By Marin McGrath
From the first drum beat in “Lavender Haze” to the last note in “Dear Reader,” I knew this was going to be something I’d have on repeat for the foreseeable future.
After a long awaited arrival, the release of “Midnights” by Taylor Swift occurred on Oct. 21 at midnight, as one would expect.
While writing this, I am most definitely listening to each song and smiling. The best way I can explain this experience of an album is mysterious, charming, yet dark when compared to the other pieces of music Swift has put out.
Before getting to the album itself, I think it is more than necessary to credit the build-up that the award winning artist created through social media appearances, easter-eggs and surprise announcements.
Even before the official announcement of the album on Aug. 28, fans were speculating something was in the works. In an Instagram post of a video promoting a new version of her song, “This Love,” the artist ended her caption with the word midnights with spaces in between each letter for emphasis.
Part of the genius of Swift is the way she connects the dots in everything she does. Nothing is coincidence in her world of music.
For the “Midnights” album in particular, Swift created a Spotify playlist called, “Folklore: The Sleepless Nights Chapter,” a subtle nod to the newest collection of songs soon to come.
While the build up to a new album is one thing Swift has clearly mastered, it is the artistry within her music that gets her noticed.
On the album, Swift worked with Jack Antanoff, a musician, singer, songwriter and producer as well as other artists including Lana Del Rey and Aaron Dessner to create the pop-inspired collection.
The best way I can describe “Midnights” is diving into how it makes me feel. It allows the listener to feel young but empowered, fun but full of emotion, broken but loved.
It is this gift of juxtaposition that lures the listener to Swift’s music.
In addition to the “Midnight” album release, Swift dropped a 3 a.m. version which includes seven more songs than the original album.
When looking at all the released songs, I think it is helpful to group them into categories that resemble previous albums from Swift.
The songs that lean more toward Swift’s previous album “Reputation,” in my opinion, include “Lavender Haze,” “Vigilante Shit,” “Karma,” “The Great War” and “Glitch.”
The “Reputation” album is fueled from independence, revenge and is full of darker lyrics, something each of these songs represents on the new release.
For me, the ones that resemble more of Swift’s “Lover” and “1989” eras are those that have a more upbeat vibe, something that you’d want to listen to with your car windows rolled down.
“Maroon,” “Anti-Hero,” “You’re on Your Own Kid,” “Midnight Rain,” “Bejeweled,” “Question…?,” “Mastermind,” “Paris” and “Dear Reader” allow for this nostalgic scene to be set.
The last of my own categorizations are the songs that remind me of the more recent sister albums, “Folklore” and “Evermore,” whose aesthetics are each tragedy mixed with romance.
These songs include “Snow on the Beach,” “Labyrinth,” “Sweet Nothing,” “Bigger than the Whole Sky,” “High Infidelity” and “Would’ve Could’ve Should’ve.”
Although there are hints of previous work, the synths, soft beats and vocals create the aesthetic that sets “Midnights” apart from Swift’s other works.
One thing many people recognize as special and part of Taylor Swift’s genius is her lyrics, something that is exhibited in the song “Bigger Than the Whole Sky.”
“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.”
There is a lot of speculation surrounding many of Swift’s lyrics, but I think the beauty of the unknown is being able to create meaning out of personal experience.
As a little girl, I would dance in my room to Swift on my pink CD player. At the age of 20, I am now listening to her newest album on my AirPods at a coffee shop.
One of my favorite things about Swift is that no matter how old I am, I know I can relate to her lyrics in whatever way I interpret them. She is timeless, a classic and someone that has made the music industry what it is today.