NOW we should take Taylor Swift seriously??? :
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2020
- The "new tone" and more mature approach is only the superficial covering for the strength and (perhaps) genius that has always been there. But hey, its a nice superficial covering.
Skye's Stamp (best song) Peace: • peace 
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Taylor has always had catchy songs along with lyrically meaningful songs in all her albums but who had never bothered to listen to her full albums to appreciate her songwriting.So now they feel comfortable saying this slower non dancey album is a masterpiece.
finally someone gets it. folklore is my favorite, replacing Lover, but it's not automatically better than the rest just because it's a more respected genre
The praise this album is getting seems to be tainted by the dismissal of pop as a genre. It feels like, by toning down the pop production, people began to pay more attention to some of the things Taylor is good at. And I say that as someone who's not a fan of most of her music.
PS.: I would love to see your style of analysis on FKA Twigs' Magdalene.
Pop gets no respect. Music snobs. Same reason I hate when people say "guilty pleasure"
Everything about the phrase "guilty pleasure" is odious.
Your comment makes me think of some of the reviews of Ryan Adams' cover of 1989.
@@professorskye The other thing that makes me roll my eyes is how so many people who say something positive or supportive towards Taylor feel the need to preface with "I'm no fan of Taylor Swift but"... Whether they're talking about her marketing skills, her recent issues with her former label, or her recent political statements. As if being mistaken for a Taylor Swift fan just because you're saying something nice about her is something that must be avoided at all costs.
@@Lochness19 and the fact that a certain website (I forget which one) reviewed his cover album of 1989 and NOT the original album...
For writing a song called ALL TOO WELL, Taylor has already proven herself to be one of the greatest songwriters.
If you knew the work of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, and Harold Arlen, you wouldn't make such an absurd statement.
@@donaldsaigh8785 have YOU listened to a taylor swift album? because her singles doesn't define her music her deep cuts do
@@onestar9513 I've listened to the song that people say is her greatest, "All Too Well". I listened to it a short time ago and, today, I couldn't remember the melody to hum or whistle if my life depended on it. That's part of the problem; forgettable melodies. For a song to be great it has to have a memorable melody line, not just repetition of words or phrases. I haven't heard "Over The Rainbow" in years but I can instantly recall the melody of that enduring song. People praise her lyrics but they're little more than conversations or the diary writings of a young girl. Great lyrics are literate, clever, and well-crafted to the melody. Do yourself a favor. Listen to the songs of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and Harold Arlen in order to understand what truly great songwriting is all about.
@@donaldsaigh8785 "while you were out there building other worlds where was i? where's that man who'd throw blankets over my barbed wire?
I made you my temple, my mural, my sky
Now i'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life.
Drawing hearts in the byline
Always taking up too much space or time.
You assume i'm fine but what would do if i
Break free and leave us in ruins
Took this dagger in me and removed it
Gain the weight of you then lose it
Believe me I could it"
This bridge alone shows you she's a great lyricist you got something wrong, all too well isn't her greatest. It's just a fan favorite, 2- taylor swift doesn't write about her life anymore for 2 albums now. You can't judge an artist shortly based on an old song and ignore the more mature older them
@@onestar9513 You see her lyrics as great, I see them as meandering, pseudo-poetic, sentimental to the point of mush, and in need of an editor. Ira Gershwin's lyric "..give me a free-and-easy waltz that is viennesey" is an example of a great lyric: short, clever because of the wordplay, and memorable. Lyrics should not be mistaken for literature or poetry. They exist to supplement the melody. And Swift's lyrics overwhelm her melodies, which are weak. "All Too Well" is the song people point to as an example of a quality "deep track", as opposed to crap like "Look What You Made Me Do" and "Shake It Off". And here is something I have wondered about. If Swift is so good, why does she allow garbage like the songs she releases as singles to represent her? When the great songwriters, like George Gershwin, wrote a song they thought wasn't up to their standards, it went in the wastebasket, not out to radio stations.
I listened to Taylor Swift for years now, but I really think she reached a new hight with her lyricism here. It is poetic, on point but more delicate (see what I did there) than ever before. If she continues to write this way, I think people will finally focus more on her talent for songwriting and lyricism and not on the feuds and drama around her persona.
i beg to disagree, she has always been this good lyrically, as what this review said.. i think people just feel that this has better lyrics/ feel is because listeners are more focused on vocals/ storytelling now because of less production, you are not distracted with the sounds/ instruments but tend to focus more on the words, because of the slow very vibe.. Red /Reputation even lover has amazing lyrics., actually all her albums haha
Zialen Calda I agree, I love songs like Treacherous or New Romantics for their lyrics and clever storytelling. It is just that I like Taylor when she shows her skills as an observer and not only as the protagonist of a story. In that sense folklore is just a perfect addition to her catalogue. She justed showed that side of her even more here and I think it‘s very impressive. I am really curious what she will do next :)
you should always take taylor swift seriously WTF
Have you watched the video? He’s not saying that you shouldn’t take her seriously
You don't understand anything!!!! Duuuhhh watch again the video
You're so right! Pop is such an interesting genre which gets minimal respect in some circles. Making songs catchy but at the same time authentic and unique is an art. Taylor is amazing at that, especially the authenticity thing. She's real, even when she is over the top.
