Midnights: A Tribute to Late Nights
Peyton Impola & Jasleen Kaur
Taylor Swift. Whether you love her or hate her–you for sure know her name. If you are a devoted fan, you have patiently waited since August for the release of her tenth studio album Midnights. In the weeks following the release of Midnights, the songs skyrocketed up the charts. The album is a critical success and is adored by many. Let's take a deep dive into the tracklist and how each individual song of the album holds up.
Lavender Haze-5/5
Perfection. The quintessential start to an era. While somewhat reminiscent of I Think He Knows, the song feels unique to this album. A closer examination of the lyrics reveals a challenge to heteronormative expectations of women in relationships. Swift herself has dealt with these expectations for her entire career. It seems as if the media is constantly speculating that Swift is engaged, secretly married, or pregnant. Lavender Haze speaks of the desire to break free of those expectations and to exist in that hazy-love stuck bubble of her relationship. The song provides a nostalgic vibe similar to the songs from her hit albums Speak Now and 1989, but offers an older and bolder outlook than Swift has presented before. Lavender Haze is unquestionably a 5/5 and was the perfect choice to start the album off with.
Maroon-5/5
As a precursor to The Great War coming later in this album, Swift not only consciously makes connections through her diction, but continues themes surrounding the effects of toxicity and abuse. Maroon is essentially perfect because it taps into so many aspects of the cycle of abuse while touching on why it is so hard for people to leave these relationships. When looking at the repetition of lyrics, it is notable that others are only changed by one word, but that one-word change alters the entire meaning of that stanza. Even if you don’t catch the shift in verbiage, the ambiance of the song shifts altogether from the short-lived happiness that comes from loving blindly, to the conflicted feelings and self-hatred that result from abusive situations. Swift accurately accentuates how conflicting it is to be in such a relationship that the good parts keep you from leaving, even when the bad parts happen so often. The lyricism of this song is essentially groundbreaking as it attempts to break the stigma of victim blaming, addressing the infamous question: “Why didn’t she just leave?”
Anti-Hero-5/5
Anti-Hero is a song for the fans who relate to Mirrorball. It is for the fans who loved The Archer. Anti-Hero is for the fans who struggle with anxieties and deep-rooted insecurities. Don’t let its catchy, upbeat tune fool you, Anti-Hero is a sad song. It is a ballad of self-hatred. A closer look at the lyrics reveals a deep exploration of Swift’s insecurities. The song dives into Swift’s personal failures and alludes to the darker self-perception she has of herself. The music video depicts a visual display of these insecurities, and how they damage Swift and her plans. The upbeat nature of the song makes it easy to jam out in your car, but once you start thinking about the meaning behind the lyrics, it makes you stop and ponder your own personal shortcomings. Anti-Hero is a deeply relatable song that creates the perfect conditions for screaming the lyrics while driving down the highway.
Snow on the Beach-3.5/5
To address Snow on the Beach, we must first address the elephant in the room: Lana Del Ray. While the song was marketed as having a Del Ray feature, her vocals are in the background of the song. This automatically decreases the appeal of this song for many fans. Fans were excited about a collaboration between Swift and Del Ray which fell flat upon reveal. However, many fans have become so caught up in the absence of Del Ray that they disregard the lyricism and melody of the song. Snow on the Beach is a delicate tune, yet still presents an edge that is not as typical for Swift’s sound. The song, however, seems very typical of Swift’s repertoire. Snow on the Beach is the tale of two lovers simultaneously falling in love. While there is a certain ambiance to the song, it definitely is not one of the standouts of the album. Snow on the Beach is a perfectly nice song, but as it was marketed as having a Lana Del Ray feature, it has fallen short of the lofty expectations that fans had, making it fade into the background of the rest of the tracklist.
You’re on Your Own Kid-5/5
What starts off as a bubbly song regarding a summer crush, soon turns into a critique of societal expectations. The lyricism of this song alludes to one of Swift’s prior hits: You are in Love. Some even suggest that she dropped one of her infamous “Easter eggs” in this song; many believe that her reference to “Daisy May” is a hint at the selected name of Blake Lively’s fourth child. Swift herself has already mentioned Lively’s previous children in her song Betty, so this may not be a very far-fetched theory. Some may miss the fact that Swift cuts off talking about this summer fling within the first two verses after realizing her crush doesn’t have affection towards her. She then shifts the song to focus on being engulfed in the sickness of comparison. This song in specific has been reminiscent of issues she discussed during her documentary, Miss Americana. She referenced her issues with body image and struggles with eating within this documentary and these themes are reflected through the lyrics of this song. Swift discusses the self-hatred that comes from wanting to reach unreachable societal standards of physical beauty through a beat and tune that comes off as relatively upbeat and catchy. This all comes together to create the feeling that you are alone, or that You’re on Your Own Kid. Swift then delves into the fading of friendships as you go through different phases of life; however, she takes an alternate approach to this concept which appears near the end of the song: she begins to accept change. This triggers an ending that is surprisingly positive compared to the rest of this song. She ends with “You're on your own, kid / Yeah, you can face this / You're on your own, kid / You always have been.”
