Dorothea (song)

Last updated

"Dorothea"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Evermore
ReleasedDecember 11, 2020 (2020-12-11)
Recorded2020
Studio Long Pond (Hudson Valley)
Genre
Length3:45
Label Republic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Aaron Dessner
Lyric video
"Dorothea" on YouTube

"Dorothea" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). Swift wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. Musically, "Dorothea" combines Americana, folk, and country folk. Its production is driven by a honky-tonk piano, a tambourine percussion, and guitars. In the lyrics, the narrator reminisces an old friendship with Dorothea, who left their small hometown to pursue a Hollywood career when they were in their adolescence.

Contents

Music critics praised "Dorothea" for its soothing composition and lyrical imagery. It peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Global 200 chart and reached the national charts of Australia, Canada, Portugal, and the United States. Swift performed "Dorothea" live twice on her sixth concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–2024).

Background and release

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Taylor Swift wrote and produced her eighth studio album, Folklore , with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. [1] She conceived it as a set of mythopoeic visuals in her mind, a result of her imagination "running wild" while isolating herself during the lockdowns. [2] [3] Surprise-released on July 24, 2020, Folklore was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. [4] [5] In September 2020, Swift, Antonoff, and Dessner assembled at Long Pond Studio in Hudson Valley to film Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions , a documentary that features Swift performing all of the seventeen the tracks of Folklore and discussing the creative process and inspirations behind the album. [6] [7] After filming, the three celebrated Folklore's success and unexpectedly continued writing songs while staying at Long Pond. [8] The result was Swift's ninth studio album, Evermore , which she described as a "sister record" to Folklore. [9]

"Dorothea" was one of two tracks that were initially written for Big Red Machine, a band consisting of Dessner and Justin Vernon; Dessner believed it would align more suitably with Swift's mythopoeic themes and it was eventually included on Evermore. [8] [10] "Dorothea" is the eighth track on the album, which was surprise-released on December 11, 2020. [11] [12] The track debuted at number 47 on the Billboard Global 200 chart dated December 26, 2020. [13] In the United States, it reached number 13 on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, [14] number 40 on the Rolling Stone Top 100 chart, [15] and number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. [16] "Dorothea" peaked at number 34 in Canada, [17] number 47 in Australia, [18] and number 173 in Portugal. [19] In the United Kingdom, it reached number 74 on the Audio Streaming chart. [20] The track received a gold certification in Australia. [21]

Swift performed "Dorothea" as a "surprise" song twice on her sixth concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–2024). She played the track for the first time on piano at the second show in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 8, 2023. [22] [23] She performed it on acoustic guitar as part of a mashup with her 2019 song "It's Nice to Have a Friend" at the third Edinburgh show of the tour on June 9, 2024. [24]

Production and composition

Swift wrote "Dorothea" with Dessner, who produced the track and recorded it at Long Pond with the mixer Jonathan Low. Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone mastered it at Sterling Sound Studios in Edgewater, New Jersey, and Laura Sisk recorded Swift's vocals at Kitty Committee Studio in Los Angeles. Dessner played bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, and tambourine. Other musicians who played instruments include JT Bates (drum kit, percussion), Thomas Bartlett (piano, keyboards, synthesizers), Josh Kaufman (electric guitar, acoustic guitar), and Benjamin Lanz (modular synth). [7]

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Dorothea"
A sample of the refrain of "Dorothea", featuring a honky-tonk piano, Swift's lower vocal register, and lyrics about reminiscing an old friendship
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"Dorothea" is three minutes and forty-five seconds long. [25] Music journalists identified it as an Americana, [10] folk, [26] and country folk song, [27] instrumented by a honky-tonk piano, [9] [28] a tambourine percussion, guitars, [29] and a "whirling" acoustic arrangement. [30] Swift sings with her lower vocal register during the refrain. [31] [32] NME 's Hannah Mylrea thought that the vocal melodies were reminiscent of her debut studio album, Taylor Swift (2006). [33]

Lyrically, "Dorothea" and the fellow album track "'Tis the Damn Season" revolve around a fictional story set in Tupelo, Mississippi. The narrative of "Dorothea" consists of two characters, Dorothea and the narrator, who were childhood friends until Dorothea decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue a Hollywood career. [34] [35] [36] The narrator expresses her happiness for Dorothea's success and that she will always support her ("You're a queen, selling dreams/ Selling make up and magazines/ From you I'd buy anything"). [35] She reminisces her memories with her, such as a skipped prom and feelings of separation. [29] In the refrain, the narrator convinces herself that Dorothea was happier in the small town and she might return one day ("It's never too late to come back to my side/ The stars in your eyes shined brighter in Tupelo/ And if you're ever tired of being known for who you know/ You know, you'll always know me"). [32] [37]

