Our social media feeds lately have been Disney World, Eras Tour, Disneyland, Eras Tour, Disney World, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.

Hey, we are NOT complaining! If you didn’t already know, the team here at DFB loves Taylor Swift just about as much as we love Disney World. So… that’s how we got an idea. In honor of October 16th marking 100 whole years of the Walt Disney Company, Disney shared some illustrations created by artist Sam Carter that were showcased at the D23 Royal Anniversary Ball at Walt Disney Studios. These illustrations showcase the different “eras” of the Walt Disney Company, and the gears in our brains started turning.

These Disney era illustrations line up perfectly with Taylor Swift’s album eras. So… without further ado: If Disney had an eras tour, THESE would be the album covers.

 

1920s — “folklore”

“folklore” served as Taylor Swift’s re-entrance into the world of pop after months spent in isolation throughout quarantine. Throughout the album, she touches on things beautiful, things dark, things nostalgic, and ties it all together with just a bit of magic. In the 1920s, the Walt Disney Company emerged into the world of film — bringing magic into a world full of possibility and uncertainty in the decade that followed World War I. Taylor Swift’s “folklore” and the creation of the Walt Disney Company testify that there are beautiful things that follow the darkest of times. The artwork features lots of black and white, much like “folklore”! Come on, give Steamboat Willie a cardigan and you wouldn’t be able to tell that this wasn’t a “folklore” album shot.

1930s and 1940s — Red (Taylor’s Version)

It’s miserable and magical, oh yeah! The 1930s and 1940s were dark and troubling times for folks as World War II pressed on. In the midst of it all, there was magic as Disney rolled out more and more classic films that we still know and love today. Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and other classic films were released in the middle of such dark times. This was also the era during which Disney really set the tone for how they’d be perceived for decades to come. In “Red,” Taylor Swift describes both the magical and miserable experience of young adulthood, falling in love, and figuring herself out.

1950s-1970s — 1989

Nope, we’re not saving “1989” for the ’80s, even if the whole album is reminiscent of pop music of the decade. The 1950s through 1970s were a crucial time for the Walt Disney Company as they partially reinvented their brand to enter the world of theme park entertainment. “1989” is a fresh twist on nostalgia, just as the Disney Parks were as they brought a dazzling new perspective and experience on the stories that fans fell in love with in previous decades. And we all know by now — Disney made sure then that these classic stories and attractions would never  go out of style.

1980s — Lover

“Lover” was Taylor’s redefining era. She acknowledges her heartbreaks, her trials, and how far she’s come, and she does it with stars in her eyes as she looks forward to the future. The 1980s were when Walt Disney’s dream project came to life, with the opening EPCOT. Much like “Lover”, EPCOT celebrates past, present, and future, and yeah — you can even get starry eyed throughout your ride on Spaceship Earth. Also — these colors? Disney was totally in their Lover era.

1990s and 2000s — Fearless

“Fearless” was when Taylor Swift took things to the next level with her work. She went from a teen sensation to a mature artist who honed in on her skills — winning awards for the album and tracks. It was an era of promise for the young artist. Similarly, the 1990s and 2000s were when Disney once again stepped things up and broadened horizons by collaborating with Pixar animation studios to showcase a wide variety of fresh, new stories, as well as took things to the sea with Disney Cruise Line. Yeah. Disney was pretty Fearless in the ’90s and early 2000s.

2010s — Midnights

Well, here we are. In “Midnights”, Taylor acknowledges each of her past selves with a fully-modern voice. She experiments here and does so confidently. Throughout the album, we hear sounds reminiscent of each of her former eras that have brought us to this moment. Similarly, we see nostalgic glimpses of all the magical stories Disney shared in the past — brought to fresh, new light with modern stories. Despite all the battles Disney has undergone, they’ve proven that when it comes to the stories portrayed through film and through the theme parks, they can still make the whole place shimmer.

Why did this deep dive into Disney and Taylor Swift history make us kind of emotional? Well, emotions are what those two forces do best, after all. We’ll continue to keep you all updated when it comes to Disney news and fun lil’ things like this, so make sure to follow along for more so that you never miss a thing!

Looking for more things Disney x Taylor Swift? Click here! 

What do you think of these Disney eras? Let us know in the comments! 

The post If Disney Had an Eras Tour, These Would Be the Album Covers first appeared on the disney food blog.