Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions

Last updated

Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
Folklore The Long Pond Studio Sessions Poster.jpg
Official release poster
Directed by Taylor Swift
Based on Folklore
by Taylor Swift
Produced by
  • Taylor Swift
  • Robert Allen
  • Bart Peters
Starring
CinematographyEthan Palmer
Edited byLaura Randolph
Production
companies
Distributed by Disney+
Release date
  • November 25, 2020 (2020-11-25)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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).

Contents

Receiving widespread critical acclaim, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions was praised for its music, intimacy, visuals, and insight provided on Folklore, with many critics labeling the film an admirable supplement to the album. It received an approval rating of 100% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. Imbued by the sessions, Swift wrote and recorded several new songs off-screen while shooting the documentary. These songs came to be a major portion of Swift's ninth studio album, Evermore (2020), which was released fifteen days after the documentary. The film received the Gracie Grand Award for Outstanding Special or Variety.

Accompanying the film's premiere, a live album soundtrack, entitled Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (From the Disney+ Special), consisting of the recordings of the live performances featured in the film, was released to music streaming and digital platforms. For the 2023 Record Store Day, a run of 115,000 limited-edition vinyl LPs of the album was released exclusively via independent record stores across the world, selling out in three days. The album topped the US Billboard Soundtracks, Vinyl Albums, Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, and Tastemaker Albums charts, and became the first-ever Record Store Day-exclusive in history to enter the top 10 of the overall Billboard 200 chart, landing at number three.

Synopsis

In September 2020, Swift and her co-producers for her eighth studio album, Dessner and Antonoff, assembled together at Long Pond Studio—a secluded, rustic cabin in upstate New York—to play the complete album for the first time in the same room after writing, recording, and producing it in isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The result was the concert documentary, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, where the three performed stripped-down, acoustic renditions of all 17 tracks in order, while revealing the creative process, stories, and inspirations behind the songs through discussions. [1]

The film's premise on Disney+ reads: "Taylor Swift performs every song from her best-selling album, "Folklore", in a truly intimate concert experience. Accompanied by her co-producers, Aaron Dessner (of The National) and Jack Antonoff (of Bleachers), along with a guest appearance by Justin Vernon (of Bon Iver), Taylor filmed the event at the historic Long Pond Studios in upstate New York, a setting that evokes the nostalgic, wistful nature of the album. In between live performances, she and her collaborators discuss the creation and meaning behind each song, and also share the challenges and joys of remotely producing this acclaimed and record-setting collection". [2]

Cast

Production

A still from the film, in which Taylor Swift (middle) sings into a microphone while Jack Antonoff (left) plays a guitar and Aaron Dessner (right) is at the piano. Exile (live version) Music Video Screenshot.png
A still from the film, in which Taylor Swift (middle) sings into a microphone while Jack Antonoff (left) plays a guitar and Aaron Dessner (right) is at the piano.

Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions is a hybrid between a documentary and a concert film. [3] It marked the first time Swift, Dessner and Antonoff had assembled together in person after several months of COVID-19 quarantining. [4] Due to the pandemic, they were filmed not by a film crew, but instead by six Panasonic Lumix S1H mirrorless cameras with Leica lenses embedded in the studio, along with one Arri Alexa LF with an Angénieux 24-290 lens on an Agito Trax modular dolly system with more than 30 feet of curved track that occasionally scans the recording session from the background. [5] [6] A drone camera was also used to capture aerial shots of the studio and the surrounding forested estate. [7] Justin Vernon appeared via video stream from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to perform "Exile" with Swift. [8]

The film is characterized by a casual, small-scale production, [9] and a softly lit, [10] cottagecore aesthetic. [11] Apart from a few videos of Swift at her home studio, the film was entirely recorded at Long Pond Studios in New York's Hudson Valley—one of the places where Folklore was engineered. [7] The studio, which is located near Dessner's residence and was originally a barn, [12] had been converted into a wooden cabin situated in a waterfront estate besides an elongated pond and surrounded by chairs, string lights and fire pits. [7] [10] The studio is an open room with a church-high ceiling, tall windows, and a woodland view, set up with a variety of Dessner's musical instruments. The ambience outside the studio consists of sounds of birds, insects, frogs or the trees swaying in the wind. [12] In the film, Swift performed seated on a couch in an oversized plaid shirt-dress, singing directly into a microphone, with Antonoff and Dessner playing instruments and an engineer in the back of the room. [6] The instruments used in the film include a variety of guitars, keyboards, a Fender bass, a piano, a drum machine and a snare. [7] [10]

