I suppose it is always the case that most people know the hits. Do you think this album sets the bar high even for her standards? I get that impression. That this is really some of her best work ever.
@@JSteezy folklore and evermore are considered her best work lyrically/poetically, I believe, by most Swifties. She's also older and wiser. But, sincerely, most will tell you again and again, her best stuff are on her albums, not the singles released. Hope you are able to take a chance on another full album.
@@JSteezy Taylor's standards have always been extremely high. That isn't unique to Folklore and Evermore. They are excellent albums, but, I don't think they've set the bar higher than her previous albums. All her albums (with the exception of her eponymous first album which contained songs she wrote between 14-16 years-old) were excellent but different from each other. It's like trying to compare the excellence of eight delicious recipes using various foods with different ingredients, spices and herbs. Not really a comparison that makes sense. Each album is another genre of music she has explored. Folklore and Evermore are more Indie or Folk. The Lover album's songs were classified as indie-pop, acoustic pop, R&B, pop-soul, trap, electropop. Reputation had elements of rap, R&B, dub-step, synthpop, 1989 was pure Pop and Red was thought of as a Country album with elements of Country Pop. All these albums are unique yet somehow still 100% Taylor because of the emphasis she has always put into her lyrics. You might like one album over another but that's taste - not quality. The soundscape of each album is a reflection of who she was at each phase of her life. Age and experience have made her lyrics more sophisticated and mature. That's to be expected. But Love Story, which she wrote at 16, is still an excellent song. Is it as deeply philosophical as Happiness or Tolerate It which she wrote at 31? No. But, for her age and for that time it was still amazing. She has always surpassed most people's expectations of what a 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 year old etc is capable of. People assume she can't possibly keep outdoing herself with each album but she has - so far. "They count me out time and time again".
@@madelinewise8692 metrics for what is great will always be subjective but I personally think that these albums resonate with and impress me the most. I am saying that without having heard everything she's ever done but that is how I feel and what I would guess. Could be wrong but it would also make sense that with time, she would grow and improve as an artist.
She wrote this at the very last minute like week or two before the album came out, it’s wild to think it almost wasn’t on evermore. She wrote it for her best friend who’s going through a divorce. It’s very full circle because she has a a song on her 2nd album called Fifteen about both of them experiencing their first relationships/heartbreaks and the lessons learned at that age.
@@stillfangirlingtoday1468 it’s not confirmed but Taylor mentioned it was about a friends’ breakup and then at the beginning of the year Abigail went back to her maiden name on all her socials and both she and her husband deleted their photos of each other so it definitely seems that way.
the line "when i'm above the trees i see it for what it is" always makes me connect it with her song "out of the woods" which you've already heard, like back then she was still in the woods asking "are we in the clear yet" and this song is her perspective when she's moved past all that and has a clear view. as least that's how i interpreted it. it shows how much she has grown and matured from that
Possibly! The songs feel so different but the metaphor is somewhat similar. I personally think it's just a similar metaphor but a different perspective.
Enjoyed your thoughtful reaction. This is one of my favorite tracks on Evermore because of the maturity and complex emotions it explains in such a poignant way. I feel like the stereotypical breakup songs make this situation out to be The Worst Thing Ever, like your whole existence fractures, and certainly there are moments when you're in it and you feel like that. But this song tells the story of a whole person who is in pain and recognizes it as the temporary, normal, beneficial even though it sucks rn part of being in relationships and I think our culture would be better off having more perspectives like this become popular. It acknowledges the hurt and the difficulty, but also that you move on, you learn. Breakups aren't tragic, they don't have to mean endedness of love and happiness, but that's usually how they're portrayed, almost as a pass/fail experience.
This. So different for a breakup song. I am so tired of the generic "this hurts my feelings" type song and it annoys me how timeless that obviously relatable and non-insightful song type is. This sets a new bar. It elightens and relates on such a deeper level. Take notes, breakup songs!