It depends on what you mean by "catchy". Today, when people say a song is catchy, they mean the song's repetition of phrases or words sticks in their heads. What "catchy" should mean, and what it used to mean, is a song's flowing melody is distinctive and memorable. Gershwin's "Summertime" is catchy because the flowing melody is memorable and distinctive (strong), as well as beautiful. It doesn't repeat short musical and lyrical phrases that bore into the brain (earworms).
@@donaldsaigh8785 I don't really care about your Gershwin worship, but the core of melodic writing and general musicianship hasn't suddenly changed from back then. Writing for jazz is a completely separate set of tools from writing for classical which uses a completely set of tools than writing from popular music. To gatekeep any form of pop music from being "catchy" because it doesn't use jazz harmonies and uses repeatable melodic lines and structures that have been built up with literal years of musical context surrounding it is intellectually bankrupt. It is fine to just admit you don't like any music other than classical and jazz, but god the superiority complex of people who scoff at any modern songwriter as being shit because they aren't doing X amount of things as if every songwriter has to fulfill the exact same musical quota it's a boring and tired non argument and I am sick of hearing it from the same camp of music boomers. If it wasn't Gershwin it would have been the Beatles or Queen or Nirvana or Mozart etc etc etc you would be crying the death of.
@@mins332 You don't know what you are talking about when you say the core of melodic writing hasn't changed. Back then songs were composed on the piano, today they are manufactured in recording studios with the influence of sound engineers. The men who created the "Great American Songbook" were musically literate, melodic geniuses who understood that the way to have a hit was to create an enduring melody. In the tradition of the classical composers, they were trained on the piano because that is the best instrument for composition. They did not "write for jazz". They were popular composers who created songs that were taken up by jazz musicians because the greatness of their melodies lent them to interpretation. Jazz is a style of playing, it is not a form of composition. Gershwin's 'Summertime" was written as an operatic aria, but it has been recorded by every jazz musician because of the greatness of its melody. Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" is a composition that has jazz elements such as blue notes, but it is not a jazz composition, merely a work that was influenced by jazz. It is an orchestral work structured in the European tradition. Gershwin, Porter, Rodgers, Kern, Berlin, Arlen, et.al. were composers of the popular music of the day, they were not jazz composers. Then along came rock and melody was replaced by harmony, rhythm, guitars licks, instrumentation, and studio effects of all kinds. The do-wop era produced nothing in the way of enduring melodies because the songs were being manufactured rather than composed by geniuses. The emphasis on melody in order to have hit songs was gone. This practice of creating hit songs has degenerated today to the point where five to ten or more people are credited as composers of a song when they are actually studio engineers. Your sentence that begins with "To gatekeep..." I must say is absolute gobbledygook. During the golden age of songwriting, when people said that a song was "catchy", they meant that it had a memorable melody. The melodies had a construction such as AABA, or ABAB and their variants that gave the melodies a flow. For example, there was an initial theme, then the theme was repeated, then a bridge, then the initial theme was reintroduced. Today, when someone says that a song is "catchy" what they mean, whether they know it or not, is that the song's repetition has stuck in their heads. Listen to the mind- numbing sameness of sound that you hear on top 40 radio today. And if you think that there is no qualitative difference between a time when "Bad Guy" is proclaimed "Song Of The Year", and the era that produced "My Funny Valentine", "Someone To Watch Over Me', The Way You Look Tonight", "Night And Day", and hundreds of others, then we really don't have a basis for discussion. Quality in popular music, just as in classical music, literature, or any other art form, is not subjective. There are real differences in quality.
@@donaldsaigh8785 You must be so inept in recognizing musical language that you don't hear the same structure of melodic writing you just touted being present in many other forms of music other than classical pop but I digress. I am going to continue to say that you are gatekeeping because by making statements that "catchy should mean this" you are gatekeeping the word to have only one definition of musical language. You continuously ignore musical context and cling to the idea that a "distinct melody" is the be all end all of popular music when styles of music that have been largely ignored by musical conservatories for generations in other parts of the world other than the west have a musical root in rhythm and / or have completely different ways of melodic writing than your derivative take on it. You also completely lack an understanding of how history and icons are made. Bad Guy topping the top 100 charts being your big sadness to cry over is hilarious. The bigger context of popular music today is that in a global industry such defined traits as simple but effective writing with various attention to details in music production as well as attention to detail in the performance takes much higher power. You have absolutely no leg to stand on other than personal preference of melody over ANY other musical colour palette for writing catchy music which is an objectively laughable and a closeminded gatekeepy take on the matter.
