"When you are young, they assume you know nothing," Taylor Swift sings on "Cardigan." Their assumptions, Taylor proves on her surprise albumFolklore，将是胡扯。
Folkloreis Taylor Swift's biggest swing of her career — and possibly her biggest home run. The album is like nothing she's ever done before in so many ways. Sonically, it's a blend of folk and indie instrumentals with synth beats, which makes for an easygoing, ultra-mellow listening experience.
And just when you think Taylor's writing couldn't improve, she adds another element to her craft. OnFolklore, she employs a new* technique: writing about characters and other people. "I found myself not only writing my own stories, but also writing about or from the perspective of people I've never met, people I've known, or those I wish I hadn't," she said in a YouTube Q&A.
Suddenly, the self-referential lyric "There goes the loudest woman this town has ever seen / I had a marvelous time ruining everything" has more bite and self-awareness than "Blank Space" or any Taylor pop song.
In "Epiphany," Taylor writes about her grandfather, who was a veteran, but draws相似之处to the pain and trauma all health care workers are experiencing in the face of the coronavirus. "Something med school did not cover / Someone's daughter, someone's mother / Holds your hand through plastic now." This lyric is so brilliant because it intertwines Taylor's grandfather's experience, Taylor's experience, and health care workers' experience during these trying times.
On "Illicit Affairs," Taylor sings, "Make sure nobody sees you leave / Hood over your head, keep your eyes down." Character-inspired or not, we know Taylor has had to deal with paparazzi and scrutiny when it comes to being in a relationship. She lets listeners know that the pain, the anxiety, the fear, in this case, is worth it. "For you, I would ruin myself a million little times."
