Tolerate It Explained

Tolerate It
Type:song
Artist:Taylor Swift
Album:Evermore
Studio:Long Pond (Hudson Valley)
Length:4:05
Label:Republic
Producer:Aaron Dessner

"Tolerate It" is a song by the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, taken from her ninth studio album, Evermore (2020). She wrote the track with its producer, Aaron Dessner. A slow building piano ballad, "Tolerate It" features a midtempo production and an odd time signature. Inspired by the Daphne du Maurier novel Rebecca (1938), its lyrics are narrated by a young woman who addresses her unstable relationship with an older man who does not seem to like her.

Critics praised "Tolerate It" for what they deemed vulnerable songwriting from Swift and an engaging production and selected it as a highlight from Evermore. Commercially, the song peaked at number 28 on the Billboard Global 200 and entered the charts of Australia, Canada, Portugal, the United States. It received certifications from Australia, Brazil, and the UK. It was included on the regular set list of the Eras Tour (2023–2024).

Production

On July 24, 2020, the American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift released her eighth studio album, Folklore, to critical and commercial success. On November 25, Swift and the album's co-writers and co-producers, including the first-time collaborator Aaron Dessner, assembled at Long Pond Studio in Hudson Valley to film a concert documentary titled , which was released on Disney+.[1] [2] They continued writing songs at Long Pond, with Swift penning lyrics to Dessner's instrumental tracks, a process that was present on much of the songs they had worked on Folklore. Their sessions resulted in a project that was a natural extension of the album, which became Evermore (2020).[3] [4] [5]

One of the songs both Swift and Dessner wrote was "Tolerate It". Dessner produced the track prior to writing it with Swift. Before sending the instrumental to her, he thought that "she won't be into it" because of its "odd" elements. However, after Dessner sent the instrumental to Swift, she sent it back with finished lyrics. He recalled in a Rolling Stone interview that he cried upon hearing "Tolerate It" for the first time and described it as a "crushingly beautiful song". It was recorded by Dessner and Jonathan Low at Long Pond, where Low also recorded the vocals. The track was mixed by Low at Long Pond and mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone at Sterling Sound in Edgewater, New Jersey.

Music and lyrics

"Tolerate It" is a slow building[6] piano ballad that runs for four minutes and five seconds.[7] It features an odd time signature; Dessner said the song was set in a signature, while Jon Pareles of The New York Times[8] and Nate Jones of Vulture thought it was in a signature.[9] The midtempo[10] production contains bass guitar, cello, percussion, violin, and skittering synth beats with recurring keyboard chord patterns. Critics described the piano as "solemn, chilly",[11] "muffled", and "frosty".[12] Ray Finlayson of Beats Per Minute opined that the song could have fit on Folklore because he thought it had similar musical elements.

"Tolerate It" details the difficulties of loving someone who undervalues their relationship;[13] [14] Swift wrote that the track is about "ambivalent toleration" and that it was inspired by the Daphne du Maurier novel Rebecca (1938).[15] In the lyrics, it describes an unstable relationship between two characters with a big age gap, narrated from the young woman's perspective.[16] She delivers "acts of service" to her partner, such as setting the table with "the fancy shit". The woman admits that she has worth and professes about it ("I know my love should be celebrated"), yet is faced with indifference ("but you tolerate it").[17] Swift employs her upper register as the woman realizes that she has the power to leave the relationship: "You assume I'm fine, but what would you do if I / Break free and leave us in ruins / Gain the weight of you then lose it / Believe me, I could do it".

Some critics drew similarities to other songs and a few highlighted lyrics from the track. In The Guardian, the music journalist Alexis Petridis thought that Swift inhabited the character of a "disenchanted wife" on "Tolerate It" and believed it evoked the one on the Smiths' song "Asleep" (1985).[18] Rolling Stone writer Rob Sheffield found the track to be more in line to a 1970s Carole King song.[19] Emily Algar from Atwood Magazine interpreted the lyric, "I made you my temple, my mural, my sky/ Now I'm begging for footnotes in the story of your life", to be the feeling of loving someone who loves you less. For Katherine Rodgers of The Quietus, she thought the lyric, "You're so much older, and wiser, and I", revealed the age difference of the relationship.