Release

Like the release of Folklore, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions was a surprise release, announced hours before its launch at midnight. [6] [10] It was released on Disney+ on November 25, 2020 [13] and on Hotstar in India and Indonesia on November 26, 2020. [14]

Reception

Critical response

Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions received universal acclaim from film and music critics. [15] On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 7.4/10. [16] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [17] Andrew Barker of Variety praised the film's picturesque setting, performances, and ability to recreate Folklore's "sparse yet carefully textured soundscapes" with fewer instruments, and dubbed Swift's vocals as the film's "most striking element". [7] NME writer Will Richards named it a perfect "early Christmas present" and praised its editing, especially when Swift and Dessner have a "genuinely touching" discussion on the meaning behind the song "Peace", followed by a performance of the song that "hits right in the gut". [18]

Taylor Swift RED Tour 2013 (cropped).jpg
Antonoff in Tucson (cropped).jpg
Aaron Dessner at Way Out West 2014.jpg
Critics praised the conversational and musical chemistry between (from left to right) Swift, Antonoff, and Dessner.

Writing for The New York Times , Jon Pareles dubbed the film a "musical experience" that heightens the album's "sense of pristine contemplation" using a small-scale, casual-looking production. [9] i newspaper's Sarah Carson defined the film as "artfully crafted, aesthetically gorgeous, cosy cottagecore escapism" with diverse conversations, such as light-hearted "giggly" discussions around the campfire to formal introspection on stiff chairs. Carson opined that it sheds "genuine light" on Swift's work, seeing her at peace with her life, laughing, "publicly relaxed for the first time in a decade". [11] Decider critic Johnny Loftus found it refreshing to see and hear Swift in the "dressed-down setting" of Long Pond Studio Sessions, calling the film "a balm for the soul as we wind down an extremely not cool year" and an intimate portrait of artists at work, in contrast to the pop persona that dominated Swift's career. [10]

Little White Lies critic Sydney Urbanek lauded the film as a "triumphant debut" for Swift as a film director, as well as the cast's on-screen presence: Swift's and Antonoff's "captivating" one-on-one chats and Dessner's studio focus. [3] Alex Hudson of Exclaim! described the film as "an oasis of tranquility in a chaotic time", in which "even the biggest pop star on Earth holed up and got cozy and insular". He admired Swift's rapport with Antonoff—their "laugh-out-loud" jokes—and the discussions that yielded "interesting insights and factoids" about the songwriting of Folklore. [19] Junkee 's Richard He complimented Swift's vocals, emotion, the film's visuals and intimacy, and the cast's instrumental skills; he described the film as a "masterclass" in songcraft and "a rare glimpse inside a genius songwriter's mind". In He's words, "Great popstars embody our times; great songwriters address them. Taylor Swift is doing both". [20]

Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone praised the cast's chemistry, and asserted that The Long Pond Studio Sessions is not a mere footnote to the album, but a "stunning musical statement in its own right, full of stripped-down acoustic warmth". He underlined how Swift moves past vague anecdotes about the tracks by explaining why she felt the need to write such music in the first place. [21] Branding it a "very beautifully done" film, The Daily Telegraph 's Kate Solomon called it a "very warm two hours of music that gives the songs a new lease of life", and observed the parallels between the "luscious, remote surroundings" of the studio and how they reflect the "lusciousness and isolation" of the songs. [22] Stuff critic James Croot compared the special's atmosphere to that of MTV Unplugged , and added that the film's production is slick despite the intimate appeal, similar to Swift's 2020 Netflix documentary, Miss Americana . [23]

