Midnights: A Breakup Album In Disguise

In a deep dive into Taylor Swift's "Midnights," the speaker explores the album's thematic departure from her previous works, "Folklore" and "Evermore," noting a sense of something missing despite the album's brilliant concept of sleepless nights and introspection. They discuss the personal growth and introspection reflected in Swift's songwriting, which has historically transformed her experiences into art, while also cautioning against parasocial relationships with celebrities. The speaker reflects on Swift's past eras, particularly the "Daylight Saga," which symbolized her growth and happiness with Joe Alwyn. However, "Midnights" represents a shift, with its melancholic undertones suggesting unresolved traumas and a facade of contentment. The speaker also touches on the difficulty of admitting the end of a long-term relationship, especially one so public, and the process of self-discovery that often feels destructive but is necessary for growth. They conclude that "Midnights" is about facing life's hauntings, surviving, and ultimately finding solace in oneself.

• "Midnights" was well-received but did not meet the high expectations set by Taylor Swift's previous work.
• The album marked a significant sonic departure from "Folklore" and "Evermore."
• The concept of the album reflects on thirteen sleepless nights and touches on various emotional themes.

"When Midnights first came out, the general consensus seemed to be… 'mid-nights,' indeed. Don’t get me wrong, people loved the album.. But given the high bar for Taylor’s songwriting, and the huge departure this era was sonically from Folklore and Evermore, Midnights didn’t seem to be the next magnum opus we’d all been hoping for."

The quote expresses a mixed initial reception to "Midnights" due to the high standards set by Taylor Swift's previous albums and the notable change in sound from "Folklore" and "Evermore."

• The album explores themes of self-loathing, revenge fantasies, love, and heartbreak.
• It delves into Taylor Swift's past experiences with a new perspective.
• The 3 a.m. tracks emphasize the struggle with past traumas.

"I adored the concept of reflecting on thirteen sleepless nights throughout your life; stories of 'self-loathing, revenge fantasies, what could’ve been, falling in love, and falling apart.' Going back through each of her eras, and digging into them with the wisdom gained from further experience, even if it means further tearing at old wounds."

This quote summarizes the album's concept of revisiting pivotal life moments and the emotional depth that comes with self-reflection and the passage of time.

• The media's intrusion into Taylor Swift's personal life allows fans to empathize with her music.
• Her songwriting serves as a form of self-reflection and therapy.
• The balance between understanding the artist and avoiding parasocial relationships is crucial.

"Personally, I feel kinda icky with how much we know about her personal life through media vultures and the dehumanization of celebrities... but this information does help to empathize with how she uses her songwriting to transform her experiences into art."

The quote discusses the discomfort with the media's scrutiny of Taylor Swift's personal life, yet acknowledges how this knowledge can deepen the appreciation of her songwriting.

• Taylor Swift has been in a stable relationship with Joe Alwyn, influencing her recent albums.
• Joe Alwyn, under the pseudonym William Bowery, has co-written songs with Taylor Swift.

"As far as we knew, Taylor had been in a loving, committed relationship with actor (and professional London Boy) Joe Alwyn, and presumably wrote up to four albums either about their relationship, or referencing it."

This quote highlights the influence of Taylor Swift's relationship with Joe Alwyn on her recent music and their collaborative songwriting efforts.

• Taylor Swift faced intense public backlash in 2016, leading to her temporary withdrawal from the public eye.
• Criticism was often centered around her dating life and the transparency of her songwriting.
• The album "Reputation" was a response to the negative portrayal of her in the media.

"Whoever you are, I hope a deadite got you.. I won’t harp on it for too long, but basically, the entire world fucking hated Taylor Swift and called her a snake, and she went 'Fuck all y’all, I am removing myself from this narrative,' and then went into hiding… for like a whole year."

The quote captures the intense backlash Taylor Swift experienced, leading to her decision to step back from the limelight and the narrative that inspired her album "Reputation."

• Taylor Swift has been criticized for the number of relationships she's had and the speed at which she moves between them.
• Her songwriting is a form of self-expression that naturally includes personal experiences.
• The specificity and sincerity in her storytelling have led to unfair scrutiny compared to other artists.

"Firstly, she was often criticized for the number of men she dated, and how quickly it seemed she moved between relationships... And thirdly, art is a form of self-expression, and that naturally means your experiences are going to become the basis of your work, or at least will inform how you go about it."

