August (song)

From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

"August"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Folklore
ReleasedJuly 24, 2020
Studio
Genre
Length4:21
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Lyric video
"August" on YouTube

"August" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift wrote and produced "August" with Jack Antonoff; Joe Alwyn was credited as a co-producer.[b] A dream pop and guitar pop ballad, "August" features elements of soft rock in its guitars, strings, and vocal reverberation. In the lyrics, an unnamed female narrator expresses her sorrow over James, a 17-year-old boy who reconciles with Betty after a fleeting summer romance with her. She is a character involved in a love triangle depicted in three Folklore tracks, the other two being "Cardigan" (from Betty's perspective) and "Betty" (from James's perspective).

Music critics lauded the production and lyrics as captivating, and some deemed it a standout on Folklore and a career highlight for Swift. Some media publications deemed "August" a seasonal success that resurge in popularity around August each year; the track peaked at number 46 on the Billboard Global 200 and in the top 40 of the charts in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, and Singapore, and the United States. Swift performed "August" live at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021 and included the song in the set list of her sixth concert tour, the Eras Tour (2023–2024).

Background and production[edit]

Taylor Swift and producer Jack Antonoff had written and produced songs for Swift's previous studio albums 1989 (2014), Reputation (2017), and Lover (2019). They collaborated again on Folklore, which Swift surprise-released amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.[3] Folklore was released on July 24, 2020, through Republic Records.[4] Swift wrote or co-wrote all songs on the album, and Swift and Antonoff produced six, including "August".[5] For the song, Antonoff produced the instrumental first, and sent it to Swift who wrote the lyrics "on the spot; it just was an intuitive thing". As with other tracks of Folklore, Swift created "August" based on a fictional narrative with imagined story arcs and characters.[3]

Lyrics and composition[edit]

Swift wrote "August" as part of three Folklore songs (together with "Cardigan" and "Betty") that explore a love triangle between James, Betty, and Augustine.[6] It was the first song of the three that Swift wrote.[3] According to Swift, she wanted to explore the idea of a girl in an undefined relationship: the lyrics are in the viewpoint of "August", who falls in love with James, who is already in a relationship with someone else.[3][7] The song was inspired by what Swift described as the image of "the sun drenched month of August, sipped away like a bottle of wine".[8] Throughout the song, imagery of late summer is prevalent: "Your back beneath the sun / Wishing I could write my name on it."[6] Set in a suburban area with "salt air", "August" captures feelings of a teenage girl who goes through an unrequited love in the summer.[6] She naively believes that she is in love, pondering on her summer romance: "August sipped away like a bottle of wine / Because you were never mine."[6][9]

"August"
A dream pop song, "August" is accompanied by vocal reverberation, guitars, minimal synthesizers, and lush strings. In the lyrics, an unnamed teenage protagonist grieves a summer romance with a love interest whom "wasn't [hers] to lose".[10]
Problems playing this file? See media help.

While the narrators of "Cardigan" and "Betty" are explicitly named, the narrator of "August" is never mentioned by name, which Vulture's Nate Jones considered a highlight of her "relative unimportance in her lover's life".[6] Swift said that she did not determine a name for the protagonist of "August", calling her "Augusta" or "Augustine" inside her head.[7] As the summer romance progresses, the narrator is portrayed as unassertive and inexperienced, recalling the times when she "canceled my plans just in case you'd call".[6] Though she knows she and James will never become a couple, she tells herself that it was enough "to live for the hope of it all".[6] She attempts to run away with James: "Remember when I pulled up and said 'Get in the car' / And then canceled my plans just in case you'd call?"[8] Finally, when the summer ends, so does the romance, and the narrator is left with a revelation: "You weren't mine to lose."[6] Swift explained that after this summer romance, James and Betty later return to each other, while the "August" protagonist mourns the summer fling which she considered love.[7]

Compared to the overarching folk sound of Folklore, "August" displays a more pop-oriented production. Aaron Dessner, a producer on Folklore, characterized it as the album's "closest thing to a pop song. It gets loud. It has this shimmering summer haze to it."[11] Musically, "August" is a gloomy dream pop and guitar pop ballad incorporating 1990s-influenced guitars, vocal reverberation, and key changes.[12][13][14][15] Its guitar arrangements are soft rock oriented.[16] In The A.V. Club, Annie Zaleski noted the song features "shivering" string instruments, keyboards, and minimal synthesizers, and "subtle splotchy grooves".[17] Writing for The Guardian, Laura Snapes wrote: "Her vocal trademarks remain in the yo-yoing vocal yelps."[18] The outro of "August" is a "full orchestra major chord climax" according to Lucy Harbron of Clash.[19]

