Folklore as Reverie
Graphic by Jessica Chen. Image via Pinterest.
I want auroras and sad prose
I want to watch wisteria grow
Right over my bare feet
'Cause I haven't moved in years
Reverie is the state or experience of being lost in one’s thoughts: daydreaming and fantasizing alone. The above lyrics from Taylor Swift’s “the lakes,” a bonus track from her newest album “folklore,” embody the state of daydreaming in solitude, the state of reverie. The album itself is a beautiful exploration of loneliness, raw emotion and reflection, all birthed from quarantine. The combined aesthetics, musicality and lyricism of “folklore” epitomize this notion of reverie.
Reverie is a difficult concept to pin down. It could be a thought, a feeling, a place, a piece of clothing or a poem. “folklore” combines all of these aspects into a single album.
“folklore” is Swift’s seventh album, released as a surprise on July 24, 2020. She wrote the entire album in quarantine — a period of creative growth and reverie for many — which allowed her to escape the demands and constraints of pop music and create an album focused on storytelling and romantic musing. It’s reminiscent of Swift’s early work, yet encompasses her recently matured perspective and style, as her tone leans towards folk and alternative music more than her earlier country and pop.
Swift’s exploration of reverie begins with her album’s aesthetic. Traditionally Taylor switches up her look for each album with her early work being characterized by her curly-haired innocent style, the “Red” era corresponding with her bright red lipstick and Oxfords, and the “Reputation” era being synonymous with Swift’s grunge, attempted bad girl image.
“folklore” gives Swift a new look we’ve never seen before but that, in my opinion, feels the most true to Taylor and her unwavering passion for songwriting. Since the album and its photoshoots were all produced in quarantine, Taylor opted to self-style her album shoot and “cardigan” music video. She wears her hair in its natural curls, wrapped up in a low bun, dusting her shoulders, or twisted into a braid. Her makeup is minimal. In fact, in recent press videos, Swift has opted to go completely makeup-free. For the album promo shoots and “cardigan” music video, she wears simple nightgowns, cable knit sweaters, simple gingham pieces and cozy outerwear. The pieces make you want to cozy up by a fire in a small remote cabin.
Only twenty minutes to sleep, but you dream of some epiphany
Just one single glimpse of relief to make some sense of what you've seen
— "epiphany," Taylor Swift
Image via Pinterest.
This is exactly where Swift takes us in her “cardigan” music video. Her lead single’s video starts in a cozy, isolated cabin that is oh so cottagecore. She then ventures into a beautiful green and gold dreamworld. The video is an exploration of loneliness, struggle and dreams: an exploration of both the good and bad of reverie.
Image via Vulture.
Beyond the lead single, Swift’s following tracks explore concepts that go hand in hand with reverie. She explores the what-ifs of a lost love with “the 1,” the memories of childhood freedom with “seven” and the loneliness and heartbreak of her public persona with “my tears ricochet,” “mad woman” and “hoax.”
But where Swift really begins to explore the concept of reverie is with her storytelling. As Swift writes in the liner notes of the album, “It started with imagery.” She continues, “these images in my head grew faces or names and became characters. 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.”
This fiction Swift crafts is essentially a look into her daydreams. We see the stories run through Swift’s mind as she daydreams in isolation. We see her tell the story of Rebekah Harkness, the 1950s inhabitant of her Rhode Island home, with “the last great american dynasty.” Swift also crafts an intricate story of a teenage love triangle with“illicit affairs,” “august” and “betty.” It's a rare look into the creativity that spawned from the calmness and reverie of quarantine amidst the chaos of a COVID-19 world.
Image via Vogue.
Swift drew out the themes of the album herself with her newest Spotify album releases where she divides her album up into themed chapters. Most notable are the “escapism chapter” and “sleepless nights chapter” where Swift paints a clear picture of isolation, dreams and being lost in one's thoughts. It’s the essence of true reverie: a form of reverie not characterized by frolicking through fields but rather by a desire for time and space to think, reflect and be alone in peace (and maybe with her super hot boyfriend Joe Alwyn).
Folklore in all its emotional cottagecore glory is reverie. It’s the grayscale images and simple clothing, the profound lyrics, the soft instrumentation and the whimsical yet honest storytelling that make this album a living daydream.