Pain is Temporary, Folklore is Forever

by Claire Dunham

Taylor Swift kicked off her highly-anticipated Eras Tour last night in Arizona. This is the Grammy Award-winning musician’s first tour since 2018. Since her last tour, Swift has released four new albums and countless never-before-heard songs on her two re-released albums Red (Taylor’s Version) and Fearless (Taylor’s Version). Many fans, like myself, have been itching to hear these new songs live. Although I love all of Swift’s new music, I fell in love with one album in particular: Folklore.

Inspired by the launch of the Eras Tour, I will discuss Folklore in this week’s blog post. The album was released in July 2020. Due to COVID-19, widespread loss, heightened mental health issues, and feelings of isolation ravaged the world. Live music came to a halt and musicians around the world were struggling to adjust to this new norm. Amidst all of this chaos, came the surprise release of Swift’s eighth studio album.

At a time when everything was changing, Swift’s artistry shifted as well. As the title of the album (Folklore) suggests, the musician adopts a folk-inspired sound; it’s soft and acoustic-based with a feature from indie folk legend Bon Iver. Her past albums like 2019’s Lover and 2014’s 1989 are bright, bubbly, and poppy. Contrastingly, Folklore is moody and subdued.

It was co-produced by Swift, Aaron Dessner (The National’s guitarist), and Jack Antonoff. Swift’s partner Joe Alwyn is also credited as a songwriter, under the pseudonym William Bowery. Even though a variety of collaborators contributed to Folklore, its sound is cohesive. Ultimately, adopting this new musical sound paid off: Folklore won the 2021 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

Additionally, the record’s title also serves as a reference to the lyrical storytelling present in Folklore. Swift—a skilled and imaginative songwriter—embodies a variety of characters throughout the course of the album.

The opening song, titled, “the 1” sets the tone for the rest of the album. It’s seemingly straightforward lyrics, “I'm doing good, I'm on some new shit / Been saying ‘yes’ instead of ‘no,’” are immediately contradicted by the following line: “I thought I saw you at the bus stop, I didn't though.” Subsequently, Swift blurs the line between a subject who has moved on and one that is still constantly searching for their ex-lover. In short, the musician becomes a character who is simultaneously self-assured and possessive. This unresolved complexity thrives in the Folklore world—a whimsical space where anything is possible.

Later, the songs “August” and “Betty” solidify these imagined characters. At this point, the “Folklore love triangle” is officially born: August is in love with James, Betty is also (warily) in love with James, and James can’t decide between the two girls. This relationship is at the core of the album's plot, or its “lore.”

Although there are fanciful elements weaved into this love story, each character is rooted in poignant vulnerability. When Swift sings from James’ perspective on “Betty,” there is no sign of insincerity. Instead, each character seems to symbolize a different objective or emotion: August is lonely, Betty feels betrayed, and James is haunted by his mistakes. It is clear that each character resonates with Swift in some way. Likewise, as a listener, you feel drawn to empathize with the trio as well.

At its core Folklore is a confusing compilation of unsettling emotions, but it’s skillfully coated with captivating dreamlike imagery. The album is a balancing act between fiction and truth—a story that Swift executes beautifully. This is the reason I love Folklore, and I cannot wait to see these magical songs performed live this May.

Until next time,

Claire

Photograph: Pinterest

Pain is Temporary, Folklore is Forever