Critical reception

Music critics praised "Dorothea" for its composition and lyrical imagery. Brodie Lancaster of The Sydney Morning Herald dubbed it a "masterwork of a character study", [35] and Deborah Krieger of PopMatters considered it the highlight of Evermore and an "immediate classic". [31] The latter lauded the soothing nature of the song, [31] and Paste 's Ellen Johnson similarly praised the soft electronic composition and the "carefully crafted" lyrical imagery. [38] The Guardian 's Alexis Petridis commended the exceptionally bright melody and believed that "Dorothea" succeeded in the context of reversing the "old country cliche" of a celebrity telling that their life of fame pales in comparison to the coziness of their small hometown. [37] Rolling Stone 's Rob Sheffield considered it a "hidden sequel" to Swift's 2020 song "The Lakes" and picked "The stars in your eyes shined brighter in Tupelo" as his favorite lyric from the track. [39] "Dorothea" appeared in rankings of Swift's discography by Vulture 's Nate Jones (89 out of 245) [40] and Sheffield (152 out of 274). [39]

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Evermore. [7]

Charts

Weekly chart performance of "Dorothea"
Chart (2020)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [18] 47
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [17] 34
Global 200 ( Billboard ) [13] 47
Portugal (AFP) [19] 173
UK Audio Streaming (OCC) [20] 74
US Billboard Hot 100 [16] 67
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [14] 13
US Rolling Stone Top 100 [15] 40

Certification

Certification for "Dorothea"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [21] Gold35,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Folklore</i> (Taylor Swift album) 2020 studio album by Taylor Swift

Folklore is the eighth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was surprise-released on July 24, 2020, via Republic Records. Swift recorded her vocals in her Los Angeles home studio and worked virtually with the producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff, who operated from their studios in the Hudson Valley and New York City.

"Peace" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. According to Swift, "Peace" is her most personal song on Folklore. It has a minimal composition of a soft piano and harmonized guitars over an electric pulse, combining elements of R&B, funk, and jazz. In the lyrics, Swift's character pledges her commitment to a lover while acknowledging the downsides she might bring to their relationship.

"August" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift and Jack Antonoff wrote the song, and the two produced it with Joe Alwyn.

"Invisible String" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). She wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. The lyrics are about how fate brings two soulmates together and refer to specific moments from their lives, containing references to the literature classics Jane Eyre and The Sun Also Rises. Musically, "Invisible String" is a folk tune with elements of blues, pop, and country. Its spare acoustic arrangement is driven by acoustic guitar strums on a rubber bridge and vocal backbeats.

"Mad Woman" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). The song was written by Swift and its producer, Aaron Dessner. "Mad Woman" is a ballad that confronts gaslighting and the sexist taboo regarding women's anger.

"Hoax" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift wrote the track with its producer, Aaron Dessner; it was the last track she wrote for the album. A slow-paced piano ballad, "Hoax" is about a flawed but everlasting relationship; Swift describes the details using motifs and imagery.

"The 1" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the opening track from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). She wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. A folk and soft rock tune with elements of indie folk, "The 1" sets Swift's conversational vocals over a production consisting of piano and percussion. In its lyrics, the narrator fondly introspects a failed romance and details the time when she found "the one" who never came to be. Republic Records released the song for download in Germany on October 9, 2020.

<i>Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions</i> 2020 American documentary concert film and live album

Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions is a 2020 American documentary concert film directed and produced by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on Disney+ on November 25, 2020. The documentary is set at Long Pond Studio, an isolated recording studio in a forested area in the Hudson Valley, New York; Swift performs all of the 17 tracks of her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020), whilst discussing the creative process behind the songs with her collaborators Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. Swift made her debut as a film director with the documentary, which is her fourth film to be released on a streaming service, following the releases of The 1989 World Tour Live (2015), Taylor Swift: Reputation Stadium Tour (2018), and Miss Americana (2020).

