Midnights Album Review
By Amelie Zosa
Published November 21st
WARNING: controversial opinions ahead!
We waited a long two months for the release of Taylor Swift’s latest album, Midnights. Swift released the album on October 21st, 2022, and in its first day of release it already broke countless records, such as Spotify’s most streamed album in a single day, over one million sales within the first three days, and more.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but Midnights was not what I was expecting at all. This made listening to the album for the first time all the more exciting. I wouldn’t place Midnights among my top five favorite Taylor albums, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think it has many great songs on it.
I noticed a few themes throughout Midnights. Swift included many an obscure metaphor. She really allowed herself to stay true to who she was, in whatever quirky lyric that manifested itself in. She did not hold back. In Midnights, she also spent a lot of time discussing her self-worth, especially as a woman, but as a person in general. In songs like Anti-Hero and Bejeweled, she offered conflicting insight into how she saw her own self-worth. In other songs, like Lavender Haze, she sings about how others see her.
I think any avid Swiftie will agree when I say that there are no wrong answers when it comes to ranking Taylor Swift songs, on any album. It’s sort of universally acknowledged among Swifties that every Taylor Swift album is a no-skips album, so any way in which the songs may be ranked, the song at the top of the list and the song at the bottom of the list will both be phenomenal.
That being said, people I’ve talked to about Midnights have heavily disagreed with my rankings. Yet, I stand by them. See my constantly-changing opinions on each Midnights (3am Edition) song below, ranked in order from my least favorite, to my favorite, on a completely-not-definitive list:
20. Vigilante Sh*t
My favorite lyric: “He was doing lines / And crossing all of mine.”
I really wanted this to be one of my favorite songs. Don’t get me wrong, I still love it. I just wish it picked up a little more, rather than the whole melody staying in the same restrictive range. It gives me very Pure Heroine or Yellow Flicker Beat vibes. In terms of other Taylor Swift songs, the lyrics are very Reputation or no body, no crime, in a women-getting-revenge-at-men sort of way.
19. Dear Reader
My favorite lyric: “No one sees when you lose when you're playing solitaire.”
I don’t really have an explanation for this. I didn’t love that similar to Vigilante Sh*t, the whole song kind of sounded the same the whole time. I do feel like it’s the perfect song to listen to when you’re feeling sad and isolated, and I did like the purpose of the song, as it felt like a wiser person giving a more naïve person advice. However, I feel like You’re On Your Own, Kid accomplishes this better. More on that later.
18. Karma
My favorite lyric: “But for you, it's not sweet like honey.”
I know this song is iconic. Karma is sort of Taylor Swift’s whole brand. It’s definitely a bop, and I definitely would dance to it. I 100% get the intention behind it. However, the chorus didn’t really hit me the right way. It was similar to Red in that the chorus was all metaphorical, which tends to not exactly be my favorite. And I hate to say it, but it was kind of giving ME!. I don’t know. It’ll probably grow on me more eventually.
17. High Infidelity
My favorite lyric: “Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?”
I love the subtle specificity in the lyrics of this song. It's so personal to Taylor’s life. Uncovering the references to Bleachella and the meanings behind each lyric throughout the song makes it all the more fun to listen to.
16. The Great War
My favorite lyric: “But diesel is desire, you were playing with fire.”
This was one of the very few songs where I understood the meaning behind the song upon first listen. I think the concept of a “great war” is a great metaphor for whatever devastating conflicts can happen in a relationship, and the kind of conflicts that feel as if you can’t come back from them, until you do. Overall I believe that it’s a very hopeful and relatable song, and I appreciate that in this sort of album.
15. Mastermind
My favorite lyric: “What if I told you none of it was accidental / And the first night that you saw me, I knew I wanted your body? / I laid the groundwork and then, just like clockwork/ The dominoes cascaded in a line.”
I love love love the melody of this song. I think the lyrics are so genius, which is fitting for a song called Mastermind. But I can’t seem to decide whether I think the concept is cute or scary. It honestly kind of reminded me of Don’t Worry Darling, which is a movie (starring Swift’s ex, Harry Styles) that I definitely categorized as scary.
My favorite lyric: “Did some force take you bеcause I didn't pray?”