Release and live performance

"Tolerate It" was released as the fifth track on Evermore on December 11, 2020, by Republic Records. The song reached number 28 on the Billboard Global 200 and charted in the countries of Canada (18) and Portugal (101). In the United States, it debuted and peaked at number 45 on the Billboard Hot 100 and increased Swift's total entries to 128.[20] Meanwhile, the track opened at number eight on Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, where it lasted for 14 weeks and appeared on the chart's 2021 year-end at number 47. In Australia, "Tolerate It" peaked at number 28 on the ARIA Singles Chart and received a platinum certification from the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). In the United Kingdom, the song reached number 59 on the OCC's Audio Streaming Chart and was certified silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). In Brazil, it received a gold certification from Pro-Música Brasil.

In March 2023, Swift embarked on her sixth concert tour, the Eras Tour, as a tribute to her discography.[21] The show consists of ten acts, including the Evermore set, where it features "Tolerate It".[22] Swift would arrange a long dinner table for two people before performing the track; Ilana Kaplan of i reported that "she crawled and danced" across the table.[23] Chris Willman from Variety believed that the set was inspired by the 1941 film Citizen Kane and that it was done to highlight the track's "domestic drama".[24] Kelsey Barnes of The Independent called the set "sparse and cold" and thought it reflects the song's "stark" sound. For Rolling Stone, Waiss Aramesh found the setting "beautiful" and wrote that Swift delivered a "heart-wrenching rendition" of the track.[25] In May 2024, "Tolerate It" was removed from the tour's set list.[26]

Critical reception

In reviews of Evermore, critics considered "Tolerate It" an album highlight. They lauded the vulnerability displayed in Swift's songwriting; a number of them claimed that it contained some of her best writing. Konstantinos Pappis of Our Culture Mag viewed "Tolerate It" as one of Evermore "most affecting moments" and thought it felt "strikingly personal" despite being devoid of Swift's autobiographical songwriting.[27] Patrick Ryan from USA Today regarded the song as a lyrical standout from the album.[28] Maura Johnston of Entertainment Weekly thought it was a "masterful portrayal" of a crumbling marriage.[29] Mary Siroky from Consequence wrote that it is where her "narrative storytelling is on full display".[30] Claire Shaffer from Rolling Stone said that "Tolerate It" featured one of "Swift's most damning relationship vignettes to date".[31] Petridis, The Observer Kitty Empire,[32] and The Quietus Katherine Rodgers praised the character studies shown, and Petridis added that the song's bitter lyrics were more edifying than those she wrote for her 2017 album Reputation.

Some critics commended the production. Pareles viewed "Tolerate It" as one of Evermore "countless musicianly flourishes" and Johnston picked it as one of the album's songs she thought their musical risks succeeded. Helen Brown from The Independent called the track "excellent" and appreciated the "pretty" piano. Saloni Gajjar of The A.V. Club wrote that her "partnership with Dessner resulted in some beautiful renditions" on Evermore and picked "Tolerate It" as an example.[33] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard regarded it as one of the album's tracks that serves their production as the emotional hook.[34] Nora Princiotti of The Ringer thought the "odd" time signature brought "really cool effects". Ellen Johnson from Paste said the song was "full of Swift's hard-won wisdom" and viewed it as one of the tracks to represent Evermore as a peaceful, intimate album.[35]

On less positive reviews, the Slate writer Carl Wilson found "Tolerate It" to have one of the "draggiest [Dessner] compositions" on the album and thought it resulted in "numbing and disappointing music".[36] Cory McConnell of The Ringer deemed the song melodrama and "a bit of a drag" on Evermore, and Sputnikmusic criticized Swift for using the same hook that was shared with the album's several tracks.[37] "Tolerate It" was featured in the rankings of Swift's discography by Rolling Stone (94) and Vulture (138).

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the liner notes of Evermore.[38]

Charts

Year-end chart

Chart (2021)! scope="col"
Position
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[39] 47

