Seven (Taylor Swift song)

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"Seven"
Song by Taylor Swift
from the album Folklore
ReleasedJuly 24, 2020 (2020-07-24)
Recorded2020
StudioLong Pond (New York)
GenreFolk
Length3:28
LabelRepublic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Aaron Dessner
Lyric video
"Seven" on YouTube

"Seven" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift from her eighth studio album, Folklore (2020). Swift co-wrote the song with its producer, Aaron Dessner. "Seven" is a folk song with nostalgic lyricism. It blends present and past perspectives: a 30-year-old narrator introspecting on her childhood in Pennsylvania while recalling the purity of her relationship with an old friend and the then 7-year-old narrator incapable of understanding the domestic violence her friend had experienced but realizing it years later. The song is led by Swift's upper register over a swirling piano line, complemented by acoustic guitars, drums, and strings.

The song garnered positive reviews from music critics, many of whom chose it as a standout on Folklore as it dealt with a sensitive topic like child abuse. They also highlighted the experimental composition and Swift's upper-register vocals. Following the release of Folklore, "Seven" debuted at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 11 on the Rolling Stone Top 100, and number 7 on the US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs. It also reached the top 30 in Australia, Canada, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Background and release[edit]

Swift conceived all the tracks of her eight studio album, Folklore, as imageries and visuals from her deep subconscious, a result of her imagination "running wild" while isolating herself during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Seven" was the second song that Swift and her co-writer and producer, Aaron Dessner, wrote for the album, following "Cardigan". Dessner recalled that "Cardigan" and "Seven" laid out the roadmap for writing the rest of the album.[1] He classified the song as "wistful and nostalgic". Describing the writing process as "looking back at childhood and those childhood feelings, recounting memories and memorializing them," he identified the lyric "And just like a folk song, our love will be passed on" as a defining moment of Folklore, commemorating friendship and nostalgia.[2]

Folklore was released on July 24, 2020. It featured "Seven" as the seventh song in the track-list. In the primer that preceded the release, Swift teased various tracks, with "Seven" being about "the tree swing in the woods of my childhood. Hushed tones of "let's run away" and never doing it."[3] Lyric videos of each song on the album were released to Swift's YouTube channel; "Seven" has since garnered over 20 million views as of April 2024.[4] The song was also included in Folklore: The Escapism Chapter and Folklore: The Saltbox House Chapter, streaming compilations by Swift released on August 21[5] and August 27, 2020, respectively.[6]

Snippets of "Seven" were performed on the Eras Tour (2023–2024) as a spoken interlude before the Folklore set.[7] At the tour's second show in Pittsburgh, she performed a full version of the song with Aaron Dessner on piano as one of the show's two surprise songs, which are songs that are not part of the set-list that Swift decides to perform at the show. Swift dedicated the performance to her dad in honor of Father's Day, saying "This song has to do with really fond memories of childhood and growing up in Pennsylvania."[8]

Composition and lyrics[edit]

"Seven" is a nostalgic and "wistful" folk[2] song presenting "the pureness of childhood friendship"[9] from the perspective of a seven-year-old Swift, who is unable to comprehend the emotional and physical abuse of her friend from their parents.[10][11] The song also describes young Swift's naive efforts to help her friend's escape from the abusive household, and run away to India.[12] The song switches between the use of past and present tense. The song hints at her witness of the abuse and her inability to stop it in lyrics such as: "And I've been meaning to tell you / I think your house is haunted / Your dad is always mad and that must be why / And I think you should come live with me / And we can be pirates".[13]

"Seven"
A sample of the opening chorus, in which Swift starts off with asking the listeners to imagine the song's setting; her seven-year-old self playing on a swing in a picturesque countryside.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

Several lines also see Swift "pay tribute" to the innocence of her infancy as per The Independent's Roisin O'Connor,[13] reminiscing the purity of her relationship with her friend, whom she cannot fully remember. Rebecca Karpen of PopMatters compared the themes of childhood nostalgia and the inevitability of growing up to her songs "Stay Beautiful" and "Mary's Song (Oh My My My)" from her self-titled debut album (2006), "The Best Day" from Fearless (2008), "Never Grow Up" from Speak Now (2010), and her 2012 charity single "Ronan".[10] Eric Mason of Slate highlighted the song's summer imagery, comparing it to that of "August" and "Betty".[14] The lyric "Or hide in the closet" also possibly alludes to her friend's queerness, according to the critics from Insider and The Advocate.[15][16]

Musically, the song is set in the key of E major with a tempo of 95 beats per minute. Swift uses her upper register,[17] and her vocals span from E3 to B4.[18] The song is instrumented by a prominent piano composition[19] in conjunction with acoustic guitar, drums, cello, viola, and violin.[20] Its melody mimics the movement of a pendulum, elongating at its high point before rushing down and rising up again.[21]

