In the release of her 10th studio album, Taylor Swift has returned once again with something—while perhaps not all that we were hoping for—remarkable.
Midnights, fittingly released at 12:00 AM on Friday, October 21, 2022, draws from her other albums’ sounds but adds a cherry on top. In past years, she has expressed the desire that each of her albums have a distinct sound reminiscent of the era. Though Midnights lacks this individuality, if all her previous albums explored a new musical theme, then it is a culmination: a spin on the voices, lyrics, and melodies that we’ve heard in the past.
Overall, the album satisfies. At times, her chorus of voices (that one might hear in “Cornelia Street” or “Cruel Summer” on Lover) gets tiring, lending a desire for less harmony and more singularity (like any song on Red or “Gorgeous” on Reputation). Some of the songs blend together as well, partly because they reflect her previous musical sounds. Still, each song is well-crafted and offers more of the same music that we love, if not a new kind of it (offered, for example, by 1989 with its pop exploration or Folklore with its folk exploration).
The musicality and arrangement of melodies are the album’s strongest points, building a deliberate, detailed, and pleasant sound, even as the messages gravitate towards darker ideas, such as revenge, trust, toxicity, and isolation. Swift’s lyrical abilities and her aptitude for crafting clever metaphors deepens the many darker emotions hinted at in the album.
Midnights gives listeners a glimpse into every pivotal era of Swift’s personal and musical journey. The nostalgic and all-encompassing album, despite lacking cohesion, tells a compelling story about the artist’s road to fame and love—with enough “cryptic” and lyrical metaphors to leave fans wanting more.
At 3AM on the same day that Midnights dropped, Taylor Swift released the 3AM tracks: seven additional tracks written on the journey to the main album. (Joy Ren)MetLife Stadium, a stop on the “Eras Tour”, displays Swift’s distinctive eras over the years. (Joy Ren)
Fittingly, Taylor Swift announced her return to the road with what she dubbed the “Eras Tour” on Tuesday morning. Scheduled to take place from March to August 2023, she plans to take the world on a “journey through the musical eras of [her] career (past and present!),” as she stated in her Instagram announcement. Fans can expect more of what they heard in Midnights: an in-depth dive into the spectrum of Swift’s career and personal life. Like all things “Swift,” it will surely satisfy.
Saniya Shah is a senior at Wilton High School and a Co-Editor-in-Chief for the Forum. She wrote a fiction book called On Touching Stars and spends every free minute writing something, from poetry to short stories to news articles. She's a morning person, likes tea, and is making good on her goal to read more.
Yana Giannoutsos is a senior at Wilton High School. She is honored to be Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Forum. She has a passion for all genres of writing and is thrilled to display her passions, opinions, and thoughts through writing about the Wilton High School community this year. In her free time, Yana is either running, practicing yoga, or reading a good book.
Joy Ren is a senior at Wilton High School. This year, she is so excited to fulfill the role as Editor-in-Chief of The Forum. Socially conscious and seeking a variety of experiences, she loves to write about her community under the Humans of WHS column. In her free time, nothing is more perfect than working on the Saturday crossword with a steaming mug of tea.
Shayna Wilson-Spiro is a senior at Wilton High School. She draws in her free time, has two brothers, and does comic art. She is interested in math and medicine. She is looking forward to expanding the art department for the Forum this year.