Drew Taylor of Collider labelled the film "a winning examination and celebration" of Folklore, and "a look at one of the world's biggest pop stars at her most vulnerable and artistically ambitious". He picked Antonoff as the more active personality, while Dessner is "terse", except at the point where he opens up about his depression—"a moment that is both incredibly vulnerable and also powerful". [6] Ryan Lattanzio of IndieWire described the film as "a window into the introspective songwriting" of Folklore that "isn't going to blow your head off" but is a "fine supplement to one of the year's most beloved albums". [24] The Guardian 's Elle Hunt wrote that the film shows Swift at ease, but also at the "peak of her power" with little to prove, while her song-by-song commentary depicts the "shifting emotional tenor" she felt in quarantine. However, Hunt felt that Swift not name-dropping her detractors "seems coy" as it limits the film's personal reflection. [25]

Accolades

Awards and nominations for Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
OrganizationYearAwardResultRef.
Shorty Awards 2021Best Use of EmojisNominated [26]
Gracie Awards Grand Award for Special or VarietyWon [27]

Impact

American comedian Jimmy Fallon released a parody of the documentary on YouTube, titled Fallonlore: The 30 Rock Sessions, featuring American hip-hop band the Roots. In the skit, Fallon wrote an album in quarantine, enlisting Questlove and Black Thought to help him finish it remotely. Months later, the trio gather at 30 Rockefeller Center to perform their tracks together for the first time. The setlist included songs titled "Peed My Pants in an Applebee's", "Song About Milk", "Sourdough Heart", and "Fuzzy Wuzzy" featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay. [28]

Most of the songs on Evermore —Swift's ninth studio album and Folklore's sister album—were recorded while filming The Long Pond Studio Sessions. [29]

A still from the film was featured in a 2021 television advertisement by The New York Times, titled "The Truth Is Essential: Life Right Now", showcasing a variety of articles from the publication. [30]

The Department of English of the Queen's University at Kingston, a public research university in Ontario, Canada, offers a fall semester course titled "Taylor Swift's Literary Legacy (Taylor's Version)", with a syllabus requiring students to watch and analyze many of Swift's works, including Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions; the course objective is to examine Swift's music, its literary references, and her sociopolitical impact on contemporary culture. [31]

After the release of Folklore, Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions and Evermore, artists such as Maya Hawke, [32] Gracie Abrams, [33] Ed Sheeran, [34] King Princess, [35] and Girl in Red [36] desired to collaborate with Dessner and record songs at his Long Pond Studio. Dessner stated, "After Taylor, it was a bit crazy how many people reached out. And getting to meet and write songs with people you wouldn’t have had access to… I’m so grateful for it." He described the studio as a "creative oasis" for artists. [35]

Live album

Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
Live album by
Taylor Swift
ReleasedNovember 25, 2020
RecordedSeptember 2020
StudioLong Pond Studio, Hudson Valley
Genre Acoustic
Length2:14:43
Label Republic
Producer
Taylor Swift chronology
Folklore
(2020)		Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
(2020)		 Evermore
(2020)

Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (From the Disney+ Special), [lower-alpha 1] or simply Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions, is the fourth live album and first soundtrack album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It contains the acoustic renditions of Folklore tracks performed in the Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions film. The album was released via Republic Records to streaming and digital platforms on November 25, 2020, alongside the film, [37] [1] and in a limited number of vinyl LPs on April 22, 2023.

Commercial performance

To commemorate the 2023 Record Store Day (RSD), a limited vinyl edition of Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions was released on April 22, 2023, exclusively via independent record shops participating in the event. [38] All of the 75,000 vinyl LPs of the album available for purchase in the US sold out quickly, giving Swift the largest single vinyl sales week in 2023. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200, in addition to Midnights (2022) charting at number four and Lover (2019) at number ten, making Swift the first artist since Prince in 2016 to chart three albums in the top 10. [39] It also marked the first-ever RSD exclusive in history to land in the top-10 region of the chart. Furthermore, the live album topped the Billboard Vinyl Albums, Soundtracks, Top Alternative Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums and Tastemaker Albums charts—Swift's tenth, first, third, first and ninth number-one on the charts, respectively—and placed second on the Top Album Sales chart. [40] A total of 115,000 copies were available for purchase worldwide, all of which sold out within the first few days. [41]