The end to this musical masterpiece envelopes the idea that we all are alone at some point in our lives and we will be again, but we have gotten through it before, so we will continue to get through these times as we pass through different phases in our lives.
Midnight Rain-5/5
Haters might make fun of the intro in Midnight Rain, but I firmly believe that it is one of the best tracks on the album. The song is very clearly reminiscent of a past relationship of Swift’s–though who exactly is subject to debate. The song details a relationship that failed because of Swift’s career ambitions. She makes a clear contrast between her and her partner–labeling him sunshine and herself rain. Both partners had different expectations of the relationship and wanted different things out of it, which eventually ended it. The lyrics hit close to home for many–those who left a relationship to pursue their passions and ambitions. The song is a testament to Swift’s career–and counters the media’s claim that she simply goes from man to man without a care for their feelings. This song uses a haunting pop melody and synth sounds to showcase an upbeat but melancholy tale of what could’ve been.
Question…?-5/5
I’m going to say it: Question…? is one of the most underrated songs on this album. Not only is this song a lyrical masterpiece, but the mix of heavy beats and a softer tune that builds up, all keep the listeners on their feet as to what they will hear next. The lyrics are quite reminiscent of the groundbreaking 1989 album, leading many fans to believe that Question…? is actually about Harry Styles. Considering this is quite speculative, I will not be taking a direct stance on this issue (even though the lyrics are just a little TOO specific 🤔). One thing we can all agree on, however, is the fact that this song touches on the insecurities and complications of romantic relationships. It seems that this song in particular provides the idea that Swift is questioning her previous lover after a relationship that seemingly failed. This song is for the swifties that get too attached and get hurt when someone moves on while they cannot. Swift uses this song to demonstrate a scenario in which she wants an explanation from her former partner as to why she wasn’t enough and what he experienced that made him go back to that one girl. This song is, essentially, an ode to attachment, jealousy, and insecurity. The flow of lyrics compared to the distinct beats this song establishes, allows the listener to become engulfed in this all-encompassing song. I think a large portion of this song’s appeal is the fact that it reminds fans of 1989 while also sounding like nothing Swift has ever released in the past. If I could pick one song off of this album to show to a new listener, it might just be this one.
Vigilante Sh*t-2/5
To put it simply, Vigilante Sh*t doesn’t fit with the rest of Midnights. The raw and edgy tune feels like it would fit better on the Reputation. While the rest of the album feels more synthesized and whimsical, Vigilante Sh*t feels like it is trying too hard. The song is yet another revenge anthem, which is almost overdone in Swift’s discography. The song has a bizarrely dark feel to it, and it feels so strangely foreign to the rest of the album. It could be because the melody never really reaches any sort of climax. The entirety of the song feels as if it is building to something that never comes. Vigilante Sh*t was a bold musical statement from Swift–but it fell flat in comparison to the rest of the album. Perhaps if the track was placed in an album with a different vibe it would not have ranked so low. Alas, the track is unarguably the worst off of the album and throws off the progression of the tracklist.
Labyrinth-4/5
This song is essentially a breath of fresh air after Vigilante Sh*t. It is almost eerily slow, allowing the listeners to truly grasp the lyrics rather than just focusing on an overly hyped beat (*cough, cough* Vigilante Sh*t *cough, cough*). Labyrinth provides the audience with this angelic feeling due to the higher-pitched vocals, softer voice, and gentle tune. This song details a heartbroken Swift who starts off reflecting on a past heartbreak that seemed impossible to get over, comparing falling in love too fast to her fear of elevators; however, she then gets saved by falling in love with someone who will go above and beyond for her. She then begins to reconcile with her past, due to this new love. Her new relationship allowed her to “break free” of this cycle of hurt and understand love in a way that was actually loving, instead of degrading. Though this song is very soothing and beautiful, it did not receive a 5/5 largely because of its competing songs within this album. If I were to look at this album, Labyrinth wouldn’t necessarily stand out to me, but that doesn’t decrease its purpose within Midnights.
