folklore is foggy, that it relies more on smart songwriting and less on speculation about her personal life and complicated visual cues, suggests its bound for a long shelf life. ", Swift described "Champagne Problems" as the story of "longtime college sweethearts [who] had very different plans for the same night, one to end it and one who brought a ring.". Below you'll find a track-by-track breakdown of "Evermore," including the details and Easter eggs you may have missed. "I dropped your hand while dancing" may be a nod to "Dancing With Our Hands Tied,"the 11th track on "Reputation." She's doing all these things and she's trying so hard and she's trying to impress him, and he's just tolerating her the whole time,'" she explained. gold rush. Shortly after "Folklore" came out, Swift surprisingly dropped another album "evermore" five months after. It inspires girls. You have been through a lot of trauma, but ultimately you survived. Most interestingly, "Happiness" seems to draw heavily from "The Great Gatsby," F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel. It would be fruitless to break down every Swift lyric; the songwriting can be poetically obtuse, and shes telling many stories, from many character points of view, with many aching regrets. Larocca wrote. These recall "Style," a "1989" single that also illustrates a reunion with an old flame and a song that's known for its descriptions of bad driving. The opening song, The 1, is an ode to what could have been. '", In the second verse, Swift sings, "Este wasn't there Tuesday night at Olive Gardn / At her job or anywhere. In the final chorus, Swift adjusts the lyrics to convey a lasting message of hope. In "Ivy," Swift sings, "He's in the room / Your opal eyes are all I wish to see / He wants what's only yours.". Swift was left with her privacy, as lockdowns shuttered us all into our homes. You're gorgeous, independent, ambitious, a little eccentric, and flirty despite your vow to avoid men. "Before I knew it there were 17 tales, some of which are mirrored or intersecting with one another," she added later, referring to the 15-song tracklist, plus the album's two unheard bonus tracks. 11 January 2021 / 1:00 PM @taylorswift, Instagram Taylor Swift is arguably the world's biggest artist. You could also argue that "Marjorie" contains the thesis for "Evermore," much like "Seven" did for "Folklore.". Quiz: Which Taylor swift ex is your perfect soulmate? What happens if she gets off the tightrope, and stops shining just for you?" The second album complements the first; folklore is a descent into bad vibes that begins on a somewhat chipper note with "the 1 . / Phone lights up my nightstand in the black / Come here, you can meet me in the back. Some songs are more mysterious than others. This almost certainly means that "'Tis the Damn Season" is told from Dorothea's perspective. The 33-year-old singer/songwriter also included tunes from the four albums that were released since the conclusion of her 2018 Reputation Stadium Tour: Lover (2019), Folklore (2020), Evermore (2020) and Midnights (2022). In the chorus of "Long Story Short," Swift sings that she "fell from the pedestal.". But with all its constructions and conceits, it also keeps a certain emotional distance. Its an artist whos extended her ambitions to looking back and getting a little lost in the memory haze, digging up an old favorite cardigan for comfort. Nick refers to the light as an "enchanted object," because its only significance is what Gatsby pours into it. Swift explained the lyric during her interview with Lowe: "The person I'm going to have to become in order to get over this. Exile, with Bon Iver, reeks with the pain of parting. In the second chorus of "Champagne Problems," the narrator admits she "couldn't give a reason" for breaking her lover's heart, which echoes two sad "Folklore" songs: "The 1" ("In my defense, I have none") and "Hoax" ("Stood on the cliffside / Screaming 'give me a reason'"). To kiss in cars and downtown bars was all we needed, she sings on Cardigan, and it sounds a lot like an echo of her lyrics on Lovers Cornelia Street (We were in the backseat, drunk on something stronger than the drinks in the bar). ", Paired with Swift's fascination with divorce on this album, her use of this term is very telling. Evermore features more character studies and role playing, as she sings about infidelity, con jobs, even murder. My favorite Folklore/ Evermore song without a named character is. Finlay also died when Swift was 13 years old. Roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool, As avid listeners well know, Swift loves riffs on the past. ", Swift herself said "Willow" is about "intrigue, desire and the complexity that goes into wanting someone.". again recalling the core concept of "Gorgeous. Here's a timeline of their famously private relationship. Enter to win here! The song includes several callbacks to "'Tis the Damn Season," fleshing out Dorothea's departure from her hometown in Tupelo. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Taylor Swift's new album "Evermore," the sister album to "Folklore." There are some incredible songs here, none more impressive than "Tolerate It," a devastating account of a loving . Apex Legends ' season 17, "Arsenal," begins on May 9, bringing with it both a new character and a new (or, at least . Insider created a guide to all the patterns, plots, and Easter eggs you may have missed. It's not an unreasonable theory, as Swift has been inspired by film and TV in the past. On social media, she was neither cryptically silent nor strategically active: she seemed, for the first time in a long time, like she was just living her life and drinking wine on her couch like many of us, big plans on hold. Swift's "Ivy" character also tells her lover,"I wish to know / The fatal flaw that makes you long to be / Magnificently cursed.". . Are You Ready For A Tough Taylor Swift Quiz? In the past year, Taylor Swifts public dispute with music manager Scooter Braun over her music catalog made headlines and raised questions about the ownership artists have over the music they create. evermore (stylized in lowercase) is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.. Are you "Betty" or "Dorothea"? Our Spring Beauty Box has over $100 of fabulous must-haves (for less than $15)get yours rn! ", "When I dropped my sword / I threw it in the bushes and knocked on your door," she sings in "Long Story Short. