{{Short description|2020 studio album by Taylor Swift}} {{Other uses}} {{Featured article}} {{Use American English|date=December 2020}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox album | name = Evermore | type = studio | artist = Taylor Swift | cover = Taylor Swift - Evermore.png | border = yes | alt = Cover artwork of evermore, a photo of Swift's back showing her braided hair and flannel shirt. She is seen standing in front of a barren field | released = {{start date|2020|12|11}} | recorded = September – December 2020 | studio = * Kitty Committee (Los Angeles) * Long Pond (Hudson Valley) * Scarlet Pimpernel (Devon) | genre = * Alt-pop * chamber rock * folk-pop * indie folk * indie rock | length = 60:38 | label = Republic | producer = * Aaron Dessner * Taylor Swift * {{nowrap|Jack Antonoff}} * Bryce Dessner | prev_title = Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = Fearless (Taylor's Version) | next_year = 2021 | misc = {{Singles | name = Evermore | type = studio | single1 = Willow | single1date = December 11, 2020 | single2 = No Body, No Crime | single2date = January 11, 2021 | single3 = Coney Island | single3date = January 18, 2021 }} }} '''''Evermore''''' (stylized in all lowercase) is the ninth studio album by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. It was surprise-released on December 11, 2020, through Republic Records. Swift conceived ''Evermore'' as a "sister record" to its predecessor, ''Folklore'', which had been released in July. She recorded ''Evermore'' mainly with Aaron Dessner at his Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley.
''Evermore'' expands on ''Folklore''{{'}}s escapist fantasy songwriting with fictional narratives and delves into the imaginary world Swift had ideated while self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic. The lyrics depict uneasy emotions like longing, grief, nostalgia, and regret, which stem from unhappy endings caused by complications like forbidden love, divorce, and infidelity. ''Evermore'' features an acoustic and atmospheric alternative pop, chamber rock, folk-pop, indie folk, and indie rock soundscape. Its spare arrangements and orchestrations consist of fingerpicked guitars, pianos, strings, subtle synths, and programmed drums. Haim, the National, and Bon Iver appear as featured artists.
''Evermore'' was supported by three singles, each released to a different radio format in the United States. "Willow", released to contemporary hit radio, peaked atop the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, while "No Body, No Crime" and "Coney Island" were released to country and alternative radio. ''Evermore'' reached number one and was certified multi-platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it was Swift's eighth consecutive number-one debut on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and was the best-selling alternative album of 2021, being certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Music critics opined that ''Evermore'' was musically bold and experimental while expanding on the styles of ''Folklore.'' Many reviews lauded Swift's songwriting, deeming the character studies intricate and the narratives well-constructed; several were more reserved in their praise and considered the album less groundbreaking than its predecessor. ''Evermore'' appeared in various publications' rankings of the best albums of 2020, and some listed it alongside ''Folklore''. At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards in 2022, ''Evermore'' was nominated for Album of the Year.
== Background == Taylor Swift wrote and produced her eighth studio album, ''Folklore'', while self-isolating during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. It was released on July 24, 2020, via Republic Records. Swift worked on half of the album with Jack Antonoff, whom she had collaborated with since 2014, and the other half with Aaron Dessner of the National, a first-time collaborator.<ref name="Doyle-2021">{{Cite web |last=Doyle |first=Tom |date=March 2021 |title=Aaron Dessner: Producing ''Folklore'' And ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/aaron-dessner-producing-folklore-and-evermore |access-date=June 5, 2025 |website=Sound on Sound |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204230148/https://www.soundonsound.com/people/aaron-dessner-producing-folklore-and-evermore |url-status=live }}</ref> Swift had been fond of Dessner's works for the National and reached out to him to collaborate in April 2020, without requesting a specific sound. Dessner thought that the National's 2019 album ''I Am Easy to Find'' could have been a subconscious influence.<ref name="Rao-2020">{{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Sonia |date=December 11, 2020 |title=How Taylor Swift And Indie Rock Band the National Became Unlikely Collaborators |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/12/11/taylor-swift-evermore-the-national/ |url-access=limited |access-date=June 6, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122090859/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/12/11/taylor-swift-evermore-the-national/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Other first-time collaborators were Dessner's brother Bryce Dessner,{{Efn|For consistency and clarity, this article hereafter refers to Aaron Dessner as "Dessner", and Bryce Dessner as "Bryce".}} who orchestrated several tracks; Justin Vernon of the indie folk band Bon Iver, and Joe Alwyn (credited under the pseudonym William Bowery)—her boyfriend at the time—who co-wrote several songs.<ref name="Rao-2020" /> Due to lockdown restrictions, Swift recorded her vocals in her home studio in Los Angeles and sent audio files to Dessner and Antonoff, who operated from their studios on the United States East Coast. ''Folklore''{{'}}s indie folk and alternative rock sounds, and its fictional songwriting with imaginary characters and narratives, were new aspects of Swift's artistry.<ref name="Light-2020">{{cite web |last=Light |first=Alan |author-link=Alan Light |date=December 11, 2020 |title=''Evermore'' Isn't About Taylor Swift. It's About Storytelling. |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a34942839/evermore-taylor-swift-album-review-meaning-easter-eggs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212135550/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a34942839/evermore-taylor-swift-album-review-meaning-easter-eggs/ |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2020 |website=Esquire}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kimbro|2024|p=13}} The critical acclaim that ''Folklore'' received encouraged Swift to continue experimenting with its styles.<ref name="Countryman-2020">{{cite web |last=Countryman |first=Eli |date=December 16, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Opens Up About the Creation of ''Evermore'' |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-evermore-apple-music-1234853026/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181838/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-evermore-apple-music-1234853026/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 20, 2020 |work=Variety}}</ref>
In September 2020, Swift, Antonoff, and Dessner convened to film the documentary ''Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions'' in person at Dessner's Long Pond Studios in the Hudson Valley, one of the recording locations of ''Folklore''. After filming, the three continued writing songs spontaneously during their stay at Long Pond.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /><ref name="DessnerBB">{{cite magazine |last=Havens |first=Lyndsey |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Aaron Dessner on the 'Weird Avalanche' That Resulted in Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/aaron-dessner-taylor-swift-evermore-interview-9502756/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181838/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9502756/aaron-dessner-taylor-swift-evermore-interview |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Dessner described their collaboration as a "weird avalanche"<ref name="DessnerBB" /> and a natural extension of their works on ''Folklore'', but with more room for experimentation, as the two did not subject themselves to limitations.<ref name="DessnerRS">{{cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Aaron Dessner on How His Collaborative Chemistry With Taylor Swift Led to ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/aaron-dessner-interview-taylor-swift-evermore-1105853/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181909/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/aaron-dessner-interview-taylor-swift-evermore-1105853/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |url-access=limited}}</ref> He would send Swift instrumentals, and she would write the lyrics to them and send the songs back to him.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /><ref name="DessnerRS" /> After Swift, Alwyn, and Vernon had written the song "Evermore", Dessner concluded that they were working on a new album.<ref name="DessnerRS" />
== Writing and recording == [[File:Aaron Dessner (28677721700).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Aaron Dessner in a blue shirt, playing a guitar|Swift recorded much of ''Evermore'' with Aaron Dessner (pictured in 2016) at his Long Pond Studio in the Hudson Valley.]] On ''Evermore''{{'s}} standard edition, Dessner produced 14 tracks (including four co-produced with Swift and one with Bryce), and Antonoff co-produced one with Swift.<ref name="Swift-2020" /> According to Dessner, he was attuned to Swift's way of structuring a song with verses, refrains, and bridges, and thus did not edit her outputs much. While her vocals were processed remotely for ''Folklore'', Swift recorded a lot of her vocals for ''Evermore'' in person at Long Pond, using Dessner's Telefunken microphone and Siemens preamplifiers.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /> In late 2020, when COVID restrictions had studios closed in England, Dessner arranged for her to quarantine and have an extended recording session at Scarlet Pimpernel Studios at Marcus Mumford's home in Devon.<ref name="Khalifeh">{{Cite web |last=Khalifeh |first=Mona |date=March 26, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift Brings Out Marcus Mumford for Las Vegas Leg of Eras Tour |url=https://www.etonline.com/taylor-swift-brings-out-marcus-mumford-for-las-vegas-leg-of-eras-tour-201597 |access-date=March 22, 2026 |website=Entertainment Tonight |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328063608/https://www.etonline.com/taylor-swift-brings-out-marcus-mumford-for-las-vegas-leg-of-eras-tour-201597 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebg4yISzZPM |title=Marcus Mumford on Glastonbury, living in Devon, and surfing in Malibu – Table Manners Podcast |date=November 10, 2025 |last=Table Manners Podcast |access-date=March 22, 2026 |via=YouTube}}</ref> According to Swift, she recorded "five or six" songs during this stay.<ref name="Khalifeh" /> Other collaborators, such as Vernon and Bryce, collaborated virtually due to pandemic restrictions.<ref name="Countryman-2020" /> Given Swift's international popularity, they recorded the album in secrecy, using passwords, data encryption, and specific communications when sharing mixes of the tracks.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /> For songs that feature orchestration, Dessner sent Bryce chord charts, and Bryce orchestrated the songs from his studio in Biarritz, France, before sending them back to Dessner, who then coordinated other musicians to record instruments individually from their home studios.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Minsker |first=Evan |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Releases New Album ''Evermore'': Listen and Read the Full Credits |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-releases-new-album-evermore-listen-and-read-the-full-credits/ |access-date=September 23, 2025 |website=Pitchfork |archive-date=December 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213234711/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-releases-new-album-evermore-listen-and-read-the-full-credits/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Several ''Evermore'' tracks were created from scratch.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /><ref name="DessnerBB" /> Swift wrote two tracks, "Closure" and "Dorothea", for Dessner and Vernon's supergroup Big Red Machine; the songs were eventually recorded for ''Evermore''.<ref name="DessnerBB" /> For "Closure", Vernon played a drum loop and Dessner added piano to it, imagining it as a track in 5/4 time. Dessner pinpointed "Closure" as the track that opened up more possibilities for the album, in that Swift and the production team did not subject themselves to any limitations.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /> Dessner composed "Westerly", an instrumental track named after the town of Westerly, where Swift's Rhode Island home is located. Swift subsequently took an hour to write what became "Willow" on that instrumental.<ref name="DessnerRS" /> "No Body, No Crime" is the only ''Evermore'' track that Swift wrote without collaborators;<ref name="Swift-2020">{{Cite AV media notes |last=Swift |first=Taylor |title=Evermore |year=2020 |author-link=Taylor Swift |publisher=Republic Records |type=liner notes}}</ref> she wrote it on a rubber-bridge guitar and sent Dessner a voice memo, which he produced upon. The track's feature artist, the pop rock band Haim, recorded their vocals at Ariel Rechtshaid's Los Angeles home and forwarded it to Swift and Dessner.<ref name="DessnerRS" />
Other tracks were Dessner's works he had created for his own projects or ''Folklore''.<ref name="DessnerBB" /> "{{-'}}Tis the Damn Season" was a product of Swift's songwriting when she was drunk and Dessner's instrumental track that he had written "a long time ago".<ref name="DessnerBB" /><ref name="DessnerRS" /> "Coney Island" was based on a track that Dessner and Bryce had written for the National. Swift and Alwyn wrote the lyrics to it, and the National's lead singer, Matt Berninger, duetted with Swift while other members played instruments, including the drums, pocket piano, and bass.<ref name="DessnerRS" /> The bridge of "Marjorie" samples the drone from ''Folklore''{{'}}s "Peace"; Swift wrote "Marjorie" about her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, whose operatic vocals were also sampled.<ref name="Lowe-2020">{{cite web |last=Lowe |first=Zane |author-link=Zane Lowe |date=December 14, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Folklore'', ''Evermore'' and Songwriting {{!}} Apple Music Awards 2020 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQacWbsLbS4&t=6s |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181944/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQacWbsLbS4&t=6s |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 16, 2020 |publisher=Apple Music |via=YouTube}}</ref> Dessner had started composing "Right Where You Left Me" and "Happiness" for Big Red Machine in 2019. Swift finished writing and recording the two songs as the last two for ''Evermore'';<ref name="DessnerRS" /> "Happiness" was completed six days before the album was mastered.{{Sfn|Kimbro|2024|p=20}} All 17 tracks were mixed by Jonathan Low at Long Pond.<ref name="DessnerRS" /><ref name="Swift-2020" />
== Composition ==
=== Music and production === {{Listen | type = music | filename = Willow by Taylor Swift.mp3 | title = "Willow" | pos = left | description = ''Evermore'' expands on the folk sounds of ''Folklore'', as demonstrated with "Willow", a folk song instrumented with picked guitars and orchestral accents.{{sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=192}} }} Swift envisioned ''Evermore'' as a nostalgic fall and winter album, as opposed to ''Folklore'' as a spring and summer record.<ref name="DessnerRS" /><ref name="Crone-2020">{{cite web |last=Crone |first=Madeline |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift ''Evermore'' Is Ready For Your Record Player, Radio Play Be Damned |url=https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-evermore-is-ready-for-your-record-player-radio-play-be-damned/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211222235/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-evermore-is-ready-for-your-record-player-radio-play-be-damned/ |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |website=American Songwriter}}</ref> As with ''Folklore'', ''Evermore'' explores atmospheric folk and indie rock styles that were different from Swift's previous country and synth-pop releases,<ref name="Doyle-2021" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ganz |first=Caryn |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Announces Second Surprise Quarantine Album, ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/10/arts/music/taylor-swift-surprise-album-evermore.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220625182744/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/10/arts/music/taylor-swift-surprise-album-evermore.html |archive-date=June 25, 2022 |access-date=May 13, 2023 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> showcased through the subdued and nuanced production and relaxed pacing over straightforward, arena-friendly hooks.<ref name="Light-2020" /><ref name="Independent">{{cite web|last=Brown |first=Helen|date=December 11, 2020|title=Taylor Swift Review, ''Evermore'': Full of Haunting Tales that Transform Speakers into Campfires|url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-review-evermore-b1769916.html|url-access=limited|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212001529/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-review-evermore-b1769916.html |archive-date=December 12, 2020|access-date=January 7, 2026|work=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Hull |first=Tom |author-link=Tom Hull (critic) |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Music Week |url=http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2911-Music-Week.