Meet Me at Midnight: A Review of Midnights by Taylor Swift
Part 1
By: Mallory Johnson
Taylor Swift’s newest studio album came out on October 21st, and I have been playing it on repeat ever since! The album is called Midnights and is Taylor’s tenth album and she said that it is her first ever full-on concept album. Midnights is about thirteen sleepless nights throughout her life, and ranges from when she was young to more current-seeming romances. I listened to (what I thought was) the full album at midnight on October 20th, and then stayed up late because Taylor said she had a “super chaotic surprise” which turned out to be the Deluxe version of the album, titled the “Midnights: the 3am Edition” with seven more songs! There is also a bonus song (and two remixes) on the Target exclusive vinyl, so the whole album has 23 tracks, ten more than originally advertised. I want to say that in this article, I briefly mention eating disorders and emotional abuse, so if that is triggering to you, please read with care.
The album opens with Lavender Haze, a song in which Taylor talks about how she loves her partner so much she is ignoring what the crowds are saying, and just wants to stay in their “lavender haze.” She squashes and critiques marriage rumors, saying “The only kinda girl they see/Is a one night or a wife.” I love the lyric “I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say.” She moves onto the song Maroon, which is appropriately track two, because the color maroon is a more mature version of red - which was track two on her 2012 album Red. In this song, she sings about lost love and colors. This song seems like a continuation of the story in her song Cornelia Street on Lover, because she discusses dancing barefoot in New York City. My favorite lyric on this song is “The rust that grew between telephones” For track three, she brings the mood down quite a bit while still remaining poppy with the self-deprecating Anti-Hero, which she described as a “tour through all of my insecurities.” She bravely describes her fears and insecurities, in the chorus saying, “It’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me!” and “it must be exhausting always rooting for the anti-hero.” It is a heartbreaking song that must be relatable to many, with an equally sad music video. Song number four features Lana Del Rey (although you cannot really hear her at all) and is called Snow on the Beach. They are singing about how reciprocated feelings feel as impossible as snow on a beach. My favorite lyrics are: “my smile feels like I won a contest/and to hide that would be so dishonest.” Track five is known to always be a sad and vulnerable song, so it is not surprising that it is titled You’re on Your Own, Kid and basically charts Taylor’s career and experience growing up. She discusses wanting boys to notice her, discovering her love for writing in her room, and more. In the second half of the song, she talks about how hard she worked for people to like her - she heartbreakingly sings, “I hosted parties/and starved my body/like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss.” My favorite lines are in the bridge; “so make the friendship bracelets/take the moment and taste it/You’ve got no reason to be afraid.” On song six, she gives listeners whiplash and moves the story to the upbeat and distorted Midnight Rain, where she talks about being with a perfect, happy man but still missing the toxic, more wild relationships. She says that she “broke his heart cause he was nice.” My favorite lyric is “he wanted a bride/I was making my own name.” Track seven is one of my favorites and is called Question…? This song is about wanting answers regarding a relationship, and Taylor samples her own song Out of the Woods from 1989 at the beginning of the song and with backing vocals throughout the chorus. My favorite lyric is “Did you ever have someone kiss you in a crowded room?” I also love the cheering during the third chorus.
Continued in Part 2