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider In the song, Swift worries that her chaotic fame will ruin her relationship. "Evermore" features more character studies and role playing, as she sings . peace. all songs (updated w/ folklore!) Can You Pass This Ultimate Taylor Swift Trivia Quiz. While the release of folklore was shocking - after all, Taylor Swift tends to meticulously plan her releases, sharing all kinds of easter eggs with her fans in the process - I think I can speak for the both of us when I say that evermore came as even more of a surprise.I don't think anyone expected Taylor to release an album so soon after folklore, particularly one that - in my opinion . In her delicate, confessional singing and melodies there are hints of fellow artists like Lana Del Rey, for whom she has openly expressed admiration before, on Cardigan and Phoebe Bridgers on Seven. Theres the twinkling Postal-Service-referencing intro on The Last Great American Dynasty, the blissed-out orchestral walls of sound on Epiphany, the serving of elegiac Sufjan Stevens keys on Invisible String.. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! Quiz: Which Premier League Team Should I Support? Taylor Swift - dorothea (Official Lyric Video) Taylor Swift 51M subscribers 8.5M views 2 years ago #TaylorSwift #evermore #dorothea Official lyric video by Taylor Swift performing "dorothea" -. epiphany. The band's lead singer, Matt Berninger, has a voice so doleful and deep that it seems to emanate from a cavern. / The girl in the dress cried the whole way home"). Enter Your Name Start Quiz By majorgan Take later 1K Takers Personality Quiz Taylor Swift's folklore and Evermore albums are global hits. All the best! Until now, Taylor Swift has switched up her collaborators and general sound with each album. May-be, Looking for fun this Cinco de Mayo weekend? "Don't treat me like / Some situation that needs to be handled," she sings in the second verse. Cast a movie about your life and we'll give you a book series to read, Answer these random questions and we'll find a Jellycat plush that matches your vibe, Answer these random questions and we'll give you a spring movie to watch, EXCLUSIVE! All Rights Reserved. Everything you need to know about your skin barrier, Why you should never skip breakfast (like, ever), The perfect workout for every phase of your menstrual cycle, 5 simple ways to treat yourself after a breakup, A Valentine's playlist for basically any love sitch, 5 inspiring women environmentalists to have on your radar, Simple ways to add reading time into your day, The totally timeless life lessons we learned from, Your guide to hosting the ultimate 2000s-themed birthday party, 5 tasty bakes to get you in the mood for spring. The lyric also subtly foreshadows the next track on "Evermore," which is called "Gold Rush.". On Folklore, Swift decided she could set aside autobiography to tell stories that werent necessarily her own. (No other sadness in the world would do is a devastatingly universal reminder of that bittersweet sensation.) However, the song could also be interpreted as a metaphor for Swift and Alwyn, trying to shield their relationship from the public's prying eyes. "He had one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life," Nick explains. In the bridge of "I Did Something Bad," Swift sings, "They're burning all the witches even if you aren't one / They got their pitchforks and proof, their receipts and reasons." Kevin MazurNetflix/Getty Images; Getty Images. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! However, what makes evermore as well as folklore different is the obvious distance Swift puts between herself and the album's narratives. last great american dynasty . "'Cause we were like the mall before the internet / It was the one place to be / The mischief, the gift-wrapped suburban dreams," Swift sings. Either way, the web of perspectives and emotions outlined in the track trio presents Swift fans with plenty of material to parse through as they unravel the mystery of Swifts feelings and her new albums connotations. "Tell me, when did your winning smile / Begin to look like a smirk?" The original is a creative leap; the follow-up is likely to be incremental. But the best ship is FRIENDSHIP". "It only hurts this much right now / Was what I was thinking the whole time / Breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out / I'll be getting over you my whole life" - "Labrynth . She also told Us Magazine in 2017 that opals, which tend to have a blueish hue, have always been her favorite kind of stone. Throughout "Love Story," her character arranges clandestine meetings with her lover:"So I sneak out to the garden to see you / We keep quiet, 'cause we're dead if they knew," she sings, and later, "My faith in you was fading / When I met you on the outskirts of town. invisible string. Play this exciting quiz and find out which folklore evermore character you are. Finally, Swift makes Gatsby's influence clear by using the book's most famous symbol. Swift said she named the character Este "because she's the friend I have who would be stoked to be in a song like that.". Play this exciting quiz and find out which folklore evermore character you are. The sister album and followup to her summer 2020 hit folklore (also a surprise release) boasted many of the same collaborators (including Joe Alwyn as one "William Bowery") and themes, plus some surprises. Swift and Dessner enlisted more backup musicians for mini-orchestral arrangements by Bryce Dessner, also of the National, but for most of Evermore, Swift turns even further inward, away from her pop past, than she did on Folklore, drifting toward elegant but cerebral craftsmanship.