Some people say that it’s about her best friend’s recent divorce and I believe that is true, but since she’s recently started writing songs about multiple things at the same time, I believe it has a double meaning for the “breakup” between her and her old record label and specifically from Scott Borchetta who discovered her as a teenager. He was like a father figure and the relationship ended very badly. It’s the ”I can’t make it go away by making you a villain” line for me. Feels way more personal then her imaging her friend’s divorce. And also that I think she’s going to eventually forgive him so this whole verse makes me think it’s about him: “After giving you the best I had Tell me what to give after that All you want from me now is the green light of forgiveness You haven't met the new me yet And I think she'll give you that” The “best she had” was her first 6 albums. And he didn’t want her to leave he tried to keep her there by promising to sell back the masters for one of her old albums for every new album she wrote. She wanted the chance to buy them outright and leave. He then sold them to a music industry ass hole
And yes we all think of her as being poetic. On all her albums. Like you speculated, a lot of us grew up and matured with her music. She’s a year older than me so each album always came at the perfect time for me in life
Honestly...same I never thought the maturity of a song would be a quality I appreciated so much in general. I mean, I guess it is for a lot of the stuff I listen to but something about the way it came through in this song, in this story and context really did something. I just get so tired of the same old lame breakup songs that you never grow from. This one is a very mature perspective on a situation that nobody really knows how to navigate.
I don't know if anyone's mentioned it, but this song is also an allusion to The Great Gatsby. There are quite a few references to the book. Gatsby's winning smile is often referenced. Daisy says she hopes her daughter will grow up to be a beautiful fool. The green light is an obvious reference to the book. So are the ideas of the great divide between Gatsby and Daisy over the bay, and the themes of looking at life or relationships, etc. from a bird's eye view. The song isn't about The Great Gatsby, but Taylor apparently has said that the book has always highlighted that contradictions in relationships dying.
You know I’ve been following your journey. But the deep cuts are have always been more emotional and more storytelling, which you know Taylor can paint a picture and tell such a great story. Nothing will compare to folklore or evermore lyricism, but ... If you haven’t, check out Cornelia St Live in Paris, the Archer live in Paris. Death by a thousand cuts, live in Paris. J, listen to Clean. One of her very best story telling songs..... the moment I knew, I looove this song. Nothing compares to these albums, but she was growing as a lyricist all her career. Since she was 14. Can’t expect a teenager to write folklore and evermore. She had to grow up. If you haven’t listened to Ronan, just do it now. Marjorie from evermore? I can’t.... she’s always been the lyricist, but kinda a secret because those radio hits weren’t always great lyrics. But, I think the world has been watching her lyrics evolve to see how far she can go and I think we see it now at age 31. I’m waiting for a novel or screenplay or musical.
I'm glad the word "maturity" came to me because that really was what I respected so much in the song. I will check out Ronan. I'll definitely keep going through her work. I think after this album I will ask about what songs to check out.
@@JSteezy I think we have had to wait until she grew up and matured in order for her to write this song as well as these two albums as complete projects. Happiness she wrote a week before the release, I think, and put it on the album. It is a poem. I haven't met the new me yet, who she will become after this break, divorce, whatever. You haven't met the new me yet, the one who will replace her. And, then at the end, you haven't met the new me yet, the new person that she will become. Its beautifully written. I can't imagine any other artist writing a song like this.
I've become addicted to watching reaction videos of late and there are three kinds that come to mind: the fakers who focus more on their reaction than the art they're supposed to be analysing, the jokers who lack insight and basic comprehension skills and then the authentic, intelligent folk who have thoughtful and interesting takes on what they've just seen. You fall into the latter category and I'm so glad I found your channel. Keep it up :)
Happiness is a poem isn’t it? A lot of her deep cuts are more meaningful. Her radio hits aren’t always the most lyrical, but deep cut songs she has always shown her lyricism. Obviously as she has aged, her lyricism has gotten more mature and complex. But yes, these two albums are on another level. This is what we get when all those pressures of hits, and radio play, and how’s this going to sound in concert... strip away all those constraints but allow her to be completely free creatively.... this is what she produces in what, folklore 4mos and evermore 4mos?
I think about this as a poem. I hardly gave the music much thought. I often comment on it but this one wasn't about the music. It was the story, lyrics, etc. I'm glad she's able to pull this off and have a large fanbase receive it so well. I feel like most famous musician's really only get an audience that cares about the hits.
