Just one day after we learnedTaylor Swift’sFolklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessionswouldpremiere on Disney+, the documentary has launched. I don’t know about you, but I was compelled to wake up early and watch the Swift-directedFolkloredoc because, well, I don’t know if I could wait an entire day to see Swift sing her heart out alongsideFolklorecollaboratorsJack AntonoffandAaron Dessnerat Long Pond Studios in upstate New York.
The long and short of it is this: theFolkloredocumentary absolutely rips. Spending some time cozying up and watching Swift, Antonoff, and Dessner perform songs fromFolkloreand also watch the three of them reflect on the process of bringing it all together was a true treat.Folklorewill go down as a unique highlight in Swift’s discography because it was recorded earlier in 2020 and released less than a year after her 2019 albumLover— a very quick follow-up in the music world. The album, which was nominated for Album of the Year at the 2021 Grammys earlier this week, sees Swift enter into somewhat new territory as she returns to her acoustic roots while also offering songs covering more mature topics.
One of the biggest highlights from theFolkloredocumentary was the special appearance from Bon Iver’sJustin Vernon. Vernon dropped in via video stream to perform “Exile,” the fourth track offFolklore, with Swift. Swift shared the clip of her and Vernon’s duet shortly after the documentary premiered on Wednesday morning. The performance is sparer than it is on the album, but it is nonetheless a gorgeous performance to listen to. Vernon and Swift perform “Exile” as if they’re in the same room, with the stripped-down set-up allowing each singer’s emotions to resonate even stronger. If there is one thing you stop and watch today, it really should be this moment fromFolklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions.
Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessionsis now available to stream on Disney+. Watch Swift perform with Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon on “Exile” below. For more, find out whatDisney+ movies we recommendyou add to your queue ASAP.
