evermore by taylor swift

To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs. To try and put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folklorian woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music. We chose to wander deeper in. - Taylor via Instagram 

Never in my wildest dreams had I expected that I'd be back so soon doing another first impression for a new Taylor Swift album, but here we are! Less than five months after Taylor gave us folklore, she surprised us and shookt the world, yet again, when she announced that she's dropping a brand new album in less than 24 hours. ❗❗❗

Last night, I was just typing away some emails for work when notifications started flooding my phone. Taylor uploaded a bunch of photos and BOOM, just like that, she said her 9th studio album will be released today. No warning signs whatsoever...but apparently she has dropped so many signs, we were just too dense to figure them out. Once again, she has got us all fooled folks, when she said there was not a lot going on at the moment. Not a lot going on at the moment my ass! This lady really knows how to give the world a heart attack! 😂

People went crazy on Twitter and I was one of them. I could not concentrate on my work anymore because Taylor had captivated a hundred percent of my attention. I was excited about the new album. Even if I haven't had enough of folklore yet, I was already anticipating the new songs that we are getting!

I watched the willow music video first and yes, I recorded my reaction. You can watch it in the video below. And then after gushing over the music video, I listened to the album for the first time. Here are my thoughts about each song.

*willow

LOVE the music video, LOVE the song, LOVE the melody, LOVE the instrumentation! The song was catchy from the very start and I appreciate how the storyline continued right after the cardigan music video. And the invisible string thingy??? Can you just say genius? 

favorite lyrics: I come back stronger than a '90s trend

*champagne problems

This is my favorite track in the album, and I don't think I'll be changing my mind any time soon. The story-telling and the feeling that this song gave me was indescribable. Two people had different views on life, and the happenings of that evening changed their lives forever. It was the turning point of a relationship, it was a decision that cemented the future of both characters. I have never been proposed to before so I don't know why but this song resonated so much in me. I guess I'm at a stage in life where I'm drawn to sad stories, of tragic ones that don't have a happily ever after. And this song hit that spot. 

favorite lyrics: you had a speech, you're speechless, love slipped beyond your reaches; I never was ready so I watch you go

gold rush

The intro of this song gave me epiphany feels but when the verse started, it became like my tears ricochet and mirrorball's daughter. I don't know if that makes any sense but that's how I saw this song when I first heard it. I need to listen to this song more because I didn't get the whole picture that this track painted. 

favorite lyrics: what must it be like to grow up that beautiful? with your hair falling into place like dominoes

'tis the damn season

Before the album was released, I really thought this was going to be a festive song. LOL NO, I was so wrong. But this track reminded me of August and how I think this was the continuation of Augustine's story. I don't know, it just gave me that vibe. 

favorite lyrics: I won't ask you to wait if you don't ask me to stay; it always leads to you and my hometown

tolerate it

I really don't want to dwell on sadness and depression because I buried those feelings a long time ago, but when Taylor sang I made you my temple, my mural, my sky. Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life, I lost it and my tears fell. Fuck, I didn't ask to be attacked, but why did you have to hurt me, Taylor? Why??? I hated the feeling that my presence was not appreciated but merely tolerated and oh my god this song brought me back to that dark place I spent years to forget. nope, this is not my favorite song, and it will never be.

favorite lyrics: I know my love should be celebrated but you tolerate it

*no body, no crime (ft. HAIM)

This was such a fun song to listen to for the first time, and I got shivers all over my body right when HAIM started the song with "He did it"! Taylor's vocals here, coupled with HAIM, are gold. I can't stop listening to this song! My dumb mind can't solve the crime at first but after listening to it a couple more times, I had that "Eureka" moment. When I figured it out, I was just sitting there, my eyes wide and my mouth gaping with shock because I FINALLY GOT IT.

favorite lyrics: They think she did it, but they just can't prove it,  she thinks I did it, but she just can't prove it

*happiness

What a deceptive title to a song that was not a happy one at all! This one hurt. Even more than tolerate it. And my heart was torn. This took me back to my sad excuse of a life a year ago, when I was drowning in sorrow and despair. 

favorite lyrics: There'll be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you; No one teaches you what to do when a good man hurts you and you know you hurt him, too

*dorothea

If you loved betty in the previous album, you will love this one, too. I know I did! Taylor can't seem to stop writing from a man's perspective now that she knows how great she is at it. And I will always welcome these songs with open arms and an open heart. I can never say enough great words at how much I admire Taylor's talent for story-telling.

favorite lyrics: And if you're ever tired of being known for who you know, you know, you'll always know me

coney island (ft. The National)

Taylor really just served us a platter full of sad songs this year and said "Take your pick, guys." 

favorite lyrics: If I can't relate to you anymore, then who am I related to?

ivy

I don't get this song. I need to listen to this one more to get the gist of it. 

interesting lyrics: I'd live and die for moments that we stole on begged and borrowed time

*cowboy like me

My first thought when I read this title was this is going to sound lively and a little bit of country. Again, I was wrong. 😅 I'm never trusting my instincts again when it comes to guessing what Taylor's new songs will be about. 

favorite lyrics: Takes one to know one; Forever is the sweetest con

*long story short

Finally, a happy tune in this record! I loved bobbing my head along to its beat. This song gave me hope, that someday, I will get to the point when I can honestly and proudly say "long story short, I survived". That all the bad things happened in the past doesn't matter much anymore because now, I have finally found my happy place and that everything that had transpired over the years - to all those things that broke me beyond repair - were all worth it. Hope. This song gave that feeling of hope that I, too, will someday reach the surface of this deep ocean, and come out victoriously.

favorite lyrics: And he feels like home, if the shoe fits, walk in it everywhere you go; pushed from the precipice, climbed right back up the cliff. long story short I survived

*marjorie

I loved how Taylor wrote this song to celebrate her grandmother's colorful life. The imagery and the wordplay in this song is topnotch. I love it! It kinda makes me wish Marjorie's my grandma, too, haha!

favorite lyrics: Never be so kind you forget to be clever, never be so clever you forget to be kind; Never be so polite you forget your power, never wield such power you forget to be polite; what died didn't stay dead, you're alive, so alive

*closure

I never thought I needed a song like this one, but it turns out that I do. Sometimes, closure is having no closure at all. And that's okay, that's life. You have to move on and continue living. Sometimes life doesn't give you what you want and you just have to accept it. 💖

favorite lyrics: yes, I got your letter, yes, I'm doing better; 

*evermore

I was expecting this to be a part two of exile, but I was wrong - again. 😂 Jokes aside, I love this closing song. But we really know this isn't the closing song because we have two more bonus songs on the deluxe album. But this song is, omg, so beautiful. I hear the skinny-love-bon-iver here and it touched my heart. MASTERfuckingPIECE.

favorite lyrics: staring out the open window catching my death; this pain wouldn't be for evermore

evermore is an early Christmas present that I will be listening to every day starting today. I love Taylor Swift and at this point, everything that she makes I will devour and love. 

Have you heard the new record? What do you think about it? What are your favorite tracks? If you wanna gush about this album, I'll be right here, listening to evermore on loop. xx

P.S. All the song titles with (*) are my initial favorites!