Karma-3.5/5
There has never been a line so quintessentially Taylor Swift than Karma’s “Karma is a cat, purring in my lap cause’ it loves me.” Karma does what Vigilante Sh*t failed to do. In this track, Swift sings of her cosmic revenge against those who hurt her–karma. Karma has been a recurring theme in Swift’s life–from her feuds with Kanye West, Scooter Braun, and Kim Kardashian, it seems as if each of her antagonizers has met their match in recent years. The song presents an upbeat and synthesized beat, creating a triumphant and declaratory atmosphere. For Swifties everywhere, this is the revenge anthem we have been waiting for. Karma is a song for dancing in your room, singing at the top of your lungs with your friends, and blasting in the car with your windows down. The only issue with Karma is that the tracklist of Midnights is so good, that Karma tends to pale in comparison. Perhaps if the rest of the album was less stunning, Karma would stand out more. However, in its current position–wedged between songs like Bejeweled, Paris, and Glitch–it’s hard to pick out Karma as the stand-out pop-hit of the album. Nonetheless, Karma is a BOP and immediately puts you in a dancing mood.
Sweet Nothing-3/5
Sweet Nothing is a soft and calming tune that pays homage to Swift’s love for the life she has built with her partner. Fittingly enough, this song was co-written by her partner Joe Alwyn, under the alias of William Bowery. Swift sings of being protected from the chaos and strife of the outside world by her own little bubble. This song is a glimpse into the relationship Swift has hidden from the public eye and serves as reasoning as to why Swift does. Swift has historically received an unreasonable amount of hate from the media regarding her relationships, which she has expressed as having a negative impact on many of these relationships. Swift’s relationship with Alwyn has been largely shielded from the public eye. Sweet Nothing expresses how she feels about the scrutiny she receives from the media, and how she is able to find peace in her relationship. While the sentiment behind Sweet Nothing is very touching, and the melody is light and delicate, the track simply fails to stand out. It’s a perfectly fine song, but it does warrant a skip from time to time. A recurring issue with the slower tracks on Midnights is that they simply fail to measure up to the spectacularity that is faster-paced tunes like Anti-Hero or Bejeweled. I certainly have a fondness for Sweet Nothing, but I simply cannot rank it higher due to how much I love some of the other tracks on this album. Nonetheless, Sweet Nothing is a beautiful song dedicated to Swift’s partner and their life together.
Mastermind-5/5
This song was the PERFECT ending to the original edition of Midnights, prior to the Midnights (3am Edition) release. The Mirrorball girlies all felt an immediate attraction to Mastermind, and rightfully so as this song covers the same themes of trying too hard in order to feel like you carry worth. Listeners are able to experience the parallel between Mirrorball’s “I've never been a natural/All I do is try, try, try” and Mastermind’s “No one wanted to play with me as a little kid/So I've been scheming like a criminal ever since/To make them love me and make it seem effortless.” I would even go as far as to say that if this whole album was to be encompassed into one song, it would be Mastermind. Not only does it discuss eras of self-doubt, but it also delves into the idea of doing anything and everything to feel loved. This song can also be translated into different aspects of everyday life because it discusses how in order to be seen and successful, as a woman, in particular, one needs to go above and beyond with every single detail planned out. In this way, this lyrical masterpiece explores social and political issues that a one-time listener may not catch. In addition, Mastermind expands into how for someone who has felt unwanted growing up, creating reasons and plans as to how and why people should want you is the way that you show you care. Swift even goes as far as to use the notorious Machiavelli, a philosopher who is largely characterized as believing that “the ends justify the means” to prove her point. “And I swear/I'm only cryptic and Machiavellian 'cause I care” is one of the most widely recognized bridges within this album, not just for its amazing vocals, but also for the use of “Machiavellian.” Machiavellian is used to highlight a cunning and scheming nature of an individual. Through this line, Swift highlights how she creates these plans and seems obscure in her motives because she cares too much, to the point where she will do almost anything to feel loved. Moving away from the clever lyricism, the beats and variation of tunes within this song merge every single feeling you get from this album, whether that be the dark beats of Question…? or the soft flow of Labyrinth, Mastermind does it all. It is an understatement to say Mastermind is incredible or even amazing…the only appropriate description would be say that Mastermind is the mastermind.
The Great War-4.5/5
This song serves as a BANGER start to the Midnights (3am Edition), when Swift blessed us with seven additional songs on the same night as the original Midnights release. The tune of this song brings about the nostalgia reminiscent of Swift’s sister albums Folklore and Evermore. As stated earlier, I believe that Maroon serves as a precursor to this song about the hardships within relationships. Though this song isn’t particularly about toxicity and abuse, it discusses the “great war” between two partners in which they face hypothetical “bloodshed.” Swift takes on the idea of trust and lost trust within this song, highlighting how problem-solving will only occur if both parties are open to discussion. She also delves into how self-insecurity can be projected into a relationship which creates that distrust. This distrust can cause a relationship built on love, to fall to pieces because of self-hatred and envy that is baseless. Swift ends this song by “waving her white flag” and vowing to be peaceful. In this way, she lets go of this projection of insecurity and this helps to blossom a relationship where both hands reach for each other, instead of just one.
