some quick thoughts on Midnights 

I wanted to get this out one before year-end season kicks off. You should see the Best Music of 2022 vid next week, then the Top 10 Albums the week after that. Thanks for watching!

Midnights to me just feels like an epilogue of sorts. A lot of the album seems like she’s getting some lingering feelings off her chest that must have ballooned up having to go back and re-record her previous albums and revisit old memories and old wounds. I feel like once the re-recordings are completed she’ll continue exploring the sounds and storytelling elements she touched on in folklore and evermore.

If there's any "bitterness" on Midnights I think it stems from the constant need Swift feels to reinvent herself every few years to stay relevant, not from being an "underdog". Her fans elevated her to a level of fame and success that has, in turn, alienated her from virtually everyone else alive today. The resulting themes of isolation and exhaustion in her recent albums just happen to match up with the world's current mood which ironically has brought her even more success.

The Jesus Christ collaboration in this video was sublime.

I feel like this album is her finally closing those chapters in her life in order to move on to somewhere new and explore new themes.

I think the key to understanding midnight's is through the rerecordings. She's probably been going back through old diaries to get herself into the right mindset to 'perform' the same emotions that were real at the time. I imagine because of that she's been reassessing and redwelling on some old hurts. It's basically songs about second degree feelings. About how she now feels and thinks about life defining events in her past. I hope this is a catharsis for her and she now continues to move onto new things.

I kind of see this album the same way I saw All Too Well (10 Minute Version) last year. Not necessarily Taylor slipping back into old habits, but more her looking back on her life (be it the relationship that inspired ATW or the 13 sleepless nights) and writing about it with the benefit of hindsight, making it feel more mature then, say, the original All Too Well or her previous pop albums such as Reputation. Personally, I see the album just as that, as a more mature take on her previous pop brought to her by the hindsight that she only now has.

To your point at the end about Taylor winning, Taylor has always marketed herself as the underdog. A woman in country, a country star breaking into pop, fighting against big machine, Kanye, Apple. Midnights is the first standard album rollout she’s had where she is just a successful musician, and can’t use any other pretext

The solution is simple: *make the next album a ROCK album*

Midnights feels like the closing chapter of Pop Taylor for me. I feel like she wasn’t all too ready to let go of it yet when the Lover era had been forced to shut down because of the pandemic (she was about to go on this big tour for that, too). Folklore and Evermore were products of a tumultuous time and were able to breathe within it, but these were albums she wasn’t expecting to make. Midnights feels like she needed to make this one to close out that pop, tabloid-y side of hers. Plus, it’s enough material for a new tour-“The Eras Tour”-which makes it seem more plausible to me that this is her capping off that huge part of her life. P.S. I hope she works with Sounwave more in the future

As she wrote herself, the songs are all based on thoughts she had past midnight and I think anyone can have similar feelings and thoughts at midnight if you're overthinking about love, friendship, hard battles and revenge so I don't think its a case of saying "Why is she writing a song when she has basically won" because its her mind that is overthinking things. To us, she has won because we would compare her to Kanye/Scooter but we don't know how her brain is thinking about these things. She could be comparing herself to her idols or just thinking pessimistically about what "winning" means.

I think the main thing you're forgetting is all these songs weren't written after the releases of folklore/evermore. In a way this album is Taylor going back and looking at her past. Even tho there were some recent events she talked about (mostly in the more upbeat songs), it was an album very much focused on the past and past events, and you can feel it in her writing. Since I'm not Taylor, I can't say anything for sure, but I don't feel like her next album will be as focused on her past. She seems rather happy with herself and I (and many other swifties) feel as though she's pretty much moved on from her past. To me, Midnights feels like Taylor's personal time capsule. [edit : someone commented that the sogns were actually written after folklore/evermore, couldn't find the source tho so I don't know if it's true but I felt I should add that. Even so the album is still focused on the past and that production, lyricism and other stylistic choices all show that]

