Taylor Swift’s New Album Has Twitter Crying Into Their Cardigans
It's a whimsical new era of Taylor, so buckle up.
Are you ready for it? Today is the day, Swifties: Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album, Folklore, has arrived. Swift announced Folklore‘s existence less than 24 hours before its release at midnight on July 24th, which sent fans into a frenzy of pre-ordering and general giddy anticipation. The 16-track album is dreamy, nostalgic, fantastical, and honestly, feels like a subdued Tay, in the best way. It’s as if the songs “Lover”, “Safe & Sound,” and “The Archer” had a baby bathed in sepia tone—and it’s a whole mood right now.
Folklore is currently available on both Spotify and Apple Music, so push play now (if you didn’t stay up late listening to the album in full like us). TS8 marks Swift’s first album to be categorized as “alternative” on streaming platforms, which is telling right off the bat. Prepare for breathy falsettos, enchanting lyrics, and traditional instruments like violins, pianos, and guitars, as opposed to the ’80s synth beats Swift has leaned into on her past few albums. Tay wrote Folklore while isolated during the past few months, and TBH, we’re taking this as one of the few silver linings to come out of quarantine.
Swift explained the inspiration behind Folklore on Instagram.
“In isolation my imagination has run wild and this album is the result, a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness,” she wrote. “Picking up a pen was my way of escaping into fantasy, history, and memory. I’ve told these stories to the best of my ability with all the love, wonder, and whimsy they deserve. Now it’s up to you to pass them down.”
Not only did she release an entire album unexpectedly (NBD), but Swift also premiered a music video for the second track, “Cardigan”—and it’s the stuff of fairy tales. In the video, which Swift directed, she climbs into piano benches and out to different worlds, like a mossy jungle and a literal ocean. Stunning visuals and sensual melodies combine to make an other-worldly and intriguing video. It’s a whole new era of Taylor, so buckle up, Swifties.
With all of this news to digest in such little time, Twitter has been running wild with reactions, predictably. Below, read the funniest fan reactions to Taylor Swift’s new album, Folklore.
Even Betty Who had something to say about that “Betty” track:
Don’t mind us, we’ll just be listening to this album on repeat, alone, all day.