Taylor Swift launched her 10^th studio album on the 21^st of October 2022! The album is a concept album of 13 songs, which highlights “13 sleepless nights scattered throughout [her] life,” The album has gone on to break a number of records, including Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day – with over 186 million streams alone just on the day of release, surpassing the previous record held by Drake at 155 million. At the same time, she was the most streamed artist in a single day, with 228 million streams across her whole catalogue, and amazingly, the first artist to cross the 200 million mark. Both of these are now in the Guinness Book of World Records. The album had the biggest sales week for an album since reputation – another of Taylor’s albums, and also, the most vinyl records sold in week 1 since 1991.

Midnights has beautifully subdued yet intense production and vocals, with a dreaminess one might only feel at midnight… sultry, reflective, and versatile, the music is experimental with an electronic touch, with Swift driving down new avenues – and yet the tracks ooze with the flavours of her past works (reputation, 1989, folklore, Red). The album received high critical acclaim for its poetic lyricism, interesting melodies, and production (thanks to collaborator and producer Jack Antanoff).

Within the day of the release, Taylor released 7 more songs on the deluxe version, surprising fans around the world. Notable song mentions are Glitch, Paris, High Infidelity, and Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve.

What you should listen for

Here’s a short description of each song from the main album.

Lavender Haze

The opener of the album is, in my opinion, the best open Taylor has made to date. One can easily imagine her opening her rumoured upcoming tour with this song. There is a fun snare drum hook, and it starts off feeling like the muffled music one might hear at a late-night party while in a bathroom. The lyrics focus on how she wishes to remain in her “Lavender Haze” – a 50s-era saying which describes being in love.

Favourite line: I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say / No deal, the 1950s shit they want from me / I just wanna stay in that lavender haze.

Maroon

If you’ve heard the track “Red” from her album Red, think of this as the grown-up understanding of what that relationship in question was really like in retrospect – a strong love that has grown stale, dark, and overbearing. The song is reminiscent of the relationship – how deep it felt to her at the time, but with an added layer of melancholic sadness that one might feel looking back at a past relationship which made one so happy yet so miserable at the time.

Favourite lines: 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 maroon) / The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones / The lips I used to call home, so scarlet (it was maroon)

Anti-Hero

Taylor talks about how this song is one of her favourites that she’s ever written. The song explores all her insecurities in an intensely honest way, from her struggles with an eating disorder, her imposter’s syndrome, her fear of her loved ones leaving and so on. “It’s me, hi. I’m the problem, it’s me.” This is the first song to get a music video of its own as well.

Favourite lines: Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism / Like some kind of congressman?

Snow on the Beach

Co-written with Lana Del Rey, and with Lana’s vocals in the background, this song is what it feels like when two people fall in love with each other at the same time. The Christmas-y background music like snowflakes falling down, the harmonies, and the reverb – all contribute to a very sensory production.

Favourite lines: But your eyes are flying saucers from another planet / Now I’m all for you like Janet / Can this be a real thing? Can it?

You’re on Your Own Kid

This song is about a young person longing for love and going on to seek her dreams. It’s about understanding that she is on her own no matter where she is in her life – a curse, maybe, but also a blessing.

Favourite lines: ‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned / Everything you lose is a step you take

Midnight Rain

The singer shows accountability for breaking this person’s heart as she was “chasing fame,” while she also appreciates him for who he was. And how now the relationship is mostly forgotten by both of them except for specific moments in their lives. A kinder follow-up to getaway car?

Favourite lines: ‘Cause he was sunshine, I was midnight rain / 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

Question…?

Here, Swift questions a past lover and ponders whether his new relationship is much better or was it second best?

Favourite lines: Half-moon eyes, bad surprise / Did you realize out of time? / She was on your mind with some dickhead guy / That you saw that night / But you were on somethin’

Vigilante Shit

“I don’t start shi*, but I can tell you how it ends…” This song is a dramatic approach to Taylor taking revenge on a person, even colluding with his most recent ex-wife. One can think she is writing about Scooter Braun… The song is sultry, and dark, with an impactful bass.

Favourite lines: I don’t start shit, but I can tell you how it ends / Don’t get sad, get even

Bejewelled

The second song has its own music video, this song is about how the singer decides to go out and have some (petty) fun – because her lover seems to be forgotten her value. One of my personal favourite songs!

Favourite lines: Baby boy, I think I’ve been too good of a girl (Too good of a girl) / Did all the extra credit, then got graded on a curve / I think it’s time to teach some lessons / I made you my world (Huh), have you heard? (Huh) / I can reclaim the land

Labyrinth

This song is a slow-burn type song, where she describes a difficult heartbreak – only to find herself falling in love again.

Favourite lines: It only feels this raw right now / Lost in the labyrinth of my mind

Karma

Taylor teased the title of this song in her “The Man” music video, 3 albums back (during the Lover era). It’s a very straightforward song about how Karma is on her side – but has interesting personifications of “Karma” as a god, as a boyfriend, as a cat, as a breeze…

Favourite lines: “Karma is a relaxing thought – aren’t you envious that for you it’s not?”

Sweet Nothing

This song is co-written with her boyfriend Joe Alwyn and is a sweet appreciation of him and how he wants her as her, while others around them demand so much more.

Favourite lines: To you, I can admit that I’m just too soft for all of it Ooh / They said the end is comin’ / Everyone’s up to somethin’ / I find myself runnin’ home to your sweet nothings / Outside, they’re push and shovin’ / You’re in the kitchen hummin’
All that you ever wanted from me was sweet nothin’

Mastermind

Another one of my favourites, mastermind also has gone on to have its own TikTok trend. The song is about her confessing to strategizing to get her man! On TikTok, men and women have shared their little tricks to get the initial attention of their now-boyfriends/husbands.

Favourite lines: And the touch of a hand lit the fuse / Of a chain reaction of countermoves / To assess the equation of you / Checkmate, I couldn’t lose

This is easily one of Taylor’s best albums. Have you listened, and what are your favourites? What are your favourite lyrics?

Written by Nethmie Dehigama

This article appeared in the Happinez Magazine in the Morning newspaper in Sri Lanka in November 2022.

PHOTOS CREDIT: Taylor Swift, Beth Garrabrant, Sebastian Kim