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181849/http://tomhull.com/ocston/blog/archives/2911-Music-Week.html |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 15, 2020 |website=Tom Hull – on the Web}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Ellen |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Is ''Folklore''{{'s}} Charismatic Companion |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/evermore-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215191151/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/evermore-review/ |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |access-date=June 5, 2021 |website=Paste}}</ref> The album incorporates acoustic and atmospheric alternative pop,<ref name="Wheeler-2020">{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Brad |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Is the Surprise Album We Should Have Seen Coming |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-critics-notebook-taylor-swifts-evermore-is-the-surprise-album-we/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609145552/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-critics-notebook-taylor-swifts-evermore-is-the-surprise-album-we/ |archive-date=June 9, 2025 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |work=The Globe and Mail}}</ref> chamber rock,<ref name="LAtimes">{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Mikael |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Review: Taylor Swift's Surprise LP ''Evermore'' Is More—And Less—''Folklore'' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-12-10/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211050852/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-12-10/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> folk-pop,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vanderhoof |first=Erin |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Shakes Off More of Her Self-Consciousness on ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-review |url-access=limited |access-date=December 27, 2025 |website=Vanity Fair |archive-date=June 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250630163435/https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-review |url-status=live }}</ref> indie folk,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kaplan |first=Ilana |date=November 15, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Red'' Re-Release Proves What Swifties Always Knew |url=https://slate.com/culture/2021/11/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115233505/https://slate.com/culture/2021/11/taylor-swift-red-taylors-version-review.html |archive-date=November 15, 2021 |access-date=June 2, 2022 |website=Slate}}</ref> and indie rock styles,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Ed |date=July 19, 2023 |title=The Evolution of Tay-Tay: How Taylor Swift Became One of Pop Music's All-Time Greats |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41186911.html |access-date=December 21, 2025 |website=Irish Examiner |archive-date=December 21, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251221174241/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-41186911.html |url-status=live }}</ref> with chamber pop embellishments,<ref name="Willman-2020a" /> bringing forth an introspective listening experience.<ref name="Crone-2020" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Power |first=Ed |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Evermore'' Review |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review-this-secret-wedding-album-sweetly-sweeps-you-away-1.4433528 |access-date=June 6, 2025 |newspaper=The Irish Times |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211052448/https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review-this-secret-wedding-album-sweetly-sweeps-you-away-1.4433528 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Luebbers |first=Julien A. |date=December 17, 2020 |title=Review: Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Is Vivid, Impactful and Echoes ''Folklore'' |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/dec/17/review-taylor-swifts-evermore-is-vivid-impactful-a/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250607162650/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/dec/17/review-taylor-swifts-evermore-is-vivid-impactful-a/ |archive-date=June 7, 2025 |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=The Spokesman-Review}}</ref> The music critic Steven Hyden wrote in ''Uproxx'' that the album exuded "wintery-country vibes".<ref name="Hyden-2020">{{Cite web |last=Hyden |first=Steven |author-link=Steven Hyden |date=December 14, 2020 |title=How Taylor Swift Reinvented Herself With ''Folklore'' And Now ''Evermore'' |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review/ |access-date=June 5, 2025 |website=Uproxx |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411065319/https://uproxx.com/pop/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Comparing ''Evermore'' to ''Folklore'', ''Stereogum''{{'}}s Tom Breihan opined that the music of ''Evermore'' is straightforward "indie", while that of ''Folklore'' is "indie"–styled pop music.<ref name="Breihan-2020">{{cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=December 12, 2020 |title=Premature Evaluation: Taylor Swift ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2110665/taylor-swift-evermore-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211215716/https://www.stereogum.com/2110665/taylor-swift-evermore-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/ |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |website=Stereogum}}</ref>
Dessner's compositions are based on both acoustic and electronic instruments,<ref name="LAtimes" /> largely characterized by programmed drum sounds using the iOS app FunkBox or analog drum generators such as the Vermona DRM1, the Roland TR-8 and TR-8s, and the Teenage Engineering OP-1; layered electric guitars; and piano-based arrangements using a Yamaha U1 upright piano.<ref name="Doyle-2021" /> Bryce added orchestration to 13 songs.<ref name="Swift-2020" /> Compared to ''Folklore'', ''Evermore'' retains the minimal soundscape and spare arrangements<ref name="Annie-2020">{{cite web |last=Annie |first=Zaleski |author-link=Annie Zaleski |date=December 14, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's Powerful ''Evermore'' Returns to ''Folklore''{{'s}} Rich Universe |url=https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-s-deeply-affecting-evermore-continues-folk-1845875463 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214155657/https://music.avclub.com/taylor-swift-s-deeply-affecting-evermore-continues-folk-1845875463 |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |website=The A.V. Club}}</ref><ref name="Pareles-2020">{{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=December 11, 2020 |title=''Evermore'', Taylor Swift's ''Folklore'' Sequel, Is a Journey Deeper Inward |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/arts/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211185124/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/arts/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review.html |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> but is less consistent and more experimental: it has a more spacious ambience<ref name="Wilson-2020">{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Wilson (writer) |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'': A Track-by-Track Review |url=https://slate.com/culture/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-review-new-album-track-by-track.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505080320/https://slate.com/culture/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-review-new-album-track-by-track.html |archive-date=May 5, 2021 |access-date=May 5, 2021 |website=Slate}}</ref> and its songs contain looser structures and textures<ref name="Light-2020" /> and use varied instruments,<ref name="Barna-2020">{{cite news |last=Barna |first=Alyssa |date=December 16, 2020 |title=These Are the Musicological Reasons Taylor Swift's New Album Sounds Dull |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/12/16/taylor-swift-musicology-evermore-boring/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225171621/https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/12/16/taylor-swift-musicology-evermore-boring/ |archive-date=February 25, 2021 |access-date=November 3, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> namely fingerpicked or plucked guitars, glockenspiel, modular synthesizers, strings, and subtle layers of Mellotrons, French horns, and flutes.<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="Willman-2020a" /><ref name="Ryan-2020a">{{cite web |last=Ryan |first=Patrick |date=December 12, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Review: Pop Star Returns to the Woods for a Spellbinding ''Folklore'' Companion |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/12/11/taylor-swift-evermore-review-folklore-companion-album-willow/3879263001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212035351/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/12/11/taylor-swift-evermore-review-folklore-companion-album-willow/3879263001/ |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |website=USA Today}}</ref>
Swift's vocals in ''Evermore'' are generally breathy and soft, accompanied by layered backing vocals,<ref name="Telegraph" /><ref name="LAtimes" /> and deliver the songs in a conversational tone.<ref name="Rodgers-2020">{{cite web |last=Rodgers |first=Katherine |date=December 16, 2020 |title=Review – Taylor Swift, ''Evermore'' |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/29373-taylor-swift-evermore-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181853/https://thequietus.com/articles/29373-taylor-swift-evermore-review |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |website=The Quietus}}</ref> In a profile for ''Sound on Sound'', Tom Doyle wrote that Swift's voice "is very much front and centre and high in the mix, and generally sounds fairly dry".<ref name="Doyle-2021" /> Dessner processed Swift's vocals such that they retained what he described as a "warmth" that he found lacking in "pop-oriented records" to sound "very bright and [...] cut really well on the radio". The final song mixes were often the unedited mixes, such as the case of "Willow": Dessner said that the production team "settled back almost to the point where it began".<ref name="Doyle-2021" /> According to the music theory professor Alyssa Barna, both Swift's singing and the song's arrangements embrace flat dynamics with little shifts in tempo or volume, and a static timbre that remains consistent throughout each track: her timbre sounds "breathy and bright" when she sings in her upper register and "full and dark" in her lower.<ref name="Barna-2020" />
=== Lyrics and themes === {{Multiple image | align = | image1 = Rebecca-FE.jpg | alt1 = The cover of 1938 book Rebecca | image2 = The Great Gatsby Cover 1925 Retouched.jpg | alt2 = The cover of 1925 book The Great Gatsby | total_width = 300px | footer = ''Evermore''{{'s}} literary influences include Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel ''Rebecca'' on "Tolerate It", and F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel ''The Great Gatsby'' on "Happiness". }} ''Evermore'' expanded on the imaginary world that Swift had ideated when creating ''Folklore'':<ref name="SMH">{{cite web |last=Brodie |first=Lancaster |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Is Back, Stronger than Ever Before |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/taylor-swift-is-back-stronger-than-ever-before-20201211-p56mti.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211070843/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/taylor-swift-is-back-stronger-than-ever-before-20201211-p56mti.html |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> its songs incorporate fictional narratives and characters not based on Swift's personal experience—a deviation from the autobiographical songwriting that she had been known for.<ref name="Breihan-2020" />{{Sfn|Hurley|2024|p=182}} ''Evermore'' contains intertextual concepts, language, and imagery with ''Folklore'', such as fragmented memories, cabin-like settings, and shifting scenes of nature, including seascapes, forests, cliffs, and cosmic phenomena.{{Sfn|Hurley|2024|p=182}}<ref name="Opperman-2021">{{Cite news |last=Opperman |first=Jeff |date=March 12, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Is Bringing Us Back to Nature |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/opinion/taylor-swift-grammys-nature-lyrics.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312101113/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/12/opinion/taylor-swift-grammys-nature-lyrics.html |archive-date=March 12, 2021 |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Also in the same vein as ''Folklore'', ''Evermore'' was influenced by authors of modernist literature, such as the poets Robert Frost ("{{-'}}Tis the Damn Season") and Emily Dickinson ("Ivy"), and the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald ("Happiness").{{Sfnm|1a1=Smith|1y=2024|1pp=78-80|2a1=Geary|2y=2024|2p=135}}
In an Apple Music interview with Zane Lowe in December 2020, Swift detailed the relationship between ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore'', which she designated as "sister records": whereas ''Folklore'' deals with "conflict resolution" and reconciliations, ''Evermore'' explores "endings of all sorts, sizes and shapes" and the painful aftermath.<ref name="Lowe-2020" /> It details multiple themes related to unfulfilled romance—forbidden love, neglect, divorce, and infidelity<ref name="Telegraph" /><ref name="Clash">{{cite web |last=McDonagh |first=Shannon |date=December 17, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift – ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-evermore |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201217205917/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/taylor-swift-evermore |archive-date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |work=Clash}}</ref>—in addition to other painful endings such as fallen friendships and unrealized self-actualization.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Brandon |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Is Taylor Swift the World's Most Powerful Psychic? |url=https://www.thecut.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review.html |access-date=June 6, 2025 |website=The Cut |archive-date=February 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210220453/https://www.thecut.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Narrated from the perspectives of complicated women who construct their stories from distant or recent memories,<ref name="Annie-2020" />{{Sfn|Hurley|2024|p=184}} the songs are set in winter, particularly events related to the Christmas and holiday season such as returning to one's hometown during a weekend, a Christmas dinner, and a wrenching December that leaves one "feeling unmoored", as depicted in the title track.<ref name="Annie-2020" />
''Slate''{{'}}s Carl Wilson dubbed ''Evermore'' an anthology without an integrated storyline,<ref name="Wilson-2020" /> while Hyden and ''The A.V. Club''{{'}}s Annie Zaleski contended that the wintry settings established a coherent throughline.<ref name="Hyden-2020" /><ref name="Annie-2020" /> Compared to the restraint of ''Folklore'', ''Evermore'' is more uninhibited and playful, demonstrated through tracks like "No Body, No Crime", "Long Story Short", and "Dorothea",<ref name="NME">{{cite web |last=Mylrae |first=Hannah |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift – ''Evermore'' Review: The Freewheeling Younger Sibling to ''Folklore'' |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-review-2835933 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211050556/https://www.nme.com/reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-review-2835933 |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=NME}}</ref><ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |title=''Evermore'' – Taylor Swift |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/evermore-mw0003459663 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181906/https://www.allmusic.com/album/evermore-mw0003459663 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> although most of the songs' narratives do not have happy endings.<ref name="Crone-2020" /><ref name="RS">{{cite magazine |last=Claire |first=Shaffer |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Deepens Her Goth-Folk Vision on the Excellent ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore-1101778/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211134023/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore-1101778/ |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> The overall mood of ''Evermore'', nonetheless, is hopeful and warm, amidst the wintry settings and bittersweet feelings.<ref name="Willman-2020a" /><ref name="Annie-2020" /><ref name="AllMusic" /> In the view of the English literature scholar Maria Juko, while the title ''Evermore'' suggests the lasting legacy of the tales that have become folklore, the album's content questions the concept of eternity.{{Sfn|Juko|2024|p=240}}
Despite its escapist fantasy concept,<ref name="Ryan-2020a" /><ref name="RS" /> ''Evermore'' not only includes purely fictional stories but also narratives informed by Swift's biographical influences—as demonstrated most notably by the song "Marjorie". This type of narrative is autofiction—a combination of autobiography and fiction that presents perspectives of Swift's alter egos rather than her own self. Swift said that although there is an element of fiction to most of the songs, she still found herself in them.{{Sfn|Juko|2024|p=|pp=237, 240}} Commenting on Swift's framing of ''Evermore'' as a departure from her previous confessional, first-person songwriting, ''The New Yorker''{{'}}s Amanda Petrusich argued that every kind of writing is "an invention of sorts, honed and sharpened and shaped to fit a particular narrative".<ref name="Petrusich-2021" />
=== Songs === {{multiple image | image1 = Matt Mattberninger 2011 (cropped).jpg | alt1 = Matt Berninger, dressed in black, staring to his right while holding a mic | image2 = Justin Vernon - Bon Iver 2011 (cropped).jpg | alt2 = Justin Vernon playing a guitar and singing onto a mic, in dim stage lights | total_width = 300px | footer = Matt Berninger (left, pictured in 2011) duets with Swift in "Coney Island", and Justin Vernon (right, 2011) in "Evermore". }}
"Willow" is an ambient folk ballad instrumented with picked guitars and orchestral accents,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=192}}<ref name="Pareles-2020" /> and its lyrics describe the unexplainable magic that happens when the narrator connects romantically with another person; Swift described the song as "witchy" and likened it to a spell that could make somebody fall in love.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=192}} "Champagne Problems" is a mid-tempo piano ballad with a spacious arrangement,<ref name="Sodomsky-2020">{{cite web |last=Sodomsky |first=Sam |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Evermore'' |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-evermore/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215214943/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/taylor-swift-evermore/ |archive-date=December 15, 2020 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref>{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=193}} composed of oompah piano chords, a guitar arpeggio, and backing vocals singing "ah".<ref name="Pareles-2020" /> In the song, the narrator is a woman who has turned down her boyfriend's marriage proposal: he was so confident that things would go well, he had told his family about his wedding plans, but she could not give a reason for turning him down and hopes that he will find someone else more compatible.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=193}} "Gold Rush" is a chamber pop track<ref name="RS" /> with influences of 1980s synth-pop;<ref name="NME" /> it incorporates drums, horns, strings, and Mellotron over insistent, pulsing beats.<ref name="Rodgers-2020" /><ref name="Petrusich-2021" /><ref name="Lipshutz-2020">{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=December 14, 2020 |title=Every Song Ranked on Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'': Critic's Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-evermore-songs-ranked-9498113/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213153542/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9498113/taylor-swift-evermore-songs-ranked/ |archive-date=December 13, 2020 |access-date=December 14, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The narrator in "Gold Rush" is infatuated with a subject who is so attractive that everyone else falls in love with them, and she is insecure in her own qualities, until she wakes up from her daydream and concludes that it is best to not pursue this connection.<ref name="Petrusich-2021">{{Cite magazine |last=Petrusich |first=Amanda |author-link=Amanda Petrusich |date=December 14, 2021 |title=The Intimacy and Comfort of Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-intimacy-and-comfort-of-taylor-swifts-evermore |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802164604/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-intimacy-and-comfort-of-taylor-swifts-evermore |archive-date=August 2, 2021 |access-date=September 22, 2021 |magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref>{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=194}}
