aubreyyc

[aubreyyc]

Storytelling through music and how its done ♥︎🌿

Narrative music is an art that allows people to be more receptive to the narrative that is being told through music. A study at The Florida National University suggested that music produces several positive effects on a human's body and brain, music activates both the left and right brain at the same time, and the activation of both hemispheres can maximize learning and improve memory. Music also has the power to transport us through our memories and take our imaginations to places that help us tap into emotions that will then help us have a better understanding of said story compared to if the story was told through traditional writing, or poetry. Taylor Swift’s ability to tell a collection of stories through her 2020 Album of the Year “folklore” is a perfect example of narrative music.

Taylor Swifts Storytelling

While there are many great examples of storytelling in music i chose to use folklore for a variety of reasons. The album folklore is meant to almost parallel old folk tales in the way that in style that the stories are told in this album and the way they're told from other peoples perspectives.

“Folklore”

“Folklore” (noun) As defined by the Oxford dictionary means “the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.” This definition is exactly what Taylor wants done with this album. More or less this album is a recollection of stories that Taylor is retelling so they can be continued to pass down.

Taylor Swift's modern interpretation of folklore is told through 17 Songs (Including a bonus track) that comes in at an album length of an hour and seven minutes. In these 17 songs she manages to tell over a dozen stories (including one about a love triangle that is told through three different perspectives: Cardigan, August, Betty) With so many different themes like love, heartbreak, insecurity and many more.

Swift manages to do this by using a large variety of literary devices to portray different stories and themes in her music, this is nothing new to her as using things like metaphors, allusions, euphemisms; etc is a large part of her writing style

For example track 6, (mirrorball) is a metaphor in itself. In the song Taylor compares herself to a mirrorball, the reason why is a bit more complex so i'll let taylor explain.

Going back to her storytelling in my opinion shines through in track 3 of folklore (The last great american dynasty) which is a modern retelling of the 1988 Book Blue blood which is about Rebekah Harkness the previous owner of her rhode island estate.

Her storytelling didn't start nor end in the folklore album though, Taylor swift has been telling stories through her music throughout the entirety of her career (Over a decade!). For example second album Fearless (2008) had a heavy fairytale theme and even included a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet (Love Story).

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