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Post by SydneyPaige on Jul 24, 2020 12:10:32 GMT -5
Usually, when we create theory threads in this fandom it's before an album announcement, predicting what the album is going to be like. I like that this time we can make a theory thread based off of what the songs are about. All this to say, post your theories below!
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Post by SydneyPaige on Jul 24, 2020 12:24:26 GMT -5
I kind of have a wild theory brewing in my head about this album but I think it's going to take me awhile to put it together so keep an eye out for that!
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Post by taytaytay on Jul 24, 2020 15:19:28 GMT -5
I don't think there's one overarching theme or story in this album, but I do think there are a few we can distinguish.
The Teenage Love Triangle (confirmed by Taylor): cardigan, august, betty
BMR label drama: my tears ricochet, mad woman
Rhode Island: the last great american dynasty, mad woman (I think 'mad woman' is mostly about the label drama, but also Taylor comparing herself to Rebekah from 'the last great american dynasty' and talking more generally about women's double standards)
Infidelity: illicit affairs, hoax (the Teenage Love Triangle also fits here, but I think these two songs are talking about the same instance of infidelity that is separate from the love triangle. I feel like 'hoax' is from the point of view of the cheater's partner, and 'illicit affairs' is from the point of view of the other woman)
Introspective/anxiety songs: this is me trying and peace
I think the other songs that I haven't mentioned either stand on their own or are clear about what they're about. Like, it's pretty clear 'invisible string' is about her relationship and 'epiphany' is drawing parallels between the war and coronavirus. I also think it's important to note that like 3/4s of this album aren't written in 'her' voice.
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Post by taryn on Jul 24, 2020 22:41:21 GMT -5
I saw something on Twitter that sparked my eye, and it's that Rebekah went by Betty.
It might be a stretch, but the love triangle could be from Rebekah when she was younger? I don't know, just a thought.
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Post by taytaytay on Jul 25, 2020 2:06:56 GMT -5
I saw something on Twitter that sparked my eye, and it's that Rebekah went by Betty. It might be a stretch, but the love triangle could be from Rebekah when she was younger? I don't know, just a thought. I've thought that too but I think it's more likely she just got the name Betty as inspiration from her since the other names in the story are James and Inez which are the names of Blake and Ryan's kids. |
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Post by SomeFearlessChick on Jul 27, 2020 4:25:34 GMT -5
I would just like to cordially point out that the drums at the end of American Dynasty sound eerily similar to the drums in The Lucky One, where Taylor continues the story of her celebrity spiraling... just like Rebekah  |
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Post by SomeFearlessChick on Jul 31, 2020 23:09:31 GMT -5
my tears ricochet will become the idsb and cruel summer of the folklore era. what deserves to be a single but probs won't become one. 🥺
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Post by taryn on Aug 2, 2020 21:48:43 GMT -5
sooo, i have this theory that if you listen to the album in this order, it will sound like a story (at least to me):
"august's" perspective:
illicit affairs (during the affair between james and august)
august (when james said he was picking betty)
mirrorball (she told him she would do anything for him to pick her)
james's perspective:
betty (apologizing to betty)
this is me trying (when he finally showed up at the party)
peace (telling her that he'll never be perfect, but he'll try)
betty's perspective:
cardigan (her reaction to him coming back)
exile (her moving on and him being upset about it)
the 1 (pretty self explanatory, she didn't chose him)
taylor's perspective:
the last great american dynasty (betty much older)
mad woman (i think taylor is comparing herself to rebekah in this song with the whole big machine record label drama, and even the kimye drama as well)
seven (this is the only song that i don't know about)
my tears ricochet (i think this song is also about the whole big machine record label drama)
invisible string (i think this is the only song about her relationship)
epiphany (i think this is about COVID-19)
the only songs that really don't fit into this theory are seven and epiphany, but this sounds like a story to me.
the main reason that i think rebekah and betty are the same person is because of these lines:
"Flew in all the strong B*itch Pack friends from the city..."
"Will you kiss me on the porch in front of all your stupid friends?"
i know that might be a stretch, and there's probably other connections, but i'm really stuck on this theory.
the main reason that i think everything is connected is because of all the references to school. such as:
"I thought I saw you at the bus stop, I didn't though..."
"Betty, I won't make assumptions about why you switched your homeroom, but I think it's 'cause of me..."
and others as well, i just don't feel like finding them all.
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Post by SydneyPaige on Aug 20, 2020 20:15:19 GMT -5
Another hot take that I may explain further when I have the energy but, I am like 1000% sure Hoax is about Big Machine Records.
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Post by FearlesslySpeakNow on Aug 20, 2020 21:09:29 GMT -5
my tears ricochet will become the idsb and cruel summer of the folklore era. what deserves to be a single but probs won't become one. 🥺 Nooo I hope not... I feel like that'll be the fate of august though |
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shandimusic94
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Post by shandimusic94 on Aug 20, 2020 21:14:08 GMT -5
my tears ricochet will become the idsb and cruel summer of the folklore era. what deserves to be a single but probs won't become one. 🥺 Nooo I hope not... I feel like that'll be the fate of august though Ugh I hope august becomes a single. I need that in my life. |
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shandimusic94
Next Level Swiftie
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Posts: 7,104
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Post by shandimusic94 on Aug 20, 2020 21:16:28 GMT -5
Another hot take that I may explain further when I have the energy but, I am like 1000% sure Hoax is about Big Machine Records. The bridge... there's like no way it's not about BMR. |
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Post by taryn on Aug 21, 2020 20:37:49 GMT -5
now that taylor is putting the albums into chapters, it's making things make so much more sense!
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