This article won an honorable mention in the 2023 Michigan Interscholastic Press Association spring awards ceremony.
Whether people are new fans or have been following the artist for years, Taylor Swift’s brand new album Midnights is definitely one to enjoy.
Ever since the award-winning singer and songwriter announced her tenth studio album on August 29, fans waited excitedly for its release. It came out Friday, October 21 and has already lived up to Swift’s past success.
Swift’s new project is very cohesive but also has a more unique sound compared to her previous soundtracks. It has the more recent pop sound of her sixth album, Lover (2019), while also having a similar sound to her past albums such as 1989 (2014) and Reputation (2017).
Throughout Midnights, Swift explores her various sleepless nights and the emotions that come with them.
“This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face,” Swift said in her Instagram announcement for the album.
Swift perfectly displayed this with her brilliant songwriting, which feels more like storytelling than a catchy chorus.
For some songs, it is evident that Swift is telling a personal and vulnerable narrative. With “Would’ve Should’ve Could’ve,” which is one of my favorites, the artist recites an experience of losing herself at 19 in a past relationship with singer John Mayer. The lyrics “I miss who I used to be” and “Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first” break my heart everytime.
In all of Swift’s albums, she is notorious for making her fifth track her saddest. This did not stop with Midnights. The song “You’re On Your Own Kid” connected with the fans’ hearts since we heard the title. It tells the story of finally being on your own in life and not being afraid to do so. I loved this song from the first listen.
Midnights even features a brilliant duet with well-known singer Lana Del Ray titled “Snow On The Beach”. The two artists’ collaboration is everything fans could have asked for and more.
“The woozy ‘Snow on the Beach’ sketches an image of strange beauty in twinkling synth and violin, as Lana Del Ray’s warm background harmonies add a welcome coziness,” said Pitchfork.
Along with the wonderful 13 original tracks, the album contains seven extra songs called the “3am tracks.” These songs were nothing short of an appreciable surprise.
“The Great War” was a part of these magnificent seven songs. It has a faint resemblance to her albums Folklore and Evermore and tells a beautiful story of her fighting for a relationship.
Track 15, “Bigger Than The Whole Sky,” tells a breathtaking story of experiencing loss and Swift does it in a great way that really connects with the people that listen to it and relate to it. This is definitely one of my favorite songs yet.
Whether or not someone is a huge fan of Swift, this collection of songs is exceptional. I think Swift has outdone herself again with Midnights, and the album as a whole is beautiful.
