My Incoherent Midnights Thoughts
It is no secret that I’m a fan of Taylor Swift. It’s not like it’s literally the only thing I talk about, I don’t know where you got that from. I’ve been a casual fan since 1989 came out in 2014 but I officially sold my soul when folklore was released in 2020. So it’s not surprising that I was eagerly waiting to hear Midnights, her 10th studio album. It came out on the 21st of October at 7am in Finland so I waited until the next midnight to listen to it because I’m extra like that. I ranked the songs after listening to it once because I wanted to see how my rankings would change since they always do. The original album was supposed to have 13 tracks, but Taylor announced a “3AM” version that has 7 more tracks. I included all of them in my rankings. I also wrote down what thoughts came to my mind when listening to the songs. And you, dear reader, are about to read those thoughts. So, please, step into the labyrinth that is my mastermind. (Warning: these thoughts might not make any sense if you have not listened to the album. You have two options: 1. Listen to the album before reading further, or 2. Go in completely blind and leave this experience with either the burning desire to listen to the album or the burning desire to go find a text that makes at least some sense. Any text. Even the back of a shampoo bottle.)
Lavender Haze
Ranking after first listen: 3.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 9.
Ranking trend: “False God”
★ Did she hire a baby to make those noises?
★ That deep voice kinda scared me
★ I’m already obsessed with this album
★ Her talking about how Joe does not care about the rumors reminds me of “Call It What You Want”
★ People are so invested in her love life that they read into literally everything because they want her to get married
★ The desk line - Is she secretly working at an office? Taylor, I have questions.
Maroon
Ranking after first listen: 13.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 14.
Ranking trend: “Come Back… Be Here”
★ I already suspected that this is about Jake Gyllenhaal but now she mentioned vinyls; she talked about indie records in “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
★ Mention of New York is giving 1989 but it’s also the biggest city in USA so maybe it might have other meanings
★ I want the part about telephones tattooed on my body. But not actually because it’s sad as fuck
★ I love when her voice gets deeper and quieter on the last part
Anti-Hero
Ranking after first listen: 5.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 3.
Ranking trend: “The Lucky One”
★ This might be my favorite song so far
★ Omg please no, get that baby line out of my face
★ I mean I know what she’s referring to but it sounds so weird
★ Wait, does she have a child? A daughter-in-law?
★ No, she doesn’t, don’t be stupid
★ The hiss after “agrees”, iconic snake behavior
★ The sound that ends the song is so satisfying
Snow On The Beach
Ranking after first listen: 20.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 16.
Ranking trend: “Out Of The Woods”
★ This song is so soft, I love it
★ Is Lana’s microphone turned off?
★ No wait, there she is
★ The thing about stars sounds like a nursery rhyme, it’s so cute
★ Who is Janet? What am I supposed to Google, just “Janet”?
★ (Update: I heard my neighbors listening to this song and therefore they are my new best friends. No, we have never met)
You’re On Your Own, Kid
Ranking after first listen: 1.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 1.
Ranking trend: “Untouchable”
★ Okay this song already broke me
★ The pre-chorus and chorus BROKE me
★ Who is Daisy May? Why did I think of Daisy Miller?
★ I’m in this song and I don’t like it
★ This is so hopeless and I’m too stunned to cry
★ The BRIDGE, she is my favorite architect
★ Carrie reference? I mean I’ve never seen it because I’m a scaredy-cat but I know that scene
★ Why won’t you just stab me
★ I’m in so much pain and I gotta say I love it
Midnight Rain
Ranking after first listen: 18.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 20.
Ranking trend: “Look What You Made Me Do”
★ THAT SOUND AGAIN, scared the bejesus out of me
★ The previous point might be why I don’t watch horror movies
★ I would love this song so much more without that sound
★ The synth sounds though? Love
★ I hope no one is playing a drinking game with the word “midnight”
★ Fandom montage Tiktokers are gonna have a field day with this one
Question…?
Ranking after first listen: 11.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 6.
Ranking trend: “this is me trying”
★ Why is she so obsessed with that deep voice? Feels like I’m watching a true crime documentary
★ Oh, she passive-aggressive-aggressive
★ The fact that Dylan O’Brian has credits for his clapping is sending me
★ I can’t decide if I hate or love the end of the bridge
★ The “oh”s give me chills
★ “Oh, I have a lot of questions. Number one, how dare you?” -Kelly Kapoor
Vigilante Shit
Ranking after first listen: 10.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 15.
Ranking trend: “Tell Me Why”
★ Someone has been re-recording reputation
★ The sound is scratching my brain in just the right place
★ Okay, now it’s giving “mad woman” vibes
★ I LOVE that part that sounds like it’s from a horror movie
★ The zeugma of the lines, I love my Zeugma Queen
Bejeweled
Ranking after first listen: 9.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 11.
Ranking trend: “All You Had To Do Was Stay”
★ This sounds like an 80’s song in the best way
★ “NICE!”