Track listing

Disc 1: Folklore  — Deluxe edition [37]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The 1"
  • Taylor Swift
  • Aaron Dessner
Dessner3:30
2."Cardigan"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner4:00
3."The Last Great American Dynasty"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner3:51
4."Exile" (featuring Bon Iver)
4:46
5."My Tears Ricochet"Swift
  • Swift
  • Jack Antonoff
  • Alwyn
4:16
6."Mirrorball"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
3:29
7."Seven"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner3:29
8."August"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Alwyn
4:22
9."This Is Me Trying"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Alwyn
3:15
10."Illicit Affairs"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Alwyn
3:11
11."Invisible String"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner4:13
12."Mad Woman"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner3:57
13."Epiphany"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner4:50
14."Betty"
  • Swift
  • Bowery
  • Swift
  • Dessner
  • Antonoff
  • Alwyn
4:55
15."Peace"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner3:54
16."Hoax"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
Dessner3:40
17."The Lakes"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
3:32
Total length:66:58
Disc 2: Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (From the Disney+ Special) [37]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The 1"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
3:40
2."Cardigan"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
3:51
3."The Last Great American Dynasty"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
3:52
4."Exile (featuring Bon Iver)"
  • Swift
  • Bowery
  • Vernon
4:40
5."My Tears Ricochet"Swift4:55
6."Mirrorball"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
3:57
7."Seven"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
3:29
8."August"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
4:20
9."This Is Me Trying"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
3:29
10."Illicit Affairs"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
3:04
11."Invisible String"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
4:17
12."Mad Woman"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
3:58
13."Epiphany"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
4:35
14."Betty"
  • Swift
  • Bowery
4:50
15."Peace"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
3:34
16."Hoax"
  • Swift
  • Dessner
3:42
17."The Lakes"
  • Swift
  • Antonoff
3:20
Total length:67:25

Notes

Charts

Chart performance for Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
Chart (2023)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [43] 24
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [44] 126
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [45] 12
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [46] 3
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [47] 5
Irish Albums (OCC) [48] 6
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [49] 24
Scottish Albums (OCC) [50] 1
Swedish Physical Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [51] 5
UK Albums (OCC) [52] 4
US Billboard 200 [53] 3
US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard) [54] 1
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [55] 1
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums ( Billboard ) [56] 1
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [57] 1

Release history

Release dates and formats for Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
VariousNovember 25, 2020 Republic [37] [1]
April 22, 2023 Vinyl LP [41]

See also

Related Research Articles

"Mirrorball" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). She wrote the song as a tribute to her fans, after she cancelled a planned concert tour to support her seventh studio album Lover (2019) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Produced by Swift and co-writer Jack Antonoff, "Mirrorball" is a dream pop, jangle pop, and indie folk song with flavors of country music, accompanied by reverbed, gentle guitars, vocal harmonies, and live drums. Lyrically, the narrator likens herself to a fragile disco ball and sings about doing anything to keep her audience entertained.

<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 a surprise album, released on July 24, 2020, via Republic Records. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Swift canceled the concert tour for her seventh studio album Lover (2019). She conceived Folklore during quarantine as "a collection of songs and stories that flowed like a stream of consciousness", working with producers Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff virtually; Dessner and Antonoff operated from recording studios in the Hudson Valley and New York City, respectively, while Swift recorded her vocals in a home studio at her Los Angeles residence.

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

"Cardigan" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift and the lead single from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Republic Records released the song on July 27, 2020. Written by Swift and its producer, Aaron Dessner, "Cardigan" is a folk, soft rock, and indie rock ballad, with a stripped-down arrangement of a piano, drums, and violins.

"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.

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

"Betty" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). It was written by Swift and Joe Alwyn, and the former produced the track with Aaron Dessner and Jack Antonoff. MCA Nashville and Republic Records released the song to US country radio on August 17, 2020. "Betty" is an Americana-inspired song combining country, folk rock, and guitar pop. Its production consists of a harmonica, a pedal steel, guitars, and a key change after the bridge.

"August" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift wrote and produced "August" with Jack Antonoff; Joe Alwyn was credited as a co-producer. A dream pop and guitar pop ballad, "August" features elements of soft rock in its guitars, strings, and vocal reverberation. In the lyrics, an unnamed female narrator expresses her sorrow over James, a 17-year-old boy who reconciles with Betty after a fleeting summer romance with her. She is a character involved in a love triangle depicted in three Folklore tracks, the other two being "Cardigan" and "Betty".

