Taylor Swift celebrates the one-year anniversary of Folklore by releasing a new version of The Lakes

One year after surprising the world with her eighth album, Folklore, Taylor Swift presented her fans with an unexpected anniversary gift on Saturday.  

To millions of Swifties’ delight, the 11-time Grammy winner released the ‘original’ and orchestral version of her hit bonus track The Lakes.   

‘It’s been one year since we escaped the real world together and imagined ourselves someplace simpler,’ she captioned two black and white photos on her Instagram post.  

Exciting: One year after surprising the world with her hit album, Folklore, Taylor Swift presented her fans with an unexpected anniversary gift 

Swift, 31, continued: ‘With tall tall trees and salt air. Where you’re allowed to wear lace nightgowns that make you look like a Victorian ghost every day & no one will side eye you cause no one is around. It’s just you and your imaginary cabin and the stories you make up to pass the time.’ 

‘To say thank you for all you have done to make this album what it was, I wanted to give you the original version of The Lakes,’ she gushed.  

The superstar concluded: ‘Happy 1 year anniversary to Rebekah, Betty, Inez, James, Augustine, and the lives we all created around them. Happy Anniversary, folklore.’

Surprise! To millions of Swifties' delight, the 11-time Grammy winner released the 'original' and orchestral version of her hit bonus track The Lakes

Surprise! To millions of Swifties’ delight, the 11-time Grammy winner released the ‘original’ and orchestral version of her hit bonus track The Lakes

In two unseen images of the star, she appeared relaxed while frolicking around with two warm beverages in her hands and a demure smile. 

The other image showed her jumping from rock to rock as she hid her blue eyes under a pair of black sunglasses. 

Both photos were presumably taken by her beau Joe Alwyn, who previously posted solo shots of himself from the same or a very similar location. 

'It’s been one year since we escaped the real world together and imagined ourselves someplace simpler,' she wrote on Instagram

‘It’s been one year since we escaped the real world together and imagined ourselves someplace simpler,’ she wrote on Instagram

Upon its release, Folklore broke several chart records in its first week on sale and became the best-selling record of 2020. 

In March at the at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, she accepted Album of the Year for Folklore, alongside collaborators Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Jonathan Low, and Laura Sisk.  

Although her longtime boyfriend, 30, was not present for the ceremony, she made sure to thank her him during her emotional acceptance speech.

‘Joe, who is the first person that I play every single song that I write. And I had the best time writing songs with you in quarantine,’ gushed the star.

Winner: In March at the at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, she accepted Album of the Year for Folklore, alongside collaborators Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Jonathan Low, and Laura Sisk

Winner: In March at the at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, she accepted Album of the Year for Folklore, alongside collaborators Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Jonathan Low, and Laura Sisk

Folklore’s one-year anniversary comes just days after it was revealed she will not be submitting ‘Fearless (Taylor’s Version)’ for contention at the Grammy and CMA Awards. 

The singer has already won four Grammys for the original recording of 2008’s Fearless and several CMA Awards, and despite the new release containing six new tracks, Swift decided not to submit the LP for any prizes at the major ceremonies. 

A statement issued to Billboard from Republic Records read: ‘After careful consideration, Taylor Swift will not be submitting Fearless (Taylor’s Version) in any category at this year’s upcoming Grammy and CMA Awards.

Big step:  Swift her beau of four years Joe Alwyn cowrote two songs on the record under the pseudonym William Bowery (pictured in 2019)

Big step:  Swift her beau of four years Joe Alwyn cowrote two songs on the record under the pseudonym William Bowery (pictured in 2019)

‘Fearless has already won four Grammys including album of the year, as well as the CMA Award for album of the year in 2009/2010 and remains the most awarded country album of all time.’

However, the Shake It Off hitmaker will be entering her 2020 LP Evermore in all categories at the Grammys. 

Taylor decided to re-record her early albums, including Fearless, after Scooter Braun purchased her former record label, Big Machine Label Group, for $300 million, and with it acquired the rights to her back catalogue.

Raking it in: Despite not touring amid the pandemic, Taylor still brought in a hefty paycheck from her music (pictured above, her recent rerecording of her hit album Fearless)

Raking it in: Despite not touring amid the pandemic, Taylor still brought in a hefty paycheck from her music (pictured above, her recent rerecording of her hit album Fearless) 

And Scooter’s Ithaca Holdings sold the catalogue to Shamrock Holdings.

After the purchase, Taylor claimed she was never offered the chance to buy her own master recordings.

On her plans to re-record her records, she said: ‘It’s going to be fun, because it’ll feel like regaining a freedom and taking back what’s mine.

‘When I created [these songs], I didn’t know what they would grow up to be. Going back in and knowing that it meant something to people is actually a really beautiful way to celebrate what the fans have done for my music.’ 

Hard at work: Taylor decided to re-record her early albums, including Fearless, after Scooter Braun purchased her former record label, Big Machine Label Group, for $300 million, and with it acquired the rights to her back catalogue; pictured in 2019

Hard at work: Taylor decided to re-record her early albums, including Fearless, after Scooter Braun purchased her former record label, Big Machine Label Group, for $300 million, and with it acquired the rights to her back catalogue; pictured in 2019