Taylor Swift’s New Album Has Twitter Crying Into Their Cardigans
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."
A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on Jul 23, 2020 at 9:06pm PDT
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.
Taylor Swift wrote 'my tears ricochet' by herself while we were all feeding our sourdough starter. #folklore
— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) July 24, 2020
taylor trying to explain how betty wasn’t gay she was just writing from a mans point of view or that betty is actually short for betjamin or that pic.twitter.com/HJArFzLa5r
— alyssa ミ☆ (@deanoruu) July 24, 2020
taylor really just announced / released an entire album / era / music video in the span of 24 hours... #Folklore pic.twitter.com/UZuh9iTaUY
— claudia | 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑘𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑒 (@alltheendings) July 24, 2020
Taylors album making me want to hold a coffee mug with two hands and cut bangs 😍 #Folklore
— JOHNNY SIBILLY (@JohnnySibilly) July 24, 2020
Taylor Swift said I don’t care that it’s summer, it’s still a pandemic and you’re all gonna sit inside and CRY #Folklore pic.twitter.com/nnbssG7eg2
— con daddy 🦦 (@Guido_Conz) July 24, 2020
This album is Blair Waldorf and Serena van der Woodsen walking away from each other in the Hamptons
— Carey O'Donnell (@ecareyo) July 24, 2020
Epiphany sounding like a school choir of dead ghost children and I don’t play with demons
— Ira Madison III (@ira) July 24, 2020
exile, the 1, hoax, and illicit affairs making me feel like i went through 15 divorce, and 22 break ups #Folklorepic.twitter.com/vJkQy4kjLZ
— k (@kezhiajyc) July 24, 2020
I don't know if it's possible for an album to be "introverted," but if it is, #Folklore is that. It's easily the most introspective and contemplative of Taylor's albums, which is saying something, because this is @taylorswift13 we're talking about.
— Lauren Huff (@_LaurenHuff) July 24, 2020
the way taylor said cottagecore gays rights with betty #Folklore pic.twitter.com/R6fXMsb6wy
— folklore out now (@folkhoax) July 24, 2020
Even Betty Who had something to say about that "Betty" track:
@taylorswift13 omg babe apology accepted of COURSE I’ll lead you to the garden and then I would trust the SHIT outta you
— Betty Who (@BettyWho) July 24, 2020
— Betty Who (@BettyWho) July 24, 2020
Don't mind us, we'll just be listening to this album on repeat, alone, all day.