I’ve been watching your reactions. My mom made me listen to “Tim McGraw” when it first came out. I hated it. I’m 10 years older than Taylor and I just thought it was so gimmicky and immature. One day I heard a song from her debut album called, “cold as you” and it was so relatable because I was going through the same situation at the time. Been a fan ever since. Anyhow, I’ve enjoyed your reactions and enjoy hearing it from a producer’s prospective. You seem to be a very intelligent person and you’re very witty. I appreciate that. So many reactors seem to fake it but you’re real. It’s a breath of fresh air.
Thank you for sharing the story and kind words! It's nice to be told I'm a breath of fresh air haha. Appreciate you and look forward to more videos you enjoy!
I’m 11 months late to this convo but you should definitely react to “Cold as You”. It’s lyrically so good. Especially when you consider how young she was when she wrote it.
It was maybe the most moving song for me to watch. Some really hit in their own way and hard but this one especially. I was very taken by it and that probably comes across in the video. It's an amazing song. Thank you!
@@JSteezy I would say the book but the movie was based on the book tho so it is kind of similar. If you would look at the lines from the song, you would find it interesting especially lines with reinvention, greenlight, winning smile, new me since gatsby is new money.
It's been mentioned in another video or few but it's not a focus of my videos but perhaps it should be. Would possibly bring in more viewers and interest or context to where my opinions come from. The videos where I talk in length about something regarding the music, it sometimes comes up.
Taylor has always written poetic songs. All her albums have deep, introspective, emotional songs but most people only know the radio hits.
I suppose it is always the case that most people know the hits. Do you think this album sets the bar high even for her standards? I get that impression. That this is really some of her best work ever.
@@JSteezy folklore and evermore are considered her best work lyrically/poetically, I believe, by most Swifties. She's also older and wiser.
But, sincerely, most will tell you again and again, her best stuff are on her albums, not the singles released. Hope you are able to take a chance on another full album.
@@JSteezy Taylor's standards have always been extremely high. That isn't unique to Folklore and Evermore. They are excellent albums, but, I don't think they've set the bar higher than her previous albums. All her albums (with the exception of her eponymous first album which contained songs she wrote between 14-16 years-old) were excellent but different from each other. It's like trying to compare the excellence of eight delicious recipes using various foods with different ingredients, spices and herbs. Not really a comparison that makes sense. Each album is another genre of music she has explored.
Folklore and Evermore are more Indie or Folk. The Lover album's songs were classified as indie-pop, acoustic pop, R&B, pop-soul, trap, electropop. Reputation had elements of rap, R&B, dub-step, synthpop, 1989 was pure Pop and Red was thought of as a Country album with elements of Country Pop. All these albums are unique yet somehow still 100% Taylor because of the emphasis she has always put into her lyrics. You might like one album over another but that's taste - not quality.
The soundscape of each album is a reflection of who she was at each phase of her life. Age and experience have made her lyrics more sophisticated and mature. That's to be expected. But Love Story, which she wrote at 16, is still an excellent song. Is it as deeply philosophical as Happiness or Tolerate It which she wrote at 31? No. But, for her age and for that time it was still amazing. She has always surpassed most people's expectations of what a 14, 15, 16,17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 year old etc is capable of. People assume she can't possibly keep outdoing herself with each album but she has - so far. "They count me out time and time again".
@@madelinewise8692 metrics for what is great will always be subjective but I personally think that these albums resonate with and impress me the most. I am saying that without having heard everything she's ever done but that is how I feel and what I would guess. Could be wrong but it would also make sense that with time, she would grow and improve as an artist.
She wrote this at the very last minute like week or two before the album came out, it’s wild to think it almost wasn’t on evermore. She wrote it for her best friend who’s going through a divorce. It’s very full circle because she has a a song on her 2nd album called Fifteen about both of them experiencing their first relationships/heartbreaks and the lessons learned at that age.
Abigail is going through a divorce???
I did not know this about her BFF divorce
@@stillfangirlingtoday1468 it’s not confirmed but Taylor mentioned it was about a friends’ breakup and then at the beginning of the year Abigail went back to her maiden name on all her socials and both she and her husband deleted their photos of each other so it definitely seems that way.