References

Cited literature

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aswad . Jem . December 10, 2020 . Taylor Swift to Release New Album, Evermore, Tonight . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201210132302/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/taylor-swift-new-album-evermore-tonight-1234850261/ . December 10, 2020 . December 10, 2020 . Variety.
  2. Web site: Minsker . Evan . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift Releases New Album Evermore: Listen and Read the Full Credits . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201213234711/https://pitchfork.com/news/taylor-swift-releases-new-album-evermore-listen-and-read-the-full-credits/ . December 13, 2020 . July 20, 2023 . Pitchfork.
  3. Shaffer . Claire . December 18, 2020 . Aaron Dessner on How His Collaborative Chemistry With Taylor Swift Led to Evermore . December 6, 2023 . . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181909/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/aaron-dessner-interview-taylor-swift-evermore-1105853/ . live .
  4. Havens . Lyndsey . December 18, 2020 . Aaron Dessner on the 'Weird Avalanche' That Resulted in Taylor Swift's Evermore . live . . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181838/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9502756/aaron-dessner-taylor-swift-evermore-interview . December 22, 2020 . July 21, 2023.
  5. Doyle . Patrick . November 13, 2020 . Musicians on Musicians: Taylor Swift & Paul McCartney . November 19, 2023 . . November 30, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201130060712/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/paul-mccartney-taylor-swift-musicians-on-musicians-1089058/ . live .
  6. Web site: Brown . Helen . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift's New Album Evermore Is Full of Haunting Tales – Review . December 5, 2023 . . December 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212001529/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-review-evermore-b1769916.html . live .
  7. Web site: Swift . Taylor . Taylor Swift . December 11, 2020 . Evermore . live . https://archive.today/20201211120947/https://music.apple.com/us/album/evermore/1544268281 . December 11, 2020 . December 14, 2023 . Apple Music (US) .
  8. News: Pareles . Jon . Jon Pareles . December 11, 2020 . Evermore, Taylor Swift's Folklore Sequel, Is a Journey Deeper Inward . . live . limited . December 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201211185124/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/arts/music/taylor-swift-evermore-review.html . December 11, 2020.
  9. Web site: Jones . Nate . November 8, 2023 . All 214 Taylor Swift Songs, Ranked . December 24, 2023 . . September 13, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190913234630/https://www.vulture.com/article/all-taylor-swift-songs-ranked-from-worst-to-best.html . live .
  10. Web site: December 11, 2020 . The Taylor Swift Evermore Exit Survey . December 16, 2023 . . June 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230602182400/https://www.theringer.com/music/2020/12/11/22170228/taylor-swift-evermore-review-exit-survey . live .
  11. Web site: Finlayson . Ray . December 15, 2020 . Album Review: Taylor Swift – Evermore . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231205073538/https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-taylor-swift-evermore/ . December 5, 2023 . December 5, 2023 . Beats Per Minute.
  12. Web site: Kornhaber . Spencer . December 15, 2020 . Taylor Swift Could Use an Editor . limited . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414191417/https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/12/taylor-swifts-evermore-feels-like-a-rough-draft/617390/ . April 14, 2021 . December 6, 2023 . The Atlantic.
  13. Web site: Crone . Madeline . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift Evermore Is Ready for Your Record Player, Radio Play Be Damned . December 19, 2023 . . December 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201211222235/https://americansongwriter.com/taylor-swift-evermore-is-ready-for-your-record-player-radio-play-be-damned/ . live .
  14. Web site: Breihan . Tom . December 11, 2020 . Review: Taylor Swift Burrows Deeper into Sepia-Toned Mood Music on Evermore . December 19, 2023 . . December 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201211215716/https://www.stereogum.com/2110665/taylor-swift-evermore-review/reviews/premature-evaluation/ . live .
  15. News: Savage . Mark . October 19, 2022 . Midnights: What We Know About Taylor Swift's Songwriting . . live . December 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221019233646/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63233361 . October 19, 2022.
  16. Web site: Rodgers . Katherine . December 16, 2022 . Taylor Swift Evermore . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181853/https://thequietus.com/articles/29373-taylor-swift-evermore-review . December 22, 2020 . December 5, 2023 . The Quietus.
  17. Web site: Bream . Jon . December 14, 2020 . Review: Taylor Swift's surprise new album is ever-good . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405085659/https://www.startribune.com/review-taylor-swift-s-surprise-new-album-is-ever-good/573365521/ . April 5, 2023 . December 5, 2023 . Star Tribune.
  18. News: Petridis . Alexis . Alexis Petridis . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift: Evermore – Rich Alt-Rock and Richer Character Studies . . live . December 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201211050548/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/11/taylor-swift-evermore-rich-alt-rock-and-richer-character-studies . December 11, 2020 . 0261-3077.
  19. Sheffield . Rob . Rob Sheffield . October 28, 2023 . 'Tolerate It' (2020) . December 24, 2023 . . December 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231224044315/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/taylor-swift-songs-ranked-rob-sheffield-201800/tolerate-it-2020-1244898/ . live .