Carly did a great job on this video

Here's my thoughts: I got really into Taylor after Evermore. I'd denied myself the pleasure of actually enjoying her music because I was a bit of a snob in some ways. But Evermore won my heart and she won me over. I was also genuinely hoping for more of a Dessner influence over this album. Honestly I also miss some of her Max Martin sounds too, but I know they won't be collaborating again soon (such a shame because I felt like some of this album could have been improved with his intervention). I remember a long-time Swiftie once saying Max is one of the few people that isn't a yes man around her. Antonoff has produced some of my favourite tracks of hers so I can't say anything against their collaboration on this album, but having some variety in producers would have been nice. On first listen this album was kind of monotonous, but I came to appreciate the slight differences between the tracks. And yes this album was a sort of retread on what her old work was like, but I think that was sort of the point. It genuinely was an album that rewards her fans. Fans that know her back stories, the stories behind her older song etc. Yes the tracks can stand on their own, but knowing the context of these new songs (looking back on a failed relationship in hindsight almost a decade after it ended for e.g.) adds a layer to the listening experience. There are even multiple call-backs to her earlier sounds (like the "I remember" you pointed out being a big one people noticed), so that's another added bonus for her fans, especially the ones that have been with her over the years. And honestly, in a way yes Taylor really is on top. No denying that. But I kind of still get the underdog narrative. She still gets written off by people when it comes to her technical skills. Yes some critics liked this album, but some didn't and I do feel like quite a few of these songs age well over time. Just like Red had a score revision years after its release. Also Taylor is coming for that EGOT. She's not gonna slow down until she wins all 4.... maybe then she'll gun for a Pulitzer or something

Idk, I really like that Taylor moves around in genres a little. Folklore and Evermore brought me back after I didn't absolutely love her more pop-y albums (not saying they're bad, just not my cup of tea). I loved her more country stuff. So, I hope the next new album (not Taylor's Version) will be another step in a different direction. I think she's smart and likes to keep people guessing, knowing most of her fanbase will stick around.

For the run of songs in the middle that are all in C major, all of those songs are midnights from before she met her current boyfriend Joe Alwyn. YOYOK is a memoir track which goes over her issues of her own identity in her life, and then the next five songs are all about her past. "Midnight Rain" is about a crush from her hometown, "Question...?" is about meeting a random guy at a party (1989 era), "Vigilante Shit" is about getting revenge on her haters (reputation era), "Bejeweled" is about her "cheating" on Tom Hiddleston (also reputation era), and "Labyrinth" is about her falling in love with Joe Alwyn. Karma is a different key because it represents a midnight in the present day, where she's enjoying her "karma".

As someone who’s already considered all of the things you’re voicing: I just kinda don’t care if she is positioning herself as an underdog/victim in her music- because music is about expressing feelings. She happens to be really talented at expressing feelings of betrayal, loneliness, petty anger, insecurity, revenge fantasies. Those feelings are part of the human experience. I’m just exhausted from having this conversation… all artists draw from their experiences. Taylor got lost in the sauce of drama in her public life in the past, but she’s pretty chill now. Can the woman not write some cool songs without you all continuing to sling shit? Can we not respect the value of expressing negative emotions through art, without drawing parasocial conclusions on artist’s intent or moral character?

Super interesting video Mr. The Snare!! Listening to this album, the thing that was most present in my mind is "where does someone as big as Taylor Swift go from here?" And I think its going to be a while - and a few more "Taylor's Versions" before we actually see Taylor more her music forward.

“Be new to us, be young to us, but only in a new way and only in the way we want,” she said. “And reinvent yourself, but only in a way that we find to be equally comforting but also a challenge for you. Live out a narrative that we find to be interesting enough to entertain us, but not so crazy that it makes us uncomfortable.”

Interesting, very interesting. As a swiftie myself, I completely agree with you, It does feel like repeating the cycle. And I'm having fun with it, reminiscing and re-living. I like Taylor's music because it makes me feel like i'm not the only one who feels how I feel, I'm going to loose my shit when Speak Now it's announced. It's very cool that you see it that way, and I completely understand, like completely. I thought the same but got excited)? and that's why I really liked this video, a new perspective and so fresh as always.

i think the middle run (actually the entire back half of the album) is semi-chronological. you’re on your own kid and midnight rain can be seen as two sides of her learning how to be single in the 1989 era, one at the start of that journey one in the middle of it, question is reflecting on her relationship with harry styles (she also reuses the ah ah ahhhs from ootw in the chorus if you listen closely) and also is what happens when you get two midnight rains in a relationship with each other, vigilante shit is her tendency to start/stay in fights, another thing that got out a smidge out of hand towards the end of the 1989 era, bejeweled is partially about her leaving calvin harris in 2016, and labyrinth is about her falling in love with joe during the fallout. so imo the first four songs set up dominant themes and then the rest of the standard album is in more or less chronological order

I appreciate your takes, even when I disagree (I think the bitterness is a function of going through her back catalog for the re recording process so it doesn’t bother me, plus it’s tempered by a lot of other emotions throughout the album)! I’ve watched all your TSwift videos and I get the impression that *overall* her music is generally not to your taste (and the discourse that follows her is VERY MUCH not to your taste) but that you have an appreciation for the things she is good at, and you give her credit when she does them well. It just feels very…normal? Like a NORMAL way to talk about an artist you like sometimes but don’t absolutely love, basically I wish more of the internet was like this channel 😂