"My Tears Ricochet" is a song written and recorded by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift for her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). She produced the song with Jack Antonoff and Joe Alwyn. "My Tears Ricochet" infuses arena and gothic styles of rock music and gospel. The production incorporates choir-inflected layered vocals, mellow synths, and shuddering drums, bringing forth a soundscape that critics described as haunting and sorrowful. Its lyrics are a narration by the ghost of a dead woman, which finds its murderer, who she once loved dearly, at its own funeral.

"Illicit Affairs" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It is taken from her eighth studio album, Folklore, which was released on July 24, 2020. The track was written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, and Joe Alwyn was credited as co-producer. "Illicit Affairs" is an acoustic guitar-led folk love song describing an infidelity of a narrator wanting to maintain her deceitful relationship.

"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. It is the final track of the standard edition of her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift wrote the track with its producer, Aaron Dessner. A slow-paced piano ballad, "Hoax" is about a flawed but everlasting relationship; Swift describes the details using motifs and imagery.

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

"The Lakes" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from the deluxe edition of her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, "The Lakes" is a midtempo indie ballad, set to acoustic guitar and strings, with themes of introspection and escapism that reflect on Swift's semi-retirement in Windermere, the largest natural lake in England.

"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>Evermore</i> 2020 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.

"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.

"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.

"This Is Me Trying" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). It was written and produced by Swift and Jack Antonoff, and Joe Alwyn was credited as co-producer. The track is an orchestral pop and dream pop tune with a production featuring an organ, slow-paced beats, and horns. "This Is Me Trying" was inspired by Swift's state of mind during 2016 and 2017, when she said she was at her lowest. The narrator of "This Is Me Trying" proclaims themselves as an unwanted person who struggles with existentialism and alcoholism.

"'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.

"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 since 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

Footnote

  1. ↑ Stylized as folklore: the long pond studio sessions (from the Disney+ special).