<i>Evermore</i> 2020 studio album by Taylor Swift

Evermore is the ninth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was a surprise album released on December 11, 2020, via Republic Records, less than five months after her previous studio album Folklore. Evermore was a spontaneous product of Swift's extended collaboration with her Folklore collaborator Aaron Dessner, mainly recorded at his Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willow (song)</span> 2020 single by Taylor Swift

"Willow" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). It was released on December 11, 2020, by Republic Records as the lead single from the album. "Willow" is a chamber folk love song making use of several metaphors to convey the singer's romantic state of mind, such as portraying her life as a willow tree, over picked guitars, glockenspiel, flute, strings, and percussion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Body, No Crime</span> 2021 single by Taylor Swift featuring Haim

"No Body, No Crime" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, featuring the American band Haim, from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the track as a result of her fixation with crime documentaries and podcasts, and co-produced it with Aaron Dessner. A tune featuring styles of country, country rock, and Americana, "No Body, No Crime" is a murder ballad about the murder of a woman named Este, narrated by her friend who avenges her. Republic Records in partnership with MCA Nashville sent the song to US country radio on January 11, 2021, as a single from Evermore.

"Champagne Problems" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the song with Joe Alwyn, who is credited under the pseudonym William Bowery, and produced it with Aaron Dessner. "Champagne Problems" is a lo-fi tune driven by a rhythmic composition of piano and guitar riff.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coney Island (Taylor Swift song)</span> 2021 single by Taylor Swift featuring the National

"Coney Island" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift featuring the American band the National. Swift, Joe Alwyn, and the brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner wrote the song for Swift's ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). The track was produced by the Dessner brothers, and Matt Berninger contributed guest vocals. An alternative rock and indie folk track, "Coney Island" has lyrics depicting a separated couple's memories in Coney Island. Swift and Berninger respectively sings about their character's perspective reflecting on their past relationship.

"Long Story Short" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. "Long Story Short" is an upbeat song that consists of dynamic programmed and live drums, synths, strings, and guitars; music critics characterize the genre as synth-pop, electropop, folk-pop, and indie rock. The lyrics see Swift reminiscing about a dark part of her past and her contentment with a current state of mind.

"Marjorie" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the track with its producer, Aaron Dessner. A tribute to Swift's late maternal grandmother, the opera singer Marjorie Finlay, the song features bits of advice that Finlay offered to Swift and touches on her guilt over not knowing Finlay to the fullest. "Marjorie" is a sentimental ballad that incorporates electronic keyboard arrangement, pizzicato strings, and samples of Finlay's soprano vocals.

"'Tis the Damn Season" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the song with Aaron Dessner, who produced it using an instrumental track he had written prior. "'Tis the Damn Season" is a folk song instrumented by a finger-picked electric guitar and programmed drums. Narrated from the perspective of a female character named Dorothea, the lyrics detail her returning to her hometown during the holiday season and engaging in a quickly-faded rekindled relationship.

<i>How Long Do You Think Its Gonna Last?</i> 2021 studio album by Big Red Machine

How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? is the second studio album by American indie duo Big Red Machine, which consists of musicians Aaron Dessner and Justin Vernon. It was released on August 27, 2021, via 37d03d and Jagjaguwar record labels. Dessner stated the album is built around themes of childhood, familial dynamics, and mental health. He cited The Last Waltz, the 1978 live album by the Band, as an inspiration for the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renegade (Big Red Machine song)</span> 2021 single by Big Red Machine featuring Taylor Swift

"Renegade" is a song recorded by American indie band Big Red Machine featuring American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, released on July 2, 2021, by 37d03d and Jagjaguwar. It was serviced to US triple-A radio on the same day as the third single from the band's second studio album, How Long Do You Think It's Gonna Last? (2021).

"Happiness" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the song with Aaron Dessner, who produced it using an instrumental track he had written in 2019. A midtempo ambient ballad, "Happiness" has piano, guitar and synthesizer instrumentation generated by a slow drone that build up. Its lyrics are about a narrator finding happiness after a divorce.

"Tolerate It" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the track with its producer, Aaron Dessner. A slow building piano ballad, "Tolerate It" features a midtempo production and an odd time signature. Inspired by the Daphne du Maurier novel Rebecca (1938), its lyrics are narrated by a young woman who addresses her unstable relationship with an older man who does not seem to like her.