Commercial performance[edit]

Upon the release of Folklore, "August" debuted on various singles charts worldwide. In the United States, the song entered at number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated August 8, 2020.[20] It charted on the Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks.[21] The song simultaneously debuted and peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs,[22] where it stayed for 20 weeks on the chart.[23] "August" experienced a 39 percent gain in streams in the US in the 2021 month of August. In 2022, the song resurged once again the same month, with its daily streams skyrocketing 277 percent. Billboard called it Swift's "seasonal streaming perennial" similar to Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (1994).[24]

"August" peaked within the top 20 on singles charts of Malaysia (11),[25] Singapore (12),[26] Australia (13),[27] and Canada (16), upon release.[28] Since its release, the song has experienced resurgence in streams and on charts during August and inspired internet memes.[29][30] In 2022, it appeared on singles charts of the Philippines (number seven),[31] Indonesia (number 17),[32] and Vietnam (number 85),[33] and reached new peaks in Ireland (number 38)[34] and the United Kingdom (number 78).[35] The following year, the track appeared on the Billboard Malaysian chart[36] and reached a new peak at number 46 on the Billboard Global 200.[37]

Live performances[edit]

Swift singing onstage wearing a floating dress
Swift performing "August" during the Eras Tour in 2023

At the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on March 14, 2021, Swift performed "August" as part of a medley with "Cardigan" and "Willow", the latter was taken from her album Evermore. The performance was accompanied by the Folklore producers Jack Antonoff and Aaron Dessner, marking the first time the three performed together.[38] She began with "Cardigan", singing while laying atop a cottage, before performing "August" on a guitar inside the cottage, accompanied by instruments from Antonoff and Dessner.[38][39] The trio then stepped outside the cottage to perform the last song, "Willow".[40] Music journalist Rob Sheffield ranked Swift's performance first on his list of the "10 Reasons We Loved the 2021 Grammys."[41] Rolling Stone critic Rob Sheffield listed it as one of the five "classic" Grammy performances of all time.[42] "August" was included as part of the Folklore on the set list for the Eras Tour (2023–2024). During the concerts, she sang the song and other Folklore tracks while dressing in a frilly gown that complements the album's cottagecore aesthetic.[43]

Critical reception[edit]

Critics praised the song's production and Swift's songwriting, and opined that the third-person perspective of its lyrics—a departure from Swift's trademark confessional narratives inspired by her personal life—showcased her maturity as a songwriter.[44][45] Valerie Magan from Clash remarked that the lyrics feel "vouyeristic, as we lean in to hear all the stories that 'innocent-era' Swift would've kept secret".[46] The same magazine's Lucy Harbron lauded Swift's ability to portray "niche" emotions and her storytelling prowess.[19]

Music journalist Jody Rosen, in a review for the Los Angeles Times, appreciated the shift from "pure first-person subjectivity" to fictional narratives.[47] Sheffield picked "August" as one of the album's highlights, calling the song "the album's most plainly beautiful ballad".[9] He placed it fifth on his 2021 ranking of all the 199 songs of Swift's discography.[16] Ellen Johnson from Paste labeled the track one of the best in Swift's discography as well.[48]

The A.V. Club's Annie Zaleski and Under the Radar's Caleb Campbell both selected the song as one of Folklore's best and compared the production to the music by Scottish dream pop band Cocteau Twins.[17] The latter commented that the track serves as a testament to Swift's abilities of "writing the undeniably catchy hooks that make for a great pop song".[49] While acknowledging Swift's indie reinvention on Folklore, Pitchfork's Jillian Mapes opined that "August", along with other songs produced by Antonoff, are not really radical transformations, however still display signs of maturity.[50] On behalf on Consequence of Sound, Katie Moulton was somewhat disappointed that the song's theme is not far from Swift's trademark "pop-culture tropes", but found certain lyrics original enough to "refresh the clichés".[51] The Observer's Kitty Empire was more reserved in her praise and said "August", although a solid song, did not expand beyond Swift's comfort zone.[52]