Your take on jazz standards is just completely inaccurate sorry. Jazz musicians didn't cover songs from the American songbook just because of their melody, look up Charlie Parker or Dizzy Gillespie who merely used the harmonic structure of songs and wrote new melodies over the top to get around royalties.
@@mins332 If you're defending "Bad Guy" then you have no notion of history and what constitutes quality. The songs that have endured from the days of Stephen Foster are the songs with memorable melodies, not mindless repetition. Attention to detail (whatever the hell that means) and the current state of the record business have nothing to do with songwriting and what constitutes quality in popular music. Jazz performers used the popular songs of men like Gershwin and Porter as a basis for their interpretations. Again, Gershwin et.al. did not write jazz, they wrote popular songs for the masses. Their songs were used as inspiration by jazz musicians for their riffs.
This is what I posted in a Taylor Swift fan chatroom when she announced she was about to release a new album with Aaron Dessner:
"the snooty reviewers better not say "finally she releases something half-decent unlike the rest of her career" "
That being said I do like this album a lot, more than Lover, and maybe even a bit more than 1989. Speak Now is still my favorite album from her though. And pretty much every album of hers has at least a couple songs that can stand toe to toe with the better songs on Folklore.
You are so articulate. That is exactly how I feel about her lyrics. They are very beautifully written. Like mirrorball makes me think about how we all put up front to assimilate.
Even Dolly Parton said taylor is the best song writer today.
My two cents. People live too fast and the newest thing is "the best". An album is either epic or a flop. Everything is black and white nowadays, no room for other colours, no room for growth. The reason why so many "artists" start spiraling! And I'm sorry to say, but this is specific to the US mostly. You cancel people like its public lynching. Stop and smell a flower, give people a second chance. Listen to folklore when it's raining, dance to reputation when it stops. Don't rank, don't label and don't hate!
I agree, don’t hate celebrate!
@@professorskye I've got an even better idea. Expand your musical horizons and explore the work of actual composers, as opposed to studio engineers.
@@donaldsaigh8785 stay mad
This is so eloquently put! I love how thoughtful this whole album analysis is thematically.
This is the sort of album review I've been looking for for ages! You've managed to discuss not only the production side of things but you've also been able to tackle the lyrics similar to how one would analyze literature. And I'm here for it.
August, Betty and Cardigan are three points of view of a teenage love triangle. She didn't mention which three songs are in the trilogy, but the imagery between these three weaves in perfectly- for example, the use of the word 'cardigan' in Betty
I think the greatest films of all time were never made lyric means that movies may imitate life but don’t come close to it in greatness - the film reel of real life is the greatest
"I'm not crazy. You think I'm crazy- I'm crazy because I threaten you; I'm crazy because of the certainty with which I believe my emotions."
THERE
YOU SAID IT
SUM UP HOW I FEEL 😭😭😭💓
Waited until the 23:10 mark to ease my anxiety about where his insights on exile went on... exile 👀😶
I really enjoyed your take on the album. Also, I love that you mention several times what a fantastic lyricist Taylor is and truly always has been. There is so much talent there and I feel like she doesn’t often get the praise for her lyricism that she deserves.
Taylor actually mention that lana del rey inspire her too
@@lawmzualalangel6744 she's a fan. And it's kinda sad because she always say se loves Lana, but Lana never seems to care about her ahhahahahahahahsh
When asked about releasing NFR! at the same week as Lover, she said she didn't even know Taylor was about to release an album
Poor Taylor
@@sadkaique a part of me believes she knew, but just played it cool. Think about it. Jack collaborates with Taylor so much, and he fully produced NFR. Does Lana really expect me to believe Jack never brought up Lover while he was working on NFR?
When the next one comes out, they'll diss this one. Just watch. Someone years ago proved that Rolling Stone hailed a series of consecutive Dylan albums as "a welcome return to form".
It feels good to hear someone make the analysis with consideration for Taylor's previous work. Like you mentioned, Taylor always wrote in accordance with her age and experiences (obviously) so of coyrse her very first albums, written between ages 12-16 have more childish themes and perspectives but this doesn't have to take away from their beauty or value. I very much liked Folklore and I think it is her richest project from lyricism point of view but I also liked Lover, reputation, Red, Speak Now etc. I like most of her discography, even though it ranges through various genres and influences. I was always ready to appreciate a good beat and beautiful lyrics and Taylor almost always deliveres with that. For me, it's mostly a question of mood and ranking her albums is a futile exercise because in the end music preference is subjective. And critics are so unprepared these days, more focused on how their review is reflected on them and not on the music/artist they are reviewing. For example, the famous harsh critics at Pitchfork gave Taylor's album Red 9 as an overall grade. When folklore came out they said that it's her best work yet and gave it... an 8. Because it doesn't have to make sense, it just needs to seem snoby, moody, exclusive - all official music critics are just really trying to seem cool.
I like your take on this! Her storytelling has always been there, whether on August or Getaway Car or on Fifteen, regardless of the genre or the production.
