Therapeutic Albums of Taylor Swift: Folklore and Evermore
A guitar, talent, and supporting parents comprised Taylor Swift’s dream as she stepped into the music industry. The world witnessed the Hollywood singer’s music evolution starting from her debut album Taylor Swift. Issues involving other artists that transpired in the course of Taylor’s singing career—all did not impede her from producing masterpieces.
From redeeming her reputation to owning the masters of her songs, Taylor always comes back stronger than the 90s trend. She already released three (out of five) rerecorded albums now labeled as Taylor’s Version with vault tracks (unreleased songs). The award-winning artist’s journey caught in camera flashes of media and paparazzi constitutes the unrivaled woman she is today.
A Swiftie for 12 years
The curly-haired Taylor Swift wearing a lovely purple dress on a magazine page drew my attention during the 5th grade. That was the first time I read about the singer of my favorite karaoke song You Belong With Me. Her album Speaknow was recently released at that time. Starting that day my curiosity on her grew. I even save half of my allowance every day for an hour of listening to her music in a computer shop.
One of my core memory as her fan was taking my chances at winning a Red Tour concert ticket. I collected caps of ice cream cones hoping the luck to favor me so I can see her performing live. I cried after finding out none of the codes imprinted from the caps won-maybe petty to some though. However, that did not lessen my adoration for her thus becoming more intense.
My bias among her albums is Speaknow probably because it reminds me of my childhood. Nonetheless, there are two albums that affect me differently from the rest-Folklore and Evermore. These albums hold all-encompassing emotions from the stories and deep-seated meaning behind the songs’ lyrics. Both serve as my therapy whenever another episode of mental turmoil occurs.
Why Folklore and Evermore by Taylor Swift are my therapy albums
Storytelling
Folklore and Evermore are horses of a different color from her past albums, with poetically written tracks. The story each song holds, some from a specific character’s point of view, feed my imagination. It’s like reading a book wherein words are enough for the scenes to come flashing into my mind.
The narratives in the form of euphonious songs of the sister albums are always my go-to divertissement. Listening while savoring the lyrics and instrumentals is an emotional roller coaster ride—emphatic one minute, vexed the next. The albums spin tales that bring me mentally to a dimension where the characters exist.
Relatable Lyrics
Taylor Swift is undoubtedly a top-notch lyricist. She wasn’t called the ‘music industry herself’ for nothing. Some track lyrics of Folklore and Evermore seem like words taken out of my mouth. My unsaid feelings, self-perceptions, and inhibitions in life, quite several lines directly describe the struggles I’m striving to brave. It feels like a tap on the back consoling me that there are others wearing the same shoe as mine. So as the lyrics hit, I allow myself to freely feel the emotions it triggers within me.
“I’ve never been a natural, all I do is try try try.” Characterizing this line from Mirrorball to myself may sound harsh but it is the truth. I am trying hard in all aspects because I ain’t naturally gifted—and it’s fine. There is nothing wrong with going extra mile in pursuit of your best version. Provided that there’s no one you are trampling on, keep going.
Solace Escape
As I have mentioned, listening to both albums mentally usher me to a fictional world of the songs’ characters. I imagine how hurt Augustine was parting ways with James after an ephemeral love affair. This was narrated in August, one of the songs in Folklore’s ‘Teenage Love Triangle’. Estee’s friend avenging her in Evermore’s ‘Nobody, no crime’ was cool I don’t even mind it being a murder ballad.
The songs in the albums serve as my way of eluding the taxing reality. The characters and stories they tell regardless of how melancholic it is, became my consolation when my thoughts are in mayhem. In this sense, Evermore and Folklore are my relief—to my chaotic thoughts and distressing responsibilities.
