Culture

Taylor Swift released an entire album out of nowhere and the internet has many, many thoughts

Taylor Swift wearing a cream roll neck jumper with soft curls (mid shot) queer betty

Taylor Swift released her eighth album Folklore to rave reviews. (Taylor Swift)

Taylor Swift released Folklore, her eight studio album, with just a few hours notice, and it’s safe to say the internet is shook.

Folklore was announced Thursday afternoon (July 23) with a dream-like black and white photoset and an uncharacteristically small amount of fanfare.

“Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening,” Swift wrote on Instagram – her headlining Glastonbury slot chief among them.

“But there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen.”

Folklore, written and recorded in isolation, largely produced by The National’s Aaron Dessner, instantly set the internet ablaze with speculation.

Would it be a return to her country roots? A lo-fi lockdown side project? A note-for-note re-record of Nelly Furtado’s criminally underrated 2003 album of the same name?

As the countdown began, Twitter could barely contain its excitement, with even Grindr joining in, quoting an ancient Russian philosopher.

As Folklore arrived at the stroke of midnight Friday (July 24), fans found themselves immersed in a world of vulnerability.

Fans, critics and – apparently – dead musical geniuses alike were united in calling it Swift’s best album to date.

Swift’s bestie, Todrick Hall, applauded “the melodies, the lyricism, the production”, adding: “So proud of her! Ughhhhhh.”

A delicate record full of intricate, poetic lyricism, Folklore appears to be giving fans all the feels.

Three songs – first single “Cardigan”, “August” and “Betty” – revolve around a love triangle.

On the latter, Swift romanticises about two teenage girls falling for one another, which naturally, set queer Twitter ablaze.

Another track, “Peace”, appears to reference a few of Swift’s most high-profile enemies: her old record label boss Scott Borchetta and his business partner Scooter Braun, as well as Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian West.

“Exile”, Swift’s collaboration with Bon Iver, was also singled out for high praise.

After a start to the year defined by gloom and worry, one fan proclaimed that in releasing Folklore, Swift had saved this apparently cursed year.

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