I think one of the major themes of Midnights is that you never truly get over those things that haunt you in the middle of the night. You never get past the things that kept you up years ago. Even when things are great in Taylors life (her love life, her rerecordings, her music career) she is still hurt by the past and she admits in this albums that its an issue she needs to work on, but she struggles with it. The bridge on Would've Could've Should've is the best example (I can't let this go, I fight with you in my sleep, The wound won't close") She wants to move on, she wants to live in the good and best parts of her life (as seen in the outro of Lover "I wanna be defined by the things that I love, Not the things I hate...Not the things that haunt me in the middle of the night"). This album is bitter, yes, but it also her admitting that she wants to heal but she can't always find her way through her own negative thought patterns. I think Lover was her attempt and moving forward and leaving her past behind and then folklore/evermore was about realizing she can't ignore her past because each new step reopens her old wounds. ("It still hurts underneath my scars from when they tore me apart, but what you did was just as dark" -hoax) I agree with your points about how Midnights can feel like a rehashing of old beef/bitterness. It does feel like songs about situations we've already heard about from new/different POVs. But to Taylor, no matter how much she wins, she never feels like a winner. I think you can take the cynical approach that she's doing it to market herself as the underdog, but I think it actually is the most vulnerable and true she has ever been. To stand at the top of the mountain, past all the crazy ups and downs of her career and be surrounded by everything she's ever wanted and still say, "actually, you know what? I'm STILL FUCKING SAD." No matter what she wins, or achieves, or does, she gonna feel like Cinderella sometimes and for me that is a feeling that will always resonate.

Everyone is totally entitled to their own opinions about the album and I understand where this sentiment comes from. But I think the feeling of "being here before" makes sense when the album concept is comprised of Midnights throughout her career. Every song has some sort of connection to a prior album of hers, most specifically, 1989, Speak Now, Reputation. I also think that while Taylor has been in the industry for 15 years now, and yes, has absolutely won, I don't think that diminishes the exhaustion of being scrutinized by the public for things that a man would not be questioned for whatsoever, and would probably instead be praised for. I see how it can be tiring to hear her "complain" and be bitter about her circumstances, especially when, like you've stated, she is easily one of the most successful musicians of all time and has become an acclaimed songwriter, performer, etc. But I think as a woman, listening to her speak about the scrutiny she's under, the bitterness she feels toward the public's view of her, and more, make sense. It all feels like we've been here before because Taylor has been experiencing this for 15 years and I'm sure she's tired of it. She's worked to make her life more private, backing off of social media and interacting with the public as much as she did before. And still, the public continues to dive into her personal life and give their own opinions on it in the same ways they did before. If you're tired of it, imagine how tired she is of it. Again, I completely understand the sentiment and feelings toward the album. But I do think this album was one for the fans, chalk-full of references and samples from old albums and eras, storytelling that has multiple layers to it that fans can pick up on. As for the Cinderella reference, totally get it. She is not longer Cinderella. But from a conceptual standpoint, if her album concept is based off of Midnights, then the Cinderella story fits in perfectly with the concept, which she spoke about in the music video announcement.

I love folklore and evermore too. However, midnights is the album that really got me and I think that that is because of its personal topics. Taylor has always used music/songwriting to deal with her emotions, and that´s why her songs are so relatable. I think she genuinely enjoys writing those autobiographical albums. That does not mean she won ´t do albums centered around storytelling anymore, but maybe just mixed up with more personal records. I also think that she really has won, but we should not forget about how she got to that point in her career. In the past decade she has faced so much unfair, sexist etc treatment, which obviously left trauma. It does not matter that all those enemies of her have lost, the emotional damage that kind of trauma causes you oftentimes haunts you even years after it has happened. So I feel like midnights is her being on top of the mountain, looking back on her way there, and that´s why it´s so emotional for a lot of people. ty for reading this essay ;)

I feel like Midnights is the album she needed to make at this time in her life. Not only because she clearly needed to get some feelings out that wouldn't have fit with the Folklore sound, but because, like you pointed out, the Folklore/Evermore approach was kinda diminishing returns sales-wise and probably would've continued had she stuck to it. And you could definitely look at that as pandering and cynically going back to the sound that would make her all of the money again (and I'm not saying that wasn't part of it), but I also think that someone like Taylor Swift could never really comfortably settle into being a smaller drama-free artist for the rest of her career (at least not right now), and I feel like Midnights was a way for her to recapture that audience and that side of her without completely losing the growth she showed on the Dessner albums. I wouldn't be surprised if she spends the foreseeable future alternating between albums like this and albums like Folklore, just to keep things balanced. She certainly has the clout to do it.