She reached her peak at seven feet, in the swing. Not age 7. At least that’s the way I hear it.
Very true. There's a certain formula that is labeled as "experimental" or "better" even if they all sound similar and are basically a subgenre. Good review, thank you!
Great review!A huge TS fan in my house is into this album much more than the previous two TS albums. I really enjoy the production and musical choices on this one. Her lyrics have always been stellar, in fact these lyrics (in general) remind me of an early song 'You Belong With Me'. I really appreciate this album, perhaps I have less of a 'pop' ear?
She should have been taken seriously from her debut single
I made a spreadsheet and ranked all the songs on every album and mathematically discovered my favorites are Speak Now and Evermore tied.
It's great that you have recorded the video for 31:31 time duration. #Taylorturns31
Cardigan - betty's pov
August - third party's pov
Betty - james' pov
Here are some of the lyrics that proves this:
August - 2:47: Remember when I pulled up and said 'get in the car'
Betty - 2:47: She said, 'James get in' let's drive
******
August - So much for 'summer love' saying us, but you weren't mine to lose.
Betty - Slept next to her but I dreamt of you all summer long.
******
Cardigan - 'Cause I know everything when I was young'
Betty - 'I'm only 17, I don't know anything'
******
Cardigan - 'To kiss in cars and downtown bars
Was all we needed
You drew stars around my scars
But now I'm bleedin'
-But I knew you
Dancin' in your Levi's
Drunk under a streetlight
Betty - 'Standing in your cardigan
Kissing in my car again
Stopped at a streetlight, you know I miss you'
******
Betty - 'Betty, I'm here on your doorstep
And I planned it out for weeks now but
It's finally sinking in
Betty, right now is the last time
I can dream about what happens when you see my face again.'
Cardigan - 'I knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired
And you'd be standin' in my front porch light
And I knew you'd come back to me'
Couldn't agree more with your premise Skye. Another great review !
This might just be my absolute favorite video
I really like your take on this
@4:12 you are so correct!!! Do I love this album yes, but I'm sure her next album will also be fantastic. I prefer Reputation to both Lover and Folklore but I get frustrated that they don't see her poetry in her other works.
You are amazing in reviews, keep going
thanks for the review! she released a bonus track called "the lakes" and i think your commentary would be really insightful :D
"I got croissants, they're gonna be so excited"
I think you make some fair points, but I also think people can genuinely agree that material on here is better/stronger than her pop material. She's a talented pop musician, but if this kind of music resonates with people in more cathartic and deeper ways, I don't think it's hypocritical for them to express their appreciation for it. I agree there's hypocrisy in the taking of pop seriously versus alternative music, but I do think there's something to be said about audiences/critics looking at these songs through a new lens. Dua Lipa is an example of a pure pop act that blasted through to critical acclaim (something Taylor did with 1989). I don't think many people *didn't* take Swift seriously as a pop artist before, but I felt her pop music became more and more bland and forgettable. Which is why an album like this hits cylinders I wasn't expecting. I don't really think it's hypocritical of me to say I didn't like Lover and I like this album a lot, and I also don't think it's hypocritical for me to say that the involvement of The National or Bon Iver added to the album, because they *do*.
I think the hypocrisy comes from acting like Taylor wasn't a force to be reckoned with until now. She was. There's definitely some hypocrisy looking at pop, but I genuinely think her last two pop albums were underwhelming, so the move to make something more centered and focused is something I admire. She deserved recognition and to be looked at seriously before all of this. But I genuinely do think this album has a stronger presence and more determination than something like Lover.
Completely agree, hq bacon!! I love pure pop music, and am the first to roll my eyes at people who think they're above it, but with Taylor, it never seemed very authentic to her. It felt like somewhere along the way, she started writing less for herself, and more with other people in mind. I don't think this album is taylor begging to be taken seriously, but rather doing what has always come naturally to her, and having the freedom to put it out in a (relatively) low-stakes way. I'm here for it.
Well said, thanks for commenting.
Perfect analysis. On onehand, its true, indie music snobs only took notice of folklore bc it wasn't necessarily labeled in pop genre. On the other hand, the praise is warranted bc even a lot of Taylor fans will admit the last two albums were significantly weaker compared to the rest of her discography, so ofc this new era is welcomed.
@@rndmusrnm2763 I agree. As someone who listens to pop on the regular, her most recent pop music has been underwhelming to me and I think these songs are far more impressive, combining her pop sensibilities with her songwriting.
For some people, reputation is her best pop album ever.
For some people, Lover is her most happy album and it's the best.
You can't just say these albums underwhelmed someone because there are people who GET and UNDERSTAND and RELATE to these albums.
I really like that you leave yourself room to grow. When I first heard Eminem, I couldn't have cared less. Now, I think he's undeniably one of the best.
