A much awaited album, Taylor Swift’s album, “Midnights,” was released Oct. 21, 2022. In just the first week after its release, the album had over 1 million sales in the United States. This isn’t the first time her releases have been this successful. “Midnights” is Swift’s fifth album that sold at least 1 million copies in one week. 

This new album has been controversial for some fans. Some people are saying that the songs are captivating and well written, while others argue that they are “all over the place” and “corny and overrated.” 

There are a total of 13 songs, each to represent “the stories of 13 sleepless nights” throughout her life. According to Swift, the 13 songs are “a journey through terrors and sweet dreams.”

Although these songs may be a bit “all over the place,” the songs are more vulnerable than her past music. They describe the struggles she goes through in her mind and the demons that she faces. 

Instead of just the same, non-specific, predictable love songs, Swift is using her music to work through her real struggles and face her deeper issues. Listeners get to, in a way, see inside her mind and the drive behind her music. Maybe even some of her earlier music.

Almost all of Swift’s songs are fun and elaborate but these actually show the real person behind the lyrics. The hardships and the effort. 

For example, Swift explains that her first song “Lavender Haze” is about her relationship and how people try to weigh in and start rumors. “This song is sort of about the act of ignoring that stuff to protect the real stuff,” Swift says. 

All of the songs in the album are upbeat and just fun to listen to. Even for people who may not understand the lyrics or aren’t huge fans of Taylor Swift, they can still enjoy the instrumentals and the way the music and lyrics sound. 

“Midnights” is a shift back to her pop genre that she had in earlier years, after “Evermore” and “Folklore” which were more of a folk-alternative style. 

One song that wasn’t so clear is the 9th song, “Bejeweled.” This song felt a little out of place. “Bejeweled” is more similar to her other albums. It was more of a sassy song about her past relationship rather than an explanation of herself and what’s within like the other songs in the album.