Iconic song august from Taylor Swift’s eighth studio album “folklore” trends all over the internet on the first day of August. Despite being released two years ago, the song written and produced alongside Jack Antonoff continues to dominate pop culture as if it was solely meant to be celebrated every start of the month.
And her capability to capture the tangled feelings of relationships that resonated with everyone. As the song begins, the feeling of wanting someone you cannot, or possibly never, have left a salty taste—what a heart-wrenching way to start the month!
This cultural impact shows the brilliance of Taylor Swift’s songwriting.
- On social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, several accounts and pages have created their own content related to the song—such as memes and tweets.
- While accounts on Instagram have their so-called ‘august posting’ where they post excerpts of the lyrics or the Spotify link to the song on their IG stories.
january, february, march, april, may, june, july, SALT AIR AND THE RUST ON YOUR DOOR, september, october, november, december
— tushar (@reputushion) July 31, 2022
- August had definitely taken over social media platforms and had made almost everyone participate in posting their own witty takes.
- However, with Taylor Swift as an iconic pop star she is, the entire album actually topped the charts and one could say it was one of the very few good things that happened in the tragic year of 2020.
How Taylor Swift saved 2020 with folklore
- In 2020, everyone in the world is at a point of trying to survive and losing their minds in lockdown due to the sudden strike of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Taylor Swift surprises the people with a new studio album that was completely different from her previous ones—but was definitely needed.
“Most of the things I had planned this summer didn’t end up happening, but there is something I hadn’t planned on that DID happen,” Swift wrote. “And that thing is my 8th studio album, folklore. Surprise!”
Surprise 🤗 Tonight at midnight I’ll be releasing my 8th studio album, folklore; an entire brand new album of songs I’ve poured all of my whims, dreams, fears, and musings into. Pre-order at https://t.co/zSHpnhUlLb pic.twitter.com/4ZVGy4l23b
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2020
For folklore, Taylor Swift made an attempt of producing indie-folk music. With soft nature-like sounds that make one feel as if wandering in the forest.
The album was as if a retelling of folk tales on teenage love, love triangles, daydreams, etc. Produced alongside Aaron Dessner, William Bowery, Jack Antonoff, Bon Iver, and many more.
Taylor Swift making history
Proving the album’s excellence, folklore won Album of the Year at the 63rd annual GRAMMY Awards on March 14, 2021. She became the first woman to win the award three times. She is also the fourth artist to do so alongside Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon.
On the first-year anniversary of folklore, Taylor Swift released an original version of the song, The Lakes, as an honor of gratitude to her fans. In her tweet, she wrote:
“To say thank you for all you have done to make this album what it was, I wanted to give you the original version of The Lakes. Happy 1 year anniversary to Rebekah, Betty, Inez, James, Augustine and the stories we all created around them. Happy Anniversary, folklore.”
It’s been 1 year since we escaped the real world together and imagined ourselves someplace simpler. With tall trees & salt air. Where you can wear lace nightgowns that make you look like a Victorian ghost & no one will side eye you cause no one is around https://t.co/4Gfmh9hXDs pic.twitter.com/MmsujVaV83
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 24, 2021
Below is the complete track list of the album:
- “The 1”
- “Cardigan”
- “The Last Great American Dynasty”
- “Exile” (featuring Bon Iver)
- “My Tears Ricochet”
- “Mirrorball”
- “Seven”
- “August”
- “This Is Me Trying”
- “Illicit Affairs”
- “Invisible String”
- “Mad Woman”
- “Epiphany”
- “Betty”
- “Peace”
- “Hoax”
- “The Lakes” (deluxe physical edition bonus track)
On Unrequited Love: detangling what august tells its listeners
The track is the second part of the three-part story of a love triangle between Betty, James, and an unknown girl. August is set from the perspective of the unnamed girl.
Where the first part is from Betty’s perspective in the song, cardigan, while James’ perspective is in the song, betty. Swift intended the song to be set in August, hence its title, and placed it eighth in the list of tracks as August is the 8th month of the year.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc_2ZKB4LVc
It tells the story of a girl falling in love for the first time. And eventually found out that she was in love with someone who was already bound for somebody else.
The Many Retellings of Taylor Swift’s august
A famous line from the lyrics, “Wanting was enough / For me, it was enough” amplifies the strong yearning of the persona for the Other as she desires his presence and attention regardless of the fact that he is committed to someone else.
Although not everyone has technically been involved in love affairs, august is able to capture the concept of unrequited love itself—of loving someone who will never reciprocate, of loving them from a distance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0G8-EL9RNc
Perfect for the rainy weather, august would make you want to crawl in bed and daydream about the life you could possibly have with someone, but never really got the chance to.
Songs, and art in general, transcends and explore life and all its nook and crannies. An interpretation of one may be different from another.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-WHM4IKnts
Have you made your own august posting? What does Taylor Swift’s august tell you? Share them below! Until then, stay with us here at Spiel Times for more content.