"{{'}}Tis the Damn Season" details a female character named Dorothea and her return to her hometown, Tupelo, during the Christmas holiday;<ref name="Crone-2020" /> she rekindles with a lover back in her high school days and wonders whether leaving her hometown for an acting career in Los Angeles was the right move.{{Sfnm|1a1=Zaleski|1y=2024|1p=196|2a1=Smith|2y=2024|2p=79}} The spare arrangement of "{{-'}}Tis the Damn Season" combines a fingerpicked electric guitar riff and strings to evoke a nostalgic soundscape.<ref name="DessnerRS" />{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=196}} Dessner and Bryce composed "Tolerate It" in {{music|time|10|8}}, an odd time signature. The song is built on insistent programmed drum beats, an orchestration, and somber piano to depict the difficulties of loving someone "ambivalent",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gutowitz |first=Jill |date=December 11, 2020 |title=So, What the Hell Folk Tales Is Taylor Swift Telling Now on ''Evermore''? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-songs-explained-lyrics-and-analysis.html |access-date=September 24, 2025 |url-access=limited |website=Vulture |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214232612/https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-songs-explained-lyrics-and-analysis.html |url-status=live }}</ref> as described by Swift, inspired by Daphne du Maurier's 1938 novel ''Rebecca''.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=197}} The lyrics describe the young female narrator as yearning and in agony, and the male subject, who is much older, as aloof and unappreciative.<ref name="Crone-2020" /><ref name="Breihan-2020" /> "No Body, No Crime" combines Americana and roots music styles such as country, folk, and old-school rock and roll,<ref name="DessnerRS" /><ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="NME" /> featuring police sirens and a harmonica in the background<ref name="Rodgers-2020" /> and a twang in Swift's vocals.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=198}} Lyrically, it is a murder ballad<ref name="DessnerRS" /> that details a revenge plotted by a friend of a fictional character named Este, who was murdered by her husband: this friend kills the husband and frames his mistress for the crime.<ref name="SMH" />
"Happiness" is a melancholic, ambient ballad<ref name="Ryan-2020a" /><ref name="RS" /> that incorporates synths, guitars, pianos, and church organs that build up from a soft drone to a soaring climax.<ref name="Breihan-2020" /><ref name="Pareles-2020" /> The lyrics of "Happiness" tell the story of how a female narrator consoles herself and her ex-husband, navigating the aftermath of a divorce from their seven-year marriage; they draw parallels with the narrative of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel ''The Great Gatsby'' and directly reference the novel through Swift's description of the female narrator as "a beautiful fool" and invocation of the "green light" on Daisy Buchanan's dock beckoning Jay Gatsby.{{Sfn|Smith|2024|pp=81-82}} An acoustic Americana and folk song,<ref name="DessnerRS" />{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=200}} "Dorothea" is instrumented by a honky-tonk piano, tambourines, and guitars;<ref name="RS" /><ref name="Lipshutz-2020" /> it is narrated from the perspective of the male subject in "{{-'}}Tis the Damn Season": he grew up with Dorothea in Tupelo and remains in their hometown but still longs for her and has observed her achievements from afar, wondering what it would be if they returned to the simple rural life before.<ref name="Guardian" />{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=200}} "Coney Island" is an alternative rock and indie folk song<ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="Annie-2020" /> featuring Swift, singing with melodious vocals, duetting with Berninger, using his baritone.<ref name="Telegraph" /><ref name="Lipshutz-2020" /> Lyrically, it is a couple's nostalgic recount of their past romance in Coney Island.<ref name="Lipshutz-2020" />
{{Listen | type = music | filename = Ivy - Taylor Swift (song sample).ogg | title = "Ivy" | pos = left | description = The wintry soundscape of ''Evermore'' is portrayed through production choices like the faint sleigh bells in "Ivy",{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=202}} which also features lightweight guitar riffs, banjos, trumpet, and gentle vocal harmonies.<ref name="Pareles-2020" /><ref name="Sodomsky-2020" /> }}
"Ivy" is a folk song with lightweight guitar riffs, faint sleigh bells,{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=202}} banjos, trumpet, and Vernon's gentle vocal harmonies.<ref name="Pareles-2020" /><ref name="Sodomsky-2020" /> The lyrics of "Ivy" are about infidelity: a married person is in love with someone who is not their spouse, and their extramarital relationship develops from winter through spring, akin to ivy vines growing and winding around the narrator. By the end of the song, the marriage crumbles in a blazing battle due to the affair.{{Sfnm|1a1=Zaleski|1y=2024|1p=202|2a1=Geary|2y=2024|2p=135}} In the melancholic track "Cowboy like Me", the narrator falls in love unexpectedly with a fellow con artist: even though both she and the subject had been scamming wealthy people by feigning love, their scheming on each other turned into real feelings, leaving the narrator anxious and heartbroken.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopper |first=Alex |date=September 28, 2023 |title=Behind the Meaning of Taylor Swift's Country-Coded 'Cowboy like Me' |url=https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-taylor-swifts-country-coded-cowboy-like-me/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123200732/https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-meaning-of-taylor-swifts-country-coded-cowboy-like-me/ |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=February 3, 2025 |website=American Songwriter}}</ref>{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=201}} Similar to "No Body, No Crime", "Cowboy like Me" evokes strong country music influences;<ref name="Sodomsky-2020" /> it is instrumented by hushed guitars, harmonica, mandolin, piano,<ref name="Lipshutz-2020" /><ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |last=Johnston |first=Maura |author-link=Maura Johnston |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Levels Up on ''Evermore'' |url=https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212001528/https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-review/ |archive-date=December 12, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> and backing vocals from Marcus Mumford.<ref name="NME" /> "Long Story Short" stands out musically from its preceding tracks thanks to its propulsive tempo, frantic drum machine beats, and strong pop influences.<ref name="Wilson-2020" /><ref name="Lipshutz-2020" />{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=203}} In the lyrics, the narrator reflects on her wrong romantic decisions due to low self-esteem, before announcing her present-day relief that she is finally in a healthy relationship.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=203}}
[[File:Marjorie Moehlenkamp.png|thumb|upright|"Marjorie" is a tribute to Swift's maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay (pictured in 1949), who was an opera singer.|alt=Black and white portrait of Marjorie Finlay]] "Marjorie" is Swift's tribute to her maternal grandmother, Marjorie Finlay, an opera singer who died when Swift was 13.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=203}} Its lyrics consist of Finlay's advice to her granddaughter, Swift's longing for her grandmother and yearning to keep her memory alive.<ref name="Sodomsky-2020" />{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=203}} Its gentle production incorporates rhythmic electronic synth pulses, warm piano, pizzicato strings,<ref name="Pareles-2020" /><ref name="Sodomsky-2020" /><ref name="EW" /> and samples Finlay's soprano vocals, taken from old records of her singing that Swift found.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=203}} "Closure", described by various critics as the most experimental track on ''Evermore'',<ref name="Light-2020" /><ref name="Pareles-2020" />{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=204}} is built in {{music|time|5|4}}, an odd time signature.<ref name="DessnerRS" /> Its instrumentation incorporates clattering, industrial-sounding electro-rock drums and acoustic piano.<ref name="Light-2020" /><ref name="Wheeler-2020" /> The lyrics of "Closure" are directed at a pretentious ex-lover: the narrator finds their act of reaching out patronizing, telling the ex-lover that there is no need for them to act out of pretentious amity.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=204}} The album's closing track for the standard edition, "Evermore", is a piano ballad that progresses into a dramatic bridge with a tempo shift, where Swift is joined midway by Vernon's multitracked falsetto in a call and response.<ref name="Olivier-2020">{{cite web |last=Olivier |first=Bobby |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Is an Undeniable Folk-Pop Masterpiece |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181845/https://www.spin.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |website=Spin}}</ref><ref name="Wilson-2020" /><ref name="NME" /> In the lyrics, Swift's narrator struggles through the dark days of November and December and eventually realizes that all the pain and depression is not permanent; she was influenced by the tough times she went through in 2016 and the uncertainty surrounding the 2020 US elections.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=205}}{{Efn|According to Swift, she "went through a lot of bad stuff in 2016, like July, November, all those times were just taking it day by day to get through".<ref name="Lowe-2020" />}}
The two bonus tracks of ''Evermore'', "Right Where You Left Me" and "It's Time To Go", expand on the indie folk sound.<ref name="Breihan-2021">{{Cite web |last=Breihan |first=Tom |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift – 'Right Where You Left Me' & 'It's Time to Go' |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2112316/taylor-swift-right-where-you-left-me-its-time-to-go/music/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=Stereogum |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025015511/https://www.stereogum.com/2112316/taylor-swift-right-where-you-left-me-its-time-to-go/music/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "Right Where You Left Me" is a folk-pop track with country influences,<ref name="Clash-2022">{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2022 |title=Taylor Swift: Her 15 Best Songs |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/features/taylor-swift-her-15-best-songs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525021731/https://www.clashmusic.com/features/taylor-swift-her-15-best-songs |archive-date=May 25, 2022 |access-date=January 6, 2022 |website=Clash}}</ref> incorporating banjo, harmonica, harmonium,<ref name="Breihan-2021" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |date=April 25, 2024 |title='Right Where You Left Me' (2021) |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/right-where-you-left-me-2021-1245547/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=November 30, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251130010209/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/right-where-you-left-me-2021-1245547/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and twangy guitars that distort towards the conclusion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haylock |first=Zoe |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Releases ''Evermore'' Bonus Tracks, Offers Distraction From Turmoil |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/taylor-swift-evermore-deluxe-edition-bonus-tracks.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107183750/https://www.vulture.com/2021/01/taylor-swift-evermore-deluxe-edition-bonus-tracks.html |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=Vulture}}</ref><ref name="Willman-2024">{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=April 29, 2024 |title=Taylor Swift's 75 Best Songs, Ranked |url=https://variety.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs-ranked/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=Variety |archive-date=January 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108035828/https://variety.com/lists/best-taylor-swift-songs-ranked/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It depicts a female narrator's entrapment in heartbreak: she is still hurt over the moment that her ex-boyfriend left her in a restaurant years ago, comparing her own existence to that of a ghost, frozen in time,<ref name="Willman-2024" /> using imagery of dim lights, dropped hairpins, shattered glasses, and collected dust.<ref name="Clash-2022" /> In "It's Time to Go", the narrator details her decisions to leave an unhappy marriage in the first verse, to exit a toxic work environment in the second, and to stand up against a greedy person who had imprisoned her in the third.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=206}} Musically, the track begins as an indie pop song set against insistent piano and one-note guitar sounds, before surging at the end with drums and slide guitar.{{Sfn|Zaleski|2024|p=206}}<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |author-link1=Jon Pareles |last2=Russonello |first2=Giovanni |last3=Zoladz |first3=Lindsay |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's Ode to Moving On, and 9 More New Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/08/arts/music/playlist-taylor-swift-saweetie-doja-cat.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 6, 2025 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108163026/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/08/arts/music/playlist-taylor-swift-saweetie-doja-cat.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Release and promotion == Swift announced ''Evermore'', including the cover artwork and track listing, on December 10, 2020, as her second surprise album of 2020 after ''Folklore''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift to Release New Album, ''Evermore'', Tonight |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-new-album-evermore-tonight-1234850261/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210132302/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-new-album-evermore-tonight-1234850261/ |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |access-date=December 10, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ponciano |first=Jonathan |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Announces Surprise Release Of 9th Album ''Evermore'' On Friday |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2020/12/10/taylor-swift-announces-surprise-release-of-9th-album-evermore-on-friday/ |url-access=limited |access-date=June 8, 2025 |website=Forbes |archive-date=June 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608155014/https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathanponciano/2020/12/10/taylor-swift-announces-surprise-release-of-9th-album-evermore-on-friday/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The titles of the album and its tracks are stylized in all lowercase; Juko commented that this stylization evokes the continuation of folk tales: the songs' narratives have no definite beginning and instead are a collection of fragmented stories.{{Sfn|Juko|2024|p=240}}
The artwork shows Swift, standing with her back to the camera, looking over a barren field with trees in the distance.<ref name="Opperman-2021" /><ref name="Bruner-2020">{{cite news |last=Bruner |first=Raisa |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Let's Break Down Taylor Swift's New Album ''Evermore'' |url=https://time.com/5920105/taylor-swift-evermore/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181946/https://time.com/5920105/taylor-swift-evermore/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |magazine=Time}}</ref> She is wearing a French braid<ref>{{cite web |last=Ibraheem |first=Hanna |date=December 11, 2020 |title=How to Recreate Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' French Braid, Explained By Hair Experts |url=https://www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/hair/taylor-swift-evermore-hair-french-braid-how-to/462169 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513163555/https://www.stylist.co.uk/beauty/hair/taylor-swift-evermore-hair-french-braid-how-to/462169 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |access-date=May 13, 2021 |website=Stylist}}</ref> and a checked flannel coat from a collection by the English designer Stella McCartney,<ref name="Bruner-2020" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=May |first=Naomi |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Rocks Stella McCartney for the Cover of ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/fashion/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore-stella-secret-album-mccartney-b245563.html |access-date=June 8, 2025 |website=London Evening Standard |archive-date=June 8, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250608155014/https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/fashion/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore-stella-secret-album-mccartney-b245563.html |url-status=live }}</ref> which sold out hours after the album's announcement.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ritschel |first=Chelsea |date=December 14, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's $2,875 Stella McCartney Plaid Coat from ''Evermore'' Cover Sells Out |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/taylor-swift-evermore-coat-sold-b1773872.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 8, 2025 |work=The Independent |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026064713/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/taylor-swift-evermore-coat-sold-b1773872.html |url-status=live }}</ref> As with ''Folklore'', ''Evermore'' embraces a cottagecore aesthetic that reflected the escapist fantasy content, which resonated with many listeners seeking comfort during the pandemic, and represented Swift's effort to reinvent her image.{{Sfn|Murray|2024|p=122}} In the view of the English literature scholar Ryan Hibbett, the cover art shows Swift as a "fellow-spectator and thinker" rather than an object of sexualization common to pop stars.{{Sfn|Hibbett|2022|p=24}}