Critical reception[edit]

Rebecca Karpen of PopMatters described the song as "heartbreaking" and found its narrative "horrifying", stating that it made her "cry in the middle of 4th Avenue in broad daylight."[10] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times described the song as "intriguing" with the "ethereally lustrous" vocals and experimentation with tone variation.[22] Rob Sheffield's Rolling Stone review approved of Swift's turn from her traditional autobiographical storytelling, instead favoring "let[ting] these characters tell their own stories."[11] Sheffield ranked it as her 19th best song in Swift's catalogue back catalog (until Folklore), praising the "mystery that gets more confusing she [sic] tries to live with it."[23] Katherine Rodgers of The Quietus said that "Swift's reedy voice jostled for dominance over several, fussy layers of intricate melody".[24]

New Statesman critic Anna Leszkiewicz defined the song as "a deft elegy to the lost unselfconsciousness of childhood".[21] In a review published in The Guardian, Laura Snapes described the loss of innocence depicted in "Seven" and the self-interrogation it reflects as "devastating."[19] Music journalist Robert Christgau preferred the youth-tinged themes of "Seven" to the more mature songs on the album.[25] Max Heilman of Riff Magazine praised Swift's indie folk approach to the narrative and her vocal dynamic in "Seven".[26] Others praised the lyric "Then you won't have to cry / Or hide in the closet" for its purported allusions to her friend's queerness.[15][16] Slate's Carl Wilson opined that "writing of child abuse with this lightness of touch is a feat".[12]

Several critics pointed to the song as a highlight on Folklore. Roison O'Connor chose it as the "most moving song on the album."[13] While acknowledging Swift's turn from her previous pop music, Jody Rosen of the Los Angeles Times described "Seven" as a staple nostalgic track, comparing it to her earlier work narrating childhood friendship. Rosen chose it as "possibly the album's prettiest moment" and highlighted the feminist themes in the lyric "Before I learned civility / I used to scream ferociously / Anytime I wanted."[17] In an NPR critics roundtable, Ann Powers chose "Seven" as a standout on Folklore, arguing it defined Folklore's underlying web of memory. Similar to Rosen, she praised Swift's twist on childhood nostalgia, a common theme in her work.[27]

Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times ranked it as the 5th best song on the album, praising the "narrative experimentation",[28] while Jason Lipshutz of Billboard placed it at 3rd, praising the production, instrumentals, and the imagery "steeped in authenticity".[29] Eric Mason of Slate Magazine ranked it second (behind "Exile"), describing it as "one of Folklore's most chilling moments" and praising its maturity compared to her earlier works reflecting childhood friendship and unstable family relationships.[14] Callie Ahlgrim and Courteney Larocca of Insider listed "Seven" among the seven best tracks on the album and referred to its nostalgic lyrics as "pure whimsical magic," comparing the chorus to "a shot of espresso."[30] Ryan Leas of Stereogum wrote that it "leveled [him] each listen" and ranked it as his 4th favorite song of 2020.[31] On the other hand, Jillian Mapes' review of Folklore published in Pitchfork argued that while the track is not a "wild misstep", it is disposable compared to the rest of the songs on the album.[32]

Commercial performance[edit]

Following the release of Folklore, "Seven" debuted at number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart[33] alongside the album's 15 other songs and at number 11 on the Rolling Stone Top 100.[34] Additionally, the song debuted at number seven on the Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.[35] The song reached the top 20 in Australia,[36] Malaysia,[37] and Singapore.[38]

Usage in media[edit]

"Seven" is played during the closing credits of the 2022 coming-of-age drama film Summering.[39] The song is played in the final episode of the second season of British coming-of-age television series Heartstopper.[40]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Credits adapted from Tidal and the album booklet.[20][41]

  • Taylor Swift – vocals, songwriting
  • Aaron Dessner – songwriting, production, recording, acoustic guitar, bass, drum programming, percussion, piano, synthesizer
  • JT Bates – drums, recording
  • Bryce Dessner – orchestration
  • Bryan Devendorf – drum programming, recording
  • Clarice Jensen – cello, recording
  • Jonathan Low – mixing, recording
  • Randy Merrill – mastering
  • Kyle Resnick – engineering, recording
  • Yuki Numata Resnick – viola, violin

