taylor swift's 'folklore' review

for those who don’t follow taylor swift as much as i do, let me catch you up to speed. on thursday morning taylor posted a set of black and white instagram photos, most without a caption. finally under one photo she wrote, “Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all my whims, dreams, fears and musings into.” she then announced that folklore, her 8th studio album, would have 16 songs but physical deluxe editions would have a bonus track. according to tswift’s record label, folklore was streamed 79.4 million times on spotify in the first 24 hours - setting a record for the most streams for an album by a female artist in 24 hours. that is insane.

taylor is known for subtle hint dropping and the ‘easter eggs’ she leaves online regarding upcoming albums. for her to release a ‘surprise’ album was completely out of character - and something i’m not complaining about. on instagram she wrote, “Before this year I probably would’ve overthought when to release this music at the ‘perfect’ time, but the times we’re living in keep reminding me that nothing is guaranteed. My gut is telling me that if you make something you love, you should just put it out into the world. That’s the side of uncertainty I can get on board with.” me too girl.

i absolutely love this album. honestly - definitely one of my favorites so far. this album reminds me a lot of red - a huge pinnacle in taylor’s career and often a fan favorite. she does such an incredible job with imagery and storytelling, with all her music but especially this album. i feel like i really know the people in these songs - people of taylor’s imagination. i love that every taylor swift album creates a new ‘era’ for her fans - i mean think about the vibes of ‘lover’ which came out about 11 months ago, compared to this. folklore is considered alternative, a first for taylor - and i’m here for it.

let’s dive into it - track by track.

the 1

i love the fact that the first song on this album starts out with the lyrics - “i’m doing good, i’m on some new shit” like yessss taylor. i think this song is one that a lot of people can relate to. i love the beat, the vocals - everything. great way to start off TS8.

my favorite line: “but we were something, don’t you think so? roaring twenties, tossing pennies in the pool. and if my wishes came true, it would’ve been you”

cardigan

the first of the three ‘love triangle’ tracks. for those who don’t know what i’m talking about - taylor stated there were three songs on this album that “explore a love triangle from all 3 people’s perspectives at different times in their lives” and those songs are believed to be cardigan, august and betty.

cardigan is written from betty’s perspective. betty was cheated on by james (as you find out in ‘betty’) and this song illustrates how she found love at a young age and then lost it as soon as it came. this is the only song on the album (so far) that also has a music video.

my favorite line: “to kiss in cars and downtown bars was all we needed. you drew stars around my scars but now i’m bleedin’”

the last great american dynasty

this song has everyone talking. turns out that this song is based on a real woman, rebekah harkness. rebekah and her husband bill lived in a house in watch hill, rhode island and called it ‘holiday house.’ that house is now owned by taylor swift.

the lyrics really tell a story of rebekah’s life and the many ways she ‘had a marvelous time ruining everything’ after her husband died of a heart attack. i love that taylor knows so much about this woman and brought a piece of history to this album. after i heard this song i spent a lot of time reading about rebekah - you can read more here.

my favorite line: “holiday house sat quietly on that beach. free of women with madness, their men and bad habits. and then it was bought by me”

exile

first of all - bon iver!!!! this is an amazing collaboration and honestly one that i never knew i needed. this song gives me “the last time” from red vibes - a duet between two frustrated lovers.

this song is sad but beautiful at the same time. it tells a story of two people who are dealing with the aftermath of a failed relationship - from two different perspectives. and now they have to see each other around town, moving on from what was once their “homeland.”

my favorite line: “i can see you starin’ honey like he’s just your understudy. like you’d get your knuckles bloody for me”

my tears ricochet

a lot of people believe this song to be about the fued with scott borchetta of big machine records, taylor’s record label from 2005-2018. for those who don’t know - the record label refused to let taylor perform her songs owned by big machine live. scott borchetta then sold her masters to scooter braun - the guy who represents artists like kanye west and justin bieber. i think we all know the story there. anyways - there are certain lyrics like referencing “stolen lullabies” that are leading people to believe this track is about how big machine was her home for 13 years and then they took those “good years” from her after selling her masters.

