This blog post is a little late going up (I mean, it's 2021 already), but the buzz surrounding this release is certainly still high.
Taylor Swift released her second (yes, second!) album of the year on December 11th 2020, her 31st birthday. As any Swiftie knows, the number 13 is Taylor's favourite number, and she wanted to release her album on the day her birthday was her favourite number backwards.
As with anything Taylor does, I was so incredibly excited and couldn't believe she'd released another album in the same year.
Evermore is the sister album to Folklore, very similar in many aspects with some small links with the characters she has created.
So as I did with Folklore, I wanted to review the songs!
Willow
This song is so ethereal and beautifully written, which is probably why Taylor released a few different mixes including 'The Lonely Witch' version.
The music video was also incredibly endearing, starting off from where we left in the video for Cardigan. It's about a girl looking for her lover, wanting to follow him wherever he goes and that she will be his home.
Definitely one of my favourites on the album, and it is also the name of one of my cats, so that's an added bonus!
Favourite line; 'Life was a willow and it bent right to your wind, but I come back stronger than a 90's trend'
Champagne Problems
This song is sad in so many ways. You feel so sorry for the man that has proposed to his girlfriend and been rejected in front of all his family, but then you feel this deep sadness and raw emotion for the girl, who must feel incredibly guilty and has those around her being cruel saying things about her. I'm also guessing with the fact that the song is based around alcohol, there is the insinuation that she has an alcohol problem. The fact that Taylor swears so ferociously in it is also just incredible to me.
Favourite line; 'She would've made such a lovely bride, what a shame she's fucked in the head'
Gold Rush
Probably my least favourite on the album, not because it's a bad song at all, it's just one that I don't automatically want to listen to when I reach for the album. That being said, it has some incredibly clever lyrics and a great melody. It gives us a version of Taylor's voice that we've not heard before.
Favourite line; 'With my eagles t-shirt hanging from the door, at dinner parties, I call you out on your contrarian shit'
'Tis the Damn Season
A lost love rekindled for brief moment, this song remind me of the festive season, along with The Lucky One from her Red album. It's about a girl who comes back to her hometown (from having a successful career in LA) and reconnects with an old flame for the season.
It's a beautiful song, and links with Dorothea, which comes later on the album.
Favourite line; 'Sleep in half the day just for old times' sake, I won't ask you to wait if you don't ask me to stay'
Tolerate it
This song is heart-breaking. It's about a woman who is in love with a man, but no matter what she does, no matter what she gives to him, he barely gives her anything in return. She feels that he doesn't feel the same way about her, and is just tolerating her.
I genuinely feel pain listening to this track. You can hear the heartbreak of this character in Taylor's voice, and the bravery she starts to gain when she sings about breaking free from him.
My second favourite on the album.
Favourite line; 'I made you my temple, my mural, my sky, now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life'
No Body, No Crime
This is the ultimate girl power song on the album, especially involving the band HAIM. Based on Taylor's love for true crime, she has written a song about Este, who gets cheated on by her husband, and when she confronts him about it, she goes missing. Taylor's narrative (as Este' friend) knows he has killed her, and sets up a plan to kill him and frame his mistress.
This is my absolute favourite on the album, and I can picture a brilliant movie based on this song. Very much like The Last Great American Dynasty, this song showcases just how brilliant Taylor's storytelling is.
Favourite line; '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
Another truly heart-breaking track. Taylor sings about the happiness she will have in the future after a hard break up, but also acknowledging that she had happiness with that person, and that one does not cancel out the other.
I resonate with this song quite well regarding past relationships, but also currently, as we recently lost one of our cats (never known that much heartbreak in my life before), especially the lines, 'there will be happiness after you, but there was happiness because of you.'
It's a very haunting track, with similar vibes to Hoax from Folklore.
Favourite line; 'Tell me when did your winning smile begin to look like a smirk'
Dorothea
The guys perspective linked with 'tis the damn season. You get more details as to who Dorothea is in this song, from a 'tiny screen's the only place I see you now' so you know she's famous as she's on TV. Taylor sings about how the guy is missing Dorothea, and reminiscing about the old days with her, but that he also knows she is happy and he is happy for her.
The melody to this is lovely, is one of those more upbeat and positive tracks.
Favourite line; 'And if you're ever tired of being known for who you know, you know, you'll always know me'
Coney Island
Another sad heart-break song (both folklore and evermore have been full of sad songs), but this one is about someone who goes along with a relationship for so long but doesn't treat his girl well, and he realises this too late. Again, Taylor's storytelling here is beautifully done, with lyrics such as 'sorry for not making you my centerfold' and 'did I paint your bluest skies the darkest grey?'
