(This is an archive story, please refer to byline for journalist's name)
By: Arien Stehling
Midnights was released on Oct. 21, 2022. This is Taylor Swift’s most recent album as well as her 10th studio original.
Her album was meant to be listened to as a story. It was meant to help listeners discover themselves. Swift described, “Midnights, the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life…” She also stated via Instagram, “This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams.”
Depending on where you read, you may be met with rave and awe or in some cases, critics. Specifically, the Evening Standard wrote “Not a smash hit in sight.”
Swift is well known for discussing her love life. Many people think this is as far as her song-writing can stretch. On the other hand, “Swifties,” the self-acclaimed Swift super fans find her music to be meaningful far past failed relationships. Despite common misconception, Swift's most recent album is not about reinvention, but rather about reflection. Within Midnights, Swift addresses criticism, self-love, struggling with mental health and much more. Midnights is like a puzzle, each song connecting to make the story whole.
These puzzle pieces can be interpreted differently, and I have always found Swift's music to be up for interpretation.
There were two releases of Midnights: the first titled Midnights, containing 14 songs, and the second release is titled Midnights (3 a.m. Edition). The 3 a.m. Edition contains an extra six tracks.
As of now, the most played tracks are “Lavender Haze,” “Maroon,” “Anti-Hero,” “Midnight Rain” and “Bejeweled.”
I found “Lavender Haze” to be a song about the overwhelming feeling love brings. On Swift’s Instagram page, she addresses “Lavender Haze” and explains she heard the phrase “lavender haze” on Mad Men, “If you are in the ‘lavender haze,’ then that meant you were in that all-encompassing love glow. And I thought that was really beautiful.” Within the same Instagram video, she said, “Like my relationship for six years, we’ve had to dodge weird rumors, tabloid stuff and we just ignore it.”
“Maroon” reminded me of Swift's other song “Red.” Both “Red” and “Maroon” described emotion as color. For example, in “Red,” Swift sings, “But loving him was red.” On the other hand, in “Maroon,” Swift sings, “The lips I used to call home, so scarlet it was maroon.” Swift addresses the emotions that follow a toxic relationship.