Aww sh*t missed the notification and yeah it's a really relaxed album and I'm kinda mad at the merch prices xD I think the different covers are nice for the CDs, vinyls and tapes xD why tapes? But at least it's not like the diary deluxes her 1989 might always be my favorite album by her mostly over nostalgic and I like this album haven't heard the rest though still listening to Cardigan, August and Betty which are connected did not figure that out and listening to a couple other songs I really like pop but folk to for a relaxed feeling
She has always put out a cassette tape, she must sell them to keep doing it. She usually limits the number
@@morghann21313
But why? They're not prison proof
Loved the video...you've probably heard it but you should really revisit the song THE LAST TIME in RED album by Taylor feat. Gary lightbody from snow patrol...in that song too he takes the lead but my the song is BRILLIANT one of her best duets for me...
Also would love your thoughts now on SPEAK NOW album by Taylor swift..the reason is she wrote the entire album by HERSELF without any co writers(the story is some jerks after her Grammy wins started whining she can't write so she released an album she wrote by herself)..the deluxe edition too is written by her except for one song(today is a fairy tale)..that's almost 17 tracks written entirely by a 19-20 year old Taylor
Your thoughts now on that album like sorta revisit review would be amazing
I just cannot listen to other album reviews after you. It’s nice hearing about the music, but I want to hear people break down lyrics too.
i really enjoy watching this. fyi the betty and james storyline is strongly speculated to be purely fictional; cardigan, august, and betty might be the set of three songs that taylor described as the Teenage Love Triangle told through all three parties’ perspectives.
Taylor has hidden clues in her lyrics for her fans. So they can figure out who she is talking about. So if you have not been following her career/life, you won’t understand.
and thats a GREAT way to alienate a lot of people. She is so immature.
@@powder-blue say that to The Beatles, Stevie Wonder, etc. and a lot of other legends too.
@@danieltran9634 The truly great popular composers, Gershwin, Porter, Rodgers, Berlin, Kern, Arlen, etc. wrote about universal feelings so as many people as possible could relate to their songs. They didn't make their songs all about themselves. They were artists, not narcissistic twats.
@@powder-blue Exactly. The great composers of popular song, Gershwin, Porter, Rodgers, Kern, Berlin, Arlen, would never have written about themselves. They wrote for people who had feelings, thoughts, and memories, but no way to express them. They were not narcissistic twats, just melodic geniuses, unlike Ms. Swift.
@@donaldsaigh8785 wow you really took my comment seriously. Relax honey!
Thank you for a great review and for appreciating what an amazing artist Taylor is.
Nice to see ‘Before I Get Old’ in the background there. And, oh yes, thanks for the review. Enjoy your croissants!
A great book!
The 2 albums are top tier sophisticated sounding and lyrically astounding considering she has only 2 collaborators that she social distanced with
Amazing video
I get your point. Good comparisons to Jaws and Schindler's List. I never wanted to listen to TS much before Folklore, though. As someone exactly twice her age, I prefer all the notes of fine wine over grape juice, though both are good depending on your age and the age of the juice. That's my comparison.
I took Taylor seriously way back on her country days when she proved that she writes her own songs but I considered Folklore one of her best works because this time Taylor emphasized more on her vocal abilities and the production is so minimalist. I said “one of her best works” because her albums cannot be ranked and each TS album has something to offer.
Some of us always took her serious. 🤷♂️
I love this video. While folklore is one of her best lyrically, Taylor has been an incredible songwriter and lyricist from the beginning. And it’s sad that people have to point out folklore to haters to make the point that Taylor is talented. It’s not just about lyrics. She’s talented because of her ability to combine lyrics and cohesive storytelling with a great melody.
Finally someone said it
I loved Taylor since 2006. She has always been serious. I hate those people who says they never listened to Taylor before. I say WHERE HAVE THEY BEEN FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS!
It’s the media’s fault for trying to cancel her and that made a bias on people’s heads that Taylor ain’t all that
finally someone gets it! thank you for not invalidating her previous albums and pop music in general by saying stuff like "now she's making good music!" i mean what?? folklore/evermore might be my favourite era but i dont love rep/lover/1989 or her other albums any less bc of that. loving folklore/evermore doesnt mean you shouldn't take her older songs seriously
I know I’m late but the song “Betty” is the perspective of a boy named James who cheated on Betty and us trying to apologize
When did Taylor say it was a boy?
In the lyrics. During the bridge she says “just thinking of you when she pulled up like a figment of my worst intentions she said ‘James, get in, let's drive’” implying that she’s telling the story in the perspective of a guy named James
Jakoby Taylor When did she say James was a guy? Blake and Ryan Reynold’s daughters are named James and Inez. In fact, Taylor herself is named after James Taylor. She never said James was a guy, think about it.
I guess, but if we’re going by that logic the Taylor never said James wasn’t a guy so really it’s just up to interpretation of the listener and neither of us are wrong until she says otherwise
@@melissasiller8633 She just mentioned it was from the perspective of a guy today on a country radio
Omg, someone finally getting it. I would say all her previous albums except Reputation have better poetry than this album.
