Peace (Taylor Swift song)

Last updated

"Peace"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Folklore
ReleasedJuly 24, 2020 (2020-07-24)
Studio
Length3:54
Label Republic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Aaron Dessner
Lyric video
"Peace" on YouTube

"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.

Contents

Music critics who praised "Peace" found the song to contain emotional lyrics, Swift's elastic vocal performance, and a stripped-down production. Some critics named it one of the best-written songs by Swift. Commercially, the track peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and charted in Australia and Canada. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) gave it a gold certification. Swift performed the song for the concert documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions (2020) and her Eras Tour (2023–2024).

Background and production

The American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift began work on her eighth studio album, Folklore , during the COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020. [1] She recruited Aaron Dessner as a producer on the album. Swift co-wrote nine songs with Dessner, who produced all of them, including "Peace". [2] It was the third track the duo wrote, following the fellow Folklore tracks "Cardigan" and "Seven". [3] Due to the lockdown, Swift and Dessner were separated and had to create the album by exchanging digital files; [4] the songs they worked on were originally Dessner's instrumental tracks that he would send to Swift to pen the melody and lyrics over. [5]

For "Peace", its instrumental consisted of harmonized basslines, a drone, and a pulse—the last one was provided by the American singer-songwriter Justin Vernon. [6] [7] When Swift heard the instrumental, she found an "immediate sense of serenity" and a feeling of being at peace, but thought that it would be very literal to sing about finding peace. Instead, Swift wrote about complex "conflicted" feelings that would contrast to the track's calming sound. [1] She recorded it in one take at Kitty Committee Studio in Los Angeles. [2] [7] The song and its instruments were recorded at Long Pond Studios in Hudson Valley and April Base Studios in Wisconsin. It was mixed at Long Pond and was mastered at Sterling Sound in New York City. [2]

Music and lyrics

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Peace"
A sample of the chorus in "Peace", where Swift promises her partner unbound love and comfort but uncertain about tranquility, guided by a gentle pulse, silky basslines, and a piano staccato.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Characterized by a sparse, [8] lo-fi instrumentation, [9] "Peace" is a minimal R&B-influenced song with a slow funk bassline, [10] consisting of three lushly harmonized electric guitars juxtaposed over a ticking pulse, [11] [3] further textured by subtle synthesizers and a drizzle of soft piano notes. [12] Swift employs her soulful jazzy vocals in the "Peace", [3] [8] via a complex vocal melody, [10] ranging between F3 to A4. [13] The song is written in the key of F major and has a moderately fast tempo of 150 beats per minute. [14]

The song structure of "Peace" is an ode reminiscent of a prayer. [10] Its lyrics discuss the effects of Swift's hectic superstardom on her private life, and is directly addressed to her lover, warning them of the challenges that come with them being a part of her hyper-publicized life. [15] [16] The song's title is deceptive, since "Peace" is about failing to achieve peace, seeing Swift confess that "tranquility is the only thing she can't promise" her lover. [17] After witnessing the dissection of her personal life by the press for over a decade, especially tabloid media, Swift was tight-lipped and private about her boyfriend from 2016 to 2023, English actor Joe Alwyn, who co-wrote and co-produced several tracks on Folklore. "Peace" channels the balance Swift struck between her private and public lives and is rooted in her personal life, unlike much of the fictional material in Folklore. [18]

Notable details in the song's lyrics include Swift's mention of Alwyn's younger brother in the lyric "Family that I chose now that I see your brother as my brother", the second time she mentions him in her discography, after the track "Paper Rings" from her 2019 album Lover . [19] An Insider critic opined that the lyric "But there's robbers to the east / clowns to the West" is a mention of her famous feuds, underscoring "the spectacle of Swift's everyday and her inability to escape the trappings of public life"; "robbers" referring to Scott Borchetta, who sold the masters of Swift's first six albums to Scooter Braun, while the "clowns to the West" refers to Kanye West and his ex-wife Kim Kardashian. [20]