=== Distribution and singles === [[File:Show Paul McCartney São Paulo-26 de março de 2019 04.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Paul McCartney playing a guitar and singing onto a mic|Paul McCartney (pictured in 2019) delayed the release of his album ''McCartney III'' by one week out of respect to Swift's release of ''Evermore''.]] The standard edition of ''Evermore'' was released on December 11, 2020, to download and on streaming platforms, via Republic Records.<ref name="Caulfield-2020">{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=December 20, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Arrives at No. 1 on ''Billboard'' 200 Albums Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503234/taylor-swift-evermore-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181903/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503234/taylor-swift-evermore-tops-billboard-200-albums-chart |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 20, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Due to the surprise release and the time it took to manufacture physical albums, ''Evermore'' had delayed releases on physical formats: the CD edition was released on December 18, 2020; followed by cassette on February 12, 2021; and vinyl LP on May 28, 2021.<ref name="Caulfield-2021">{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=May 31, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Breaks Modern-Era Record for Biggest Vinyl Album Sales Week |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9580407/taylor-swift-evermore-record-breaking-vinyl-album-sales-week |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531190705/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9580407/taylor-swift-evermore-record-breaking-vinyl-album-sales-week/ |archive-date=May 31, 2021 |access-date=May 31, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The deluxe edition, which contains the two bonus tracks previously relegated to physical releases, was made available for streaming on January 7, 2021.<ref name="Kaufman-2021">{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=January 7, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Drops Deluxe Edition of ''Evermore'' on Streaming, With Lyric Videos For Bonus Tracks |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-deluxe-streaming-edition-evermore-lyric-videos-9508098/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107130924/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9508098/taylor-swift-deluxe-streaming-edition-evermore-lyric-videos/ |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> A limited number of autographed CDs were sold at select independent record stores.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sisario |first=Ben |author-link=Ben Sisario |date=June 7, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Vaults to No. 1 With a Vinyl Bump |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/07/arts/music/taylor-swift-evermore-vinyl-chart.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608192327/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/07/arts/music/taylor-swift-evermore-vinyl-chart.html |archive-date=June 8, 2021 |access-date=June 9, 2021 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Swift released three streaming-exclusive playlists, each consisting of six tracks taken from ''Evermore'' and ''Folklore'', and described them as "chapters" based on the songs' collective theme: ''Dropped Your Hand While Dancing'',<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mamo |first=Heran |date=January 21, 2021 |title=New Year, New Taylor Swift Chapter: Here's the ''{{'}}Dropped Your Hand While Dancing{{'}}'' Collection |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-dropped-your-hand-while-dancing-chapter-9514532 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126231857/https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/columns/pop/9514532/taylor-swift-dropped-your-hand-while-dancing-chapter |archive-date=January 26, 2021 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> ''Forever Is the Sweetest Con'',<ref>{{cite magazine |date=January 28, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Drops New Chapter ''{{'}}Forever Is The Sweetest Con{{'}}'' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9517430/taylor-swift-chapter-forever-is-the-sweetest-con |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128064530/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9517430/taylor-swift-chapter-forever-is-the-sweetest-con/ |archive-date=January 28, 2021 |access-date=January 28, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> and ''Ladies Lunching''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Made a ''{{'}}Ladies Lunching{{'}}'' Chapter of her ''Evermore'' & ''Folklore'' Albums |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-ladies-lunching-chapter-evermore-folklore-9521018/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204124123/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9521018/taylor-swift-ladies-lunching-chapter-evermore-folklore/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
''Evermore'' was supported by three singles, each released to a different radio format in the United States—a strategy Swift had implemented for ''Folklore''.<ref name="Radio">{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=January 28, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Coney Island' and 'No Body, No Crime' Debut on Airplay Charts, Joining 'Willow' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9517376/taylor-swift-evermore-radio-rollout |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130012714/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9517376/taylor-swift-evermore-radio-rollout/ |archive-date=January 30, 2021 |access-date=January 30, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> "Willow" was released to adult contemporary and pop radio, and its music video was unveiled the same day as the album's release.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Announces Ninth Album ''Evermore'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-evermore-album-surprise-1101630/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210180922/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-evermore-album-surprise-1101630/ |archive-date=December 10, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Aniftos |first=Rania |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Unveils 'Willow' Music Video |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-willow-music-video-9497927/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211081505/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9497927/taylor-swift-willow-music-video/ |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> It was accompanied by seven official remixes.<ref name="Billboard-2020">{{cite magazine |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Willow' Debuts at No. 1 on ''Billboard'' Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503448/taylor-swift-willow-debut-number-one-hot-100/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181910/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503448/taylor-swift-willow-debut-number-one-hot-100/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> "Willow" debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart and peaked atop the Adult Pop Airplay chart in the United States,<ref name="Billboard-2020" /><ref name="Trust-2021">{{Cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |date=April 22, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's 'Willow' Hits No. 1 on Adult Pop Airplay Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-willow-tops-adult-pop-airplay/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=June 9, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423191932/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9561098/taylor-swift-willow-tops-adult-pop-airplay |url-status=live }}</ref> and it also debuted atop the Australian ARIA Singles Chart.<ref name="Brandle-2020">{{Cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Completes Chart Double In Australia With ''Evermore'', 'Willow' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/taylor-swift-completes-chart-double-australia-evermore-willow/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=June 9, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222182025/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9503344/taylor-swift-completes-chart-double-australia-evermore-willow/ |url-status=live }}</ref> "No Body, No Crime" was released to US country radio on January 11, via Republic in collaboration with MCA Nashville,<ref>{{cite web |title=Future Releases for Country Radio Stations |url=https://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221052758/https://www.allaccess.com/country/future-releases |archive-date=December 21, 2020 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |publisher=AllAccess}}</ref> and "Coney Island" to US adult album alternative radio on January 18, 2021, via Republic.<ref name="Radio" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations |url=https://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107164449/https://www.allaccess.com/triple-a/future-releases |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |publisher=AllAccess}}</ref>
Swift appeared on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' on December 14, 2020, to promote ''Evermore''; she discussed the making of both ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore'' with the host Jimmy Kimmel.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Peters |first=Mitchell |date=December 12, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Schedules First TV Interview Following ''Evermore'' Album Release |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-evermore-album-tv-kimmel-interview-9498698/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=December 5, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241205121619/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-evermore-album-tv-kimmel-interview-9498698/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Debunks ''Woodvale'' Third Album Theory on ''Kimmel'' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-jimmy-kimmel-live-folklore-evermore-1104051/ |url-access=limited |access-date=June 9, 2025 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=August 3, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250803170715/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-jimmy-kimmel-live-folklore-evermore-1104051/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On a December 15, 2020, episode of Howard Stern's Sirius XM radio show, the English singer-songwriter Paul McCartney revealed that Swift had shared with him the planned release ''Evermore'' on December 18 to respect McCartney's planned December 11 release of his album ''McCartney III''. Upon learning this, McCartney decided to release his album on December 18 instead, so that Swift could move forward with her ''Evermore'' rollout as initially planned.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|date=December 15, 2020|title=Of Course Sir Paul McCartney Knew Taylor Swift Had a Second Album Coming|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/paul-mccartney-album-moved-taylor-swift-interview-9499671/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215214943/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9499671/paul-mccartney-album-moved-taylor-swift-interview|archive-date=December 15, 2020|access-date=December 15, 2020|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
=== Theme park lawsuit === On February 2, 2021, the theme park Evermore Park in Pleasant Grove, Utah, sued Swift and her team for allegedly infringing its "Evermore" trademark. Seeking to prevent Swift's further use of the word, they demanded statutory damages of $2 million for each "counterfeit mark" on her albums or merchandise. The park had sent a cease-and-desist letter to Swift on December 29, 2020, to which the singer's team declined to abide. According to the park, Swift's album title affected its searchability and confused its consumers. Swift's team referred to the suit as "baseless" and stated that the confusion between the park's products and Swift's music was "inconceivable".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Stutz |first=Collin |date=February 3, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Sued by Utah Theme Park Over ''Evermore'' Album Title |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/9520932/taylor-swift-evermore-utah-theme-park-trademark-lawsuit/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204025804/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/legal-and-management/9520932/taylor-swift-evermore-utah-theme-park-trademark-lawsuit/ |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |access-date=February 4, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bloom |first=Madison |date=February 4, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Sued By Utah Theme Park Evermore Over Trademark |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-sued-by-utah-theme-park-evermore-over-trademark/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204004928/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-sued-by-utah-theme-park-evermore-over-trademark/ |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=Pitchfork}}</ref>
On February 24, 2021, three weeks after the lawsuit, TAS Rights Management—Swift's copyrights company—countersued the park for allegedly infringing Swift's songs "Love Story", "You Belong with Me", and "Bad Blood" by regularly using them in their performances without a license.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Blistein |first=Jon |date=February 24, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's Rights Management Company Countersues Evermore Theme Park |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-tas-rights-management-evermore-theme-park-lawsuit-1132618/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224203613/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/taylor-swift-tas-rights-management-evermore-theme-park-lawsuit-1132618/ |archive-date=February 24, 2021 |access-date=February 24, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> In March 2021, a spokesperson for Swift stated to the press that both parties had resolved to dismiss their respective suits without monetary settlement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=March 24, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift and Evermore Park Drop Lawsuits Against One Another, With No Money Exchanged |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-evermore-park-lawsuits-drop-utah-theme-park-trademark-1234937782/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325055446/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/taylor-swift-evermore-park-lawsuits-drop-utah-theme-park-trademark-1234937782/ |archive-date=March 25, 2021 |access-date=March 25, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=March 25, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift Ends Legal Battle with US Theme Park |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56520782 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=December 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206041622/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-56520782 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Commercial performance == Republic Records reported that ''Evermore'' was Swift's eighth album to sell over a million copies in its first week worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Sells a Million Worldwide in First Week |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-evermore-sells-million-first-week-1234867490/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111160011/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-evermore-sells-million-first-week-1234867490/ |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref> In the United States, it debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart dated December 26, 2020, becoming her eighth number-one album.<ref name="Caulfield-2020" /> The gap between the number-one debuts of ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore'' was 140 days, registering the shortest gap between two chart-topping albums by a woman.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 26, 2020 |title=Shortest Gap Between New No.1 Albums on the US ''Billboard'' 200 (Female) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/646321-shortest-gap-between-new-no-1-albums-on-the-us-billboard-200-female |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318185731/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/646321-shortest-gap-between-new-no-1-albums-on-the-us-billboard-200-female |archive-date=March 18, 2021 |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref> All the album's 15 tracks entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 simultaneously;<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Sends All 15 Songs From ''Evermore'' Onto Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503522/taylor-swift-15-songs-evermore-hot-100/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181955/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503522/taylor-swift-15-songs-evermore-hot-100/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> with "Willow" at number one, this marked the second time Swift had both a number-one single and a number-one album the same week, after ''Folklore'' and "Cardigan" in 2020.<ref name="Billboard-2020" /> All tracks also debuted on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart, except "No Body, No Crime", which debuted on the Hot Country Songs chart.<ref name="Rutherford-2020" />
''Evermore'' spent four non-consecutive weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, aided by delayed physical releases such as autographed CDs and a record-breaking vinyl sales week: by selling 102,000 vinyl copies for the week ending June 3, 2021, the album jumped 74–1 on the chart and registered the highest single-week vinyl figure since MRC Data began tracking US album sales in 1991.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=June 6, 2021 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Returns to No. 1 on ''Billboard'' 200 Chart |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9583265/taylor-swift-evermore-billboard-200-chart-return-number-1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621030640/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9583265/taylor-swift-evermore-billboard-200-chart-return-number-1/ |archive-date=June 21, 2021 |access-date=June 6, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> ''Evermore'' also debuted atop the Alternative Albums chart, dethroning ''Folklore'';<ref name="Rutherford-2020">{{Cite magazine |last=Rutherford |first=Kevin |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'', 'Willow' Rule Alternative Albums, Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Charts |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503597/taylor-swifts-evermore-willow-alternative-albums-hot-rock-alternative-songs-charts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181902/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503597/taylor-swifts-evermore-willow-alternative-albums-hot-rock-alternative-songs-charts/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 22, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> it spent 16 weeks at number one.<ref name="AlternativeAlbums" /> According to MRC Data, it was the tenth-best-selling album of 2020 in the United States<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=MRC Data Year-End Report U.S. 2020 |url=https://static.billboard.com/files/2020/12/MRC_Billboard_YEAR_END_2020_US-Final-1609966398.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107163802/https://static.billboard.com/files/2020/12/MRC_Billboard_YEAR_END_2020_US-Final-1609966398.pdf |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> and the sixth-best-selling of 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Caulfield |first=Keith |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Dua Lipa's 'Levitating' Is Most-Streamed Song of 2021 In U.S., Morgan Wallen's ''Dangerous: The Double Album'' Is MRC Data's Top Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/dua-lipa-morgan-wallen-us-2021-mrc-data-1235016079/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106155545/https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/dua-lipa-morgan-wallen-us-2021-mrc-data-1235016079/ |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> ''Evermore'' surpassed one million US album units as of April 2021<ref name="Trust-2021" /> and was certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in September 2025.<ref name="RIAA" />