Bigger than the Whole Sky-3/5
Jasleen and I very much disagree on Bigger than the Whole Sky. While I personally believe that the song is one of the best off the album and deserves a four out of five, Jasleen is a bit more critical and would rate it closer to a two. Bigger than the Whole Sky is a tale of loss. A direct interpretation of the lyrics means that the song is about losing a person who you cared about deeply, despite only having spent a short amount of time with them. However, many people have speculated that the song is about a miscarriage. Whatever the “loss” referenced in the song may be, Swift leaves it up to her listeners’ interpretation. I personally love Bigger than the Whole Sky because it feels that it encapsulates grief, and how illogically it behaves. The song references feelings of guilt and self-blame over such a loss, which is something that hits close to home for many listeners. Jasleen on the other hand believes that the song is too slow, and feels unnecessarily airy at times–a perfectly valid criticism that I myself have made of other tracks off the album. Taking into account each of our opinions, Bigger than the Whole Sky is rated a three out of five. It is an emotional ballad of loss and love, which can be relatable to some listeners, but underwhelming to others.
Paris-5/5
Paris is 1989’s older, more mature sister. A member of the 3am Edition, the track presents a glitzy and high-energy ode to being in love. Similarly to Lavender Haze, Paris tells the tale of being so in love that nothing else in the world matters. Paris is once again a reference to Swift’s relationship and the fact that she has blocked out the paparazzi and media to preserve her relationship, away from the public eye. Paris has a similar energy to a track right off of 1989, with its high energy and pop style. In my opinion, Paris is the most danceable off of the bonus tracks. It is undoubtedly a BANGER. Perhaps I’m biased because 1989 is one of my favorite Taylor Swift albums, but I believe that Swift was built to be a pop artist. Her pop songs are grossly underrated and neglected by the Swiftie fandom, and Paris is no exception. I have heard very few people giving Paris the credit it deserves, which is a downright tragedy. There is no doubt in my mind that this song is a five out of five, if not for its lyricism, then for its tune and beat.
High Infidelity-3/5
I would say this song is relatively self-explanatory; it’s about cheating and infidelity. The reason this song is rated as a 3 out of 5 isn’t necessarily because it is bad, but rather because it doesn’t stand out. It is no surprise that you can feel the pain within High Infidelity without actually experiencing being cheated on, but this pain just doesn’t hit as much as the emotions you get from other songs on this album. The beat is nice and the lyricism is clever, but it just could’ve been done better. Maybe this is my naivety speaking because I am so young and haven’t received these experiences, but personally, it just isn’t giving as much as I thought it would give.
Glitch-4/5
Glitch has struck the Swiftie community off guard, whether that be positively or negatively. I originally didn’t appreciate this song as much as I have grown to, mostly because it doesn’t seem like Swift’s previous songs. This unique song discusses how love comes in people that you don’t necessarily expect it to come through. It is very likely that this is about Swift and her current boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, who have been together for a large amount of time. An interesting aspect of this song is that Swift leads the audience to believe that not everything in their love life has been perfect, but it all came full circle at the end of the song highlighting how she found her true love through it all. This song is the epitome of the cliche that if someone loves you they will always come back in the end and I think that is truly the reason why this song has come into such a high standing with select swifties who are those hopeless romantics.
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve-5/5
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve is an ode to nineteen-year-old Taylor Swift. Swift uses heartbreaking lyrics to express regret for past relationships with older men. The themes of this song are reminiscent of Dear John, alluding to her relationship with John Mayer, which took place when she was nineteen and he was thirty-two. The whole song acts almost as a precursor to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version). It has the same melancholy feel as Speak Now, but offers a more mature melody and beat. Swift’s plea for the return of her girlhood and innocence is heart-wrenching and speaks to a larger crowd of women who have been manipulated and taken advantage of by older men. Our society tends to turn a blind eye to girls in relationships with much older and more powerful men, as is the case for Swift. Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve lamented Swift’s involvement with men that took advantage of her nativity and youth, and displays just how those relationships destroyed her. The track is, without a doubt, one of the saddest songs Swift has ever put out. The vulnerability she assumes whilst baring her heart makes the fast-paced song tug at your heart and leaves you pondering if our world sets up young women to be taken advantage of by men.
Dear Reader-2/5
As the last song on Midnights, Dear Reader is underwhelming. While it is a perfectly fine song, it simply doesn’t have the soul the rest of the album possesses. Ending the album with Dear Reader is far from a mic-drop. The song itself is a letter to the listener. Swift is trying to give her fans advice that she learned from her own life experiences. The sentiment of ending an album on love, self-doubt, and pain, with a letter of advice, is good in theory, but the slow progression of the song leaves much to be desired.