This quote discusses the criticism Taylor Swift has faced regarding her personal life and her songwriting, emphasizing that art is inherently personal and should be respected as such.

• Taylor Swift's "Reputation" album is seen as a response to the media-created image of her.
• The album represents a rebirth, with Swift focusing on her own happiness rather than public validation.
• The latter part of the album details her private relationship with Joe Alwyn.
• "Reputation" is about reclaiming power and stepping into it for the first time.

for her by the media and public, the same way she leaned into the image of the man-obsessed, Machiavelian lunatic in “Blank Space.”

This quote refers to how Taylor Swift embraced the negative persona attributed to her by the media in her song "Blank Space" and the broader theme of her "Reputation" album.

It was very much a rebirth for Taylor, letting go of this need to be loved and validated by the masses, and instead focusing on herself and her own happiness.

This quote emphasizes the transformative aspect of the "Reputation" album where Taylor Swift shifts her focus from seeking public approval to personal fulfillment.

The second half of the album is all about the unexpected, enthralling, and delicate relationship she forged with Joe, ultimately wanting to keep it out of the public eye as much as she could.

This quote highlights the personal nature of the second half of "Reputation," which delves into Swift's relationship with Joe Alwyn and her desire to protect it from public scrutiny.

• The "Lover" album follows "Reputation" with a lighter, more domestic mood.
• It signifies a return to form for Taylor Swift and celebrates her relationship with a "London Boy."
• The album is regarded as underrated and is a departure from the darker themes of its predecessor.

Lover followed immediately after, ditching Reputation’s darker mood and aesthetic, and switching it out for purple-pink, cotton candy skies for a more upbeat and domestic feeling.

This quote describes the tonal shift from "Reputation" to "Lover," indicating a change from dark themes to a more positive and homely atmosphere.

And put quite simply, it’s Taylor returning to form and gushing about this cute London Boy who showed her love is gold, like daylight.

This quote suggests that "Lover" represents a return to Taylor Swift's earlier musical style and themes, particularly focusing on the joyous aspects of her relationship.

• "Folklore" and "Evermore" are considered part of the same indie folk era.
• These albums were created during the pandemic and explore a wide range of emotions including grief, love, and regret.
• Although the stories in these albums are fictional, they are inspired by real-world experiences.

Folklore and Evermore, at least to me, are basically the same era: indie folk records purportedly about fictional stories and characters—we’re keeping that in, it’s on brand—as opposed to the rest of Taylor’s autobiographical catalog…

This quote categorizes "Folklore" and "Evermore" as belonging to the same musical era, characterized by indie folk sounds and fictional narratives, which is a departure from Swift's autobiographical style.

Created and released in 2020, in the peak of the pandemic, these albums deal a lot with grief, trauma, love, regrets, innocence—the whole range of human emotion.

This quote explains that "Folklore" and "Evermore" were created during the pandemic and address a spectrum of human emotions, influenced by the global crisis.

• Shanspeare coins the term "Daylight Saga" to describe the period following Taylor Swift's return, focusing on her relationship with Joe Alwyn.
• This concept encompasses the journey from "Reputation" through "Midnights," highlighting a private but seemingly perfect relationship.
• The saga suggests a narrative of finding personal power and happiness.

All of these eras form what I like to call… the Daylight Saga (yes I just came up with that now as I was writing the script, and I’m still sticking with it as I’m recording).

This quote introduces the "Daylight Saga" as a term to encapsulate the thematic journey across several of Taylor Swift's albums, centered around her relationship with Joe Alwyn.

Taylor had found her power, she’d found her man, and now she could move on to bigger and better things, stretching out this happy ending into infinity.

This quote summarizes the narrative of the "Daylight Saga," where Taylor Swift has found both personal empowerment and a fulfilling relationship, allowing her to look forward to the future.

• "Midnights" concludes the "Daylight Saga" with a melancholic tone.
• The album features a dreamy use of synths and voice production, reflecting a sleepless night of rumination.
• The lyrics suggest a contentment that is undercut by underlying sadness and doubt.

Midnights, as we know it now, ends the Daylight Saga, which aesthetically I find fitting as fuck.

This quote states that "Midnights" brings an end to the "Daylight Saga" and that its aesthetic is appropriately aligned with the themes of the saga.

But there’s also a layer of sadness buried in the lyrics.. The vibe can often give, “I’m so content in what I have,” but then you peel the layer back and go, “Are you though?”

