I think Taylor Swift has mastered the art of songwriting.
These were my first thoughts halfway through her new album Midnights, and it’s easy to recognize that Swift’s latest effort isn’t quite digestible on first listen. Most of her projects are like that. Considering her running time is relatively short at 44 minutes, to say such a thing must mean that she gets the most out of just about every line. That’s exactly what happened.
As for “Midnights”, in my opinion there are no radio hits. It’s not like ‘Shake it off’ from ‘1989’ or ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ from ‘Reputation’. That’s what makes this album so interesting and great. “Anti-Hero” can claim to be the album’s big radio song, even though it has excellent lyricism and cohesion that Swift’s singles don’t usually have.
“Midnights” is an album about just that, perfectly executed. Every song perfectly describes the different thoughts and actions of a depraved, shunned, and love-craving person in the middle of the night. The change in tone is as dramatic as Midnight Thoughts, and the almost laughable lyrics work because of her commitment to the theme.
Also, I feel that the more serious the dialogue, the more sincerity is conveyed. “I hosted parties and starved my body as if I could be saved from the perfect kiss” comes from the album’s favorite song, “You’re On Your Own, Kid”. The song discusses the pursuit of affection and how being in the limelight brings out the best and the worst. The great thing about this song is that it builds slowly and tells a complete story. The beginning, middle and end are perfectly intertwined. The music starts around 1:44 of her timestamp and takes us to her Swift all grown up. She explains how her heartbreak helped her become independent. Losing a friend or lover is hard, but anything that takes courage is a step in the right direction. You can,” he adds. Not only is it probably the most emotional song on the album, it’s also the most uplifting track.
Other standout tracks include “Maroon,” “Question…?,” “Sweet Nothing,” and “Snow on the Beach.”
The outro on this album is so unique that it could write an entire article on its own. For some reason it works perfectly.
“Mastermind” is essentially Swift’s admission that she was the mastermind during her meeting and eventual falling in love with another person. A plan that could happen by chance and a conversation that might or might not happen. A perfect ending to an album about midnight. What’s more common than the fake midnight scenario? . She explains how she ended up in a relationship that gave her nothing for the simple reason that she wasn’t alone.
Every song on “Midnights” is a perfect perspective on what millions of people can imagine going through and what exactly they feel in the middle of the night. I’m not sure how exactly this will be radio accessible compared to albums from years ago. But it’s still Swift. Anti-Hero will likely be her No. 1 song in the country for the next few weeks. Regardless, the album executes its themes almost perfectly, and the songwriting by Swift and co-writer Jack Antonoff is very crisp. ‘Midnights’ is a great album that will be played for years to come.
probably in the middle of the night.
