This unusual concert video of Taylor Swift caught my attention toward the end of 2020. I had not been a long-term Taylor Swift fan, but it would be hard to live on this planet and not know by now that she is one of the most iconic and popular songwriters, singers, musicians and performers of our era.
So I took note when I heard that she had released a new album in July, 2020, a total surprise even to her record company, which she produced entirely under COVID-19 isolation conditions. The album, Folklore, had very strong reviews, due in part to her departure from previous music styles (teenage country music star, then mid-20s-aged pop diva) toward a more ethereal folk rock sound and style. I listened to it, and was immediately taken with it – it’s a truly great album, full of ear-pleasing sounds and haunting stories.
That's all backstory to this concert film, which was recorded in a rural home studio by the Hudson river, with just Swift, her small group of musical collaborators, and a large supply of guitars, pianos, mixers and other instruments, performing stripped-down versions of every song on the album. In between songs, there are clips of them sitting around talking and reminiscing about their process of writing and recording the songs.
It was fascinating to me, and very impressive, particularly when we find out that Swift (like so many other musicians, from famous to amateur and recreational) had to figure out how to do home recording, and remote recording collaboration (not to mention performing!), while also creating all the beautiful new songs she wrote. Highly recommended.
No comments:
Post a Comment