"August" featured on lists of the best songs of 2020 by publications including Rolling Stone (No. 5),[53] the Chicago Tribune (unranked),[54] and Yahoo! (unranked).[55] Complex's Edwin Ortiz ranked it second on his year-end list.[56] In Vulture's list ranking all songs in Swift's discography, Jones wrote about "August": "Even in fiction, Swift's ability to capture the wistful ache of nostalgia remains unmatched."[57] Sheffield picked it among the best five songs of Swift's discography: " 'August' feels like such a simple tune, yet it's one of the craftiest creations in the Swiftian Multiverse."[15] Insider's Callie Ahlgrim named "August" as The Best Song of 2020.[58]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits are adapted from Tidal.[59]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

‹See Tfd›
Certifications for "August"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[67] 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[68] Platinum 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] Platinum 30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[70] Gold 25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[71] Gold 5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[72] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[74] Platinum 684,000[73]
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[75] Gold 1,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The song was recorded at Kitty Committee and Rough Customer studios; mixed at Long Pond studio in Hudson Valley, New York; and mastered at Sterling Sound studio in New York City. Instruments were recorded at Rough Customer, Long Pond, Pleasure Hill Recording in Portland, Maine, and Sound House Recording in Lakeland, Florida.[1]
  2. ^ a b c In the liner notes of Folklore, only Swift and Antonoff are credited as producers. The Recording Academy recognized Alwyn as the track's co-producer after Folklore won Album of the Year at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Folklore (album booklet). Taylor Swift. Republic Records. 2020.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Grein, Paul (April 26, 2021). "Taylor Swift's Boyfriend Joe Alwyn Is Officially a Grammy Winner". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Suskind, Alex (December 18, 2020). "Taylor Swift broke all her rules with Folklore — and gave herself a much-needed escape". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 12, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  4. ^ Fekadu, Mesfin (August 3, 2020). "Lucky No.7: Taylor Swift nabs 7th No.1 album with 'folklore'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  5. ^ Iasimone, Ashley (November 27, 2020). "Taylor Swift & Jack Antonoff Really Loved Playing This 'Folklore' Track Live". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Jones, Nate (August 4, 2020). "Folklore's Betty, Cardigan & August Love Triangle Explained". Vulture. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Sheffield, Rob (November 25, 2020). "The Thanksgiving Miracle of Taylor Swift's Acoustic 'Folklore' Session". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  8. ^ a b Huff, Lauren (July 29, 2020). "Taylor Swift's teenage love triangle songs on Folklore explained". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift Leaves Her Comfort Zones Behind on the Head-Spinning, Heartbreaking 'Folklore'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  10. ^ Carson, Sarah (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift, Folklore, review: a dazzling, timeless surprise album". i. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  11. ^ Gerber, Brady (July 27, 2020). "The Story Behind Every Song on Taylor Swift's folklore". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  12. ^ Nguyen, Giselle Au-Nhien (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift's new album is a fever dream you won't want to wake up from". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  13. ^ Curto, Justin (July 30, 2021). "Your map to the Musical woods of Folklore". Vulture. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  14. ^ Mylrae, Hannah (September 8, 2020). "Every Taylor Swift song ranked in order of greatness". NME. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob. "August". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  16. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (October 26, 2021). "All 199 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked by Rob Sheffield". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Zaleski, Annie (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift writes her own version of history on folklore". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  18. ^ Snapes, Laura (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift: Folklore review – bombastic pop makes way for emotional acuity". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  19. ^ a b "Taylor Swift: Her 15 Best Songs". Clash Magazine. January 2, 2022. Archived from the original on May 25, 2022. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  20. ^ Trust, Gary (August 3, 2020). "Taylor Swift Charts 16 Songs From 'Folklore' on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  21. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  22. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (August 3, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' Debuts at No. 1 on Alternative Albums, 'Cardigan' Starts Atop Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  24. ^ Lipshutz, Jason; Unterberger, Andrew (August 3, 2022). "Trending Up: Beyonce Controversy Leads to Kelis Streaming Bump, Taylor Swift Claims a Whole Month & Baby Keem Has an 'Honest' Solo Hit". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic in Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021 – via Facebook.