''Evermore'' also peaked at number one in Flanders,<ref name="flanders" /> Canada,<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2022 |title=MRC Data Year-End 2021 Canada Report |url=https://mrcdatareports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MRC_YEAREND_2021_Canada_Final.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106224448/https://mrcdatareports.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MRC_YEAREND_2021_Canada_Final.pdf |archive-date=January 6, 2022 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Greece,<ref name="Greece" /> New Zealand,<ref name="NZ" /> and Portugal.<ref name="Portugal" /> In Australia, the album earned a "Chart Double" when it debuted atop the ARIA Albums Chart and "Willow" atop the ARIA Singles Chart;<ref name="Brandle-2020" /> topping the Australian chart 19 weeks after ''Folklore'', it helped Swift register the shortest gap between two number-one albums, surpassing Ariana Grande's record of 25 weeks.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 19, 2020 |title=''Evermore'' Lands Taylor Swift Second ARIA Charts #1 Album for 2020 |url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/evermore-lands-taylor-swift-second-aria-charts-1-album-for-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181935/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/news/evermore-lands-taylor-swift-second-aria-charts-1-album-for-2020 |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2020 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association}}</ref> In the United Kingdom, ''Evermore'' made Swift the female artist with the fastest duration to accumulate six number-one albums (2012–2020), surpassing Madonna (1997–2008); she also became the first female to score six chart toppers in the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cospey |first=Rob |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' Album Debuts at UK Number 1 and Sets Chart Record |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/taylor-swifts-evermore-debuts-at-number-1-on-the-official-albums-chart-and-sets-uk-record__31898/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222182006/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/taylor-swifts-evermore-debuts-at-number-1-on-the-official-albums-chart-and-sets-uk-record__31898/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 18, 2020 |publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> ''Evermore'' was the best-selling Americana album of 2021 in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wade |first=Ian |date=January 27, 2022 |title=The Official Biggest Americana Albums of 2021 |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-20-biggest-americana-albums-of-2021__35093/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128000730/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-20-biggest-americana-albums-of-2021__35093/ |archive-date=January 28, 2022 |access-date=January 28, 2022 |series=Official Charts Company}}</ref> The album has been certified quadruple platinum in Canada;<ref name="MusicCanada" /> triple platinum in Brazil<ref name="PMB" /> and New Zealand;<ref name="RMNZ" /> double platinum in Australia,<ref name="ARIA" /> Denmark,<ref name="IFPIDEN" /> and the United Kingdom;<ref name="BPI" /> and platinum in Austria<ref name ="IFPIAUSTRIA" /> and Poland.<ref name="Poland" />
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | ADM = 8.0/10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12678/Taylor-Swift-Evermore.aspx|title=''Evermore'' – Taylor Swift|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211122931/http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/12678/Taylor-Swift-Evermore.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> | MC = 85/100<ref name="MC" /> | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic" /> | rev2 = ''And It Don't Stop'' | rev2Score = A−<ref name="CG" /> | rev3 = ''Clash'' | rev3score = 8/10<ref name="Clash" /> | rev4 = ''Entertainment Weekly'' | rev4Score = A<ref name="EW" /> | rev5 = ''The Guardian'' | rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |last=Petridis |first=Alexis |author-link=Alexis Petridis |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Evermore'' – Rich Alt-Rock and Richer Character Studies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/11/taylor-swift-evermore-rich-alt-rock-and-richer-character-studies |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211050548/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/11/taylor-swift-evermore-rich-alt-rock-and-richer-character-studies |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> | rev6 = ''The Independent'' | rev6Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Independent" /> | rev7 = ''NME'' | rev7Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="NME" /> | rev8 = ''Pitchfork'' | rev8Score = 7.9/10<ref name="Sodomsky-2020" /> | rev9 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev9Score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="RS" /> | rev10 = ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' | rev10Score = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="SMH" /> }}
''Evermore'' received critical acclaim upon release.<ref>{{cite web |last=Martin |first=George |date=December 11, 2020 |title=How Critics Have Reacted to Taylor Swift's 'Exquisite' New Album ''Evermore'' |url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review-round-up-new-album-reviews-release-date-today-791132 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214010529/https://inews.co.uk/culture/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review-round-up-new-album-reviews-release-date-today-791132 |archive-date=December 14, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |website=The i Paper}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dresdale |first=Andrea |date=December 31, 2020 |title=The Year in Music: Cottagecore Queen Taylor Swift Does the Most, Saves 2020 |url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/12/31/the-year-in-music-cottagecore-queen-taylor-swift-does-the-mo.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111160037/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2020/12/31/the-year-in-music-cottagecore-queen-taylor-swift-does-the-mo.html |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |access-date=January 3, 2021 |publisher=ABC News}}</ref> On Metacritic, which assigns a normalized score out of 100 to ratings from publications, the album received a weighted mean score of 85 based on 29 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="MC">{{cite web |title=''Evermore'' by Taylor Swift Reviews and Tracks |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/evermore/taylor-swift |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313153922/https://www.metacritic.com/music/evermore/taylor-swift |archive-date=March 13, 2021 |access-date=March 13, 2021 |publisher=Metacritic}}</ref>
Swift's songwriting received unanimous praise. Reviews from ''The Independent''{{'}}s Helen Brown, ''The Guardian''{{'}}s Alexis Petridis, ''Stereogum''{{'}}s Tom Breihan, and ''The Sydney Morning Herald''{{'}}s Lancaster Brodie lauded the character studies as intricate for depicting complex emotions with well-written stories,<ref name="Independent" /><ref name="Guardian" /><ref name="Breihan-2020" /><ref name="SMH" /> while those from ''Spin''{{'}}s Bobby Olivier and ''NME''{{'}}s Hannah Mylrea highlighted Swift's command of language, focusing on her wordplay and turn of phrase.<ref name="Olivier-2020" /><ref name="NME" /> Jon Pareles from ''The New York Times'' opined that the character studies of ''Evermore'' were more extensive than those in ''Folklore'',<ref name="Pareles-2020" /> and Patrick Ryan of ''USA Today'' thought that the imaginary world of ''Evermore'' was richer and "more spellbinding".<ref name="Ryan-2020a" /> Alan Light of ''Esquire'' considered Swift's songwriting mature and "even literary".<ref name="Light-2020" /> A less enthusiastic review came from ''The Atlantic''{{'}}s Spencer Kornhaber, who wrote that there were imprecise and self-indulgent metaphors that could have been edited.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kornhaber |first=Spencer |date=December 15, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Could Use an Editor |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/12/taylor-swifts-evermore-feels-like-a-rough-draft/617390/ |url-access=limited |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=The Atlantic |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414191417/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/12/taylor-swifts-evermore-feels-like-a-rough-draft/617390/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Reception of the production and sounds was not as uniformly positive. On a positive side, multiple critics regarded ''Evermore'' as musically riskier and more experimental than ''Folklore'', such as Light,<ref name="Light-2020" /> Breihan,<ref name="Breihan-2020" /> and Mylrea;<ref name="NME" /> several considered ''Evermore'' a better record than ''Folklore'' thanks to this greater musical reach, including Olivier,<ref name="Olivier-2020" /> Zaleski,<ref name="Annie-2020" /> and ''Entertainment Weekly''{{'}}s Maura Johnston.<ref name="EW" /> There were compliments that deemed the production choices nuanced and meticulous from Pareles and ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s Claire Shaffer.<ref name="Pareles-2020" /><ref name="RS" /> ''Billboard''{{'}}s Jason Lipshutz and ''Pitchfork''{{'}}s Sam Sodomsky contended that the production choices complemented Swift's lyrics,<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Lipshutz |first=Jason |date=December 12, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's ''Evermore'' is a Rewarding Journey Deeper into the Woods |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-evermore-review-first-listen-9498080/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211184053/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9498080/taylor-swift-evermore-review-first-listen/ |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 12, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref name="Sodomsky-2020" /> while ''Clash''{{'}}s Shannon McDonagh wrote that ''Evermore'' built on what worked on ''Folklore'' to greater success.<ref name="Clash" /> Samdosky and ''Variety''{{'}}s critic Chris Willman also praised Swift's expressive and agile vocals;<ref name="Sodomsky-2020" /> the latter opined that the impressionist narratives fully "come into focus on second or third listen".<ref name="Willman-2020a">{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Has Her Second Great Album of 2020 With ''Evermore'': Album Review |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review-1234851525/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211071725/https://variety.com/2020/music/reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-album-review-1234851525/ |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref>
Some critics were more reserved in their praise. Brown, Breihan, and Robert Christgau contended that it took time for the melodies to fully draw the listeners in.<ref name="Independent" /><ref name="Breihan-2020" /><ref name="CG">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|date=January 13, 2021|url=https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/consumer-guide-january-2021|title=Consumer Guide: January, 2021|work=And It Don't Stop|publisher=Substack|accessdate=April 13, 2021|url-access=subscription|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211095402/https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/consumer-guide-january-2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Several reviews regarded ''Evermore'' as a sequel to ''Folklore'' and thus it was not as impactful as its predecessor, although they upheld the quality of the songcraft; these included Wilson,<ref name="Wilson-2020" /> Hyden,<ref name="Hyden-2020" /> and Neil McCormick of ''The Daily Telegraph''.<ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news |last=McCormick |first=Neil |author-link=Neil McCormick |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift, ''Evermore'' Review: A Dramatic Excursion Down the Musical Roads |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/taylor-swift-evermore-review-dramatic-excursion-musical-roads/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211051654/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/taylor-swift-evermore-review-dramatic-excursion-musical-roads/ |archive-date=December 11, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2020 |work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> ''The Globe and Mail''{{'}}s Brad Wheeler contended that ''Evermore'' was not as tuneful as ''Folklore'' but was more "album-oriented" and had a timeless quality.<ref name="Wheeler-2020" /> Kitty Empire of ''The Observer'' opined that the muted production "smears Vaseline on [Swift's] otherwise keen lens".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Empire |first=Kitty |author-link=Kitty Empire |date=December 20, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift: ''Evermore'' Review – A Songwriter For the Ages |url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/20/taylor-swift-evermore-review-a-songwriter-for-the-ages |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820043939/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/20/taylor-swift-evermore-review-a-songwriter-for-the-ages |archive-date=August 20, 2022 |access-date=September 16, 2022 |website=The Observer}}</ref> Mikael Wood of the ''Los Angeles Times'' felt that while there were several "incredible songs", many ''Evermore'' tracks sounded like leftovers of ''Folklore'', with unfinished experiments both musically and lyrically.<ref name="LAtimes" /> In an outright negative review, Chris Richards of ''The Washington Post'' criticized the "indie" label and contended that while ''Folklore'' was surprising, ''Evermore'' turned out lyrically subpar, with "Marjorie" as the exception.<ref>{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Chris |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift Just Can't Help Herself |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review/2020/12/11/a98c5bac-3bcb-11eb-bc68-96af0daae728_story.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited |access-date=December 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212001527/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review/2020/12/11/a98c5bac-3bcb-11eb-bc68-96af0daae728_story.html |archive-date=December 12, 2020}}</ref>
=== Year-end lists === By the time ''Evermore'' was released, many publications had already issued their year-end rankings of the best albums of 2020.<ref name="Pappis-2020" /> The album nonetheless managed to appear on multiple lists: it ranked first (shared with ''Folklore'') on lists complied by NJ.com,<ref name="NJ.com" /> ''USA Today'',<ref name="Ryan-2020b" /> and Chris Willman of ''Variety'';<ref name="Willman-2020b" /> and within the top 10 by Jon Bream of the ''Minnesota Star Tribune'',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bream |first1=Jon |last2=Riemenschneider |first2=Chris |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Best Music of the Worst Year: Our Music Critics' Favorite Albums and Songs of 2020 |url=https://www.startribune.com/best-music-of-the-worst-year-our-music-critics-favorite-albums-and-songs-of-2020/573416171/ |access-date=June 9, 2025 |newspaper=Minnesota Star Tribune |archive-date=January 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111160031/https://www.startribune.com/best-music-of-the-worst-year-our-music-critics-favorite-albums-and-songs-of-2020/573416171/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeLuca |first=Dan |date=December 18, 2020 |title=The Best Albums of 2020, from Sault and Swift to Lil Uzi Vert and Springsteen |url=https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/best-albums-of-2020-music-taylor-swift-bob-dylan-run-the-jewels-fiona-apple-lil-uzi-vert-20201218.html |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181917/https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/best-albums-of-2020-music-taylor-swift-bob-dylan-run-the-jewels-fiona-apple-lil-uzi-vert-20201218.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and the ''Tampa Bay Times''.<ref name="Cridlin-2020" /> ''Evermore'' finished at number 19 on Metacritic's aggregated list of 2020 year-end rankings, based on placements in publications' year-end lists.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dietz |first=Jason |title=Best of 2020: Music Critic Top Ten Lists |url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/music-critics-pick-top-10-best-albums-of-2020?ftag=twtrsoshares |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114014259/https://www.metacritic.com/feature/music-critics-pick-top-10-best-albums-of-2020?ftag=twtrsoshares |archive-date=November 14, 2021 |access-date=June 9, 2025 |publisher=Metacritic}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="border:none; margin:0; text-align:center;" |+ Select year-end rankings ! scope="col"| Critic/Publication ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| List ! scope="col" data-sort-type="number"| Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row"| {{sortname|Chris|Willman|nolink=1}} (''Variety'') | style="text-align:left;"| Best Albums of 2020 | 1{{efn|name="tie"}} |<ref name="Willman-2020b">{{cite web|last1=Willman|first1=Chris|last2=Aswad|first2=Jem|last3=Barker|first3=Andrew|date=December 14, 2020|title=The Best Albums of 2020|url=https://variety.com/lists/best-albums-2020-taylor-swift-dua-lipa-weeknd-phoebe-bridgers/|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=Variety|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214202524/https://variety.com/lists/best-albums-2020-taylor-swift-dua-lipa-weeknd-phoebe-bridgers|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Financial Times'' | style="text-align:left;"| Best 10 Albums of 2020 | 9 |<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Albums of 2020 In a Mixed Year for Pop|url=https://www.ft.com/content/c19dd8c4-264c-47c7-acab-7e0ea38c83d0|website=Financial Times|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=December 22, 2020|first=Ludovic|last=Hunter-Tilney|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181900/https://www.ft.com/content/c19dd8c4-264c-47c7-acab-7e0ea38c83d0|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Metro Times'' | style="text-align:left;"| Best New Music of 2020 | 2{{efn|Shared with ''Folklore''|name="tie"}} |<ref>{{cite web|last=Jordan|first=Jerilyn|date=December 30, 2020|access-date=January 3, 2020|url=https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/the-best-new-music-that-got-us-through-the-worst-fucking-year-ever/Content?oid=26106917|title=The Best New Music That Got Us Through the Worst Fucking Year Ever|website=Metro Times|archive-date=December 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201230150157/https://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/the-best-new-music-that-got-us-through-the-worst-fucking-year-ever/Content?oid=26106917|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| NJ.com | style="text-align:left;"| The 50 Albums That Saved Us From 2020 | 1{{efn|name="tie"}} |<ref name="NJ.com">{{cite web|first=Bobby|last=Olivier|title=The 50 Albums That Saved Us From 2020|url=https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/12/the-50-albums-that-saved-us-from-2020.html|website=NJ.com|date=December 20, 2020|access-date=December 22, 2020|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181946/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2020/12/the-50-albums-that-saved-us-from-2020.