Exactly the maturity in this song 😭
The bridge on this song really, really works for me
I spy those great gatsby reference too taylor (beautiful fool/green light)
the line "when i'm above the trees i see it for what it is" always makes me connect it with her song "out of the woods" which you've already heard, like back then she was still in the woods asking "are we in the clear yet" and this song is her perspective when she's moved past all that and has a clear view. as least that's how i interpreted it. it shows how much she has grown and matured from that
Possibly! The songs feel so different but the metaphor is somewhat similar. I personally think it's just a similar metaphor but a different perspective.
Enjoyed your thoughtful reaction. This is one of my favorite tracks on Evermore because of the maturity and complex emotions it explains in such a poignant way. I feel like the stereotypical breakup songs make this situation out to be The Worst Thing Ever, like your whole existence fractures, and certainly there are moments when you're in it and you feel like that. But this song tells the story of a whole person who is in pain and recognizes it as the temporary, normal, beneficial even though it sucks rn part of being in relationships and I think our culture would be better off having more perspectives like this become popular. It acknowledges the hurt and the difficulty, but also that you move on, you learn. Breakups aren't tragic, they don't have to mean endedness of love and happiness, but that's usually how they're portrayed, almost as a pass/fail experience.
This. So different for a breakup song. I am so tired of the generic "this hurts my feelings" type song and it annoys me how timeless that obviously relatable and non-insightful song type is. This sets a new bar. It elightens and relates on such a deeper level.
Take notes, breakup songs!
@@JSteezy exactly!!
Some people say that it’s about her best friend’s recent divorce and I believe that is true, but since she’s recently started writing songs about multiple things at the same time, I believe it has a double meaning for the “breakup” between her and her old record label and specifically from Scott Borchetta who discovered her as a teenager. He was like a father figure and the relationship ended very badly. It’s the ”I can’t make it go away by making you a villain” line for me. Feels way more personal then her imaging her friend’s divorce. And also that I think she’s going to eventually forgive him so this whole verse makes me think it’s about him:
“After giving you the best I had
Tell me what to give after that
All you want from me now is the green light of forgiveness
You haven't met the new me yet
And I think she'll give you that”
The “best she had” was her first 6 albums. And he didn’t want her to leave he tried to keep her there by promising to sell back the masters for one of her old albums for every new album she wrote. She wanted the chance to buy them outright and leave. He then sold them to a music industry ass hole
And yes we all think of her as being poetic. On all her albums. Like you speculated, a lot of us grew up and matured with her music. She’s a year older than me so each album always came at the perfect time for me in life
One of my top songs of Taylor's out of all her discography. 💛
Honestly...same
I never thought the maturity of a song would be a quality I appreciated so much in general. I mean, I guess it is for a lot of the stuff I listen to but something about the way it came through in this song, in this story and context really did something. I just get so tired of the same old lame breakup songs that you never grow from. This one is a very mature perspective on a situation that nobody really knows how to navigate.
I don't know if anyone's mentioned it, but this song is also an allusion to The Great Gatsby.
There are quite a few references to the book. Gatsby's winning smile is often referenced. Daisy says she hopes her daughter will grow up to be a beautiful fool. The green light is an obvious reference to the book. So are the ideas of the great divide between Gatsby and Daisy over the bay, and the themes of looking at life or relationships, etc. from a bird's eye view.
The song isn't about The Great Gatsby, but Taylor apparently has said that the book has always highlighted that contradictions in relationships dying.
Wow. Loved this reaction.
Me too! I was one of my favorites to listen to and react to.
You know I’ve been following your journey. But the deep cuts are have always been more emotional and more storytelling, which you know Taylor can paint a picture and tell such a great story. Nothing will compare to folklore or evermore lyricism, but ...
If you haven’t, check out Cornelia St Live in Paris, the Archer live in Paris. Death by a thousand cuts, live in Paris. J, listen to Clean. One of her very best story telling songs..... the moment I knew, I looove this song. Nothing compares to these albums, but she was growing as a lyricist all her career. Since she was 14. Can’t expect a teenager to write folklore and evermore. She had to grow up. If you haven’t listened to Ronan, just do it now. Marjorie from evermore? I can’t.... she’s always been the lyricist, but kinda a secret because those radio hits weren’t always great lyrics. But, I think the world has been watching her lyrics evolve to see how far she can go and I think we see it now at age 31. I’m waiting for a novel or screenplay or musical.