This quote points out the complexity of the "Midnights" album, where the surface-level contentment is contrasted with deeper feelings of sadness and introspection.

• "Lavender Haze" depicts a relationship where emotional struggles are not acknowledged.
• "Mastermind" presents a narrative of manipulation and the desire to be loved, resonating with people pleasers.
• The songs explore the facades people create and the reality behind them.

My first thought was “Lavender Haze.”. “Staring at the ceiling with you.. You don’t ever say too much, and you don’t really read into my melancholia.”

This quote analyzes the song "Lavender Haze," suggesting that the partner's lack of engagement with the narrator's emotional state is problematic.

“Mastermind” wants you to feel like the story is over.. The narrator has crafted the perfect story for themselves, you’ve bought into it, and so have they.. Things are as they should be… except, they’re not.

This quote interprets "Mastermind" as a song about constructing an idealized narrative that both the narrator and the audience believe in, despite underlying issues.

• "Dear Reader" is seen as the true ending to "Midnights," revealing the narrator's vulnerabilities.
• The song frames itself as giving advice, which is acknowledged as flawed.
• It emphasizes the fallibility of the narrator and the importance of skepticism towards advice from someone struggling.

The true ending comes on the 3 a.m. edition, later into the night when the mask of “Mastermind” is removed, revealing the shambling, lonely, conflicted face of “Dear Reader.”

This quote suggests that "Dear Reader" is the genuine conclusion to the album, stripping away the pretenses of "Mastermind" to expose the narrator's true emotional state.

“Never take advice from someone who’s falling apart,” and the full breakdown in the bridge reveals that the narrator has been plagued by their own issues, despite offering guidance.

This quote from "Dear Reader" serves as a cautionary reminder that advice should be critically evaluated, especially when it comes from someone who is themselves struggling.

• Individuals often try to maintain control by giving advice they don't follow themselves.
• This behavior is a desperate attempt to control a narrative they know to be false.
• The quote "You should find another guiding light, but I shine so bright" reflects this contradiction.

"They keep giving advice they know they aren’t taking or following themselves, almost in a desperate bid to remain in control of the narrative they know isn’t true.. “You should find another guiding light, but I shine so bright.”"

This quote emphasizes the hypocrisy of people who advise others on actions they themselves do not take. It highlights a struggle for control over a narrative that is not genuine.

• Fans can become deeply invested in celebrities' personal lives, leading to emotional reactions when those lives change.
• The breakup of Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn caused a collective upset among fans.
• Fans projected their own desires for a happy ending onto the couple's relationship.

"To say that the confusion as to why Taylor and Joe had broken up sent Swifties into a collective spiral of parasocial heartbreak would be… an understatement."

The quote illustrates the intense emotional investment fans had in Taylor Swift's relationship with Joe Alwyn and the profound collective disappointment felt by fans when the relationship ended.

• The personal lives of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn are often publicly scrutinized.
• Fans should respect the privacy of celebrities and refrain from overstepping boundaries.
• Harassing behavior towards celebrities is unacceptable and not supported by the community.

"Seriously, if you’re one of those bitches actually going to Cornelia Street leaving flowers, or harassing Joe Alwyn, we don’t claim you.. I don’t claim you.. I don’t fucking claim you.. Mother would be disappointed."

This quote is a call to respect celebrities' privacy and a condemnation of fans who engage in intrusive or harassing behavior, stressing that such actions are not representative of the fan community.

• Taylor Swift's album "Midnights" explores themes of heartbreak and the end of a relationship.
• The songs "Hits Different" and "You’re Losing Me" provide insight into the emotional narrative of the album.
• Music and lyrics are used to convey complex emotional experiences.

"Both of these are broken down by Emily and Bonny from Chats and Reacts, perhaps the most well-known and professional Swifties on the damn internet."

The quote acknowledges the analytical work of Emily and Bonny, who are recognized for their professional breakdowns of Taylor Swift's music, contributing to a deeper understanding of the album's storytelling.

• Personal evolution involves confronting one's own flaws and past mistakes.
• Growth can be a painful process, involving self-examination and the potential dismantling of one's beliefs.
• The process of growth is likened to destroying one's own world in order to rebuild it.

"But the thing is, as much as you hope you’ll find a way to save it, you’re more than likely going to find answers you don’t like.. And that’s the reason why evolving as a person fucking sucks.. Doing the work involves facing the darkest parts of yourself in brutal honesty, which can feel absolutely humiliating at best, and soul shattering at worst."

