REVIEW: Nights like these are not the same with Taylor Swift’s ‘Midnights’

Ellen Vu|October 26, 2022

Swift’s highly anticipated album reflects her wide range of musical ability through meaningful lyrics.

On Aug. 28, Taylor Swift revealed that she would be releasing her new album “Midnights.” Following its official release on Oct. 21 at 9:00 p.m. PST, listeners caused Spotify to crash after waiting two years, excluding rerecordings, for new music. The album has 13 tracks, which many believe represent Swift’s 13 sleepless nights. Three hours after fans were able to listen to the new album, they were surprised with seven additional tracks added into a deluxe album titled “Midnights (3am Edition)” with a total of 20 tracks, lasting one hour and nine minutes.

The opening song, “Lavender Haze,” begins the album with an upbeat tone. “Midnights” introduces a different vibe compared to her last two albums, “Evermore” and “Folklore,” as they have a heavy indie sound surrounding heartbroken lyrics. A return to her pop era, Swift captures the feeling of being in love with the popular ‘50s phrase “lavender haze.” Swift expresses her relationship with Joe Alwyn as she feels the media tries to give unsolicited input on people’s business.

“I been under scrutiny / The only kinda girl they see is a one-night or a wife / I feel the lavender haze creeping up on me / I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say,” Swift sings.

The breathtaking track “Anti-Hero” goes into depth with Swift’s own insecurities and how she came to terms with them. Swift combines meaningful lyrics with an addicting beat to form her favorite song she has ever written. The song expresses that time is passing her by since she no longer fits the industry’s ideal standard: a matured yet innocent-minded person.

“I’ll stare directly at the sun, but never in the mirror / Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism / Sometimes, I feel like everybody is a sexy baby / And I’m a monster on the hill / I’m the problem, it’s me,” Swift sings.

A majority of fans were out of their seats when Swift announced that her fourth track, “Snow On The Beach (feat. Lana Del Rey),” would be a collaboration. On this track, Lana Del Rey and Swift convey the experience of how it feels to have an unexpected reciprocation of love. The chorus perfectly expresses the feeling of falling for someone in a different yet beautiful manner.

“And it’s like snow at the beach / Weird, but f****** beautiful / You wanting me / Tonight feels impossible,” Swift sings.

Swift’s heartwarming lyrics showcase a change in mood compared to her previous songs on past romantic failures.

“I’ve never seen someone lit from within / My smile is like I won a contest / And to hide that would be so dishonest,” Swift sings.

A jumpscare at first, “Midnight Rain” has a unique beginning with a robotic voice initiating the track. Some speculate Swift is referencing her past relationships as one of the reasons that haunt her at night. In this case, fans believe her ex-lover, actor Taylor Lautner, was the inspiration for this song. The song reflects a message of opposite lovers who had different goals.

“He wanted it comfortable, I wanted that pain / He wanted a bride, I was making my own name / Chasing that fame, he stayed the same / I broke his heart ’cause he was nice / He was sunshine, I was midnight rain,” Swift sings.

Swift’s “Midnight (3am Edition)” track “The Great War” brings back her heart-wrenching style from her previous album “Evermore.” Her allusion to the Great War, also known as World War I, symbolizes a major fight between Swift and her lover. In this track, she references her first song “Lavender Haze” in that despite being in love, she still sabotages the relationship thinking something went wrong.

“All that bloodshed, crimson clover / sweet dream was over / My hand was the one you reached for / All throughout the Great War / I vowed not to cry anymore / If wе survived the Great War / Somewhere in the haze, got a sense I’d been betrayed / I really thought I’d lost you,” Swift sings.

“Midnights,” as well as “Midnights (3am Edition),” serve a variety of tracks that reflect Swift’s past albums while presenting a new tone, containing everything a listener could want. Many fans can arguably say this is one of her best works as she returns with her phenomenal and relatable lyrics. Those who stayed up until midnight for its release surely were not disappointed.