Eyes Full of Stars: an "evermore" Appreciation Post

On December 11th, 2020, Taylor Swift gave us evermore, her 9th studio album and the second surprise release of the year. Needless to say, it was an eventful year for fans of Taylor Swift and even ones who were won over to her new alternative style. We at The Postmodern Journal are thoroughly captivated by the album and all of its charms, so today I am going to figuratively shout from the rooftops just how wonderful evermore is and why I love it so.

Photo by Addison Horsell and Elyssa Krueger

Like folklore back in the summer of 2020, Swift's latest release stands out against the polished and bright array of pop and country albums she has created over the years. The two sister albums have a distinct indie feel to them, with deeply introspective lyrics and more subtle artistry. Combined with Taylor's incredible talent, they became some of her best work. The aesthetic surrounding them is unique as well; she has established quite organic and nature-focused visuals, both in promotional media and the songs themselves.

It was delightful to learn back in December that evermore is a continuation of the type of creative songwriting she mastered for folklore at the beginning of the pandemic.

"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 Swift

And how very glad we are that they did continue their wanderings! One of the things I love about the album is the narratives Taylor created that center around fictional characters. She had a similar writing strategy for folklore, and the new stories we've learned hold up just as well with their own unique beauty. Some of them are heart-wrenchingly tragic, yet told with a grace that makes them feel resolved.

For fans of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (link to our discussion), "champagne problems" seems to echo the tale of Jo March and Theodore Laurence, although it is unknown if the songwriters had this in mind while writing the song. And Taylor herself has said in an interview that "tolerate it" was inspired by the protagonist of the book Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (which we at The Postmodern Journal fittingly read last winter for our book club).

One of my favorite songs in evermore is the bonus track "right where you left me". It's about a woman who was betrayed by the man she loved long ago in a restaurant. The song describes the lingering impression the experience left on her as she sits at the same table many years later. It is a poignant, relatable message about bitter memories and lost love and friendship.

"I stayed there, dust collected on my pinned up hair"

- "right where you left me" by Taylor Swift

Honorable song mentions include "marjorie", the story of Taylor Swift's beloved grandmother, “cowboy like me", a song about finding someone as different as you, and “gold rush", a sad and beautiful reflection on a love that couldn’t last. I know myself and many others were blown away by the entire album; the songwriting and melodies are brilliant in so many ways. I look forward to Taylor's next project, eager to listen to new and captivating stories.

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Click here to stream evermore on Spotify.