★ This song is for the people pleasers and we thank her for her service
★ The “ooooh”s after “sparkling” are my religion
★ Okay, but this makes me feel like a million bucks
★ “NICE!”
★ I don’t remember if I have a boyfriend either
Labyrinth
Ranking after first listen: 19.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 18.
Ranking trend: “peace”
★ I’m just seeing David Bowie in tights
★ “Nah, I’m just a worm”
★ Okay, wrong Labyrinth
★ I love the little elephant noises
★ I’m terrified of elevators too, it’s okay, babe
★ And planes crashing, why do you want to scare me
★ Please, not that deep voice again, we were all rooting for you
★ I always love her layered voice in the outros
Karma
Ranking after first listen: 4.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 4.
Ranking trend: “Nothing New”
★ Your boyfriend is a god?
★ The honey part feels like honey
★ I am convinced that the second verse is about Andrew Garfield’s Spider-Man. “Why Andrew Garfield”, you ask? Because he is a god.
★ Okay, but this is a BOP
★ Yesss reputation Taylor is back
★ This song is my boyfriend, this song is a god
Sweet Nothing
Ranking after first listen: 16.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 8.
Ranking trend: “State Of Grace”
★ This is so sweet I think I chipped my tooth
★ What is this voice effect? I LOVE it
★ Yes, Taylor, I’m single, I get it
★ The poem verse is all I ask for in life
★ The fact that Joe is a co-writer in this
★ If he and Taylor break up, I won’t believe in love anymore
★ Why am I crying
★ I need a dictionary
★ Call me ” & The Bunnymen” because I love those echoes
Mastermind
Ranking after first listen: 6.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 10.
Ranking trend: “hoax”
★ This song has the best melody
★ The beat drop? I dropped dead
★ We love domino references but this makes more sense than HAIR acting like dominos, looking at you “gold rush”
★ Why are you breaking my heart again
★ Is it embarrassing to Google “Machiavellian”
The Great War
Ranking after first listen: 8.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 5.
Ranking trend: “Everything Has Changed”
★ Can Taylor write a fantasy novel, I’m BEGGING
★ Another zeugma with the lines that mention “drew”
★ “UH HUH”
★ Is this about the moment when she wanted to break up with Joe and he just said “not today, bestie”?
★ Never have I ever danced to a song that has the word “bloodshed” on it before
Bigger Than the Whole Sky
Ranking after first listen: 17.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 17.
Ranking trend: “right where you left me”
★ I feel like I’m gonna cry
★ I haven’t felt this level of pain since “Soon You’ll Get Better”
★ Wait, am I listening to “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve?”
★ No, that’s not the name of this one
★ I’m highkey in pain
★ Goodbye to my happiness
★ This sounds like the sky at night, no, I will not elaborate
Paris
Ranking after first listen: 12.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 7.
Ranking trend: “epiphany”
★ Okay, tea
★ So you’re not in Paris? Clickbait title
★ This is very specific but the line about the tree sounds like heaven
★ Girlie, I think you have enough money to travel to Paris
★ Sorry, not the point
★ This is such a fun time
★ Making me feel violently single, is all
High Infidelity
Ranking after first listen: 14.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 13.
Ranking trend: “Better Man”
★ WHERE WERE YOU APRIL 29TH?
★ This also mentions records. Not that I believe that Jake Gyllenhaal is the only man on this earth to listen to music
★ This is one of those Taylor songs that make you want to dance until you listen to the lyrics and suddenly you’re sobbing
★ Those little sounds before the outro, I’m crying
★ “WHOO OOOH”
Glitch
Ranking after first listen: 7.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 12.
Ranking trend: “I Did Something Bad”
★ I love the sound of the record
★ The vibe is immaculate
★ 2190 is a very specific number but I bet some Swiftie has already counted who she is talking about
★ THE JUMP SCARE, I fell off the sofa
★ The sound that ends the song, obsessed
Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
Ranking after first listen: 2.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 2.
Ranking trend: “Gorgeous”
★ This sounds dark
★ AT NINETEEN
★ THIS IS ABOUT DEAR JOHN (John Mayer)
★ I’m in shock
★ The guitar makes sense now
★ John should be afraid of the re-recording of the Speak Now album
★ I’m speechless
★ The fact that this is talking about knowing and not wanting to know and Dear John talked about how he should have known
★ The end of the third verse?? I’m not okay
Dear Reader
Ranking after first listen: 15.
Ranking after 2 weeks: 19.
Ranking trend: “Don’t Blame Me”
★ Are you falling apart? Should I listen to you? SHOULD I LISTEN TO YOU?
★ If my secrets are a great luxury then I’m poor because I can never shut up
★ I feel like she is talking about what happened in 2017
★ My favorite architect is back and she’s building the best bridges
★ Do not leave me with that scary true crime voice, I mean it, I have to go to sleep soon
Taylor Swift. 2022. Midnights. Republic Records
