Introduction
The song Exile by Taylor Swift, which featured Bon Iver, was released in 2020. This song’s main influences are the complicated relationships and break-ups of the performers. The story of the musical piece is based on two relationships of both singers and the situation when they see their ex-partners with other significant others. This represents bitter experiences in the performers’ lives, which they accentuate by saying that they dislike this feeling.
Main body
Exile’s style represents a combination of techniques based on melody, rhythm, harmony, and beats. For example, at the beginning of the song, the audience can hear only one instrument playing, the piano. Yet, toward the middle of the composition, there is a slow transition from the sole piano to its combination with beats, which creates the harmony of the sounds and rhythm. In this sense, Exile fits into the genre of Indie folk. Simple instruments and a plain tune are traits of folk music. The lead piano and drums are featured prominently in the musical arrangement, together with harmonized vocals. Additionally, the style characteristic that is unique to the song is the implementation of overlapping voices, going from one artist performing the verse straight to the other. Moreover, the song, unlike many other Indie folk music pieces, does not incorporate many instruments, such as guitar, which is frequent in this genre with similar styles. Lastly, the description of the style involves melody with a harmonious slow tempo and overtone.
Conclusion
Hence, in 2020, Bon Iver and Taylor Swift collaborated on the song Exile. The artists’ complex relationships and breakups are the primary influences for this song. The musical approach used by Exile combines approaches centered on melody, rhythm, harmony, and beats. Exile falls under the Indie folk genre in this regard. Folk music is characterized by its straightforward song and basic instrumentation. The song’s use of overlapping voices, shifting from one singer reciting the verse directly to the other, is another distinctive stylistic element. Lastly, a melody with a slow pace and overtone should be mentioned in the definition of the style.