References

  1. ↑ Blistein, Jon (November 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift to Release New Folklore Film, The Long Pond Studio Sessions" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  2. ↑ "'It Started with Imagery': Read Taylor Swift's Primer for Folklore". Billboard . July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  3. ↑ Suskind, Alex (December 9, 2020). "Taylor Swift Broke All Her Rules with Folklore — and Gave Herself a Much-Needed Escape". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  4. ↑ Lipshutz, Jason (July 24, 2021). "Taylor Swift Releases 'The Lakes (Original Version)' on Folklore One-Year Anniversary: Listen Now". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  5. ↑ DeSantis, Rachel (December 5, 2023). "Taylor Swift's Cowriter Aaron Dessner Recalls Her 'Cooking Everyone Breakfast and Dinner' at Her Home (Exclusive)". People . Archived from the original on December 19, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  6. ↑ Winn, Layne; Larramendia, Eliana (November 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift Announces Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions Intimate Concert Film for Disney+". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 24, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Swift, Taylor (2020). Evermore (CD deluxe edition liner notes). Republic Records. B003340502.
  8. 1 2 Havens, Lyndsey (December 18, 2020). "Aaron Dessner on the 'Weird Avalanche' That Resulted in Taylor Swift's Evermore". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Shaffer, Claire (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift Deepens Her Goth-Folk Vision on the Excellent Evermore" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Shaffer, Claire (December 18, 2020). "Aaron Dessner on How His Collaborative Chemistry With Taylor Swift Led to Evermore" . Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  11. ↑ Rosa, Christopher (December 10, 2020). "Taylor Swift Is Releasing Her 9th Album, Evermore, Just Five Months After Folklore". Glamour . Archived from the original on March 31, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  12. ↑ Lewis, Isobel; O'Connor, Roisin (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift Releases New Album Evermore – Everything We Know So Far". The Independent . Archived from the original on January 4, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  13. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  14. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  15. 1 2 "Top 100 Songs". Rolling Stone . December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  17. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  18. 1 2 "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 21 December 2020". The ARIA Report. No. 1607. Australian Recording Industry Association. December 21, 2020. p. 4.
  19. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Dorothea". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  20. 1 2 "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  22. ↑ Gomez, Dessi (December 8, 2024). "All the Surprise Songs Taylor Swift Played on Her Eras Tour". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  23. ↑ Jasso, Silke (July 10, 2023). "Taylor Swift Starts Over Twice After Forgetting Lyrics to 'Last Kiss' mid Concert". American Songwriter . Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  24. ↑ West, Bryan (June 9, 2024). "Taylor Swift Mashes Up 'Crazier' from Hannah Montana with This Lover Song in Scotland". USA Today . Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  25. ↑ Swift, Taylor (January 7, 2021). "Evermore (Deluxe Edition)". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on January 7, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  26. ↑ Zaleski 2024, p. 200.
  27. ↑ Horton, Ross (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift Returns for a 2020 Victory Lap on Evermore". The Line of Best Fit . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  28. ↑ Ahlgrim, Callie; Larocca, Courteney (December 11, 2020). "Review: Taylor Swift Evermore Is a Great Follow Up to Folklore" . Business Insider . Archived from the original on March 27, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  29. 1 2 Lipshutz, Jason (December 14, 2020). "Every Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's Evermore: Critic's Picks". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  30. ↑ Olivier, Bobby (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift's Evermore Is an Undeniable Folk-Pop Masterpiece". Spin . Archived from the original on December 22, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  31. 1 2 3 Krieger, Deborah (December 15, 2020). "Taylor Swift Has Written the Best Music of Her Career with Evermore and Folklore". PopMatters . Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  32. 1 2 Bailey, Alyssa (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Dorothea' Lyrics Sparked Selena Gomez Fan Theories. Taylor Laid Out the Truth". Elle . Archived from the original on December 30, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2025.
  33. ↑ Mylrae, Hannah (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift – Evermore Review: The Freewheeling Younger Sibling to Folklore". NME . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  34. ↑ Crone, Madeline (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift Evermore Is Ready For Your Record Player, Radio Play Be Damned". American Songwriter . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  35. 1 2 3 Brodie, Lancaster (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift Is Back, Stronger than Ever Before" . The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  36. ↑ Willman, Chris (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift Has Her Second Great Album of 2020 With Evermore: Album Review". Variety . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  37. 1 2 Petridis, Alexis (December 11, 2020). "Taylor Swift: Evermore – Rich Alt-Rock and Richer Character Studies". The Guardian . Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  38. ↑ Johnson, Ellen (December 15, 2020). "Taylor Swift's Evermore Is Folklore's Charismatic Companion". Paste . Archived from the original on December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  39. 1 2 Sheffield, Rob (October 26, 2024). "All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  40. ↑ Jones, Nate (May 20, 2024). "All 245 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked" . Vulture . Archived from the original on September 20, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.

Source

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.