It hurts me to put this song so low on the list. I’ve seen theories that this song is about the end of a short-lived relationship, but I’ve also seen more heartbreaking theories that it’s about a miscarriage, which makes the song all that much sadder and more impactful. Either way, it has a different effect on me every single time I hear it, and somehow keeps shifting all throughout my Midnights ranking.
13. Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Rey)
My favorite lyric: “My smile is like I won a contest / And to hide that would be so dishonest.”
This song really grew on me. I feel like lyrically, it may not exactly be the best, but the production is absolutely beautiful. It kind of felt like she just ripped out pages of her diary and put it to track. I, like many, many of us, was disappointed in the lack of Lana Del Rey, but I was able to recognize her presence in the backing vocals upon first listen. I just wish she had gotten at least a verse to herself.
12. Glitch
My favorite lyric: “Depending on what kind of mood and situation-ship I'm in.”
This song has a really unique sound. It was one of my favorite 3am tracks right off the bat. The whole song just seemed like an expansion or a deeper dive into the Paper Rings lyric “I hate accidents except when we went from friends to this,” in that her relationship was a happy accident more than anything else.
11. Question…?
My favorite lyric: “Good girl, sad boy.”
It took me like a million years to understand even slightly what this song is about, but I have now realized it’s a reflection on a past relationship? I think? All I know is that I love the verses, and that I have so many questions. The interpolation of Out of the Woods in the beginning is absolutely iconic though.
10. Sweet Nothing
My favorite lyric: “And the voices that implore, ‘You should be doing more’ / To you, I can admit that I’m just too soft for all of it.”
This is another song that very recently grew on me a lot. It really is just sweet. I love the insight into Taylor’s relationship with Joe Alwyn. The song kind of encapsulates what a good, loving relationship might look like, in a very subtle, delicate manner.
9. Paris
My favorite lyric: “All the outfits were terrible / 2003, unbearable / Did you see the photos? / No, I didn't, but thanks, though.”
This song was kind of a sequel to Lavender Haze. I love all the details packed into it, the fast-paced lyrics, and its romantic meaning. This is an example of a song where the whole thing is a metaphor (really, it’s a simile, but anyways), but it’s still different from Karma. Personally, I just enjoy this representation of an analogy more.
8. Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
My favorite lyric: “Living for the thrill of hitting you where it hurts / Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first / And I damn sure never would've danced with the devil / At nineteen.”
There’s no way this song isn’t about John Mayer. I saw someone on Instagram say that this song was the new All Too Well, and while I wouldn’t go that far, I do think it has many of the same emotional qualities we love All Too Well for. It’s a song full of regret for not having what would’ve, could’ve, should’ve been if one thing hadn’t happened in your life, and about losing your innocence in a way that shouldn’t have happened. It’s emotionally dense and I love it for that.
7. Bejeweled
My favorite lyric: “Baby love, I think I've been a little too kind / Didn't notice you walking all over my peace of mind / In the shoes I gave you as a present.”
Taylor knows she slays. I don’t know if anyone else has pointed this out but the first lyric of the song (above) kind of feels like a throwback to marjorie, because of the marjorie lyrics “Never be so kind, you forget to be clever / Never be so clever, you forget to be kind” and “Never be so polite, you forget your power / Never wield such power, you forget to be polite.” This may or may not have been on purpose, but if it was deliberate, this song may partially serve as a sweet way to show that she is developing her positive view of her self-worth and advocating for herself through following the advice of her grandmother. Additionally, the song is just fun. It feels like the perfect song to listen to while getting ready for something you may be worried about, like an event or competition. It’s an ultimate confidence booster! I love the music video as well. It encapsulates all the right glittery energy with some really great cameos.
6. Maroon
My favorite lyric: “The mark you saw on my collarbone, the rust that grew between telephones.”
I’ve heard people call this song boring, which I find unbelievable. Lyric after lyric is sung with longing and elegance. I think this song must be a throwback to Red, and likely to he-who-must-not-be-named (Taylor’s ex Jake Gyllenhaal). This theory is evident especially in the chorus, where she essentially just lists a bunch of things related to their relationship that come in shades of red. The “vinyl shelf” lyric may have to do with Gyllenhaal’s “indie-records.” The lyric, “Sobbin' with your head in your hands” seems awfully similar to a scene from the All Too Well Short Film, which is also about Gyllenhaal. She mentions the legacy Gyllenhaal has left, and how he has scared her. This song clearly isn’t boring in any way, shape, or form.