The only thing I disagree is “Taylor still puts herself as the underdog on this album”. I mean considering this album is about past situations, she indeed WAS the underdog back then. She is not lying or kinda forcing a “poor me” vibe, it was just reality. Would’ve could’ve should’ve shows how her 2009 abusive relationship with John Mayer traumatized her 19 yo self, and how this trauma stills haunts her to this day Midnight rain is back to December’s older sister, also about Taylor lautner and how she admits their break up was her fault. Lavender Haze, labyrinth and sweet nothing are full on love songs. Question is about her turbulent relationship with harry styles. Basically the way Taylor promoted this album (sleepless nights throughout her life) kinda doesn’t allow us to say it’s a album of her “still playing the underdog”, cus since she indeed was the underdog back then and the album IS about past (some way older and newer) experiences, the concept works

I really don't see this as regression or a bitter album. This feels more like a more emotionally centred Taylor looking back on previous relationships/public drama through a more mature lense. It also continues the trend that started in the previous 3 albums of being more open and reflective on her mental health issue in a way that feels really refreshing and unique.

You’ve put everything I’ve felt about this album into words! I couldn’t help but feel like the majority of this album was something that we’ve already heard from her before-except just at a slower tempo? To me it was like something was…missing from this album. I was blue-balled by Taylor. (Also, the way you felt about the Bejeweled music video was the same way I felt about the song Vigilante Shit. I couldn’t stop myself from rolling my eyes slightly when I heard it for the first time.)

You know the day is going to be good when mic the snare uploads

I love Dessner's work with Swift so much, Evermore is 2 years old today. Best Swift album for sure.

When Speak Now TV is annouced…

I don’t see what’s wrong with Taylor still creating music from the perspective of being an underdog. No one seems to take issue with wildly successful rappers talking about beating the odds and fighting their way thru the industry but if Taylor does it then suddenly it’s not genuine and it’s all an act? Ultimately her music is also for listeners to relate to and she shouldn’t be obligated to only write songs about other people just because her life is too unrelatable. Food for thought…

Agree on a lot of things. I came back to her music with folklore and evermore (I disliked reputation and Lover) and I definitely knew that the next album wasn't gonna be like those two and I was fine with that. What got me was her marketing those 70s visuals with angsty/sad poses. It made me think she's gonna try out a new sound and I was a bit scared thinking what Taylor would sound like trying to make her version of Joni Mitchell or Fleetwood Mac but I was keeping an open mind. I was very much surprised that it ended up just being a continuation of reputation and Lover as if nothing happened since then. I appreciate some of the songs, there's bops and there's some great lyrics but I felt like a fool for expecting a totally different album after seeing her marketing visuals and thinking we're gonna move forward from folkmore, not backwards. Also cannot get over some of the lines that are clearly meant to be quoted on tiktok and in insta captions.

Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) just got announced. And yes, the cycle is most definitely gonna repeat itself again.

so proud to see a jesus cameo! crazy how far you've come, michael the snare!

Who cares that I’m taking an exam, my professor should understand that I need to watch mic the snare

Crazy frog still appears in Mike the Snare's videos more than Lana Del Ray did on Snow on the beach lmao.

as a huge fan of taylor swift, i miss the folklore/evermore lyric style so much

You just wonderfully articulated all the hangups I had with Midnights. Folkmore are my favorites out of all her work and would LOVE to hear more like it from her

Love this format of album discussion. Looking forward to the end of the year lists!

I think a lot of the reason that Taylor is still framing herself as the underdog is that like you said, she is basically the most popular artist on the planet right now, and in the age of the internet self-deprecation is like the ideal level of ego to have. If taylor started displaying any amount of self-congratulation of confidence, she would lose some amount of her audience, plus lose some level of relatability, a huge reason so many people flock to her music.

Completely agree. I would rather see her create create something folklore-like or even a bluegrass or pure country record than Midnights.

I'm a fan of Taylor but I do wish that Midnights would engage with her feelings/traumas in a more productive way than just reflection. It reminds me of when my therapist says that talking about/reflecting on your past is 100% a part of the process, but it's one that you have to move past at some point for your own personal peace. However, pop doesn't really reward ppl moving on. Whenever a big artist starts writing about their joy, they are constantly told that they have now sold out and that they are no longer ""authentic"" or ""real"" (exhibit: BTS, Halsey, The Weeknd and even Taylor with Lover). But the way Art has been commodified over the past century demands sadness and misery from artists, not healing and moving on. Ig that plays a role in the way people have received this album.

i love this so much thank you for making this

I feel like I’m listening to a different record because Midnight’s is not at all bitter to me. Several parts feel triumphant and reflective on her career with a more mature and nuanced take on love and relationships. Particularly the recurring themes of marriage and family vs career are extremely relatable to me as a woman and most of my friends have to navigate the same thing. I’m not really sure if the underdog framework is that deep, she probably picked Cinderella to fit the “midnight” theme and because it’s fun. I know she’s a mastermind but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. I always appreciate your take on things even if we disagree! Midnight Rain and Vigilante Shit are faves of mine.