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Our Culture Mag'' | style="text-align:left;"| The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | 4{{efn|name="tie"}} |<ref name="Pappis-2020">{{cite web|last=Pappis|first=Konstantinos|date=December 14, 2020|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2020|url=https://ourculturemag.com/2020/12/14/the-50-best-albums-of-2020/|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=Our Culture Mag|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214225547/https://ourculturemag.com/2020/12/14/the-50-best-albums-of-2020/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| {{sortname|Robert|Christgau}} | style="text-align:left;"| 71 Best Albums of 2020 | 20 |<ref>{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|title=Dean's List: 2020|date=January 27, 2021|url=https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/deans-list-2020|work=And It Don't Stop|publisher=Substack|access-date=July 27, 2021|archive-date=August 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210802143225/https://robertchristgau.substack.com/p/deans-list-2020|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| {{sortname|Rob|Sheffield}} (''Rolling Stone'') | style="text-align:left;"| Top 20 Albums of 2020 | 5 |<ref name="Sheffield-2020">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rob-sheffield-top-20-albums-of-2020-1103796/bob-dylan-rough-and-rowdy-ways-2-1103802/|title=Rob Sheffield's Top 20 Albums of 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|author-link=Rob Sheffield|access-date=December 15, 2020|date=December 15, 2020|archive-date=December 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215215012/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rob-sheffield-top-20-albums-of-2020-1103796/bob-dylan-rough-and-rowdy-ways-2-1103802/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Slate'' | style="text-align:left;"| The Music Club, 2020 – 13 Best Albums | 2{{efn|name="tie"}} |<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Molanphy|url=https://slate.com/culture/2020/12/best-songs-2020-weeknd-disco-nostalgia-billboard-charts.html|title=The Music Club, 2020|website=Slate|date=December 19, 2020|access-date=December 19, 2020|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181906/https://slate.com/culture/2020/12/best-songs-2020-weeknd-disco-nostalgia-billboard-charts.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''Tampa Bay Times'' | style="text-align:left;"| The 10 Best Albums of 2020 | 5 |<ref name="Cridlin-2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/music/2020/12/21/the-10-best-albums-of-2020-taylor-swift-fiona-apple-waxahatchee-more/|title=The 10 Best Albums of 2020: Taylor Swift, Fiona Apple, Waxahatchee, More|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|url-access=limited|last=Cridlin|first=Jay|date=December 21, 2020|access-date=June 9, 2025|archive-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201221223514/https://www.tampabay.com/life-culture/music/2020/12/21/the-10-best-albums-of-2020-taylor-swift-fiona-apple-waxahatchee-more/|url-status=live}}</ref> |- ! scope="row"| ''USA Today'' | style="text-align:left;"| The 10 Best Albums of 2020 | 1{{efn|name="tie"}} |<ref name="Ryan-2020b">{{cite web|last=Ryan|first=Patrick|date=December 14, 2020|title=The 10 Best Albums of 2020|url=https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/entertainment/music/2020/12/14/10-best-albums-2020-list-ranked-taylor-swift-folklore-evermore-ariana-grande-positions/3856183001/|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=USA Today|archive-date=December 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201214225548/https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/entertainment/music/2020/12/14/10-best-albums-2020-list-ranked-taylor-swift-folklore-evermore-ariana-grande-positions/3856183001/|url-status=live}}</ref> |}
== Impact and commentary == [[File:Taylor Swift Eras Tour - Arlington, TX - Evermore (Willow) (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|upright|alt=Swift dressed in an orange dress and black cloak singing onto a mic|Swift performing "Willow" as part of the ''Evermore'' act of the Eras Tour in 2023]] At the 2021 American Music Awards, ''Evermore'' won the American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album; it marked Swift's record-breaking fourth win in the category.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Atkinson |first=Katie |date=November 22, 2021 |title=Here Are All the 2021 American Music Awards Winners |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2021-amas-winners-list-1235000924/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105032628/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/2021-amas-winners-list-1235000924/ |archive-date=January 5, 2022 |access-date=November 24, 2021 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> It also helped Swift win Best International Artist at the 2021 ARIA Music Awards in Australia.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 19, 2021 |title=ARIA Awards 2021 |url=https://www.aria.com.au/awards/nominees |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020024901/https://www.aria.com.au/awards/nominees |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2021 |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association}}</ref> At the 64th Annual Grammy Awards, ''Evermore'' was nominated for Album of the Year, marking Swift's fifth nomination in the category, after ''Fearless'' (2008), ''Red'' (2012), ''1989'' (2014), and ''Folklore''. This nomination resulted in a last-minute decision from the Recording Academy, who decided to expand the number of nominees for Album of the Year from eight to 10, just 24 hours before the nominees were announced.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Sisario |first1=Ben |author-link1=Ben Sisario |last2=Coscarelli |first2=Joe |date=November 25, 2021 |title=At Last Minute, Kanye West, Taylor Swift Added as Top Grammy Nominees |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/arts/music/grammy-nominations-taylor-swift-kanye-west.html |url-access=limited |access-date=June 9, 2025 |work=The New York Times |archive-date=May 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513100237/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/24/arts/music/grammy-nominations-taylor-swift-kanye-west.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The album was also nominated for International Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2021 in Canada.<ref>{{cite web |last=Weaver |first=Jackson |date=March 1, 2022 |title=The Weeknd, JP Saxe, Jessie Reyez and Justin Bieber Lead 2021 Juno Award Nominations |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/2022-juno-award-nominees-1.6367948 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323095554/https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6367948 |archive-date=March 23, 2022 |access-date=March 1, 2022 |publisher=CBC Music}}</ref>
The five-month gap between ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore'' received commentary in the press. Willman compared this short gap to the successes of the Beatles<ref name="Willman-2020b" /> and U2 with ''Achtung Baby'' (1991) and ''Zooropa'' (1993),<ref name="Willman-2020a" /> while Sheffield termed it a "hot streak" reminiscent of Prince in 1987, David Bowie in 1977, and Lil Wayne in 2007.<ref name="Sheffield-2020" /> Swift considered releasing ''Evermore'' a departure from her previous treatments of albums as "one-off eras" that required careful planning after each release cycle.<ref name="Curto-2020" /> In the view of ''Vulture''{{'}}s Justin Curto, by abandoning traditional album rollouts involving extensive promotion and marketing, ''Evermore'' demonstrated Swift's embrace of artistic autonomy, which contributed to a larger discourse over album release strategies in the 2020s.<ref name="Curto-2020">{{Cite web |last=Curto |first=Justin |date=December 22, 2020 |title=Did 2020 Kill the Long, Fancy Pop-Album Rollout for Good? |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore-surprise-explained.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223023032/https://www.vulture.com/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore-surprise-explained.html |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |access-date=December 27, 2020 |website=Vulture}}</ref> Meanwhile, ''The Wall Street Journal''{{'}}s Neil Shah argued that the quick rollout was influenced by hip-hop and R&B artists who would release their music spontaneously—a strategy that proved to be lucrative in the streaming era.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shah |first=Neil |date=December 10, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift's New Album ''Evermore'' Embraces 'More Is More' Release Strategy |url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/music/taylor-swifts-new-album-evermore-embraces-more-is-more-release-strategy-11607621727 |url-access=subscription |access-date=June 9, 2025 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-date=June 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250609124542/https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/music/taylor-swifts-new-album-evermore-embraces-more-is-more-release-strategy-11607621727 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Swift included songs from ''Evermore'' in an act as part of the Eras Tour, her sixth headlining concert tour, in 2023, having not toured since 2018's Reputation Stadium Tour due to the pandemic.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=March 16, 2023 |title=Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Has Finally Arrived. Here's What to Know. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2023/03/16/taylor-swift-eras-tour-openers-setlist/ |url-access=limited |access-date=June 10, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318111015/https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2023/03/16/taylor-swift-eras-tour-openers-setlist/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Evermore'', often analyzed together with ''Folklore'', reinvented Swift's image from a pop star to an esteemed songwriter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grady |first=Constance |date=December 11, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift, Pop Culture Workhorse |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/22169813/taylor-swift-evermore-pop-culture-workhorse |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603003615/https://www.vox.com/culture/22169813/taylor-swift-evermore-pop-culture-workhorse |archive-date=June 3, 2021 |access-date=June 5, 2021 |website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=October 14, 2022 |title='Genuine': Why Taylor Swift Can Celebrate More Than an Album Release |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/14/taylor-swift-celebrate-album-release-midnights-pop-acclaim |access-date=October 14, 2022 |website=The Guardian |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014143722/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/14/taylor-swift-celebrate-album-release-midnights-pop-acclaim |url-status=live }}</ref> According to Hibbett, the two albums aligned Swift with both the singer-songwriter tradition of the 1960s and 1970s and the contemporary indie rock scene. In doing so, they represented a paradox of "mainstream alternative" or "high-pop" binaries—contrasts between esteemed, poetic styles and accessible, "pop" styles—which Hibbett contended to have reached an unprecedented level due to Swift's "mega-stardom [that she] brings to the table".{{Sfn|Hibbett|2022|p=23}} ''Evermore''{{'}}s embrace of the cottagecore aesthetic contributed to Swift's newfound popularity among liberal and queer audiences, who found solace in it to cope with the tumultuous times of American politics that entailed white supremacy, racism, and homophobia; several critics, however, alleged her of cultural appropriation and romanticizing the legacy of settler colonialism of white Americans in the United States.{{Sfn|Murray|2024|pp=121, 127}}
Sales revenues from ''Evermore'' helped Swift become 2020's highest-paid solo musician in the world<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Christman |first=Ed |date=July 19, 2021 |title=Billboard's 2020 Global Money Makers: The 5 Top Highest Paid Musicians |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/money-makers/9602829/musician-global-money-makers-highest-paid-2020-report |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723130805/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/money-makers/9602829/musician-global-money-makers-highest-paid-2020-report/ |archive-date=July 23, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2021}}</ref> and highest-paid musician overall in the United States''.''<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Christman |first=Ed |date=July 19, 2021 |title=Billboard's U.S. Money Makers: The Top Paid Musicians of 2020 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9602078/musician-us-money-makers-highest-paid-2020/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724153507/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9602078/musician-us-money-makers-highest-paid-2020 |archive-date=July 24, 2021 |access-date=July 19, 2021}}</ref> Many publications attributed ''Evermore'' with Swift's status as one of the most prominent artists during the pandemic;<ref>{{cite web |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=December 25, 2020 |title=How Celebrities like D-Nice and Taylor Swift Lifted Our Spirits This Year |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/25/entertainment/d-nice-taylor-swift-pop-culture-blessings-plc/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514151305/https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/25/entertainment/d-nice-taylor-swift-pop-culture-blessings-plc/index.html |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=May 13, 2021 |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dean |first=Jonathan |date=December 27, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift: Pop Star of the Year |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/taylor-swift-pop-star-of-the-year-w2jfsf20l |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514170344/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/taylor-swift-pop-star-of-the-year-w2jfsf20l |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |access-date=May 13, 2021 |magazine=The Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Riley |first=Erin |date=December 12, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift: The Queen of Pandemic Productivity |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/taylor-swift-proves-herself-the-queen-of-pandemic-productivity-20201212-p56mxr.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102180307/https://www.smh.com.au/culture/music/taylor-swift-proves-herself-the-queen-of-pandemic-productivity-20201212-p56mxr.html |archive-date=January 2, 2021 |access-date=January 2, 2021 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> ''Billboard'' cited it as a notable example of how the pandemic fostered new creative directions for musicians.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Havens |first=Lyndsey |date=December 29, 2020 |title=Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and More Innovated in the Pandemic – But What Strategies Will Stick? |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-dua-lipa-pandemic-strategies-2020-9501019/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222153059/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9501019/taylor-swift-dua-lipa-pandemic-strategies-2020/ |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=December 29, 2020 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> Artists who have cited ''Evermore'' as an influence include Mia Dimšić, who was inspired to write "Guilty Pleasure", her entry song representing Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balen |first=Ida |date=February 20, 2022 |title=Mia Dimšić za RTL nakon plasmana na Eurosong: 'Nisam plagirala Taylor Swift, ali njena pjesma mi je bila inspiracija' |url=https://www.rtl.hr/vijesti-hr/novosti/hrvatska/4196134/mia-dimsic-za-rtl-nakon-plasmana-na-eurosong-nisam-plagirala-taylor-swift-ali-njena-pjesma-mi-je-bila-inspiracija/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329171651/https://www.rtl.hr/vijesti-hr/novosti/hrvatska/4196134/mia-dimsic-za-rtl-nakon-plasmana-na-eurosong-nisam-plagirala-taylor-swift-ali-njena-pjesma-mi-je-bila-inspiracija/ |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=Vijesti.hr |language=hr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Cindrić |first1=Marija |last2=Paponja |first2=Tea |date=February 20, 2022 |title=Mia Dimšić o kritikama: 'Meni svaka usporedba s Taylor Swift može bit samo kompliment' |url=https://www.24sata.hr/show/mia-dimsic-o-kritikama-meni-svaka-usporedba-s-taylor-swift-moze-bit-samo-kompliment-816813 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220405062010/https://www.24sata.hr/show/mia-dimsic-o-kritikama-meni-svaka-usporedba-s-taylor-swift-moze-bit-samo-kompliment-816813 |archive-date=April 5, 2022 |access-date=February 22, 2022 |website=24sata |language=hr}}</ref> Christina Perri, who said that it reignited her passion to create melancholic, heartfelt songs without confirming her to making "happy" music;<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 25, 2022 |title=Christina Perri on New Single 'Evergone' and the Influence of Taylor Swift's ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore'' |url=https://consequence.net/2022/03/christina-perri-evergone-kyle-meredith-with/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511002215/https://consequence.net/2022/03/christina-perri-evergone-kyle-meredith-with/ |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |access-date=March 26, 2022 |website=Consequence}}</ref> and Noah Kahan, who credited it with providing a mainstream prominence for his "brand of alt-folk".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Unterberger |first=Andrew |date=December 15, 2023 |title=''Billboard''{{'s}} Greatest Pop Stars of 2023: No. 1 – Taylor Swift |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-greatest-pop-star-2023-eras-tour-all-time-1235558902/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215225151/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/taylor-swift-greatest-pop-star-2023-eras-tour-all-time-1235558902/ |archive-date=December 15, 2023 |access-date=December 16, 2023 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref> ''The Independent'' ranked ''Evermore'' 14th on their 2024 list of the 20 most underrated albums; Roisin O'Connor argued that it was "arguably [...] her biggest creative flex".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Beaumont |first1=Mark |author-link=Mark Beaumont (journalist) |last2=O'Connor |first2=Roisin |date=October 19, 2024 |title=The 20 Most Underrated Albums Ever |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/underrated-albums-britney-spears-charli-xcx-b2631613.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241031185717/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/underrated-albums-britney-spears-charli-xcx-b2631613.html |archive-date=October 31, 2024 |access-date=November 1, 2024 |newspaper=The Independent}}</ref>