There are also numerous easter eggs in this song, referring to some of her previous songs (for example; 'Were you standing in the hallway, with a big cake, happy birthday' - The Moment I Knew from Red. 'Did I paint your bluest skies the darkest grey?' - Dear John from Speak Now.) These lyrics are all linked to a couple of Taylor's exes too, so we know she has revisited the past when writing this one.
Combined with the deep, husky vocals from Rock Band The National, this is a gorgeous song.
Favourite line; 'And do you miss the rogue, who coaxed you into paradise and left you there?'
Ivy
We very nearly named our new kitten Ivy (if I'd had my way!).
Another beautifully melodic track, with ethereal vibes. A song about a secret love affair, that doesn't really have any hope because the narrator is married. I love Taylor's use of 'God Damn' in this song, it fits so perfectly and really gives it passion. Another one of my firm favourites.
Favourite line; 'So yeah, it's a fire, it's a goddamn blaze in the dark and you started it, you started it'
Cowboy Like Me
I love a cowboy and anything country. So I was thrilled to have a track that was taking Taylor back to her country roots again.
A romance between two people that are very similar, and that no matter what life throws at them, they will be together. I absolutely love the guitar riffs that truly make it that little bit country.
It sounds like it should be a sad song, but it's really about strength and true love.
Favourite line; 'And the ladies lunching have their stories about, when you passed through town, but that was all before I locked it down'
Long Story Short
A song about how much shit Taylor has been through in her life, and how she put her faith in the wrong people, but now she has found the one (her beau Joe Alwyn). I think a lot of people can see themselves in this song, I can see this being a karaoke track that many of us go to (or hairbrush in the mirror moments). One of the more upbeat songs on the album, it's another favourite of mine.
Favourite line; 'Past me, I wanna tell you not to get lost in these petty things. Your nemeses, will defeat themselves before you get a chance to swing'
Marjorie
Personally, I think this is the best song Taylor has ever written. It is beautiful, inspiring, and the best tribute to her grandmother, Marjorie. Ever single time I listen to it, I gets me in an absolute mess. I couldn't pick just one favourite line from this song as there as so many brilliant ones, so below are just a few of them.
'Never be so kind, you forget to be clever, never be so clever, you forget to be kind.' 'What died didn't stay dead, what died didn't stay dead, you're alive, you're alive in my head'. 'Never be so polite, you forget your power, never wield such power, you forget to be polite.' 'I should've asked you questions, I should've asked you how to be, asked you to write it down for me, should've kept every grocery store receipt 'cause every scrap of you would be taken from me.' 'If I didn't know better, I'd think you were still around. I know better, but I still feel you all around'
Closure
A response to a 'letter' Taylor received from someone (there are so many theories as to who it could be). Basically, Taylor is telling them she is absolutely fine how she is, with what she has, and that she does not need 'closure' by making amends with them.
Definitely another favourite of mine, especially as it's basically a fuck you to anyone that has wronged you and tried to make things right.
Upbeat and a very catchy rhythm.
Favourite line; I'm fine with my spite, and my tears and my beers and my candles'
Evermore
Another absolutely brilliant song with Bon Iver. A song about feeling lost and empty, not knowing if that feeling would ever go away. I love how this switches into almost a completely different song halfway through, the tempo increases as Bon Iver comes in, and again there are some absolutely incredible lyrics.
Favourite line; 'And when I was shipwrecked, I thought of you, in the cracks of light, I dreamed of you, it was real enough, to get me through, but I swear, you were there'
Right Where You Left Me
Now we're on to the two bonus tracks.
This song is about is a girl that remains in the place where her heart was shattered. She cannot move beyond the point that she was abandoned. A very country-style song again, with the use of a banjo, this song would have fit quite well on Red.
My favourite of the two bonus tracks, a unique take on a break-up that leaves someone feeling devastated and like time will never heal her.
Favourite line; 'Help, I'm still at the restaurant, still sitting in a corner I haunt, crossed-legged in the dim light, they say what a sad sight'
It's Time To Go
A song about how no matter what situation you're in, your subconscious will know when to leave. This one seems like a very personal song from Taylor, much like how The Lakes was on Folklore, especially with the following lyrics that refer to her old record label and how Scott Borchetta sold the rights to her previous records (everything bar Lover, Folklore & Evermore).
'15 years, 15 million tears, begging 'til my knees bled. I gave it my all, he gave me nothing at all, then wondered why I left. Now he sits on his throne in his palace of bones, praying to his greed, he's got my past frozen behind glass, but I've got me'.
Favourite line; 'Sometimes giving up is the strong thing, sometimes to run is the brave thing'
Overall, I absolutely love the album, but I do think I have more favourites on Folklore than Evermore, but regardless, everything Taylor releases is fucking brilliant.
If you're reading this and you're a fan, I would love to know your thoughts, so please leave them in the comments below!
