Like any Swiftie, I had been counting down the days until October 21st, the long anticipated release date of “Midnights.” I listened to the whole album as soon as it came out, and THEN I listened to the 3 AM editions before going to pick up my special edition lavender vinyl from Target the next day. Needless to say, my expectations were very high.
This album absolutely blew me away when I gave it a listen. Granted, it’s a very different sound than the beloved “Folklore” and “Evermore,” but I thought that this album fully captured the energy of sleepless nights in ways that I didn’t know were possible. The synthesized electro-pop feel in the background, as well as the wide range of vibes, makes this album incredibly versatile for any trainwreck you’re going through.
Particularly, I felt that the most notable songs on this album (I’m going to include 3 AM edition songs too) were “Question..?,” “Anti-Hero,” “Mastermind,” and “The Great War.” I think that these songs sum up the college experience. Although, to be honest, I just felt attacked by these songs.
“Anti-Hero” really sums up the experience of late night self loathing. It’s for when that hour hits, leaving you to contemplate your life choices and battle your inner demons. Hell, I’m going through an Anti-Hero moment right as I’m writing this article! It’s definitely a song for late-night anxiety.
“Mastermind” was another one of my favorites from this album. I think this one is pretty relatable, especially after the pandemic has done a number on our social skills. This song is all about having to be the mastermind engineering your relationships. If you’ve ever had to make yourself more likable for others, this song is for you. I recommend listening to this while working on late night projects (or schemes, I won’t judge!).
“Question…?” is a bit of a multifaceted song for me. This one really attacked me with its late night failed situationship energy. Taylor’s use of she/her pronouns for the majority of this song really make this song particularly relatable to me. It definitely reminds me of a girl (or two) who’ve messed with my feelings in the past. I’m sure we’ve all had similar situations. So, I’m designating “Question…?” as the song for what we want to say to that person, or for when we’re thinking of them.
I want to end this article on a more hopeful note, so I think it’s fair to end with “The Great War.” This song uses WWI imagery and is about carrying baggage and distrust from past relationships into a new, healthier relationship. It gets more hopeful near the end of the song with the lyrics “I vowed I would always be yours/’Cause we survived the Great War.” Everyone deserves someone who they can get through personal struggles with and helps fight off inner demons. This song represents triumph, and is great if you need a little extra motivation. I know that we can all survive our own little “Great Wars.” In short, this article is a must-listen to motivate us and get out of our various crises. Thanks, Taylor!