    Citations

    1. 1 2 3 "11 Things We Learned From Taylor Swift's 'Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions'". Billboard. November 25, 2020. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
    2. ↑ "folklore: the long pond studio sessions". Disney+ . Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
    3. 1 2 Urbanek, Sydney (November 26, 2020). "Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions review – A triumphant debut from Taylor Swift". Little White Lies . Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    4. ↑ Spangler, Todd (November 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift 'Folklore' Concert Film to Debut on Disney Plus". Variety . Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
    5. ↑ "Taylor Swift's Folklore shot with AGITO Trax by Jose Antunes - ProVideo Coalition". January 8, 2021. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
    6. 1 2 3 4 Taylor, Drew (November 26, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions' Review: A Quiet Triumph". Collider . Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    7. 1 2 3 4 5 Barker, Andrew (November 27, 2020). "'Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions' Review: Taylor Swift Gives Her Last Album a Stripped-Down Reading in This Cozy Performance Film". Variety . Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    8. ↑ Gemmil, Allie (November 25, 2020). "Stop Everything & Watch Taylor Swift Duet with Bon Iver on "Exile" for Her Disney+ Doc". Collider. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
    9. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (November 26, 2020). "Taylor Swift Illuminates 'Folklore' in a Stripped-Down Studio Concert". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    10. 1 2 3 4 5 Loftus, Johnny (November 25, 2020). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions' on Disney+, a Surprise Companion to Taylor Swift's Surprise Album". Decider . Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    11. 1 2 Carson, Sarah (November 26, 2020). "On folklore: the long pond sessions, Taylor Swift wants us to stop reading between the lines". i . Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    12. 1 2 Pareles, Jon (August 19, 2021). "How Aaron Dessner Found His Voice (With an Assist From Taylor Swift)". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
    13. ↑ 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 November 24, 2020.
    14. ↑ Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions - Trailer , retrieved November 26, 2020
    15. ↑ Keogh, Joey (December 3, 2020). "Here's Where Taylor Swift Fans Can Catch A Sneak Peek At An Iconic Classic". The List . Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
    16. ↑ "Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
    17. ↑ "folklore: the long pond studio sessions". Metacritic . Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
    18. ↑ Richards, Will (November 27, 2020). "'Folklore: The Long Pond Sessions' review: secrets, songs and self-isolation with Taylor Swift". NME . Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    19. ↑ Hudson, Alex (November 30, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'folklore' Concert Film Exudes Hygge Directed by Taylor Swift". Exclaim! . Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
    20. ↑ S. He, Richard (December 1, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore Sessions' Is A Rare Glimpse Inside A Genius Songwriter's Mind". Junkee . Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
    21. ↑ Sheffield, Rob (November 25, 2020). "The Thanksgiving Miracle of Taylor Swift's Acoustic 'Folklore' Session". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    22. ↑ Solomon, Kate (November 25, 2020). "Taylor Swift, The Long Pond Studio Sessions, review: a cosy fireside chat scattered with Easter Eggs". The Daily Telegraph . ISSN   0307-1235. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    23. ↑ Croot, James (November 27, 2020). "Taylor Swift adds to her Folklore with Disney+'s intimate Long Pond Sessions". Stuff . Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
    24. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (November 26, 2020). "'Folklore' Review: Taylor Swift's Disney+ Doc Is Just Her Singing in a Barn, and That's OK". IndieWire . Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
    25. ↑ Hunt, Elle (November 25, 2020). "Taylor Swift: The Long Pond Studio Sessions review – cosy campfire confessions". The Guardian . Archived from the original on November 29, 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
    26. ↑ "BEST USE OF EMOJIS". Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
    27. ↑ "46th Annual Gracie Awards Winners Announced by The Alliance For Women In Media Foundation". PR Newswire (Press release). Gracie Awards. Archived from the original on November 12, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
    28. ↑ Blistein, Jon (December 2, 2020). "Jimmy Fallon Spoofs Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' Doc With the Roots, Chris Martin". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 2, 2020. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
    29. ↑ 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 December 27, 2020.
    30. ↑ "The New York Times TV Commercial, 'The Truth Is Essential: Life Right Now' Song by Makaya McCraven". iSpot . Archived from the original on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
    31. ↑ "Cultural Studies: Theory into Practice | Department of English". Queen's University at Kingston . Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
    32. ↑ Robert, Moran; Shand, John; Au-Nhien Nguyen, Giselle; Ross, Annabel (September 28, 2022). "What to listen to this month: A worthwhile album from a nepo baby? Stranger things happen". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
    33. ↑ Shafer, Ellise (April 5, 2022). "Gracie Abrams on How Songwriting Is 'Like Breathing,' Touring With Friend Olivia Rodrigo and Making New Music With Aaron Dessner". Variety. Archived from the original on April 8, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
    34. ↑ Curto, Justin (March 8, 2022). "Ed Sheeran Is Working on His folklore". Vulture. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
    35. 1 2 "Recording's Great Escapes: Inside The World's Most Scenic, State-of-the-Art Studios". Billboard. October 10, 2022. Archived from the original on October 10, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
    36. ↑ Holden, Finlay (October 3, 2022). "girl in red has announced that a new single, 'October Passed Me By', is due next week". Dork. Archived from the original on October 3, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
    37. 1 2 3 4 "folklore: the long pond studio sessions (from the Disney+ special) [deluxe edition]". Tidal . November 25, 2020. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
    38. ↑ Murray, Robin (February 16, 2023). "Taylor Swift To Release 'folklore: the long pond studio session' | News". Clash. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
    39. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (May 1, 2023). "Morgan Wallen's 'One Thing at a Time' Hits Eighth Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
    40. ↑ "Taylor Swift - Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
    41. 1 2 Willman, Chris (May 1, 2023). "Taylor Swift's 'Long Pond Sessions' Debuts at No. 3, Making Her the First Artist With Three Albums in Top 10 Since 2016". Variety. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
    42. ↑ "Credits / folklore: the long pond studio sessions (from the Disney+ special)". listen.tidal.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
    43. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    44. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Taylor Swift – Folklore - The Long Pond Studio Sessions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
    45. ↑ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 17, 2023". Hitlisten . Retrieved May 3, 2023.
    46. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Taylor Swift – Folklore - The Long Pond Studio Sessions" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
    47. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2023. 17. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
    48. ↑ "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    49. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 1, 2023. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
    50. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
    51. ↑ "Veckolista Album Fysiskt, vecka 17". Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on April 28, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
    52. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
    53. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
    54. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Soundtrack Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
    55. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
    56. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (US Top Rock & Alternative Albums)". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
    57. ↑ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
    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.