  26. ^ a b "RIAS Top Charts". Recording Industry Association of Singapore. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  27. ^ a b "Taylor Swift – August". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  29. ^ "It's Taylor Swift's August and we're just living in it". The A.V. Club. August 1, 2023. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  30. ^ Atkinson, Katie; Caulfield, Keith (August 1, 2023). "Taylor Swift Owns 'August', But What Other Month-Themed Songs Have Hit the Hot 100?". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Philippines Songs)". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Indonesia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
  33. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Vietnam Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  34. ^ a b "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  35. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  36. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Malaysia Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  37. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  38. ^ a b Willman, Chris (March 14, 2021). "Taylor Swift Brings the 'Folklore' to Grammy Stage in Performance With Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner". Variety. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  39. ^ Yoo, Noah (March 14, 2021). "Watch Taylor Swift Perform 'cardigan,' 'august,' and 'willow' at Grammys 2021". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  40. ^ Spanos, Brittany; Shaffer, Claire (March 14, 2021). "Watch Taylor Swift Perform a 'Folklore,' 'Evermore' Medley in the Shire at 2021 Grammy Awards". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  41. ^ Sheffield, Rob (October 24, 2021). "10 Reasons We Loved the 2021 Grammys". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  42. ^ Sheffield, Rob (April 2, 2022). "10 Classic Grammy Awards Performances". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 7, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  43. ^ Shafer, Ellise (March 18, 2023). "Taylor Swift Eras Tour: The Full Setlist From Opening Night". Variety. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  44. ^ Johnston, Maura (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift forges her own path on the confident Folklore". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  45. ^ Keefe, Jonathan (July 27, 2020). "Review: With Folklore, Taylor Swift Mines Pathos from a Widening Worldview". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  46. ^ Magan, Valerie (July 28, 2020). "Taylor Swift – folklore". Clash. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  47. ^ Rosen, Jody (July 24, 2020). "Review: Taylor Swift's radically intimate 'Folklore' is the perfect quar album". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  48. ^ Johnson, Ellen (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift Morphs Her Sound Yet Again on the Stunning folklore". Paste. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  49. ^ Campbell, Caleb (July 29, 2020). "Taylor Swift: Folklore". Under the Radar. Archived from the original on July 5, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  50. ^ Mapes, Jillian (July 27, 2020). "Taylor Swift: folklore". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  51. ^ Moulton, Katie (July 25, 2020). "Taylor Swift's folklore Dismantles Her Own Self-Mythologizing". Consequence of Sound. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  52. ^ Empire, Kitty (August 1, 2020). "Taylor Swift: Folklore review – love and loss in lockdown". The Observer. Archived from the original on December 21, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  53. ^ "Best Songs of 2020". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  54. ^ "The 50 best songs of 2020". Chicago Tribune. December 10, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  55. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie (December 30, 2020). "The 10 best and 10 worst songs of 2020". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  56. ^ "Complex Staff Picks: Our Favorite Songs and Albums of 2020". Complex. December 30, 2020. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  57. ^ Jones, Nate. "Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 13, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2021.
  58. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie (December 21, 2020). "The 30 best songs of 2020, ranked". Insider. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  59. ^ "Folklore by Taylor Swift". Tidal. Archived from the original on April 24, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  60. ^ a b "Taylor Swift – August". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  61. ^ "Vecka 31" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  62. ^ "Top 100 Songs, July 24, 2020 - July 30, 2020". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  63. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  64. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  65. ^ "Streaming Songs (August 19, 2023)". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 15, 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  66. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  67. ^ "Jan 2024 Single Accreds" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  68. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Taylor Swift – August" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  69. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Taylor Swift – August". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  70. ^ "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 20, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter August in the search box.
  71. ^ "Portuguese single certifications – Taylor Swift – August" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  72. ^ "Awards Search: Taylor Swift" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  73. ^ Griffiths, George (April 24, 2024). "Taylor Swift's Official biggest non-singles in the UK revealed". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  74. ^ "British single certifications – Taylor Swift – August". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  75. ^ "IFPI Charts – Digital Singles Chart (International) – Εβδομάδα: 35/2023" (in Greek). IFPI Greece. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=August_(song)&oldid=1220548183"