5. Labyrinth
My favorite lyric: “Break up, break free, break through, break down / You would break your back to make me break a smile.”
Songs like this, gold rush, and GOLDWING share the same energy and just give me life. I love the breathy, high vocals. I feel like angels are singing, and I’m obsessed. I also love the accidentally-in-love Glitch/Paper Rings vibes that reappear here.
4. Anti-Hero
My favorite lyric: “Did you hear my covert narcissism / I might disguise as altruism / Like some kind of congressman / Tale as old as time.”
When Taylor said this song would delve deep into her insecurities, I never thought that it would be an upbeat, single sort of song, but I love it for that. It’s catchy, but still accomplishes its job of being relatable and sad. And the music video is too good. The visuals perfectly align with the meaning of the song. Almost every lyric and verse can be dissected to uncover a deeper meaning, which is what makes it so interesting to listen to.
My favorite lyric: “So make the friendship bracelets / Take the moment and taste it / You've got no reason to be afraid.”
The bridge!!! Is fantastic!!! Upon first listen, I didn’t understand why this was track fives of the album, because Taylor Swift’s track fives are famously the most gut-wrenching of each album. Now, I understand why it’s perfect. You’re On Your Own, Kid vaguely takes us through Swift’s life/career, but more importantly, it also gives us insight into not only her insecurities, but what she’s learned through dealing with hardships in her life, now that she’s in her thirties and wiser than she was before (which is ironic, considering the Anti-Hero lyric “I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser.”). Throughout the song, she takes us through some life-changing moments she has experienced, including some particularly negative ones. In the end, however, she essentially comes to the conclusion that everything happens for a reason, and that whatever we must go through, we shouldn’t be afraid, but instead, we should embrace life in its good and bad forms. The message is beautiful, and beautifully conveyed. I think this song is one of my favorite track fives ever.
My favorite lyric: “A slow-motion, love potion / Jumping off things in the ocean.”
This is the opinion I get the most backlash on. I understand that this song is controversial. I absolutely love it. The weird voice? Yes. I love it. Haters will say it’s terrible. But in the least “I’m-super-quirky-and-weird-pick-me” way possible, this is absolutely one of my favorites. When I first heard this song, I genuinely thought I was listening to the wrong thing and that it could not have possibly been Taylor Swift. I had never been more confused. I’m obsessed with it though. Every part is sonic perfection. The lyrics are incredibly underrated. It’s so simple, but says so many complex things. I love the fast-paced, rhyming lines in every verse. And when she sings the chorus in her normal voice, I find that so satisfying. This song is the vibe I want in my midnights. The fact that “midnight rain” isn’t literal but a metaphor for how she feels about herself compared to someone else is insane. The outro is absolutely perfect. I don’t know what to tell you. I love love this song.
My favorite lyric: “The only kind of girl they see (the only kind of girl they see) / Is a one night or a wife.”
This was the perfect album opener. It really well introduced the new Midnights era. The immediate “meet me at midnight” lyric really drove that point home. Her voice sounds different and the production is super different than it has been in the past, and it’s beautiful. She sounds so good. She says so much in this song about her relationship and how she views it, as well as how she views the public, and how the public views her, as a woman in love. The song describes how everyone seems to expect things from her and assume things about her, especially because she is an unmarried thirty-two year old woman in a six-year relationship. But even through all of this unwanted attention, she doesn’t even want to think about how others perceive her, and just wants to stay in her “all-encompassing love glow,” therefore ignoring all the expectations and assumptions. She also talks about how her boyfriend, Joe, responds to the public in such a healthy, admirable way, and we can tell that’s one of the many things she loves about him. I love every single thing about this song.
Now, let’s be real. This list changed drastically like eight times while I was writing it, and continues to change by the hour. Midnights just has some really great songs overall.
If you think I missed something important or you would like to make a comment, please do not hesitate to reach out (via Instagram or email). I would love to chat and hear what you think!