Release and live performances

Folklore was released on July 24, 2020, via Republic Records. In the standard track-list, "Peace" sits at number 15 as the penultimate track. [21] The song debuted in the United States's Billboard Hot 100 and Rolling Stone Top 100, with peaks of number 58 [22] and number 25 respectively. [23] On Billboard's Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, it reached number 12 and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks. [24] The song also appeared on the chart's 2020 year-end chart, where it landed at number 53. [25] Elsewhere, the track reached on the national charts of Australia (33) [26] and Canada (46), [27] and the Audio Streaming Chart of the United Kingdom (53). [28] It received a gold certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association for reaching 35,000 units. [29]

After the album's release, on November 25, 2020, Swift recorded a stripped-down rendition of "Peace" for the Disney+ concert documentary Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions and its live album. [30] On February 23, 2024, Swift performed the song as a mashup with her song "New Year's Day" (2017) for the Sydney stop of her Eras Tour (2023–2024). [31]

Critical reception

Sarah Carson of i remarked "Peace" as "the most romantic song" Swift has ever written, containing the "storybook poetry hallmarks" of her early country career, and underlined the lyric "All these people think love's for show / But I would die for you in secret." [11] Variety critic Chris Wilman called "Peace" the "champion romance song", and along with fellow track "Invisible String", found it a suitable addition that contrasts the overaching sadness of Folklore. He thought "Peace" is a "realistic" love ballad that "renders all the compensatory vows of fidelity and courage all the more credible and deeply lovely". [17] The Guardian 's Laura Snapes complimented the "deep dedication" Swift expresses in "Peace". [32]

Writing for Vulture , Nate Jones felt that "Peace" is "more clearly autobiographical than much of the album", having Swift apologize to her lover for "the stress that comes with dating one of the world's most famous women". He added that the song's purpose can come off as "an insufferable flex", but "her unassuming authenticity keeps it far away from humblebrag territory". [9] Callie Ahlgrim of Insider said the song has Swift promise to give her partner "passion and warmth and undying loyalty" but yet "wrestles with her inability to promise peace". [20] Also writing for Insider, Courteney Larocca admired the song's "gut-wrenchingly vulnerable" lyrics, "stunning" musical composition, and Swift's "crisp" vocal performance. She also drew lyrical parallels between "Peace" and Swift's older songs "Call It What You Want" (2017) and "The Archer" (2019). [33]

WRVU stated that "Peace" is one of the "most exquisite" songs Swift has ever written, representing a love song in "the absolute purest and most devoted sense", with some of the "lushest" lyrics she has ever written. The review praised the "improvisational" song structure of "Peace", deviating from standard pop structures of "a regular verse-chorus-bridge", and pinpointed that the song's central theme is a derivative of Swift's sixth studio album, Reputation . [34] In a mixed commentary, Kathryn Flynn of Consequence felt the song's slow pace and muted R&B sound does not fit the overall texture of Folklore. [35]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes [36] and Pitchfork [2]

Charts

Certifications

Certification for "Peace"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [29] Gold35,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [37] Gold20,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) [38] Gold15,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] Silver200,000‡

‡ 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.

<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.

<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.

"Epiphany" 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 over an ambient-chamber pop composition consisting of a slow piano line, cinematic strings and howling brass.

"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.

"Seven" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift co-wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. "Seven" is a folk song with nostalgic lyricism. It blends present and past perspectives: a 30-year-old narrator introspecting on her childhood in Pennsylvania while recalling the purity of her relationship with an old friend and the then 7-year-old narrator incapable of understanding the domestic violence her friend had experienced but realizing it years later. The song is led by Swift's upper register over a swirling piano line, complemented by acoustic guitars, drums, and strings.

"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>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.

"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.

