Taylor Swift released her tenth studio album on October 21. After announcing the release at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards Ceremony, the Swiftie community was excited and beyond prepared for the new era.
Just 3 hours after Midnights was released, Swift released a deluxe edition, the “3am Edition,” with 7 bonus songs, bringing a total of 20 new original songs to millions of listeners worldwide.
To the surprise of none, Midnights is the top-selling album of 2022 and has had the largest sales for any album since 2017 just 1 day after its release, according to Billboard. Spotify and Apple Music’s top 10 songs are all from Midnights.
Midnights isn’t Swift’s first collaboration with Jack Antonoff, of American rock band Bleachers, but it’s the first album to be recorded completely with Antonoff. The album divulges into the feelings surrounding midnight— moody, sad, lonely, overthinking and more.
Swifties were quick to categorize Midnights with Swift’s previous albums like Reputation and Lover, while others compared it to 1989. The pop was surely felt, but the slow music feels of Folklore was also apparent.
Midnights stays away from mainstream pop and, once again, Swift has reinvented pop music.
This is the Midnights era.
As for the ranking of each of her songs, there’s no other way to put it: Amazing.
But there were 5 songs that stood out to me, and surely keep me up at midnight.
- Maroon: Toxic relationships are something Swift has unfortunately faced time and time again. This song explores the beautiful events in the relationship but the saddened lover is quickly reminded that this was a rocky and tumultuous relationship. Swift presents vivid and passionate descriptions of the pain the lovers endured:“The burgundy on my T-shirt when you splashed your wine into me/And how the blood rushed into my cheeks, so scarlet it was/The mark they saw on my collarbone/The rust that grew between telephones/The lips I used to call home/So scarlet, it was maroon.”
- Midnight Rain: Apparent throughout the album is the theme of female independence. Swift examines the value of choosing a profession above a relationship. “He wanted comfortable/I wanted that pain/He wanted a bride I was making my own name/Chasing that fame/He stayed the same.” This is a reflection of her past relationships where she may have felt suppressed by old boyfriends who didn’t support her growth.
- Vigilante Sh*t: Swift has had haters her entire life, from high school bullies to cruel celebrities like Kanye West. The edgy-Reputation-like song explores a revenge fantasy. Swiftie theorists conclude this is about Kim Kardashian and West’s recent divorce. Swift says, “Now She gets the house, gets the kids, gets the pride/Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife/And she looks so pretty/Driving in your Benz/Lately she’s been dressing for revenge.” Could it be any more obvious?
- Labyrinth: Swift tells the story of someone who is entering a new relationship, but holds back because of relationship fears. This one person has shifted her entire perspective on love and her heart grows warm and she finally takes a leap of faith for love— which can be seen as a parallel with her rumored fiancé, Joe Alwyn.
- Bigger Than The Whole Sky: While many believe the song is about a severe heartbreak, and truly feeling the pain of losing someone you love, rumors from Swiftie theorists claim this song could be about a miscarriage. “You were more than just a short time/And I’ve got a lot to pine about/I’ve got a lot to live without/I’m never gonna meet/What could’ve been, would’ve been/What should’ve been you.” Could Swift have been pregnant and lost what could’ve been a child? We will never know.
Swift was a guest on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Monday night. She was welcomed by fans screaming and clapping in the audience. Midnights was obviously discussed.
“It’s my first directly autobiographical album in a while,” she said on the show. “I’m feeling very overwhelmed by the fans’ love for the record. I’m also feeling, like, very soft and fragile.”
After receiving Midnights praise from Fallon, he mentioned how she hasn’t been on tour in a while… specifically since her Reputation tour in 2018.
And then the moment everyone was waiting for. Swift looked at the crowd, and gently replied, “I think I should do it.”
The audience members screamed at the top of their lungs and clapped so loud their hands must have turned red.
Will T. Swift go on tour? She will, when it’s the right time— as she repeatedly told Fallon.