Also after pop Indie is my favorite genre and I think this isn't even a great indie album. Only the tracks produced by Jack Antonoff come close to being great indie.
It took a French man 😍 ADMITS HE LOVES POP AND HE IS GROWN AND IS NOT SORRY MY DAY IS MADE
I loved that take on how folklore compares to Lover. Lover was the first album I heard from her completely and I was entranced by it. Folklore is not overrated, but by how comparisons are made across her albums relative to "tone" instead of her actual "skill," you can tell many people misunderstand Taylor as an artist.
He's... literally saying.... umm wait, let me check... "you should always take taylor swift seriously" and anyone who only now thinks they can is just scared of being judged by others. Which I agree with. It's also a great test for uncovering said scared people: ask if they have heard the new TS album, if there is a recent one, or what they think of a huge hit like Blank Space. If they laugh and look uncomfortable and make a joke about not being feminine or weak or tasteless, I don't talk to them about my personal life anymore, because who knows what they'll do or what secrets they'll reveal for approval from others? Super easy! I really wish this reaction video/review got more love. I wonder if Professor Skye knows that reaction vids are a whole thing?
She is totally one of those people who are fairly wrapped up into numerology.
Taylor swift does not have a flop album wbk
You need to watch folklore long pond studio session
I rhink one thing you'll find interesting is that Taylor has multiple times cited Lana del rey asonr of her favorite lyricists
4 years later: Billie Eilish, Nessa Barrett, Gayle, Beabadoobie, Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, boygenius Sabrina Carpenter, Griff, Lennon Stella, the list goes on and on - your prediction was right!!! 💯
I sincerely disagree that Lover is a better album. And I'm saying that as someone who absolutely loves pop music. Lover, while it has some really good songs, it also has way too many misses on it for me to call it a good album. Personally, Folklore is my favorite album of hers, but I could definitely see why some people might prefer Red or 1989 or really any of her other albums. I also disagree that this album doesn't have any hooks. If there's anything Taylor is good at, it's lyricism and writing an insanely catchy melody. And this album is no different in that respect. While the production is a bit more folksy and indie, the song structure and melodies are still very pop, if you ask me. However, I do agree that Taylor always should have been taken seriously. She's always been a great lyricist. Just because she makes pop music doesn't mean it's bad.
listen to Chromatica and tell us what you think
Chromatica is so much fun! I never enjoyed a Gaga album as much as this one. It’s a great pop album.
You missed exile
this man needs to be protected at all costs
Taylor said she wrote Betty in the perspective of Betty's love interest, James, who had an affair with another girl.
Betty's perspective is Cardigan, James' perspective is Betty, and August is written in the perspective of the lady who James had an illicit affair with.
"But you're an idiot if you didn't like her in the first place"
Evidently don't know shit about her lyrically, she didnt do this for critics or praise it was for us all creative ideas come from her brain
Great insight from a self-admitted novice to contemporary 2010s/20s pop music (as always).
As a marginal listener of Swift's (her last album "Lover" is really the only album of her's I've listen to--part from, as you state, the ubiquitous singles we've all got accustomed to hearing over the past decade and a half; whether we've wanted to or not) I do think this is her best record (and better than Lover; though Perez Hilton's reaction the lack of pop bangers is worth a lol or two ruclips.net/video/gKkeVfHrTmE/видео.html). I watched both the Miss Americana and her reputation concert videos on Netflix during this quarantine-period and she's explained that all her songs basically start acoustic before further production is added. This is probably why it's earned such praise for its minimalism; the usual bells and whistles (while not always unwelcome) can distract from her obvious talent as a lyricist. That being said, while I sonically enjoyed the album, I think Lover may hold the slight edge in terms of subject'lyrical matter, even though both albums do stuff I both love and hate about her music.
For example, although great tracks featuring wonderful songwriting, the high school love story tracks ("august,' "betty," etc.) are part of a personal pet peeve I have with Swift's seemingly never-ending obsession with high school melodrama (without, ironically enough, making it seem melodramatic). Whether it was "It's Nice to Have a Friend" I don't get her preoccupation with telling third-person quasi-fictional narratives about juvenile relationships. I feel like these tracks will be no doubt listened to by her younger fans in the serious/self-comforting ways they listened to the over-earnest 'Love Story," "Teardrops on My Guitar," "You Belong With Me," and "15." But unlike, say, fellow Jack Antonoff-collaborator Lorde, she lacks the sarcasm, tone, and, dare I say lyrical wit (at least not in that way) to make a meta commentary on how ridiculous it all is. Again, it's a personal preference, but the fact she's writing songs covering the same subject matter (even if the lyrics are a bit more mature) 15 years late is just...yeah. Also the fact that many (including myself) initially thought that "betty" could've been an attempt at queer-baiting or the expressing of non-hetero relationships was extinguished with the reference later in the song of her singing from the perspective of "James." One thing I did appreciate was the "If I told you it was just a summer thing? I'm only seventeen" excuse young males usually make for their infidelity but again, wise coming from a contemporary of those teenage men (say, a Billie Ellish) than a women now in her 30s.