I'm glad the word "maturity" came to me because that really was what I respected so much in the song. I will check out Ronan. I'll definitely keep going through her work. I think after this album I will ask about what songs to check out.
@@JSteezy I think we have had to wait until she grew up and matured in order for her to write this song as well as these two albums as complete projects. Happiness she wrote a week before the release, I think, and put it on the album. It is a poem. I haven't met the new me yet, who she will become after this break, divorce, whatever. You haven't met the new me yet, the one who will replace her. And, then at the end, you haven't met the new me yet, the new person that she will become. Its beautifully written. I can't imagine any other artist writing a song like this.
I've become addicted to watching reaction videos of late and there are three kinds that come to mind: the fakers who focus more on their reaction than the art they're supposed to be analysing, the jokers who lack insight and basic comprehension skills and then the authentic, intelligent folk who have thoughtful and interesting takes on what they've just seen. You fall into the latter category and I'm so glad I found your channel. Keep it up :)
Happiness is a poem isn’t it? A lot of her deep cuts are more meaningful. Her radio hits aren’t always the most lyrical, but deep cut songs she has always shown her lyricism. Obviously as she has aged, her lyricism has gotten more mature and complex. But yes, these two albums are on another level. This is what we get when all those pressures of hits, and radio play, and how’s this going to sound in concert... strip away all those constraints but allow her to be completely free creatively.... this is what she produces in what, folklore 4mos and evermore 4mos?
I think about this as a poem. I hardly gave the music much thought. I often comment on it but this one wasn't about the music. It was the story, lyrics, etc. I'm glad she's able to pull this off and have a large fanbase receive it so well. I feel like most famous musician's really only get an audience that cares about the hits.
I’ve been watching your reactions. My mom made me listen to “Tim McGraw” when it first came out. I hated it. I’m 10 years older than Taylor and I just thought it was so gimmicky and immature. One day I heard a song from her debut album called, “cold as you” and it was so relatable because I was going through the same situation at the time. Been a fan ever since. Anyhow, I’ve enjoyed your reactions and enjoy hearing it from a producer’s prospective. You seem to be a very intelligent person and you’re very witty. I appreciate that. So many reactors seem to fake it but you’re real. It’s a breath of fresh air.
Thank you for sharing the story and kind words! It's nice to be told I'm a breath of fresh air haha. Appreciate you and look forward to more videos you enjoy!
I’m 11 months late to this convo but you should definitely react to “Cold as You”. It’s lyrically so good. Especially when you consider how young she was when she wrote it.
I subscribe. good analysis!!
thank you!!
This song is great at so many levels.
Even more than that!
Your beats is so epic 🔥 You have mad talent man !💪
Not sure why but I think this is my favorite reaction video of yours.
It was maybe the most moving song for me to watch. Some really hit in their own way and hard but this one especially. I was very taken by it and that probably comes across in the video. It's an amazing song. Thank you!
Love your thoughts
Thank you!! They come out
You're handsome : P
LOL you're nice :D thanks
I want coney Island now😓
can do, eventually. Stay tuned! Might do the Grammy ones soon.
Some says this song has allusions from the great gatsby. You might want to check it out if you are interested 😁
The movie or the book? I caught the movie while on a plane, if that's what you mean.
@@JSteezy I would say the book but the movie was based on the book tho so it is kind of similar. If you would look at the lines from the song, you would find it interesting especially lines with reinvention, greenlight, winning smile, new me since gatsby is new money.
Great upload, thank you for sharing! See you around! 🎧🎵😎
cheers!
What was the story/book that you were talking about here? It sounds interesting
If you can timestamp where I talk about it, I can be sure but it was probably "the power of now" or "a new earth"
@@JSteezy 15:40
well i didn’t know he was a music producer
It's been mentioned in another video or few but it's not a focus of my videos but perhaps it should be. Would possibly bring in more viewers and interest or context to where my opinions come from. The videos where I talk in length about something regarding the music, it sometimes comes up.
@@JSteezy you should do it
this song is def about scott borchetta. i can't see it any other way.