== Track listing == {{Track listing | headline = {{Sronly|Standard track listing}} | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 60:38 | title1 = Willow | writer1 = {{hlist|Taylor Swift|Aaron Dessner}} | extra1 = A. Dessner | length1 = 3:34
| title2 = Champagne Problems | writer2 = {{hlist|Swift|William Bowery<!-- Do not pipe to Joe Alwyn per WP:NOTBROKEN. -->}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | length2 = 4:04
| title3 = Gold Rush | writer3 = {{hlist|Swift|Jack Antonoff}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Swift|Antonoff}} | length3 = 3:05
| title4 = {{-'}}Tis the Damn Season | writer4 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra4 = A. Dessner | length4 = 3:49
| title5 = Tolerate It | writer5 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra5 = A. Dessner | length5 = 4:05
| title6 = No Body, No Crime | note6 = featuring Haim | writer6 = Swift | extra6 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | length6 = 3:35
| title7 = Happiness | writer7 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra7 = A. Dessner | length7 = 5:15
| title8 = Dorothea | writer8 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra8 = A. Dessner | length8 = 3:45
| title9 = Coney Island | note9 = featuring the National<!-- Per MOS:THEMUSIC, "the" is lowercase. --> | writer9 = {{hlist|Swift|Bowery|A. Dessner|Bryce Dessner}} | extra9 = {{hlist|A. Dessner|B. Dessner}} | length9 = 4:35
| title10 = Ivy | writer10 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner|Antonoff}} | extra10 = A. Dessner | length10 = 4:20
| title11 = Cowboy like Me | writer11 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra11 = A. Dessner | length11 = 4:35
| title12 = Long Story Short | writer12 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra12 = A. Dessner | length12 = 3:35
| title13 = Marjorie | writer13 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra13 = A. Dessner | length13 = 4:17
| title14 = Closure | writer14 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra14 = {{hlist|A. Dessner|BJ Burton{{ref|a|[a]}}|James McAlister{{ref|a|[a]}}}} | length14 = 3:00
| title15 = Evermore | note15 = featuring Bon Iver | writer15 = {{hlist|Swift|Bowery|Justin Vernon}} | extra15 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | length15 = 5:04 }} {{Track listing | headline = Deluxe edition bonus tracks | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 68:58 | title16 = Right Where You Left Me | writer16 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra16 = A. Dessner | length16 = 4:05 | title17 = It's Time to Go | writer17 = {{hlist|Swift|A. Dessner}} | extra17 = A. Dessner | length17 = 4:15 }}
'''Notes''' * {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies an additional producer. * All track titles are stylized in all lowercase. * The Japanese CD edition additionally includes the "Dancing Witch" and "Lonely Witch" remixes of "Willow".<ref>{{cite web |title= |script-title=ja:エヴァーモア -デラックス・エディション |trans-title=Evermore – Deluxe Edition |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/taylor-swift/products/uicu-9103/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418171428/https://www.universal-music.co.jp/taylor-swift/products/uicu-9103/ |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |access-date=July 13, 2025 |publisher=Universal Music Japan}}</ref> * The Digitally Signed Fan edition additionally includes the "90s Trend" remix of "Willow.<ref name="Digitally-Signed-Release">{{cite magazine |last=Knopper |first=Steve |date=September 28, 2021 |title=Artists Are Selling 'Signed' Digital Album Downloads |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/signed-digital-album-downloads-explained-artists-signature/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2025 |magazine=Billboard |archive-date=May 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519163557/https://www.billboard.com/pro/signed-digital-album-downloads-explained-artists-signature/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Credits and personnel == Adapted from the liner notes of ''Evermore''<ref name="Swift-2020" />
=== Musicians === {{div col}} * Taylor Swift – lead vocals, songwriting, production (2, 3, 6, 15) * Aaron Dessner – production (1, 2, 4–17), songwriting (1, 4, 7–14, 16, 17), drum machine programming (1, 4–5, 7, 9–17), percussion (1, 10–12), keyboards (1, 5, 7, 11–12, 16–17), synthesizers (1–2, 4, 6–7, 9–12, 14–17), piano (1–2, 4–8, 11, 13–15, 17), electric guitar (1, 4, 6–12, 16–17), bass guitar (1, 4–10, 12, 14, 16–17), acoustic guitar (1–2, 4, 6–13, 16–17), synth bass (2, 10–13, 17), mandolin (6), field recording (6), tambourine (8), high string guitar (9–10), drum kit (10), rubber bridge guitar (10), drone (13), banjo (16) * Bryce Dessner – production (9), songwriting (9), orchestration (1, 4–5, 7, 9–17), piano (9, 14), pulse (9), electric guitar (12){{efn|name=Credits|This performer is also credited with recording their instrumentation.}} * James McAlister – synthesizers (1, 5, 10, 12, 14), drum machine programming (1, 5, 10, 12), percussion (5), keyboards (5, 10), Vermona pulse (13), drum kit (14, 16){{efn|name=Credits}} * Bryan Devendorf – percussion (1, 10, 13), drum machine programming (1, 5, 9–10, 13, 17), drum kit (9, 12) * Yuki Numata Resnick – violin (1, 4–5, 7, 9–17) * Clarice Jensen – cello (1, 4, 5, 9–13, 15, 17) * Jason Treuting – glockenspiel (1), percussion (5, 9, 13), drum kit (9), crotales (12, 15), metal percussion (12), chord stick (13–14, 17) * Alex Sopp – flute (1, 15){{efn|name=Credits}} * CJ Camerieri – French horn (1){{efn|name=Credits}} * Thomas Bartlett – keyboards (1, 4, 7, 8, 16–17), synthesizers (1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 17), piano (8, 16–17){{efn|name=Credits}} * William Bowery<!-- Per WP:UNBROKEN, this link should not be piped. --> – songwriting (2, 9, 15), piano (15) * Logan Coale – upright bass (2, 10–11, 14–15) * Jack Antonoff – production (3), songwriting (3, 10), drums (3), percussion (3), bass (3), electric guitar (3), acoustic guitar (3), slide guitar (3), piano (3), Mellotron (3), backing vocals (3) * Mikey Freedom Hart – DX7 (3), electric guitar (3), nylon guitar (3), Rhodes (3), celeste (3){{efn|name=Credits}} * Sean Hutchinson – drums (3){{efn|name=Credits}} * Michael Riddleberger – drums (3) * Evan Smith – horns (3){{efn|name=Credits}} * Patrik Berger – OP-1 (3) * Bobby Hawk – violin (3) * Nick Lloyd – Hammond B3 Organ (4, 16){{efn|name=Credits}} * Josh Kaufman – harmonium (4, 16), lap steel (4, 6, 11), electric guitar (6, 8, 16), acoustic guitar (8), organ (6), harmonica (6, 11, 16), mandolin (11){{efn|name=Credits}} * Benjamin Lanz – trombone (4, 10), horn arrangement (4), modular synthesizer (8, 10){{efn|name=Credits}} * Danielle Haim – vocals (6) * Este Haim – vocals (6) * JT Bates – drum kit (6–8, 10, 17), percussion (8, 16–17){{efn|name=Credits}} * Ryan Olson – Allovers Hi-Hat Generator (7, 13, 17){{efn|name=Credits}} * Matt Berninger – vocals (9) * Scott Devendorf – bass guitar (9), pocket piano (9){{efn|name=Credits}} * Justin Vernon – backing vocals (10, 13), triangle (10), drum kit (10–11, 14), banjo (10), electric guitar (10–11, 17), Prophet X (13), Messina (14), synthesizers (15), field recording (15), vocals (15), bass guitar (17), acoustic guitar (17){{efn|name=Credits}} * Kyle Resnick – trumpet (10, 12, 14, 17){{efn|name=Credits}} * Marcus Mumford – backing vocals (11) * Marjorie Finlay – backing vocals (13) * Trever Hagen – trumpet (14), no-input mixer (14){{efn|name=Credits}} * BJ Burton – additional production (14) * James McAlister – additional production (14) * Gabriel Cabezas – cello (14–15) * Dave Nelson – trombone (14, 17){{efn|name=Credits}} * Stuart Bogie – alto clarinet (15), contrabass clarinet (15), flute (15){{efn|name=Credits}} * Jonathan Low – drum machine programming (16) {{div col end}}
'''Additional instrument recording''' {{div col}} * Kyle Resnick – violin (1, 4–5, 7, 9–17) * Bobby Hawk – violin (3) * Aaron Dessner – vermona pulse (13) * Robin Baynton – piano (Bowery on 15) {{div col end}}
=== Technical === {{div col}} * Taylor Swift – executive producer * Jonathan Low – recording (1–2, 4–17), vocal recording (1–5; Swift on 6, 9; 10–14; Swift on 15; 17), mixing (all tracks) * Aaron Dessner – recording (1–2, 4–17) * Greg Calbi – mastering * Steve Fallone – mastering * Laura Sisk – recording (3), vocal recording (8) * John Rooney – assistant engineering (3) * Jon Sher – assistant engineering (3) * Ariel Rechtshaid – vocal recording (Danielle and Este Haim on 6) * Matt DiMona – vocal recording (Danielle and Este Haim on 6) * Robin Baynton – vocal recording (7; Swift on 9; Mumford on 11; 16) * Sean O'Brien – vocal recording (Berninger on 9) * Justin Vernon – vocal recording (Bon Iver on 15) {{div col end}}
=== Design === * Beth Garrabrant – photography
== Charts == {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
=== Weekly charts === {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+{{sronly|Weekly chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2020–2022) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- ! scope="row"| Argentine Albums (CAPIF)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/rankings/los-discos-mas-vendidos-de-la-semana-3/|title=Los discos más vendidos de la semana|work=Diario de Cultura|publisher=Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201204347/https://www.diariodecultura.com.ar/rankings/los-discos-mas-vendidos-de-la-semana-3/|archive-date=February 1, 2021|access-date=February 1, 2021}}</ref> | 1 |- {{album chart|Australia|1|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=December 21, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Austria|2|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=January 13, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|1|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=January 23, 2021|refname="flanders"}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|20|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=June 9, 2021|refname="wallonia"}} |- {{album chart|BillboardCanada|1|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2020}} |- ! scope="row"| Croatian International Albums (HDU)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-3-tjedan-2021/|title=Lista prodaje 3. tjedan 2021|date=January 26, 2021|publisher=Top of the Shops|language=hr|access-date=February 14, 2021|archive-date=February 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216183200/http://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-3-tjedan-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 1 |- {{album chart|Czech|8|year=2020|week=51|rowheader=true|access-date=December 21, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Denmark|2|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=December 24, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Netherlands|3|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=December 19, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Finland|7|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=December 20, 2020}} |- {{album chart|France|51|M|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/|title=Top albums de la semaine du 11 juin 2021|publisher=SNEP|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=June 14, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Germany|5|id=456968|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2021|refname="Germany"}} |- ! scope="row"| Greek Albums (IFPI)<ref name="Greece">{{cite web|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html|title=Top-75 Albums Sales Chart – Week 30/2021|publisher=IFPI Greece|access-date=July 19, 2021|archive-date=August 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811163322/https://www.ifpi.gr/charts_el.html}}</ref> | 1 |- {{album chart|Hungary|20|year=2021|week=4|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=February 5, 2021}} |- ! scope="row"| Icelandic Albums (Plötutíðindi)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|title=Tónlistinn – Plötur – Vika 1 – 2021|publisher=Plötutíðindi|language=is|trans-title=The Music – Albums – Week 1 – 2021|access-date=January 12, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111181001/http://plotutidindi.is/tonlistinn/|url-status=deviated}}</ref> | 18 |- {{album chart|Ireland3|2|date=20210101|rowheader=true|access-date=January 1, 2021}} |- ! scope="row"| Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/archivio-classifiche-settimanali/archivio-classifiche-per-settimana/?tipo=2&anno=2020&settimana=51|title=Classifica settimanale WK 51|publisher=Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|language=it|access-date=December 18, 2020|archive-date=November 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115194712/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/1/2020/51|url-status=live}}</ref> | 26 |- ! scope="row"| Japan Hot Albums (''Billboard Japan'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2021&month=02&day=1|script-title=ja:Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2021/02/1 付け|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=February 7, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=January 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127183037/http://www.billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2021&month=02&day=1}}</ref> | 19 |- {{album chart|Oricon|16|M|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2021-02-01/p/2/|title=Taylor Swift|publisher=Oricon|rowheader=true|access-date=January 29, 2021}} |- ! scope="row"| Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/w51/|title=ALBUMŲ TOP100|work=Agata |publisher=AGATA|language=lt|access-date=December 25, 2020|archive-date=December 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218101700/https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/w51/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 5 |- {{album chart|New Zealand|1|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2020|refname="NZ"}} |- {{album chart|Norway|3|M|url=https://topplista.no/charts/albums/2021-w01/|title=VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 1, 2021|publisher=VG-lista|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=January 9, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Poland|46|id=1340|rowheader=true|access-date=January 21, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Portugal|1|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=January 15, 2021|refname="Portugal"}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|3|date=20210610|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2021|refname="Scotland"}} |- ! scope="row"| Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?a=titul&hitparada=36&titul=166086&sec=da73a1190ef786ccacb3531b8be09a3f|title=SK – Albums Top 100|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|language=cs|access-date=February 14, 2021|url-status=live|archive-date=March 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327144508/https://toplist.cz/dot.asp?id=36705&http=&t=%u010CNS%20IFPI&wi=1600&he=1000&cd=24}}</ref> | 20 |- ! scope="row"| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.promusicae.es/listas/semana/4515-%C3%81lbumes-semana-51-2020|title=Albumes semana 51|publisher=PROMUSICAE|language=es|access-date=December 22, 2020|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111160028/https://www.promusicae.es/listas/semana/4515-%C3%81lbumes-semana-51-2020|url-status=live}}</ref> | 11 |- {{album chart|Sweden|3|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Switzerland|4|artist=Taylor Swift|album=Evermore|rowheader=true|access-date=December 22, 2020}} |- ! scope="row"|Swiss Albums (Romandie)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lescharts.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Evermore&cat=a|title=Lescharts.ch – Taylor Swift – Evermore|publisher=Hung Medien|language=fr|access-date=March 21, 2022|archive-date=September 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925094647/https://lescharts.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Taylor+Swift&titel=Evermore&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 5 |- {{album chart|UK2|1|date=20201218|rowheader=true|access-date=December 18, 2020}} |- {{album chart|UKAmericana|1|date=20201218|rowheader=true|access-date=June 4, 2021}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=December 20, 2020}} |- {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|1|artist=Taylor Swift|rowheader=true|access-date=June 12, 2025|refname="AlternativeAlbums"}} |- ! scope="row"| US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/rkc|title=Taylor Swift Chart History (US Top Rock & Alternative Albums)|magazine=Billboard|access-date=March 2, 2023|archive-date=March 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302211635/https://www.billboard.com/artist/taylor-swift/chart-history/rkc/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 3 |} {{col-2}}