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Seven"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[47] Platinum 70,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Blistein, Jon (July 24, 2020). "How Aaron Dessner and Taylor Swift Stripped Down Her Sound on 'Folklore'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  2. ^ a b 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 May 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "'It Started With Imagery': Read Taylor Swift's Primer For 'Folklore'". Billboard. July 24, 2020. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  4. ^ Swift, Taylor (July 24, 2020). Taylor Swift – seven (Official Lyric Video). YouTube. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  5. ^ folklore: the escapism chapter - EP by Taylor Swift, Apple Music, August 21, 2020, archived from the original on August 21, 2020, retrieved May 16, 2021
  6. ^ folklore: the saltbox house chapter - EP by Taylor Swift, Apple Music, August 27, 2020, archived from the original on September 10, 2020, retrieved May 16, 2021
  7. ^ Carroll, Rachel R. (March 18, 2023). "Taylor Swift's 'Eras' tour kick-off: top five moments from the star's transcendent performance". NME. ISSN 0028-6362. OCLC 60624023. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Cavender, Elena (August 10, 2023). "Every surprise song Taylor Swift has performed on 'The Eras Tour'". Mashable. Retrieved October 23, 2023.
  9. ^ Gutowitz, Jill (July 24, 2020). "What Is Every Song on Taylor Swift's Folklore Actually About?". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Karpen, Rebecca (August 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift's "seven" Marks the End of Innocence". PopMatters. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  11. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift Leaves Her Comfort Zones Behind on the Head-Spinning, Heartbreaking 'Folklore'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  12. ^ a b Wilson, Carl (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift's New Album Reveals That Social Distancing Has Served Her Well". Slate Magazine. Archived from the original on April 11, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c O'Connor, Roisin (July 25, 2020). "Taylor Swift's eighth album Folklore is exquisite, piano-based poetry – review". The Independent. Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Mason, Eric (September 12, 2020). "Every Song on Taylor Swift's Folklore Ranked". Slate. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Tenbarge, Kat (January 8, 2020). "As a woman who loves women, Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' lyrics resonated deeply with my queer experiences". Business Insider India. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021 – via MSN.
  16. ^ a b Damante, Becca (July 25, 2020). "All of the Lesbian Easter Eggs Taylor Swift Left Us in 'folklore'". The Advocate. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  17. ^ a b 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 May 11, 2021.
  18. ^ Swift, Taylor; Dessner, Aaron (July 25, 2020). "seven". Musicnotes. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  19. ^ a b Snapes, Laura (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift: Folklore review – bombastic pop makes way for emotional acuity". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Credits / folklore / Taylor Swift". Tidal. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  21. ^ a b Leiszkiewicz, Anna. "Folklore reveals a more introspective side to Taylor Swift". New Statesman. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  22. ^ Caramanica, Jon (July 26, 2020). "Taylor Swift, a Pop Star Done With Pop". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Sheffield, Rob (November 24, 2020). "All 129 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked by Rob Sheffield". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  24. ^ Catherine, Rodgers (December 16, 2020). "The Quietus | Reviews | Taylor Swift". The Quietus. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  25. ^ Christgau, Robert (September 9, 2020). "Consumer Guide: September, 2020". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Archived from the original on April 25, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  26. ^ Heilman, Max (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift quietly matures on 'Folklore'". RIFF Magazine. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  27. ^ Thompson, Stephen; Powers, Ann; McKenna, Lyndsey (July 28, 2020). "Let's Talk About Taylor Swift's 'Folklore'". NPR. Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  28. ^ Wood, Mikael (July 26, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore': All 16 songs, ranked". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  29. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (July 24, 2020). "Every Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's 'Folklore': Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  30. ^ Ahlgrim, Callie; Larocca, Courteney (July 24, 2020). "Taylor Swift's 'Folklore' might be the best album of her entire career". Insider. Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  31. ^ Lapatine, Scott; Breihan, Tom; Deville, Chris; Rettig, James; Helman, Peter; Leas, Ryan (December 8, 2020). "Stereogum's 60 Favorite Songs Of 2020". Stereogum. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  32. ^ Mapes, Jillian (July 27, 2020). "Taylor Swift: folklore". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  33. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  34. ^ a b "Top 100 Popular Songs". Rolling Stone. July 30, 2020. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.
  35. ^ a b "Taylor Swift Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  36. ^ a b "Taylor Swift – Seven". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  37. ^ a b "Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia". Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  38. ^ a b "RIAS International Top Charts". Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  39. ^ Lodge, Guy (January 23, 2022). "'Summering' Review: A Gently Meandering Generation Alpha Riff on 'Stand By Me'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  40. ^ Griffiths, George (August 3, 2023). "The Heartstopper season 2 soundtrack in full: From Taylor Swift to Carly Rae Jepsen". Official Charts. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  41. ^ Folklore (booklet). Taylor Swift. United States: Republic Records. 2020. B003271102.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ^ "Taylor Swift Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  43. ^ "Taylor Swift – Seven". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  44. ^ "Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 31, 2020" [Weekly list Heatseeker, week 31, 2020]. Sverigetopplistan (in Swedish). Archived from the original on December 13, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  45. ^ "Official Audio Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  46. ^ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2020". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  47. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  48. ^ "British single certifications – Taylor Swift – Seven". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
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