I’ve been an avid Taylor Swift fan ever since Fearless was released. Her music videos were constantly on replay, her songs were a never-ending hit in my household, and she maintained her status as my no.1 artist on Spotify for the past four years. So it was to be expected that I was very excited when she announced her new album, eager to consume new music that I would love.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
After Folklore and Evermore were released, it was clear that Taylor Swift is a force in songwriting. Even before that, all of her albums contained poetic lyrics and storytelling that swept me off my feet. However, Midnights felt devoid of her usual impressive lyricism. I can point out the obvious lyrics, but it extends beyond just a bad play on words. The songs are deprived of the relatability that had me attached to her music in the first place, and when looking at the music itself, it appears unoriginal and a twist on music that she has already written. Not only that, but some of the most memorable songs (I’m looking at you, “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”) didn’t even make it on the main album. I truly feel as if this album was an attempt to release something, rather than something meaningful. It’s catchy, and it contains songs that can be played on repeat, but it lacks the authenticity that I usually associate with Taylor.
Having said that, I do have to admit that half of my disappointment stems from the excessive promotion and hype that surrounded the album. With the constant social media posts that she was making about it, the exclusive vinyls and albums that formed a clock, and the excited fans raving about it, there was an expectancy for it to be good. She had even formed an entire aesthetic around the album, emphasizing that it was meant to reflect nights spent lying awake in love and fear, yet the album failed to feel as if it was “a journey through terrors and sweet dreams.” All of the overhype surrounding the album’s release promised great things, yet deepened my despondency for it.
I find that that’s the issue with most forms of media nowadays. The more it’s publicized, the higher the expectations are for it, and the likelier it will be ill-received. One only has to look at the Marvel or Star Wars movies to see how true that is. Midnights just happened to fall into this category, and I think that because of its overhype and because of ‘Swiftie’s’ dedication to her, it is being, and will always be, well-received.
In the end, this isn’t a way to tell fans what to like or dislike when it comes to Taylor Swift’s music. I even have to admit that the album grew on me the more I listened to it, and it would be hypocritical of me to say that I absolutely disliked it. I do think that the album is a sign of Taylor enjoying herself and the music she writes, which is what’s most important.
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