On July 24, 2020, Taylor Swift released her eighth studio album, folklore. This collection marks a shift from her previous country and pop music to a more traditional style. Many categorize the album as ‘indie folk’ or ‘alternative folk,’ but how many elements of folk music are genuinely present?
Addressing the lack of African American and Black representation in modern folk music is essential. Unless you’re a bluegrass connoisseur, it’s easy to overlook Black musicians’ significant contributions and assume that folk music is predominantly a European-dominated field. Many people fail to recognize the Afrocentric influences on folk music and instead associate it with mainstream white artists.
I enjoy listening to Taylor Swift’s music. Still, after studying folk music in my Survey of African American Music class, I decided to take a closer look at a few songs on the album to see if I could identify any Black or African American influences and decode the 'folk' in folklore.
The Decoding
"the last great american dynasty"
Taylor Swift is a strong songwriter, and her lyrics are a defining part of her music. In folklore, the album’s wordy storytelling approach affects her vocal quality. This style makes her sound more rhythmic as if she’s speaking rather than singing. Swift’s timbre throughout this album can be described as soft and serene as if she’s telling bedtime stories. As a result, it doesn’t fully showcase the extent of her vocal abilities.
A great example of this is her song “the last great american dynasty.” This song follows the story of Rebekah Harkness, a well-respected woman who once owned Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island home. Although the story is fictional, it feels like a timeless tale passed down through generations. While the song includes some folk elements, such as its strong narrative and guitar, it mainly features a more contemporary arrangement with piano. It lacks critical folk instruments like the banjo, and other alternative sounds are also present.
"betty"
One folklore song featuring a folk instrument is “betty.” It’s one of three tracks on the album that contributes to the narrative of a teenage love triangle involving James, Betty, and Augustine. From James’ perspective, the song portrays his efforts to win Betty back after his affair with Augustine. It takes listeners on an emotional rollercoaster, with James shifting from wistful reminiscing to weak apologies and finally blaming others for his actions. Taylor Swift’s delivery is dynamic, with her voice rising and falling in intensity throughout the song. The harmonica, an instrument featured in “betty,” adds to its folk authenticity. It holds significance in folk and blues music because African American musicians have played a key role in shaping its sound and use.
"my tears ricochet"
"my tears ricochet” is the last folklore song I noticed notable folk elements and African American influences. The song is about the heartbreak and emotional pain of broken relationships. Folk music, with its intense emotional resonance, echoes the struggles of African Americans during slavery. The harmonic cries at the song’s beginning remind me of field hollers. While the contexts and meanings differ, the similarities in emotional distress are interesting.
Despite its numerous similar elements, folklore may only partially fit into the folk genre. It was intriguing to explore the African American influences scattered throughout the album and analyze their correlation.
Folk music owes its essence to African American culture, which has shaped its rhythms and themes.
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