This is such a good take. I'm ready to just focus on the craft too but TTPD will probably not let anyone rest 🥹

It's 2024 and this video aged like a fine wine

I am rewatching this with the TTPD release and I cannot believe how right you are.

The second I listened to Midnights all the way through I thought, “Mic is going to hate not having Aaron Dessner.” Glad to know I was right. On another note, I understand why you might want her to embrace her stardom and stop playing the underdog, but that’s the complete opposite of the brand she’s crafted. She’s still thanking her fans in every single awards speech, acting as though she’s shocked they would listen to her music, and she’s outrageously humble for how big she’s gotten. For her to do a 180 and embrace how big she’s gotten would probably lead to #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty 2.0. And no one wants that. I understand the criticism though, 100%.

I agree with many of the comments saying some nuance was missed here. Every album by Taylor offers something new, and she obviously knows what she is doing - which is why she has been able to break so many records and have “won”. Just because she makes a dark-ish pop album doesn’t make it Reputation part 2. Who knows what she will shock us with in the future along with the re-recordings

This was so perfectly articulated!!! Thank you 😁

I am gonna preface this by saying NOT a Swifty. I am only a few years younger than Taylor Swift and have grown up with her music. I think her greatest strength is how relatable she is. I will never be a musical legend, but I understand her feelings. I remember crying to "Tear Drops on My Guitar" and wishing for a "Love Story" as a preteen. I remember "I Knew You Were Trouble" when I was at the age of getting into boy trouble. The Midnight album feels exactly as she described: the midnight thoughts of a late 20's, early 30's woman. On the pop hits, I don't like "Bejeweled". It's a ear worm song for sure, but I cannot stand the disrespect for my girl Cinderella. "Anti-Hero" actually hits too close to home. I struggled with depression in my early 20's and it was HARD to climb out of the worst of it. Like she said, it's hard to root for the anti-hero, aka yourself. You have to root for yourself though because "You're On Your Own Kid". It can be depressing to think back on all the times others forced you to realize that, but also brings a feeling of freedom. I can take whatever path I want. "Mastermind" is a cute song, but is also so true. People don't just trip and fall in love with you. You have to mastermind that 'meet cute' moment sometimes. "Vigilante Shit" is a revenge fantasy, but it's not /my/ revenge fantasy. It's someone who I see in a shitty situation and think 'good for her'. There are a lot of songs about destroying the other women or the other woman trying to steal someone else's man. Why not a song about two women helping each other and becoming friends in the process? It's juicy gossip shit and I am here for it. Wow. I am just now realizing I can write a whole essay on how I relate to Taylor Swifts songs. Not all of them. I can't relate to all of them. She's just a good measuring stick and a reassurance that "oh, so feeling this way is totally normal and okay". It also has the added benefit that a lot of good music has. It helps me reflect on my life process my feelings, and try to find a way forward.

speaking as a Swiftie who bought two copies of Midnights, I agree wholeheartedly with the issue of being disappointed/worried that Midnights is a step back and could be the sign of repeating the old cycle again; when folkmore was clearly a step forward.

I know this album has been huge and as a swiftie I really don’t get why. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 3am tracks and Maroon are awesome but nevertheless I don’t catch myself listening to it . Maybe it’s my fault for having expectations before having listened to anything but maybe it’s Taylor’s promotion channeling 70s vibe and it delivered shit. I didn’t want another “folklore” or “evermore”, I wanted something a bit more upbeat than that, not necessarily full pop. Ideally I’d like a 70s Speak Now or a mix between Speak Now and 1989 but I got none of them. Out of the 13 tracks, I skip almost 4-5 of them and that’s not a good sign. I know she’s a queen but…this record didn’t click well with me. The production felt rushed, repetitive, idk. Some songs seemed to build but they didn’t explode. Even bejeweled which went from skip to one of my favs could’ve been a lot better musically.

