We're SO close to the end girlies! Ah, folklore... Such an intricate and special album of hers, a GRAMMY winner, that is. This album is truly amazing, this took me SO long to grow on me... but it finally did. My first listen was really hard actually, I started zoning out/falling asleep towards the last 4-5 songs sksksksk, but now? I enjoy this body of work so much. With each listen, I just discover more things I notice and realise about these songs. There's SO so so many things to appreciate here. If you don't like this album, I understand because I was in your position, but damn... The 180 honestly. I swear, this album is more than just a slow folk album, there's DETAILS and layers in everything. This woman is amazing, how she got this out in less than a year after Lover is still a shock to me.
(I could probably go on and talk about this album + songs forever BUT I WON'T BC THIS IS TOO LONG!!!)
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17. hoax - Alright... easy least favourite =/ This is truly the only song on the album that has never grown on me or changed positions. I do NOT like that piano at all, it bothers me for some reason. I'm not a fan of the melodies either, and I'm.. just not crazy about anything really. But folklore is a huge mystery, this could goddamn grow on me one day LMAO.
[EDIT: it鈥檚 already growing on me 馃拃 this album...]
16. betty - Alright now, don't kill me... Lol OK so I don't dislike this at all, not by any means, BUT.. I tend to play this not as much! And honestly, I feel like it's because the song ITSELF bothers me, like the "character" singing it bothers me? Like I imagine that greasy fuck James singing this and idk, it feels icky. Plus I do feel like the song is a LITTLE long! But on the positive side, I do enjoy the instrumentation by itself on certain parts!!
15. peace - I actually like this one, it's not a fave for sure but I can appreciate it. Again, there are some details in the production which I really love here. But there are SOME melodies here that I'm not crazy about... Maybe this will take a few more months for me to climb up my rankings?
14. the last great american dynasty (馃槶) - This actually used to be much higher but the more I listened to folklore, the more my rankings changed and I found appreciation for other songs. This song is really cute, it was a fave of mine at one point but as I said, I tend to listen to the others a bit more! Still love the storytelling here though. And that bridge DUH!! (jsyk I'm really sad this is so low)
13. the 1 - I remember when folklore dropped and 2 of my friend were dragging this one... for WHAT?? This is such a good opener, and I was so impressed when I heard it! This also just fits my mood/vibe nowadays.
12. mirrorball - This song is so interesting to me!! Literally 2-3 months ago this was in my bottom 2, and now it grew on me so suddenly.. It's amazing honestly. I love the vibe this song gives. I adore so many things that I just can't explain - the magic of folklore. But I love the "main sentiment" of the song - I'm a mirrorball, I'll show you every version of yourself.
11. invisible string - ANOTHER grower! This song is just a beautiful song, both lyrically and sonically. That switch in the melody in the bridge is just to die for. My only VERY small nitpick-critique is the "p-p-pink skies" part, but other than that, I love everything, e.g. how she sings "all along there was some invisible string". It's the little things that make the song so special and beautiful.
10. exile (feat. Bon Iver) - One of the songs that went up and down and up and down for me... But thank GOD I opened up my ears to it again lately, and it's actually because of the long pond studio sessions which were great. I love the emotion conveyed here, and how they're going back and forth.. I love both their voice but I DEFINITELY prefer Taylor (duh), she's just so amazing and gentle with her delivery.
9. mad woman - Damn, the way this was my fave on first listen, then it became my least fave.. and now my love for it came back LMAO, this album is truly something. What truly got me to love this song again, apart from the AMAZING production/chord progression, is the amazing verses. I love how she sings, I love her vengeful side, and I just love how the instrumentation becomes slightly more "intense" towards the end.
8. my tears ricochet - This one grew on me so much. Again, the DETAILS are mesmerizing, but what really made this song for me is the lyrical content and subject. The battleships will sink, and Scooter WILL be sinking. I love Taylor for carrying out such an attitude with such a gentle delivery. Hope "he" enjoys her stolen lullabies 鉂わ笍
7. the lakes - A song with a PERFECT length and perfect progression! No unnecessary pauses imo, and it flows rather quickly, which I love. This one has the essential folklore sound but also has a nice structure which you can actually follow, and it has that "rise" that Taylor does in her choruses or melodies. And the lyrics are TRUE poetry, this girl's mind...
6. seven - This is a song that makes me go 馃ズ, it's just a super super sweet song, like a warm hug. I actually used to have this lower too at one point, and I realized it's because of the "SWEET TEA IN THE SUMMER!!!11" part, BUT because the rest of the song is so so strong and beautiful and gentle, it just... took me over. I love it, it takes me to a beautiful place that I wish I were in.
5. illicit affairs - I. Love. This. Underrated. Gem. The way I get THEATRICAL when this comes on! This was probably the first song that massively grew on me. It's just so simple yet SO so effective, again, hear the details in the production with your best headphones/earphones, and it makes the experience so much better. And the passion she exudes while singing this.. ugh.
4. epiphany - Nononono y'all don't understand, y'all underrate this SO MUCH, and it hurts. This song is... truly something else. The ethereal and beautiful and heavenly feeling... And the picturesque lyrics, I just enjoy this song so much. I literally belt out HOLD ME 20 SECONDS TO SLEEP, BUT YOU DREAM OF SOME EPIIIIIPHANYYYYYY, like... this song actually means a lot to me without me necessarily relating to the lyrics. But the experience of it... an amazing heavenly experience.
3. this is me trying - If you told 2020 me that this song would be so high, I would be like "???"... I swear, I HEARD something in this. I love everything about it, she has some sort of interesting flow in the way she sings her (amazing ass) lyrics, and I DIE for it. Like, this bitch really made a slow-ish song that I can sing along in the shower. Idk I love it, and I think the length for it is also perfect.
2. august - Now, this is for SURE a song that has been a fave of mine since the first day. The progression of the song is beautiful, and the vibe is just so GOOD, it gives me a "sunny car ride in the countryside" feel. And the outro IS truly the cherry on top, just... whew. And I also love how this has the essential Taylor "feel"/sound to it, Getaway Car ladies amirite?!
1. cardigan - Gorgeous, beautiful, spectacular. This song is absolutely enchanting and mesmerizing, her matured voice is just like honey... I love the metaphors and lyrics here too, imagine making someone feel special, someone who felt like some neglected cardigan, and then taking that "loved" feeling away from them... Also the DETAILS and intricacies in the production of this song!!! Absolutely ages like fine wine, and with each listen, you appreciate this gem so much more.
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