Midnights

Like the rest of the world, you probably already know that Taylor Swift dropped her tenth studio album in October of 2022.

But allow me to enlighten you on why “Midnights” is one of the best releases of the past year. 

Swift has delved into almost every genre possible, debuting as country but quickly switching over to pop. “Look What You Made Me Do,” “Ready for It,” and “I Did Something Bad” from her sixth album, “reputation,” took the role of snarky and revenge-seeking, while songs like “mad woman,” “seven,” and “exile” from “folklore” succeeded in creating an ambiance of folk and indie pop. Consequently, fans weren’t quite sure what to expect from Swift’s tenth studio album. Some hoped for throwbacks to her southern roots, while others wanted another “evermore.” But no matter what they wished for, very few were disappointed. 

The album, consistent with its title, was released at midnight on Oct. 21, 2022. It consisted of 13 songs (likely no coincidence, considering that 13 has been Swift’s trademark since, like, forever), but a deluxe version was released only three hours later with seven bonus songs. The album definitely reaches towards her pop comfort zone, but there is subtle R&B influence along with a bit of electronica. Many fans have been able to sort “Midnights” songs into past albums: “Bejeweled” fits onto “Lover,” “Snow on the Beach,” is assigned to “folklore,” and “Karma” is a long-lost sister from “reputation.”

“Midnights” is an album that allows listeners to take a peek behind the curtains and into the singer’s life. Concepts like self-villainization, in “Anti-Hero”, independence in “You’re On Your Own, Kid” and unfaithful relationships in “High Infidelity” are all mentioned and dissected by Swift, who doesn’t hold back in her brilliant lyricism. Taylor Swift, often hailed as “the music industry,” proves the nickname true with each release. The lyrics from “Midnights’” ninth track are correct: Swift is still bejeweled.