Like everyone else’s midnight thoughts, “Midnights” lacks clarity and coherence, as it tries to latch onto pieces from Taylor Swift’s bygone eras.
Like everyone else’s midnight thoughts, “Midnights” lacks clarity and coherence, as it tries to latch onto pieces from Taylor Swift’s bygone eras.
In an era of ghosts, circumstances, and multiple phone calls with my girlfriends about dating in 2022, one thing we caught on was that Taylor Swift would soon give us a place to get into our feelings.
Ready to get into my feelings and make a vague connection to my date from her lyrics, I hit up the drama on a Friday morning. After nine studio albums, most recently a flirtation with different genres (I say flirtation because the success rates here varied) I wasn’t surprised to see that. midnight was an amalgamation of these previous efforts. But, the writing of the songs was far from Swift’s usual artistry. His raw emotions in classic albums like fearless And red Were able to evoke emotions – good or bad – that you felt in your stomach. understands, is considering midnight Marketed as an album that resembles Swift’s late-night stream of consciousness, when feelings of love, heartbreak, anger, anguish, and self-loathing pour out.
The album has had a promising start with lavender mist And red color, The former had a synth-pop premise, layered with spontaneous lyrics, that surrounded speculation (really, all of her relationships) but in this case, her six-year relationship with actor Joe Alwyn. With familiar themes and lyrics, “The only kind girl they see is a night or a wife,” and “I’m damned if I damn what people say,” the track is exciting, and transitions smoothly. red color that resonates with red The era with more synth and sensuality, although this may also have to do with the song’s name.
The production of the first two songs should have raised hopes of being the album’s lead single, anti Hero, an honest and unfiltered lyrical list of all the things Swift dislikes about herself. At a time when tutorials of self-love and positivity are running down our throats, the song could have taken a fresh look at her battle with herself. Instead, the weird pairing of upbeat pop, and even more awkward lyrics (“Sometimes I Think Everyone’s a Sexy Kid”) make it really difficult to root for “Anti-Hero”.
Hope for recovery, and a dose of the pain of heartbreak, is one of the album’s most talked-about songs. snow on the beachFeaturing Lana Del Rey, one of music’s original sad girls. What we get instead is a Taylor Swift song, with some of Del Rey’s vocals echoing like a shadow in the background. The song has untapped potential that could easily inspire the “love spiral” she refers to. lavender mist, Instead, the best we get is, “weird, but fucking beautiful,” the most basic description of what looks like snow on a beach.
things pick up again midnight rainWhich brings a hint of maturity to Swift’s typical heartwarming anthem, with a level of self-reflection that shows that yes, she was “being made” [her] name of himself,” while, “he wanted a bride … he remained.”
midnight rain Revenge also launches the second half of the album into the playlist, but that doesn’t mean it all makes sense. For example, in Question…?, Swift cuss, “Have you ever kissed you in a crowded room; And every one of your friends was making fun of you; But fifteen seconds later, they were also clapping? What did you do then?” I want to know the answers to all these questions, because why were this man’s friends laughing? Was that why he broke up with her?
Maybe Laughter Inspired Swift to Write alert shito, think better than revengea la Speak now era, but with lots of cool girl Energy, (and more feminists). Freshly, the track features hard hits, sung with a lush, fun-enough Lana Del Rie-esque flair. It’s a palate cleanser before returning to invigorating energy, which will surely make its way into Instagram captions for the rest of the year.
karmaAnother surefire fan favorite (which could have been the album’s lead single) is Swift’s clear inspiration from what we all love. reputation And 1989 and great, midnightBecause the lyrics are… “Spiderboy, King of Thieves.”
It’s not until track 12 that I finally got the sad saga I expected/needed from Swift. “Whatever you ever wanted from me was nothing sweeter,” she sings, delicately, but sweet Nothing, against a putter-patter, electric keyboard-like beat that makes it sound like a sad lullaby. Her voice calms down, while her songs (finally) manage to pull at the heart strings that come with the confusion and then the clarity that comes with the end of a relationship.
The album ends with High-Energy the mastermind, a liberating track showing who’s been in charge this entire time (hint: it’s Taylor). It leaves you with spirits, and prompts a smile on your face, as the beats build up, and his voice echoes around.
For die-hard Swifties, the album gives them enough to cry a little, laugh a little, light a candle, and look up at the night sky. While it lacks the harmony and effortless mastery of some of her prior albums, it continues to show her growth as an artist, nonetheless, it is increasingly clear that she will soon have to decide which audience she wants. Catering for: Those falling in love for the first time, or those trying to catch a glimpse to like in 2022.
Midnights is available on all major streaming platforms