folklore: My Top 5 Songs

Hola!

LOL it's happening again. I am updating my blog after a year haha. TBH not many major milestones since my last post other than my one month internship out of country and finishing my rotation for my MT program at work. And the 'rona made me stay for 24-hours >>>2 weeks non-stop with my husband haha he was surprised to know it as well and yet we survive each other.

Anyway, some of my closest circle must know that I am a big Swiftie ever since her Fearless era (2008!). SOOOO imagine how ecstatic I am when the news of folklore album dropped 16hour prior to the release. Here I wanna list some of my favorite songs from folklore. And please keep in mind that I mostly ranked it based on my own interpretation and reflection of my own life, if not by melody, composition and instrumental music wise.

5. the last great american dynasty

This is my queen showing off her excellent storytelling skill. Imagine telling stories of someone else's life in just a few minutes but somehow still managed to slip in your own comparison and reflection of yourself in life? It is amusing to be in such a roller coaster story by hearing Rebekah's past life in form of a song. From taking the train leaving Michigan, having a lavish wedding, throwing big parties, losing your rich husband due to heart attack and having the whole town scrutinize you? I love how at the end she builds this parallel comparison between Rebekah and herself.

"and then it was bought by me"

4. seven

This song hands down has the most melancholy melody and the folkiest one in folklore. I really love how Aaron Dessner bring such a glimmering feeling to it. And what the song is about, well...have you ever thought the last time life was so innocent and simple, you could blame it on the presence of ghost when your dad constantly mad at home? Oh and how it was just so happy when you can be whatever you want in your own imagination (for real I was talking to myself back then in front of mirror if I have a story to play without anyone around). 

It has a personal meaning to me in a way that I could remember being so carefree without actually realizing the real problem that gradually crawls to my life.

"Are there still beautiful things?"

3. august

Yep this is one of the teenage love triangle songs in folklore (TBH I couldn't tell whether it's illicit affairs or this one). This is the only Jack Antonoff produced song that made to the list. I don't even know how to start describing my feeling when hearing this for the first time. Like, Ms. Taylor, how could you????

The song is telling story from the POV of the other woman, simply knowing you want something that you can't have and you know deep within your mind it wouldn't last?

Have you ever just being ashamed of what you did in the past and would have changed everything if you had given the chance? LOL or it's probably me who screwed up countless times. If I listened to this song as past myself 3-4 years ago, I would probably drenched in this shameful feeling. But looking back through it once more, I think the sunshine, the hazy memories followed by the sudden vivid imagery of the mall towards the end of the song are about acceptance and making peace with your past.

"Back when I was living for the hope of it all"

2. the 1

Again, song that made it to the list because of its personal meaning. Think about this alternate life that you could live should your "past wishes" came true. And yes, some resemblance of 'I Almost Do' can be found here. And if you still remember Lover, the first track was 'I Forgot That You Existed', which says out loud how you completely moved on from someone but in the contrary wrote a song about them??? Well, I somehow see how it clicks together with some growth on the perspective when reminiscing about past relationship. Although on a side note, the subject could be a different person.

The way how casual and conversational the song is and how it tells you that some moment in life can only last for some times. You know that the separation was inevitable, but you are left wondering what could have been if it worked out. And when it really hits me hard when she actually said she has none in her defense. Like girl, same.

"We never painted by the number, baby
But we were making it count"

1. invisible string

Have you ever cried feeling so blessed and extremely grateful? This is what happened when I first hearing this song. (um probably the second though, since the first one I was kind of skimming through part of the songs). Quoting Billboard:

"A stop-you-in-your-tracks love song that finds wonder in simplicity, as Swift reflects on the journey that led her to happiness, the lows that made her savor the highs more, and the serendipities that life affords us if we’re lucky enough." 

My love journey had been pretty rough. Back then, I don't think I was ever in a capable state to be in a relationship. Some (if not the most) of the relationships are the results of me hating on being lonely (I think "Lose" by Niki quite summed it up) rather than being truly in love. That explains the period of me being single was only a year when I am a junior at college (never regret it tho' since I could explore a lot of things in campus, wish that I knew it sooner). I never really know how to be by myself or find myself a meaning without any SO in presence. I messed up big times here and there. So imagine, me, already in a 2-years relationship, finding this other person, started as a genuine friend and eventually falling for his personality rather than going through that crushin' phase that started as acquaintance (like most of my past relationships).

It wasn't an easy journey, I have to learn and unlearn a lot of concept of my understanding in love. Never have I ever be so challenged by his view in love, marriage, soulmate, self sufficiency and life partner. How he values me for my true self, rather than my looks, my appearance, my background, or even my past (mistakes). How he asked what I'm truly searching for in life (shot out to Indomaret Point across PVJ lol) and how I realized I never met a person who really putting myself interest first by asking that question. Well, I'm quite impressionable at times, but I know my heart telling me something back then.

And here we are, ended up as life partner. This song took me back to my bumpy journey on love, and making me imagining this invisible string tying ourselves in the past.

- When he was busy scrolling through JIRA ticket at work while I am spending the night at campus to collect data in lab

- When he was busy with thesis while I am attending my engineering class during my exchange semester
- When we were seated in the same room to attend this 3months leadership training as freshmen but didn't know each other's name at all
- When he was busy scoring 100 for mid exam in his hometown school while I am doing homework for my US History class

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.

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and as the song says,

"And isn't it just so pretty to think

All along there was some

Invisible string

Tying you to me"

💕

Ciao,
Denisa