Bon Iver has been rap's go-to guy for a minute now but he's rarely dipped his toes into the mainstream pop world...until now.
Taylor Swift surprise-announced her eighth album Folklore, released today. Once people got over the shock of it all, eyes darted to Bon Iver's inclusion on the tracklist.
folklore will have 16 songs on the standard edition, but the physical deluxe editions will include a bonus track “the lakes.” Because this is my 8th studio album, I made 8 deluxe CDs & 8 deluxe vinyls available for 1 week?? Each has unique covers & photos https://t.co/zSHpnhUlLb pic.twitter.com/tG34e0MpgJ
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) July 23, 2020
The Swift feature hall-of-fame includes The Chicks, Brendon Urie, Ed Sheeran, Future and ZAYN. Bon Iver aka Justin Vernon is the only feature on the forthcoming album but it was co-produced in part by The National's Aaron Dessner which explains how Vernon ended up on the project, given Dessner and Vernon have their own project together Big Red Machine.
It's definitely a left turn for Swift but it's one that is already paying off. Bon Iver has been trending on Twitter since the announcement with most fans embracing "indie Swift".
Yes I’m weeping to exile by Taylor swift feat. Bon Iver no I haven’t heard it yet
— shonda rhimes wrote crossroads (@jersing) July 23, 2020
Bon Iver's last project i,i dropped last year and was nominated for Album Of The Year at the Grammys. Over the past few years Vernon has contributed to tracks by Chance The Rapper, Eminem, Bruce Hornsby and Nas.
Another note for those that live for gossip, Vernon has been a consistent collaborator of Kanye West - Swift's arch-nemesis. West has also announced an album due to drop today although deadlines haven't always been his strong suit. It's a twisted web that shouldn't be read into at all but it's interesting to note.
Here are some of our favourite reactions to the news:
Swifties googling ‘Bon Iver’
— C (@SwiftieStan13) July 23, 2020
Taylor swift going from collabing with brendon urie to bon iver.... she is so smart like that
— manic pixie swiftie bro (@thirstbicth) July 23, 2020
NEW TAYLOR ALBUM FEATURING BON IVER AND THE NATIONAL pic.twitter.com/Iov6AFpQ3j
— ??n???n??n? (@greenIight) July 23, 2020
The guy from the National produced 11 out of 16 songs on the Taylor Swift album dropping tonight. There’s also a Bon Iver cameo and she got Lana’s sound engineer. Please pray for white people, I’m not sure we can emotionally handle this.
— ?????????? H?????? ???????????????? (@alanalevinson) July 23, 2020
I mean a surprise Taylor album with a Bon Iver track is something I conjured up during a fever dream
— Kelly Keegs (@kellykeegs) July 23, 2020
taylor + bon iver pic.twitter.com/e5NpkCaN8l
— molly ?? (@itsbrighternow) July 23, 2020
Me when I see Taylor Swift is putting out a folk inspired album with Bon Iver on it that matches my exact aesthetic: pic.twitter.com/lFB8WPU8e9
— Aviendha McKechnie (@priyaaviendha) July 23, 2020