"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). 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. It incorporates slow-burning synthesizers, strings, and samples of Finlay's operatic 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.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 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 11, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Strauss, Matthew; Minsker, Evan (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift Releases New Album Folklore: Listen and Read the Full Credits". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Blistein, Jon (July 24, 2020). "How Aaron Dessner and Taylor Swift Stripped Down Her Sound on Folklore". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  4. ↑ 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 October 24, 2023.
  5. ↑ Doyle, Patrick (November 13, 2020). "Musicians on Musicians: Taylor Swift & Paul McCartney". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. ↑ Gerber, Brady (July 27, 2020). "The Story Behind Every Song on Taylor Swift's Folklore". Vulture . Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Sodomsky, Sam (July 24, 2020). "The National's Aaron Dessner Talks Taylor Swift's New Album Folklore". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Mapes, Julian (July 27, 2020). "Taylor Swift: folklore". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  9. 1 2 Jones, Nate (January 11, 2021). "All 179 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 Wood, Mikael (July 26, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore': All 16 songs, ranked". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  11. 1 2 Carsom, Sarah (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift, Folklore, review: a dazzling, timeless surprise album". i . Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  12. ↑ Sumsion, Michael (July 29, 2020). "Taylor Swift Abandons Stadium-Pop for a New Tonal Approach on 'Folklore'". PopMatters . Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Taylor Swift "peace" Sheet Music in F major". Musicnotes.com. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Key & BPM for "peace" by Taylor Swift". TuneBat. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  15. ↑ Gardner, Abby (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift Folklore Album Review: Breaking Down All the References and Easter Eggs". Glamour . Archived from the original on August 6, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  16. ↑ Gutowitz, Jill (July 24, 2020). "What Is Every Song on Taylor Swift's Folklore Actually About?". Vulture . Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  17. 1 2 Willman, Chris (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore': Album Review". Variety . Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  18. ↑ "Taylor Swift shares rare insight into relationship with Joe Alwyn". Capital FM . November 13, 2020. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  19. ↑ Sager, Jessica (November 3, 2020). "We Broke Down All the Easter Eggs from Taylor Swift's Folklore So You Don't Have To". Parade.com . Archived from the original on October 20, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  20. 1 2 Ahlgrim, Callie (July 31, 2020). "Every detail and Easter egg you may have missed on Taylor Swift's new album 'Folklore'". Insider. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  21. ↑ Walsh, Savannah (December 11, 2020). "Breaking Down Every Easter Egg in Taylor Swift's Time-Traveling 'Willow' Music Video". Elle . Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  22. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  23. 1 2 "Top 100 Songs, July 24, 2020 - July 30, 2020". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  25. 1 2 "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  26. 1 2 "Taylor Swift – Peace". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  27. 1 2 "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  28. 1 2 "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  29. 1 2 "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  30. ↑ Monroe, Jazz (November 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift Releases New folklore Film and Live Album". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved October 27, 2023.
  31. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (February 24, 2024). "Taylor Swift Performs More Surprise Songs Mashups at Second Eras Tour Concert in Sydney". Billboard . Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  32. ↑ Snapes, Laura (July 24, 2021). "Taylor Swift: Folklore review – bombastic pop makes way for emotional acuity". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  33. ↑ Larocca, Courteney (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' might be the best album of her entire career". Insider. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  34. ↑ "A Long Overdue Track-by-Track Review of Taylor Swift's folklore". WRVU. October 2, 2020. Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  35. ↑ Siroky, Mary (November 9, 2021). "Every Taylor Swift Album Ranked from Worst to Best". Consequence. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  36. ↑ Folklore (booklet). Taylor Swift. United States: Republic Records. 2020. B003271102.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  37. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Taylor Swift – peace" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  38. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Taylor Swift – Peace". Radioscope. Retrieved December 19, 2024.Type Peace in the "Search:" field.
  39. ↑ "British single certifications – Taylor Swift – Peace". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved May 24, 2024.
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.