i think this song does a beautiful job of expressing how taylor really felt during the fued. everything aside - taylor just really cares about her music and they took that from her.

my favorite line: “if i’m on fire, you’ll be made of ashes too”

mirrorball

a lighter, more airy vibe. i like this one a lot - a self-aware bop. also reminds me of the outfit she wore at the 2018 AMAs when she was quite literally a mirrorball. i’m not too sure if this song is a love story or a lowkey sad song about how taylor feels like she needs to mirror what people want her to be.

my favorite line: “you’ll find me on my tallest tiptoes spinning in my highest heels, love. shining just for you”

seven

not my favorite but gets better once you get to the chorus. it sort of has some childhood trauma thrown in there but also can be a sweet childhood friendship story. i’m assuming seven stands for seven years old? overall, kinda a sad song.

my favorite line: “and just like a folk song, our love will be passed on”

august

one of my favorites on this album. i think a lot of people can resonate with this song - having something slip away even though it was never truly yours. the lyrics in this one just hit home.

this song is the second of the teenage love triangle. this one is from the perspective of the girl that james cheated on betty with. a song about a young, summer love.

my favorite line: “cancelled plans just incase you’d call and say ‘meet me behind the mall’”

this is me trying

i like this one. a sad song about how taylor feels like she’s juggling too much at once and past relationships have failed because of that but she realizes that now and she’s trying. these lyrics are relatable for sure.

my favorite line: “they told me all of my cages were mental so i got wasted like all my potential”

illicit affairs

i love the lyrics and the story of this song. something that starts off in ‘beautiful rooms’ turns into ‘meetings in parking lots’ - taylor talks about how infidelity can leave a high but eventually dwindles into a lie.

my favorite line: “you showed me colors you know i can’t see with anyone else”

invisible string

another one of my favorites. i love the beat of this song - also is that a banjo?! i’m here for it.

and finally a love song about taylor and joe! i heard some rumors that taylor’s deluxe song “the lakes” may be from joe’s perspective - and maybe a song confirming their engagement / marriage?! one can only hope.

my favorite line: “time, wondrous time, gave me the blues then purple pink skies”

mad woman

big fan of this one - i’m happy that taylor wrote it. she’s been so criticized for showing emotions in the past and i think a lot of people can relate to the lyrics on this track.

my favorite line: “everytime you call me crazy, i get more crazy”

epiphany

i read that this song is about the nurses on the frontlines during the coronavirus pandemic but taylor also mentioned in instagram that her grandfather’s service during World War II inspired some of her lyrics. the song starts off talking about a soldier off to war but then progresses into a story about nurses comforting patients during their final moments. not my favorite on the album but a good story.

my favorite line: “something med school did not cover. someone’s daughter, someone’s mother”

betty

this is probably my favorite track on the album. it’s the third of the teenage love story (the one from james' perspective) and it tells quite the story. also - an f bomb from tswift?!

interesting to note that james and inez (mentioned in the song as betty’s classmate) are the names of blake lively and ryan reynolds’ children. many people are speculating that their newborn (whose name hasn’t been revealed yet) may be named betty.

my favorite line: “i’m only seventeen, i don’t know anything but i know i miss you”

peace

there are a lot of good lines on this track - i like it a lot. also i think a lowkey diss at kanye with the ‘clowns to the West’ part?!

my favorite line: “i’d give you my sunshine, give you my best. but the rain is always gonna come if you’re standin’ with me”

hoax

this is another sad love song but one that i think can be very relatable to some. she beautifully explains how it feels to be in love with someone only to have it taken away.

my favorite line: “don’t want no other shade of blue but you. no other sadness in the world would do”

i’m curious to hear what you guys think about it so let me know! you can stream on spotify here. here’s to TS8 ♡

cover photo by Beth Garrabrant.