=== Year-end charts === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+{{sronly|2020 year-end chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2020/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2020|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 15, 2021|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114210516/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2020/albums-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> | 47 |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ {{sronly|2021 year-end chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2021) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2021/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums for 2021|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 13, 2022|archive-date=January 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112223805/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2021/albums-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> | 15 |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2021|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=January 4, 2022|archive-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104110928/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2021&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 23 |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-canadian-albums/|title=Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021|archive-date=December 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202153304/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-canadian-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 9 |- ! scope="row"| Danish Albums (Hitlisten)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hitlisten.nu/top2021.asp|title=Album Top-100 2021|publisher=Hitlisten|access-date=January 6, 2022|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106042835/http://hitlisten.nu/top2021.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> | 45 |- ! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2021&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2021|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=January 3, 2022|archive-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220103144437/https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2021&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 71 |- ! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mtv.de/info/jsskvt/jahrescharts-2021-album|title=Jahrescharts 2021 Album|publisher=GfK Entertainment charts|language=de|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211215134553/https://www.mtv.de/info/jsskvt/jahrescharts-2021-album|url-status=live}}</ref> | 65 |- ! scope="row"| Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/irelands-official-biggest-singles-of-2021-revealed__34917/|title=Ireland's Official Biggest Albums of 2021|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Griffiths|first=George|date=January 9, 2022|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109080448/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/irelands-official-biggest-singles-of-2021-revealed__34917/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 21 |- ! scope="row"| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=5267|title=Top Selling Albums of 2021|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=January 24, 2022|archive-date=January 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124051930/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=5267|url-status=live}}</ref> | 24 |- ! scope="row"| Portuguese Albums (AFP)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2022-01-26-11-37-08.pdf|title=Top Vendas Acumuladas – 2021 – Top 100 Álbuns|trans-title=Top Accumulated Sales 2021 – Top 100 Albums|publisher=Audiogest|page=3|language=pt|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127073915/http://audiogest.pt/uploads/files/file_2022-01-26-11-37-08.pdf|archive-date=January 27, 2022|url-status=live|access-date=February 3, 2022}}</ref> | 62 |- ! scope="row"| Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elportaldemusica.es/lists/top-100-albums/2021|title=Top 100 Albums Annual 2021|publisher=Productores de Música de España|language=es|access-date=January 20, 2022|archive-date=January 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120180842/https://www.elportaldemusica.es/lists/top-100-albums/2021|url-status=live}}</ref> | 55 |- ! scope="row"| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2021/alben|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2021|website=hitparade.ch|access-date=December 26, 2021|language=de|archive-date=December 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226193355/https://hitparade.ch/charts/jahreshitparade/2021/alben|url-status=live}}</ref> | 56 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-albums-of-2021__34858/|title=The Official Top 40 Biggest Albums of 2021|publisher=Official Charts Company|last=Griffiths|first=George|date=January 4, 2022|access-date=January 4, 2022|archive-date=January 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106154336/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/the-official-top-40-biggest-albums-of-2021__34858/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 31 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2021|archive-date=December 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203104042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-billboard-200-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 4 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-alternative-albums/|title=Top Alternative Albums – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=June 10, 2025|url-access=subscription|archive-date=December 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203000540/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-alternative-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 1 |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+{{sronly|2022 year-end chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2022) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2022/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2022|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=January 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104142525/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2022/albums-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> | 59 |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2022|publisher=Ultratop|access-date=January 13, 2023|archive-date=January 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113184819/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 99 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20221231/37502|title=End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2022|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 4, 2023|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111160437/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 76 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2022|archive-date=December 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202030432/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-billboard-200-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 68 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-alternative-albums/|title=Top Alternative Albums – Year-End 2022|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 2, 2022|archive-date=December 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201165440/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-alternative-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 6 |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+{{sronly|2023 year-end chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-canadian-albums/|title=Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=November 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121214402/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-canadian-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 46 |- ! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2023&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2023|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=January 3, 2024|archive-date=January 2, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240102193216/https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2023&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 96 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20230101/37502/|title=End of Year Albums Chart – 2023|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 3, 2024|archive-date=January 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127230739/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20220101/37502/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 42 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=November 21, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231121210007/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-billboard-200-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 29 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-alternative-albums/|title=Top Alternative Albums – Year-End 2023|magazine=Billboard|access-date=November 22, 2023|archive-date=December 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207093542/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2023/top-alternative-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 2 |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+{{sronly|2024 year-end chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/albums-chart|title=ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2024|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association|access-date=January 13, 2025|archive-date=January 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250113034016/https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2024/albums-chart|url-status=live}}</ref> | 28 |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2024&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2024|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=January 1, 2025|archive-date=January 1, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250101070127/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2024&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 46 |- ! scope="row"| Canadian Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-canadian-albums/|title=Top Canadian Albums – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 31, 2024|archive-date=December 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213211223/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-canadian-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 41 |- ! scope="row"| Croatian International Albums (HDU)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top-lista.hr/www/download/strana-izdanja-polugodisnja-lista-2024/?wpdmdl=75818|title=Inozemna izdanja – Godišnja lista 2024|trans-title=Foreign editions – Annual list 2024|publisher=HDU|language=hr|access-date=January 3, 2025|archive-date=August 27, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250827043415/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/download/strana-izdanja-polugodisnja-lista-2024/?wpdmdl=75818|url-status=live}}</ref> | 20 |- ! scope="row"| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2024&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten – Album 2024|website=dutchcharts.nl|language=nl|access-date=January 3, 2025|archive-date=January 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250110111006/https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2024&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 98 |- ! scope="row"| Portuguese Albums (AFP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.audiogest.pt/documents/files/Top%20Trimestral_AFP-AUDIOGEST_Sem01-52_2024_v2.pdf|title=Top 200 Álbuns fusão YTD – Semanas 01 a 52 de 2024 – De 29/12/2023 a 26/12/2024|publisher=Audiogest|page=3|language=pt|access-date=January 29, 2025|archive-date=January 29, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129203832/https://www.audiogest.pt/documents/files/Top%20Trimestral_AFP-AUDIOGEST_Sem01-52_2024_v2.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> | 35 |- ! scope="row"| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20240101/37502/|title=End of Year Albums Chart – 2024|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 1, 2025|archive-date=December 30, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241230190540/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20240101/37502/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 49 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-billboard-200-albums/|title=Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 30, 2024|archive-date=December 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241213181714/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-billboard-200-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 41 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-alternative-albums/|title=Top Alternative Albums – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=January 1, 2025|archive-date=December 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241214004856/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/top-alternative-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 5 |}
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+{{sronly|2025 year-end chart performance}} ! scope="col"| Chart (2025) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2025&cat=a|title=Jaaroverzichten 2025|publisher=Ultratop|language=nl|access-date=January 9, 2026|archive-date=February 22, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222051739/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2025&cat=a|url-status=live}}</ref> | 136 |- ! scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' 200<ref>{{Cite web|title=Year-End Charts: Billboard 200 Albums (2025)|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2025/top-billboard-200-albums/|access-date=December 10, 2025|archive-date=December 9, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251209194826/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2025/top-billboard-200-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 155 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Alternative Albums – Year-End 2025|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2025/top-alternative-albums/|access-date=December 10, 2025|archive-date=December 19, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251219044600/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2025/top-alternative-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 20 |- ! scope="row"| US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (''Billboard'')<ref>{{Cite web|title=Top Alternative Albums – Year-End 2025|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2025/top-rock-alternative-albums/|access-date=December 10, 2025|archive-date=December 10, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251210121527/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2025/top-rock-alternative-albums/|url-status=live}}</ref> | 36 |} {{col-end}}
== Certifications == {{Certification Table Top|caption={{sronly|Certifications and sales thresholds}}}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2020|certyear=2025|access-date=September 1, 2025|refname="ARIA"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|type=album|award=Platinum|relyear=2020|certyear=2025|access-date=December 17, 2025|refname="IFPIAUSTRIA"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=evermore|award=Gold|certyear=2022|relyear=2020|access-date=August 30, 2022}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|access-date=October 16, 2024|refname="PMB"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=evermore|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2020|certyear=2025|access-date=November 18, 2025|refname="MusicCanada"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=album|title=Evermore|artist=Taylor Swift|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2020|certyear=2026|id=16584|access-date=February 18, 2026|refname="IFPIDEN"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=evermore|award=Gold|certyear=2024|relyear=2020|access-date=February 15, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|award=Gold|certyear=2025|relyear=2020|access-date=January 10, 2025}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=evermore|award=Gold|certyear=2023|relyear=2020|access-date=October 30, 2023|id=11572}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|relyear=2020|title=Evermore|artist=Taylor Swift|type=album|award=Platinum|number=3|source=radioscope|certyear=2025|access-date=July 17, 2025|refname="RMNZ"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2021|access-date=November 19, 2021|refname="NorwayCert"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|award=Platinum|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2023|access-date=December 20, 2023|refname="Poland"}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|award=Gold|type=album|relyear=2020|certyear=2024|id=file_2024-11-15-15-23-13.pdf|access-date=November 20, 2024}} {{Certification Table Entry |region=Spain|artist=Taylor Swift |title=Evermore|type=album |award=Gold |relyear=2020 |certyear=2023|date=March 2023|id=taylor-swift-evermore|access-date=March 26, 2023}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|id=16957-1598-2|relyear=2020|certyear=2026|access-date=May 8, 2026|refname="BPI"}} {{Certification Table Entry| region=United States|type=album|artist=Taylor Swift|title=Evermore|award=Platinum|number=4|certyear=2025|relyear=2020|access-date=September 30, 2025|refname="RIAA"}} {{Certification Table Bottom|noshipments=true|streaming=true|nosales=true}}
== Release history == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ {{sronly|Release dates and formats}} ! scope="col"| Initial release date ! scope="col"| Edition(s) ! scope="col"| Format(s) ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|References}} |- ! scope="row"| December 11, 2020 | Standard | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Caulfield-2021" /> |- ! scope="row"| December 18, 2020 | rowspan="4"| Deluxe | CD |- ! scope="row"| January 7, 2021 | {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Kaufman-2021" /> |- ! scope="row"| February 12, 2021 | Cassette | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|<ref name="Caulfield-2021" /> |- ! scope="row"| May 28, 2021 | Vinyl LP |- ! scope="row"| June 3, 2021 | Digitally signed | Digital download | style="text-align: center;"|<ref name="Digitally-Signed-Release" /> |}
== See also == * List of ''Billboard'' 200 number-one albums of 2020 * List of ''Billboard'' 200 number-one albums of 2021 * List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2020s * List of UK Album Downloads Chart number ones of the 2020s * List of number-one albums of 2020 (Australia) * List of number-one albums of 2021 (Australia) * List of number-one albums of 2020 (Canada) * List of number-one albums of 2021 (Canada) * List of number-one albums from the 2020s (New Zealand) * List of number-one albums of 2021 (Belgium)
== Footnotes == {{Notelist}}
== References == ===Citations=== {{reflist}}
=== Sources === {{refbegin}} * {{Cite book |title=Lit-Rock: Literary Capital in Popular Music |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-5013-5471-7 |editor-last=Hibbett |editor-first=Ryan |edition=1st |pages=1–34 |chapter=Introduction: Conspicuous Listening: Literature, Rock, and the Pop Omnivore}} * {{Cite book |title=The Literary Taylor Swift: Songwriting and Intertextuality |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2024 |isbn=979-8-7651-0453-8 |editor-last=Tontiplaphol |editor-first=Betsy Winakur |editor-last2=Klimchynskaya |editor-first2=Anastasia}} ** {{Harvc|last=Geary|first=Erin|chapter=Queer Anxieties in ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore''|year=2024|in=Tontiplaphol|in2=Klimchynskaya|pages=131–138}} ** {{Harvc|last=Hurley|first=Claire|chapter='Scrap[s] of you': Fabrics of Memory in ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore''|year=2024|in=Tontiplaphol|in2=Klimchynskaya|pages=175–187}} ** {{Harvc|last=Juko|first=Maria|chapter='This is me trying': Autofiction and Taylor Swift|year=2024|in=Tontiplaphol|in2=Klimchynskaya|pages=237–248}} ** {{Harvc|last=Kimbro|first=Devori|chapter='I haven't met the new me yet': ''Folklore''/''Evermore'' and Taylor Swift's Self-Fashioned Renaissance|year=2024|in=Tontiplaphol|in2=Klimchynskaya|pages=9–22}} ** {{Harvc|last=Murray|first=Katherine|chapter=Female Millennial Rage: The Weaponization of Cottagecore|year=2024|in=Tontiplaphol|in2=Klimchynskaya|pages=117–130}} ** {{Harvc|last=Smith|first=Jennifer|chapter=Modernist Intertextualities in ''Folklore'' and ''Evermore''|year=2024|in=Tontiplaphol|in2=Klimchynskaya|pages=77–90}} *{{Cite book |last=Zaleski |first=Annie |author-link=Annie Zaleski |title=Taylor Swift: The Stories Behind the Songs |publisher=Thunder Bay Press |year=2024 |isbn=978-1-66720-845-9 |pages=190–207 |chapter=The ''Evermore'' Era}} {{refend}}
== External links == * {{Wikinews-inline|Taylor Swift's Evermore records biggest sales week of the year as it returns to No 1 on album chart}}
{{Taylor Swift}} {{Portal bar|Music|2020s}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2020 albums Category:Taylor Swift albums Category:ARIA Award–winning albums Category:Albums produced by Taylor Swift Category:Albums produced by Aaron Dessner Category:Albums produced by Jack Antonoff Category:Albums produced by Bryce Dessner Category:Albums impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic Category:Alternative rock albums by American artists Category:Chamber pop albums Category:Folk-pop albums Category:Folk albums by American artists Category:Republic Records albums Category:Surprise albums Category:Alternative pop albums Category:Sequel albums