I agree with what others are saying about this album being a bookend of sorts! My hope is that after the re-releases are done, she'll hit a new stride and do really well creatively. I definitely get where you're coming from with the cinderella thing, but (to give her the benefit of the doubt) I think it fits with the song and she genuinely really likes fairy tales! I'm not sure she meant to paint herself as a Cinderella of the industry, but that that's how she felt in that particular relationship-beleaguered and down trodden on a personal, romantic level rather than a professional one. I like karma, midnight rain, and lavender haze the most off the main listing, and I like bigger than the whole sky and would've could've should've off the bonus tracks :)

She's revisiting old subject matter because This is The Re-Recordings Album. These are songs she wrote while looking back on her old work, so they are mostly about her old work. Yes, "Vigilante Sh*t" could have come off of reputation, like "Question...?" samples "Out of the Woods" and could have come off of 1989. (btw, the five songs in the same key are the ones that are looking at her past life/work in chronological order, so I think that's intentional.) The bitterness that's present on this album stems less from her past, and more from things fame and fortune can't fix. "Lavender Haze" is about trying to stay happy in the midst of sexist microaggressions, and "Anti-Hero" is about how universal (and ridiculous) self-loathing can be. In an interview, she said the "Bejeweled" music video is for the fans, who know not only that it's a vehicle to announce Speak Now (TV), but that that album was preoccupied with fairy tales, which she felt the need to outgrow soon after ("Give me back my girlhood / It was mine first"). Can we collectively stop comparing Taylor and Kanye at this point? Kanye is using his platform to take aim at marginalized groups (which he has been doing for years), and that has nothing to do with his feud with Taylor Swift. It also doesn't mean that Kanye is past relevance. There are people who want to hear him say the hateful things he's saying, and those people have more power in this country than they've had in a long, long time. Kanye's not a joke; he's an active threat to human rights. There's a lot to potentially dislike about this album, and I don't fault anyone for giving it a bad review, but speaking of it as though it spells the end of her creativity, ambition, and emotional growth seems like a reach. I would have loved another ten folklores, and I hope this synth-pop record doesn't mean she's done with genre exploration, but I don't think it's a step back either? I'd recommend Professor Skye's Record Review if you're interested in listening to someone explore the emotional maturity present on this album.

The Bejeweled music video is just a fan-service easter eggs music video and the reason she choose Cinderella is because when you think of midnights in film culture the most prominent is the Cinderella midnight storyline lol

Your videos just keep getting better and better

I feel like midnights isn’t as revengeful as rep, I think it’s so dialed back : it’s a mature look back at the situations as opposed to like her actively fighting them: and to be fair when it comes to Folklore and Evermore : hoax, my tears ricochet, mad woman, closure, it’s time to go, long story short, all have at least some references to scooter, record label Scott, etc. it’s just veiled in the genre of those albums; revenge is on every album just in different forms and I actually feel like that makes her even more of an artist

The album is called Midnights & Cinderella's fun night etc ends at midnight so she wanted to do something with that as her album is titled that for a video.

I think she is Cinderella in the bejewelled music video because she felt like an underdog in her head and then she went out and became ‘Bejeweled’ and then was happy again. Not that she actually *was* the underdog

As a veteran Swiftie (established c. 2007), I kinda low key wish people will start disliking her again so that I can get those Eras Tour tickets without competition and in peace 😅

Couldn't help but laugh when I saw the "Swiftzerland" sign.

I don’t have much to say other than I agree. The themes feel like retreads. But they always do. The only songs I truly felt were uninspired thematically were Mastermind, Paris, Sweet Nothing, and Lavender Haze. That’s not to say they weren’t great songs, just that it’s the same theme of “I’m happy with my new bf” from reputation repackaged with minimal production to fit this era. As a longtime swiftie, I was disappointed we went back to the autobiographical storytelling from before folklore, because, as she’s stated herself, it’s inherently limiting. She’s one of the most successful and richest people in the world. I think that’s why it feels like reputation part 2 in a way. Her struggles might have relatable moments, but they are ultimately above the average person. And yeah I get that evermore was technically the last album to come out, but because of the re-records, it felt like we had already stepped back into her life before this. I’d just like more of that storytelling for storytelling’s sake. And I’d love her to explore more themes outside of love and heartbreak. Anti-hero is a phenomenal song, in part because she rarely discusses themes like that. I want more of that and less romance.

Folklore and Evermore were fantastic, imo. The Last Great American Dynasty is my favorite song Taylor has ever put out. I wish she would release more albums like those, but I also understand that it would have been harder for Taylor to tour and build hype behind those albums, given their toned-down nature. They were also released at the very height of the pandemic anyway, when touring was impossible. Midnights is the opposite of those, and honestly, it did its job in building hype for her next tour. I’ve never seen this much craze over one. Love or hate Taylor, she knew exactly what she was doing here.

Question…? Is definitely an OOTW callback! You can hear the OOTW outro vocals on Question’s chorus!

