Do you enjoy making playlists for different moods, occasions, or seasons in your life?
Good news, Taylor Swift has you covered.
Swift’s music has varied in style and even genre over the span of her career. No album sounds identical to another. Because of this, listeners are able to find the perfect songs for everything through Swift’s diverse discography.
I recently was talking to a group of Taylor Swift fans, or “Swifties,” and they brought up the idea of how Swift’s albums can be categorized in seasons. I found this concept very interesting, so I made my own interpretations of which album fit into which season’s aesthetic. I also added lyrics that reminded me of each season for added fun flair.
Winter
reputation
Swift’s iconic reputation era shocked the world with a newer, edgy pop style. Although most of the songs are on the upbeat side, I would classify this album as winter. The cold, vengeful spirit is the icing on the cake, truly capturing the essence of winter. The album cover displays a black and white color scheme that add to the cold ambiance. Winter doesn’t always have to be classified as sad songs; the bangers on reputation proves this point.
The ties were black, the lies were white
In shades of gray in candlelight
-Taylor Swift’s “Getaway Car”
Midnights
I put Midnights in the winter category because of aspects such as the vulnerability, cool colors, and overall aesthetic of the album. Winter can commonly be pinned as an emotional time in one’s life, stereotypically linked more to emotions of sadness. While this album isn’t all sad, it portrays, as Swift said in an Instagram post, “13 sleepless nights” in her life. This highlights the vulnerable times we may face and that she too has faced in her lifetime. Going back to the color scheme, the album cover features cool colors in the text and her makeup, such as blues and purples. Although she released the album in fall, fans and listeners were able to make this the soundtrack of the winter season.
But it’s comin’ down, no sound, it’s all around
Like snow on the beach
-Taylor Swift’s “Snow On The Beach”
Speak Now (winter/spring)
Speak Now is one of the “transition” albums I’ve identified. While the obvious songs like “Dear John” and “Back to December” feel like winter, songs like “Mean” and “Enchanted” feel like an emergence into spring. All of her albums usually fluctuate in emotions, but I think this one is the prime example of this transition. Unlike the more muted, lavender purple in Midnights, the brighter purple on the cover of Speak Now evokes winter in the cool color but also spring in its vibrancy.
And then the cold came, the dark days
When fear crept into my mind
-Taylor Swift’s “Back to December”
Walls of insincerity, shifting eyes and vacancy
Vanished when I saw your face
-Taylor Swift’s “Enchanted”
Spring
Lover
When I say this album is strictly the epitome of spring, I mean it. The rainbow of colors, mostly pinks, blues, and yellows featured on the cover, scream spring. This was released after reputation, so this truly marked a brighter era in her life, expressing her political views and celebrating love. This album also marks the first album she exclusively owns, symbolizing an escape from winter’s cold grasp and taking off freely into spring’s warm bliss.
I’ve been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night
And now I see daylight, I only see daylight
-Taylor Swift’s “Daylight”
Fearless
I had a hard time placing this one in a category at first, deciding between spring and summer, but I believe it is specifically a spring album. Again, the album has its emotional ups and downs, representing the sunny and stormy days of spring. This album better encapsulates the spring aesthetic with the music videos as well, notably “Love Story.” Also, this album mentions rain frequently. She is able to use this to express her emotions and paint a picture for listeners. I would most likely imagine myself listening and dancing to this album in the rain or in a flower field than anything else, so Fearless is spring in my books.
And I don’t know why
But with you I’d dance in a storm
In my best dress
-Taylor Swift’s “Fearless”
Summer
1989
If I had to choose an album that truly represented summer’s aesthetic, this album would be my pick. The album cover of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) features Swift smiling joyfully on a beach with seagulls flying in the background. She is seen in a fuller beach setting on special edition vinyl covers for an extra taste of summer. This album is all about going out with friends, living life to the fullest and young love. I have fond memories of my friends and I singing our hearts out to “New Romantics,” and have definitely found myself jamming to this album in the car on a summer day.
But I keep cruising
Can’t stop, won’t stop moving
It’s like I got this music in my mind
Saying it’s gonna be alright
-Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”
Taylor Swift
Swift’s debut album radiates summer vibes. The turquoise color scheme of the album cover reminds me of the pool on a hot summer day. Her hair can also be found flowing in her natural waves, symbolizing a carefree nature. This album is notably a part of the country genre, so I personally think that alone pushes it into the summer category. This is a great album for rolling down the windows and letting your hair down on a summer day, singing all of your stresses away.
I was ridin’ shotgun with my hair undone
In the front seat of his car
-Taylor Swift’s “Our Song”
folklore (summer/fall)
This album presents themes of summer love and nostalgia while also gearing towards a fall vibe in the instrumentals used. That’s why I think folklore is yet another “transition” album from summer to fall. Swift crafts a fictional love triangle to create a story for listeners to follow throughout the album. On of the songs, “august,” reminisces on a summer love thought to last forever, but it fades away. The back-to-school references in “betty” also makes the transition from summer to fall more apparent. On the album cover, Swift is pictured standing in the deep woods, covering a fall aesthetic. Ultimately, lots of the songs themselves remind me of summer through the lyrics and storyline while the instrumentals and vibe of it reminds me of fall beginning.
Sweet tea in the summer
Cross your heart, won’t tell no other
-Taylor Swift’s “seven”
Salt air, and the rust on your door
I never needed anything more
-Taylor Swift’s “august”
Fall
Red
I feel as though all Swifties would immediately place this album right into the fall category, which is exactly what I did. Taylor advertised this album, especially Red (Taylor’s Version), with a fall theme and created a short film for “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” with autumn imagery. She expresses her feelings about getting over a breakup and finding hope, especially in the song “Begin Again,” in the process. Her emotions and reflection in this album can be related to how the leaves change, even fall, over time. The warm fall colors associated with his album simply set it over the edge. Personally, I have many songs from this album in my fall playlist.
Autumn leaves falling down like pieces into place
And I can picture it after all these days
-Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well”
evermore (fall/winter)
I was conflicted with this album because the songs give off a winter ambiance, but the overall aesthetic of evermore is very fall to me. Therefore, I decided that this album marks the transition from fall to winter. The cover includes fall colors, like oranges, greens, and browns, and the flannel jacket she wears is very fall themed. On the other hand, songs like “evermore” and “’tis the damn season” evoke a sense of winter and mention holidays. Just like Red (Taylor’s Version), the emotions are high in this album, notably in the song “champagne problems,” highlighting the bitter, cold end of a relationship.
The autumn chill that wakes me up
You loved the amber skies so much
-Taylor Swift’s “marjorie”
It’s the kind of cold, fogs up windshield glass
But I felt it when I passed you
-Taylor Swift’s “’tis the damn season”