For me, Taylor is strongest (and most enjoyable) when she shows a bit more vulnerability and self-awareness of her negative traits/actions (which she has struggled with away from music, placing most of the blame on outside perceptions, which, even when true, seem to paint her as enjoying a victim status). "mad woman," in my opinion, works much better than 'The Man" (which was a bit reductive) in part because Taylor is much more aware of her own ability to contribute and shape her perception/treatment rather than just being a powerless victim (though misogyny is real, does exist, and she is/has been a victim of it). With one of her old songs "Back to December," Taylor has admitted that it is one of her few tracks where she has actually apologized to an ex and one of the best tracks from Lover was "The Archer,' which seems to have it's twin in this record with "peace" and "this is me trying" (begging her partner to stay even she brings the storm with her wherever she goes). "invisible string" follows in the same echo with one of the best song's she's ever written "New Year's Day" and is great, genius song. Finally, iirc you mentioned in your Lover review about Taylor taking unrelatable life experiences (like she did with "Cornelia Street" on that record) and making them relateable. "last great american dynasty" follows right in that trend (funnily enough, always with houses she owns/rents) and makes a great track for listening to.
Finally, I find it amusing that Taylor released this album on the same day Kanye was supposed to release his. I don't think that was unintentional.
(Additionally there's a new record out by New Zealand electronic male/female duo The Naked and Famous that may be interesting to listen to).
@@kixmix2450 legitimate points but like I noted it's a personal pet peeve of mine. I understand some of that might be due to the fact that she never went to college and that high school was the last time in her life that she had any degree of normalcy or anonymity (she couldn't even attend her own high school graduation due to a concert or something related to her music career). It's not to take away from her music it's just, again, a minor annoyance I personally have but sometimes even I'll admit it works. Like "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince" from Lover, great (albeit obviously Lana Del Rey-inspired) track but again the high school setting works because it's obviously being used as a metaphor. She doesn't have to do it but telling some of the same stories (i.e. the love triangle) in settings outside of high school would be nice. Again it's just a personal preference of mine/pet peeve in the same ways some people (not taking away from how great this album is) bemoan the lack of pop single-like songs. Some things float people's boats differently and this is mine.
As always I appreciate your response and commentary. I like the earnestness of the teen drama thing, but I also agree that it can be grating.
@@professorskye After a few days of listening/marinating on folklore "betty" has grown on me as a fantastic song (albeit, again, more so because of the throwback Swift country vibes and harmonica than the story). Still, I find Taylor is way more interesting when she uses metaphors (even high school ones) to passively aggressively take shots at her enemies (see "tears ricochet" and "mad woman" or even "Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince") than just straight up earnest teenage "love stor[ies]" with no deeper subtext lol
He said jack is over glossy pop thing but he loves pop. Why You care if she believes in numerology . Just come to the point. Very deceptive
This album is up to the standard of the National and Bon Iver's entire discographies. Yep, that is a dis on both those bands.
All respect to Taylor Swift but I will never watch his reaction or review or whatever. In one hand he is saying don’t compare the works or taking it seriously. And then he said lover is better album. I love Taylor Swift like I need water every day. Any reaction video is not real. They just want views. Mister professor next time don’t divert the topics. Just enjoy the work
Haters are just gonna hate!!!!why be lock in 1 genre if you can do everhthing!!!the Taylor have Nothing to prove with people like this!!Taylor had won so many awards already and what awards have you won????!!!
Awards are not proof of quality
@@Itzzy515 and you Suck as a human being!!!!
with all due respect, she has always been a strong song writer, her album speak now is a masterpiece written entirely by herself!!!put some respect on her name!
You don’t know anything about Taylor Swift. You should always take Taylor Swift seriously. What’s the point of this video ?
Are you too dumb?? T
You don't understand anything about the points of the video. Watch again dumb
I wish I enjoyed this album as much as everyone seems to. I just find her voice not that captivating tbh.
But I appreciate your respectful take on this.
What the fuck is with this title. The woman is 10x Grammy Winner to which TWO of them are ALBUM OF THE YEAR, TWO are to a SELF-WRITTEN SONG and a MULTI-BMI Awardee. The fuck? Y'all put respect on her name and her talent ffs.
The last great American dynasty is actually inspired from the book Rebecca by Dauphine Du Maurier, Which is one of Taylor's favorites. She really bought the house too lol
When Folklore was released Taylor was already considered the greatest pop lyricist of her generation. Most of the music industry and music journalists already took her very seriously. She had won 2 Album of the Year Grammys. This album reached an indie audience that may have dismissed her before because of the associated producers. But none of us fans were shocked that this was in her. I also think the stretch time during Covid lockdown gave her space to think and dream that allowed her lyricism to flourish even more.