Great video as always! I feel the same way about midnights

When I heard this album I thought it just felt like Lorde (Taylor's Version) but Reputation 2 Electric Boogaloo is probably a better way to describe it

I think your read on the Bejeweled video feels a little off to me. Firstly, I see no reason to assume it's a way for her to say she currently is some sort of underdog. The video ends with her in a castle, in a lavish gown, guarded by dragons. If anything, it's a nod to how far she has come. But I also think it reflects some insecurity. She's mentioned that coming back to pop on Midnights made her feel nervous after the success of folklore and evermore, so it may also reflect her sort of "return" to pop. But secondly, and others have said this, I really don't see the bitterness as pervasive as you claim. There is bitterness in this album, but there are also songs examining past sadnesses, current loves, and insecurities. The album seems to be inspired by her work rerecording her albums, and so she is inspired to look back at and expand upon some of the ideas she wrote about in the past. I don't get the sense all the songs reflect how she feels now. I also find it weird to lump her thoughts on past romances into bitterness or whatever... like, she's allowed to sing about things that have happened to her and it isn't always about "coming back for revenge" or w/e. Some fans will take it that way but idk. It doesn't seem like her intentional artistic direction.

i like your willingness to be honest about your taylor opinions despite likely catching a lot of shit from taylor fans every time you invoke the name, whether positively or negatively. it’s hard to stand firm when talking about an artist whose fanbase is ever present, defensive, and incredibly parasocial. and im saying that as someone who enjoys her music. i was stunned to see peeved off taylor fans in the comments because if anything you praised her past two albums and parts of this album, so it’s not even like you’re being a hater. but i guess thats just what happens when you have even sparing criticism for the worlds most successful and beautiful and private jet flyingest perpetual underdog. again, i like her music. but i think it’s silly to jump to her defense as if she can’t overcome michael the snare pointing out tangible musical fact that the middle run of songs on the album are all in the same key

I really don't think Taylor's going to look at the sales differential between Folklore/Evermore and Midnights and never do anything like F/E again. The aim of F/E career-wise wasn't to sell like her pop albums, it was to boost her critical acclaim and establish that she's at the point where she doesn't need to play the pop game anymore when she doesn't feel like it. And now that Midnights has established she's bigger than ever when she *does* choose to play the game, she can kinda do whatever she wants on future releases.

The Cinderella retelling is literally just because it’s a famous story that talks about midnight the literal name of the album 🤨

I remember listening to folklore for the first time thinking that it was the first Taylor Swift album I had heard in a long time that felt like I was listening to Taylor the person, and not Taylor the headline.

Thank you. I've been hesitant to call this era a (huge) step back after Folklore and Evermore. But now, I fully see it and hope she'll move away from that underdog narrative (and that Aaron will produce more of her music).

Having never been a big fan before, I love this album. I’m working my way backwards thru her discography, but the atmosphere & vibe of “Midnights” is dope af

I always appreciate your viewpoint, but I have to disagree about the album feeling as resentful as reputation. With the exception of Vigilante Shit, Bejeweled, and (sorry) Karma, Swift seems much more mature and less petty. Anti-Hero is my favorite single of hers since Style for how the framing is much more self-lacerating and existentially anxious than 97% of what we get in pop music. Across the album, she's not bitter so much as she is resigned and weary, and I respect that, even if I prefer Folklore and Evermore.

I love the points that fantano raised in this video, surreal collab!

She didn't win, she became the final pop boss or whatever tf

I’ve been waiting for this video

think this really hits the nail on the head, great vid!!

You are my brain. Your videos are my thoughts. I have never agreed with a person on music taste like you.

i completely agree that she 'won' in terms of other people in the industry, but i wouldn't say she is fully accepted by people either. the timing of this video also being on the day news broke that she wrote an original screenplay and is directing the movie, the first reaction to it was people saying she doesnt deserve it and that it cant possibly be good. that relates to a lot of other ways people still view her and not respect her as an artist and writer. so i would say she's won in terms of people going directly against her personally, yes. but the general public still has this view on her that isn't positive. i saw so many people since midnights came out and the ticketmaster issue come out of the woodwork saying she's overrated, she's never made a song that meant something to people etc. thats where the whole 'cinderella' thing comes in i think. people still belittling her.

amazing video, as always, mr. snare

I think she dug up a lot of the old bitterness in Midnights because of the concept of the album itself. It's supposed to be about things that kept her up at night in the past and some of them are bound to be the various dramas she had to go through. So yeah, sometimes it can make you think "didn't we already talk about this?" but since it's written looking back, it makes sense. I don't believe it means that all of her albums in the future will be about how she was scorned in the past (except the rerecordings)

It’s a shame Labyrinth gets buried in that 5 track run, I think it’s her take on a Beach House track and pulls it off well

a much needed content!