This quote captures the difficult and often painful nature of personal growth, which requires facing uncomfortable truths about oneself in order to evolve.

• Acknowledging the end of a long-term relationship is challenging due to comfort and security.
• Fear of judgment from others, especially with public scrutiny, can exacerbate the difficulty.
• The sunk-cost fallacy can lead to staying in an unfulfilling relationship to avoid perceived waste.
• Recognizing that leaving can lead to finding something better is an essential realization.
• Evermore, as an album, deserves recognition for its thematic exploration of these ideas.

"Admitting that a long-term relationship isn’t working anymore is not easy... There’s a level of comfort and security in it, even if it’s miserable, and the thought of leaving it is terrifying."

This quote highlights the emotional struggle of ending a long-term relationship and the fear associated with leaving the comfort it provides, despite the misery it may also bring.

"But much of this is born of the sunk-cost fallacy: a belief that because you’ve spent so long with something, or someone, it’s better to stick it out to the bitter end than to walk away."

The quote explains the sunk-cost fallacy, which is the misconception that one should continue an endeavor simply because of the time or resources already invested, even if continuing is not beneficial.

"Sometimes walking out is the one thing that will find you the right thing."

This quote encapsulates the idea that leaving an unfulfilling situation can be a necessary step toward finding something more suitable and fulfilling.

• Admitting to oneself that a perceived happy ending wasn't truly fulfilling can be disheartening.
• Feeling lost or like an imposter is a common experience, not unique to any one person.
• Everyone is navigating life with limited knowledge and resources, often feeling lost.
• Growth often requires facing difficult situations and using them to become stronger.
• The album Midnights reflects the journey of embracing and learning from past traumas.

"You feel like a fool... Like a charlatan, and like the imposter your demons whispered you were all along. But you’re none of those things: you’re just a person who’s doing their best, and is trying to navigate the world the best they can with a broken compass and a torn-up, probably outdated map."

This quote conveys the self-doubt that arises when confronting personal failures or challenges, while also affirming that everyone is simply trying their best with the tools they have.

"Even if it feels like your world is ending, it’s not... But in a way, it was needed to push her into a new direction so she could grow and become who she needed to be."

The quote illustrates the concept that personal crises, while painful, can catalyze growth and lead to necessary changes in direction.

"Midnights is taking all these traumas, these things that have haunted you all your life, and saying, 'I survived all of that, and I will survive this too.'"

This quote describes the theme of the album Midnights, which is about overcoming past traumas and affirming one's resilience.

• The relationship discussed in the Daylight Saga, while significant, was not the sole savior; self-rescue played a crucial role.
• One's relationship with oneself is paramount, and individuals have the power to decide their worth and confront their demons.
• Recognizing oneself as the anti-hero or villain in one's story can be part of personal development.
• Realizing the importance of self-reliance can lead to a more peaceful state of mind.

"Though the relationship informing the Daylight Saga is often credited as having saved Taylor, she in fact saved herself, and that relationship was more of a catalyst… or maybe inciting incident?"

This quote suggests that while a relationship can be influential, personal agency and self-salvation are key to one's growth and development.

"You decide what you’re deserving of, and to again quote the goddess Solana, praise be to her, 'what demons you digest.'"

The quote emphasizes the power of personal agency in determining self-worth and confronting personal challenges.

• Being alone can initially feel uncomfortable, but self-reliance is often a necessary part of growth.
• Embracing oneself as a companion can be empowering and is sometimes all one needs.
• Personal growth and self-appreciation can be enhanced by solitude and introspection.

"The bed might feel a bit colder now... But you do still have yourself, and maybe that’s all you ever needed."

This quote acknowledges the discomfort of being alone after a relationship ends but also highlights the importance and sufficiency of self-companionship.

• The speaker expresses a personal desire to share these thoughts and reflections.
• The improvement in the technical quality of the podcast is mentioned with enthusiasm.
• Encouragement for support through various means is given, including Patreon and book promotion.

"Gurl, I’ve been wanting to record this one for a while... My microphone is just hanging here suspended in midair, and I am floored with the quality of it."

The quote reflects the speaker's excitement about sharing their thoughts and the improved technical setup for the podcast recording.

"Okay goodbye, I’m gonna go cry to 'You’re Losing Me' again."

This quote concludes the podcast with a personal note, suggesting the emotional impact of the music discussed and the speaker's connection to it.