I disagree with the amount of calculation (cynicism?) that you keep associating with her. Taylor had no need to prove herself here. Long before this album she had expressed that The National and Bon Iver were 2 of her favorite bands. Any music nerd has very diverse musical taste so when she reached out to Aaron Dessner to collaborate, it was from a true sense of joy and excitement. He gave her files of music which sparked something in her and over which she wrote the melodies and lyrics. She brought Jack into the mix and they all vibed artistically in what they’ve described as an authentic way.
Finally you keep saying this is an album with no hooks and that is incorrect. I think what you’re trying to say is that is has no bombastic beat drops. It actually has hooks galore and is as catchy as any of her pop albums because Taylor is a genius when it comes to melody. Many of these songs could be pop songs with different production. I still have these melodies lodged in my brain 2 years later.
I also think Lover is one of her weakest albums with the exception of a few incredible songs. It’s too long, poorly sequenced, and has some truly dreadful songs like Me! and London Boy. Someone needed to edit her! I am not here for the silly bops. I’ll take the mid-tempo introspective dream folk/pop vibe any day over that album. 🤷🏻♀️
To each his own. I love the whole album vibe, it is very unique. Can't stand Lana. You should listen to some of the trashy songs that are out there right now, check out Cardi B's new music video WAP, notice I said the music video, it is so disgusting. then come back and review Taylor.
Then check out the oeuvres of George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern and Harold Arlen to keep things in perspective. You judge quality by comparing works to the gold standard, not the bottom level of our culture.
Assuming that because TS has an interest in numbers means she's interested in numerology is a really sexist thing to say. She might have an interest in math. If she was a dude, you'd have made that assumption. But good comments about misogyny in general.
folklore was not autibiographical
Why did you not take her seriously in her earlier eras? Why? Coz she’s a young white girl that writes about her life? I don’t think you realize that she’s a smart woman right from the start. The title is absurd you should change it
Because she was not the best only another pop singer with simple and child lyrics. Wherever you don't understand the point of the video.
If she's an "amazing songwriter", then what was George Gershwin. Has Swift ever created an enduring melody? It's all repetition in place of melody. Her lyrics are conversations rather than lyrics; check the lyrics of Cole Porter and Lorenz Hart to understand what literate, clever, well crafted to the music lyrics, are. When she is forty no one will search out her songs because she will no longer be popular, and they will die. Melody is the essence of popular song. If you are familiar with the work of the men who created the "Great American Songbook", you realise how lame Swift's songwriting is.
Exactly! . Is a good pop star but people is exaggerating with this
@@Itzzy515 well considering shes been charting songs since she was 15 and shes still the best selling artist of the year at 31, I think it's safe to say taylor wont be seeing a decline for a good long time. Her lyrics are often conversational but I'm not seeing how that's a bad thing? You can have great song that sound like a conversation
@Kerry Foerster George Gershwin wrote an opera called "Porgy And Bess" which is considered America's greatest opera. It has been performed at La Scala, the most prestigious opera house in the world, and is a standard in the operatic repertoire. Songs like "Summertime" (the most recorded song of all time), "Bess, You Is My Woman Now", "I Got Plenty Of Nothing", "My Man's Gone Now", "It Ain't Necessarily So", and others from the score, along with "Someone To Watch Over Me, "Embracable You", "Our Love Is Here To Stay" and countless others, are melodically and lyrically so far superior to anything Swift puts out that comparisons are ludicrous. I have listened to her songs recently and I can't think of one melody. Her songs either have virtually no melody at all, or mere repetition of words or phrases that are in lieu of melody.
Exact. Example of her weak lirics: As Swift writes about her boyfriend's first job at a yogurt shop or being told by a waitress that she looks like an American singer..........ha ha ha ha ha RIDICULOUS. There is no point of comparison. People exaggerating with their writing. She only writes typical pop songs, simple and lazy and always repeats the same metaphors, the same rhymes, she has no creativity. If you compare with other pop stars like gomez, lovato, grande, swift is the best but outside the pop world she is nobody and has a mediocre writing. Up to 1 song by other pop singers like Alanis Morissette or Fiona Apple write 1000 times better than swift and with intelligence, not nonsense of teen romance and revenge on Scoot and Scooter. The people who praise swift so much have not listened to other types of music so they think it is great. Sad
Cardigan is a Lana del Rey song
Ehhh, the first few second felt hella Lana-from the piano and her just the way she sang the lyrics, but after listening to it completely I don't get that LDR vibe, especially bc the epic bridge and the harmonies had a very distinct Taylor swift feel to it. Mad Woman might be one I think is more Lana-ish
@Kerry Foerster I guess but Cardigan sounds like a song that could be in a Lana record. TS is a good pop artist I am not questioning her talent.
Answer: No.
*yes
And this isn’t just me. Even before Folklore and 2020 fans and critics alike were taking her seriously.