If you are a Taylor Swift fan, you have definitely been anticipating her 10th studio album Midnights. She announced the release of her new album on August 28th at the VMAs in her acceptance speech for video of the year, and it just came out on October 21st.
Since announcing the release, Swift has been revealing a different track title for the album every few days. She would post a video on TikTok for these announcements and called this series of posts “Midnight’s Mayhem With Me.” These videos helped build excitement for the album release.
The album consists of 13 tracks including one feature with Lana Del Rey, which fans have long anticipated. Another track that has fans surprised is the 8th track Vigilante S*** because it is the first time Swift has used an explicit word in one of her song titles.
The second the album started playing I was surprised, I was expecting a more folk album like her past 2 albums but instead, the first track, Lavender Haze, has an upbeat intro where Swift starts the album off with the words “meet me at midnight.” Lavender Haze is a synth-pop song that represents the style of the entire album.
Favorite lyric: “The only kinda girl they see is a one-night or a wife”
If you had been watching “Midnights Mayhem with Me” you would know that track 3, Anti-Hero, is one of Swift’s favorite songs she’s ever written and that she’s never, “delved this far into my (her) insecurities in this detail before.” The lyrics in Anti-Hero are full of harsh self-examination and loathing. Swift hurls the most gut-wrenching insults at herself in the most poetic way.
Favorite lyrics: “It’s me, hi, i’m the problem, it’s me,” and “Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguised as altruism, like some kind of congressman?”
Snow On The Beach, the long-awaited Lana Del Rey collaboration, although absolutely beautiful in terms of melody and vocals, was underwhelming. San Marcos Freshman Kit Peterson said, “I was expecting more from the feature and it was kind of disappointing.” The “feature” was just Del Rey singing backup vocals while Swift sang every part of the song. Del Rey did not get any verse or solo on the whole track. It disappointed many fans because it was such a hyped-up track that did not meet expectations. Although I also was surprised and a bit disappointed that Del Rey did not get a solo, it is still one of my favorite songs on the album.
Favorite lyric: “Life is emotionally abusive and time can’t stop me quite like you did.”
You’re On Your Own Kid starts as a mellow song about frustrations Swift has. As those frustrations add up, the song gets more intense and finally reaches a crescendo after the bridge. The bridge is the strongest on the album and since Swift is known to write amazing bridges, it has many emotional lyrics filled with meaning and reflection on her past. You’re On Your Own Kid is my favorite song on the album because of the combination of the lyrics and perfectly crafted build.
Favorite lyric: “I gave my blood, sweat, and tears for this. I hosted parties and starved my body, like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss.”
As a “special very chaotic surprise”, Swift announced Midnights (3 am edition) which dropped three hours after the release of Midnights and included 7 more tracks.
The track that made the biggest impression on me was Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve. The music is more somber than the original thirteen tracks. What I like about Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve is that the whole song felt like one big bridge that was made to be cried over.
Overall, I enjoyed the Midnights album. It is most similar to her albums Lover and 1989, but it has more synth/alternative pop elements. It has many songs delving deeper into themes than we have ever seen from Swift before. Many fans were unimpressed because they were expecting sadder songs that were more similar to her albums Folklore and Evermore, but instead they were more upbeat and about romance. Although the original thirteen tracks strayed away from her past two albums, the additional seven were much more similar to the somber folk songs. Whether or not this is Swift’s best album will only be determined by listening to the album over and over again.