  20. December 21, 2020 . Taylor Swift Sends All 15 Songs from Evermore onto Hot 100 . December 14, 2023 . . December 22, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201222181955/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/9503522/taylor-swift-15-songs-evermore-hot-100/ . live .
  21. Web site: Barnes . Kelsey . March 30, 2023 . Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Is a Career-Defining Spectacle Full of Surprises – Review . December 14, 2023 . . July 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705125732/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/taylor-swift-eras-tour-review-b2303820.html . live .
  22. News: Yahr . Emily . March 18, 2023 . Analysis Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Opener: A Complete Recap of All 44 Songs . . December 14, 2023 . 0190-8286 . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318162008/https://www.washingtonpost.com/music/2023/03/18/taylor-swift-eras-tour-setlist-costumes-recap/ . live .
  23. Web site: Kaplan . Ilana . March 18, 2023 . Taylor Swift's 'Eras' Tour Is a Thrilling Spectacle from a Pop Mastermind . December 17, 2023 . . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318215357/https://inews.co.uk/culture/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-glendale-arizona-review-a-thrilling-spectacle-from-a-pop-mastermind-2217091 . live .
  24. Web site: Willman . Chris . August 11, 2023 . Why Taylor Swift's Eras Road Trip Feels like the Career-Capping Beatles Tour That Never Happened . December 14, 2023 . . August 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230811033512/https://variety.com/2023/music/news/taylor-swift-eras-tour-career-capping-sofi-stadium-1235693870/ . live .
  25. Aramesh . Waiss . March 18, 2023 . Taylor Swift's The Eras Tour Is a 3-Hour Career-Spanning Victory Lap . December 17, 2023 . . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318164625/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/taylor-swift-the-eras-tour-glendale-review-1234699496/ . live .
  26. Web site: Savage . Mark . May 9, 2024 . Taylor Swift Changes Eras Tour Setlist As European Tour Kicks Off in Paris . May 10, 2024 . . May 10, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240510001926/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp0grg871dlo . live .
  27. Web site: Pappis . Konstantinos . December 13, 2020 . Album Review: Taylor Swift, Evermore . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231125153802/https://ourculturemag.com/2020/12/13/album-review-taylor-swift-evermore/ . November 25, 2023 . December 16, 2023 . Our Culture Mag.
  28. Web site: Ryan . Patrick . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift's Evermore Review: Pop Star Returns to the Woods for a Spellbinding Folklore Companion . live . 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/ . December 12, 2020 . December 16, 2023 . USA Today.
  29. Johnston . Maura . Maura Johnston . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift Levels Up on Evermore . December 23, 2023 . . December 12, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201212001528/https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-review/ . live .
  30. Web site: Siroky . Mary . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift"s Evermore Continues the Personal Fable Begun on Folklore Review . December 16, 2023 . . December 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211231020011/https://consequence.net/2020/12/album-review-taylor-swift-evermore/ . live .
  31. Shaffer . Claire . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift Deepens Her Goth-Folk Vision on the Excellent Evermore . December 16, 2023 . . December 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201211134023/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/taylor-swift-evermore-folklore-1101778/ . live .
  32. News: Empire . Kitty . Kitty Empire . December 20, 2020 . Taylor Swift: Evermore Review – A Songwriter for the Ages . . December 23, 2023 . 0029-7712 . August 20, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220820043939/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/dec/20/taylor-swift-evermore-review-a-songwriter-for-the-ages . live .
  33. Web site: Gajjar . Saloni . Carr . Mary Kate . October 30, 2023 . 22 Underrated Taylor Swift Songs That Prove Her Lyrical Prowess . December 16, 2023 . . October 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231024162328/https://www.avclub.com/taylor-swift-underrated-songs-obscure-tracks-1849666689 . live .
  34. Lipshutz . Jason . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift's Evermore Is a Rewarding Journey Deeper into the Woods . December 16, 2023 . . December 11, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201211184053/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9498080/taylor-swift-evermore-review-first-listen/ . live .
  35. Web site: Johnson . Ellen . December 15, 2020 . Taylor Swift's Evermore Is Folklore Charismatic Companion . December 16, 2023 . . December 15, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201215191151/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/taylor-swift/evermore-review/ . live .
  36. News: Wilson . Carl . Carl Wilson . December 11, 2020 . Taylor Swift's Evermore: A Track-by-Track Review . . December 16, 2023 . 1091-2339 . May 5, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210505080320/https://slate.com/culture/2020/12/taylor-swift-evermore-review-new-album-track-by-track.html . live .
  37. Web site: December 12, 2020 . Review: Taylor Swift - Evermore Sputnikmusic . December 23, 2023 . . December 23, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231223111010/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/82571/Taylor-Swift-Evermore/ . live .
  38. Evermore . . 2020 . booklet . Republic Records.
  39. Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2021. Billboard. December 2, 2021. December 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202224113/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/hot-rock-songs/. live.

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