I completely agree. I thought the album was fine all around, not her worst but far from the best and yet I still felt disappointed. I figured that maybe it was because I expected something new and exciting (especially after the re recordings) that built from Folklore/Evermore and got a continuation of her work with Jack from Lover instead (at least musically). But I think you got it right by noticing that the themes from reputation are back and it's all just a big loop. It kinda takes away from the perceived growth from the 2 latest albums... I guess being at the top do be lonely tho and haters will keep on hatin and Taylor will keep on winning

Fantastic video Mic, like for real, you're just one of the best in the entire music review (and even commentary in general) space. I (and we) love it so much, so thank you! Couple thoughts on the argument here. One, I agree. The album is good (even great I might say, as a totally non-biased, non-taylorstan, non-bisexuallivingvicariouslythroughmyfavcelebs observer), but it falls short of Folklore and Evermore, particular in its reversion to a less, i don't know, artistically mature(?) tone. I did at least appreciate Taylor cutting the runtime down a bit to a snappier 45-ish mins from previous hour long albums, and agree that Karma and Bejeweled are bops, but this album misses the "gold rush"/"infinite strings" type energy that I think Taylor has developed a stronger control and expression of at this point in her career. Lastly, to give my two cents on the 'why' of the albums tone/commentary, I'd call it what I deem the "Tom Brady grind-set". Brady has somewhat famously adopted an underdog, hated, or down-and-out mentality and narrative throughout much/most of his career, despite being the GOAT and having more on- and off-the-field success, both of his own doing and circumstantially, of almost any athlete in history. What I eventually came to realize about him (and I believe this applies to Taylor as well), is that this mindset it not a reactionary one, as we'd generally suppose, but a prescriptive one. In other words, he's doesn't feel he's against the world because he's had to undergo particularly unique or difficult circumstances or results, but he uses a self-generated belief (and importantly, I would posit that this is unconscious, he legitimately does feel the way he says) that the world is against him *in order to* overcome difficult circumstances, obstacles, and criticism. I think Taylor might express a similar sort of reaction, although I would argue hers does feel more genuine as much of what she writes about has legitimate basis in the hatred, misogyny, obstacles, etc. she has faced in the past. This has had the effect of inducing a Tom-Brady-grind-set in her, despite the fact that, like Tom, it no longer really matches up with her actual material condition (at least from an outsider's perspective. We obviously don't know everything going on with her personally so I can only comment on her attitude towards more external factors - fans, hatred, perception, etc.) Wow, uh.. this got a bit longer than I meant, but I don't want to go back to studying for finals and psychoanalyzing celebrities is a much better use of my time.

yes please, mr the snare

I'm a fearless era swiftie and I hated midnights. Whenever Taylor releases a new album, I listen to it on repeat and basically train my ears to like the songs. I specifically did this with rep and then lover, although lover did have some gorgeous earworms. In hindsight, rep is my top 5 Taylor albums. However, I just can't get into midnights and here's why: 1. We get nothing new thematically. For everything she talks about in this album, we have other (and sometimes much better) songs from her. 2. No beautiful bridge which help climax the anticipation built-up by the verses. 3. None of the choruses stand out or are catchy enough. Also, there isn't much singing happening in the album. Karma's Chorus is the best but those lyrics... Very very questionable. 4. The production is samey. There is literally no variety. 5. There is something wrong with how she fits the lyrics to the melody. It's like when you try hand lettering and the first few letters are perfect but then the last few letters are cramped because you ran out of space.

As a Taylor fan since Tim McGraw, this sweet video captured a lot of my feelings. Stan or no, lovers of good music will always hope for the best

The cynical part of me thinks that Taylor made a calculated decision to make two indie albums just so she could secure the critical acclaim especially from the Grammys who eat up any mainstream artist going slightly alternative

Finally someone put words to everything I was thinking

What is wrong with being bitter about being so isolated that you don’t feel like a real person? I think her being Cinderella is just her emphasizing how alone she is, she literally ends up in the castle ALONE She doesn’t frame herself as an underdog, she knows she is not

I'm an ENORMOUS Taylor Swift fan, and Midnights to me is like... fine? Some tracks are good, and as a fan I love hearing her more personal songs. She clearly had a lot of freedom to have fun and produce the album she wanted to, and I'm glad it's been successful. But Folklore and Evermore were remarkable specifically for how they elevated her as a songwriter. Midnights feels like it's past it's time.

please the jokes and editing in this is so funny 😭

reputation is actually one of my favorite taylor albums, but i couldn't get into midnights really at all, like i haven't gone back to listen to basically anything from it

With the keys thing that's what held me back from the album in my first listen, I felt that a lot of the songs sounded the same when I was first listening to it. So I got bored. After listening to some songs again, I realised there were some good ones but a lot did just mush together at first.

I really wanted more Aaron too. Edit: OH MAN PANCHO IN FIESTA GOT ME LAUGHING A LOT.