Summary notes created by Deciphr AI
https://youtu.be/ebN0wkAq218?si=zAfrIDZmUAHT-W_7The host of the Swiftolist channel presents a critical analysis of Taylor Swift's "Midnights," arguing that despite its commercial success, it doesn't merit the Album of the Year award at the 2024 Grammys. They believe the album rides on the wave of Taylor's popularity rather than artistic excellence, lacks enduring career highlights, and is overshadowed by stronger contenders like SZA and Olivia Rodrigo. The host criticizes the album's vague songwriting, suggesting it doesn't showcase growth from Swift's previous works "Folklore" and "Evermore." They also speculate that "Midnights" was a strategic move to promote Swift's upcoming tour rather than a genuine artistic statement. Despite being a fan, the host challenges the narrative that Swift's work is beyond critique, advocating for a fair assessment that recognizes artistic merit over commercial triumph.
some of you are about to be really mad at me. but I don't care because I'm here to tell you that midnights does not deserve album of the Year.
The quote expresses the host's readiness to share a controversial opinion about "Midnights" not deserving the Album of the Year, regardless of the expected backlash from fans.
Commercial Success is basically irrelevant to Taylor S discography when we're talking about measuring its artistic excellence and quality.
The quote highlights the distinction between commercial success and artistic quality, suggesting that the former should not be the sole measure of the latter in Taylor Swift's case.
Taylor has also won album of the Year Thrice already for albums that were way more deserving of this Accolade than midnights.
This quote provides context for Swift's history with the Grammys, noting that her previous wins were for albums with higher artistic merit than "Midnights."
there will be no enduring career highlights from this record as it ages.
The quote suggests that "Midnights" lacks standout tracks that will be remembered as career-defining for Taylor Swift.
in today's video I'll be going through my standard categories for assessing an album of the year which I've been doing so far on this month.
The quote outlines the methodical approach the host takes to evaluate nominees for Album of the Year, indicating a structured critique process.
she also extensively lobbies for her Grammys submitting lavish for your consideration freebies not bribes we must point that out because she's been accused of that in the past.
This quote reveals the extent of Taylor Swift's Grammy campaigning efforts, emphasizing that these are not considered bribes but rather persuasive tactics.
what do the Grammys get out of awarding Taylor a lot if not more than Taylor gets from winning.
The quote reflects on the mutual benefits that the Grammys and Taylor Swift receive from her winning awards, suggesting that the Grammys might gain even more from this relationship.
"For years artists like Drake and the weekend have called out perceived Grammy bias and their unwillingness to diversify the way that the Grammys do their nomination process."
This quote highlights the ongoing issue of perceived bias within the Grammy Awards and the actions taken by some artists in protest.
"Taylor Swift crucially now the biggest taste maker in the music industry has never lobbed such critiques at the Grammys nor downplayed her achievements."
This quote emphasizes Taylor Swift's significant influence in the music industry and her positive relationship with the Grammys, which may contribute to her consistent recognition at the awards.
"Cultural impact of this album is not purely because of its artistic Merit it's a culmination of factors."
This quote suggests that 'Midnights' impact is due to a combination of factors beyond just the music itself, including marketing and Taylor Swift's established popularity.
"Anti-hero is a giant hit."
This quote acknowledges the commercial success of the lead single 'Anti-Hero' from 'Midnights,' despite discussions about the legitimacy of its chart performance.
"Midnights has received basically zero a claim but also zero critique."
This quote indicates that 'Midnights' has not received significant praise or criticism from reviewers, placing it in an awkward position within Taylor Swift's discography.
"The Taylor Swift machine at this point did it all for her."
This quote suggests that Taylor Swift's established brand and marketing machine were significant factors in promoting 'Midnights' without her needing to engage extensively with the audience.
"I really don't think that it can stand on its own so my main point about the cultural impact of midnights is that no one in their right mind would ever honestly look back on this body of work unless you were emotionally personally attached to it."
This quote emphasizes the speaker's opinion that "Midnights" lacks the standalone cultural impact and significance that Taylor Swift's other albums have had. It is suggested that the album would only be revisited by those with a personal emotional attachment to it.
"Taylor Swift's greatest skill set aside from being an excellent saleswoman is her diaristic confessional and melodic pop songwriting."
This quote outlines the speaker's view that Taylor Swift's greatest strength is her unique style of songwriting that combines personal storytelling with universal appeal, making her stand out in the pop music industry.
"All to well is a masterclass in first person songwriting [...] anti-hero is really not a defining career hit despite being a really successful chart topper it's not sonically different from an artistic standpoint from anything that she's put out and it's self-conscious but it's not self-aware."
This quote contrasts "All Too Well" with "Anti-Hero," highlighting that while both songs are written from a first-person perspective, "All Too Well" succeeds in creating a deeper emotional connection, whereas "Anti-Hero" falls short in its self-conscious approach without true self-awareness.
"The lore does the heavy lifting here the songwriting is left intentionally vague we as the detectives are deployed to deliver meaning where there isn't any or the writer has not successfully communicated it well enough to identify it specifically leaving it up to endless interpretation."
This quote criticizes the songwriting in "Midnights" for being intentionally vague and leaving listeners to find meaning that may not be clearly communicated or present, which contrasts with the confessional clarity expected from Taylor Swift's previous works.
"But there is something very evocative here but what exactly Taylor is trying to evoke is very difficult to pin down given the rambling Pros the chronology of the song is very difficult to parse the jump from I chose you to I lost you is not connected by any visceral image."
The speaker expresses disappointment in "Maroon" for its inability to clearly convey the emotional story or journey, despite having evocative elements in its production. The critique focuses on the lack of clear narrative and the failure to connect emotionally resonant images in the song's lyrics.
"I really like here and kind of almost visually depicts the gradual disintegration of a connection however this is all kind of thrown off by the unclear refrain of this chorus."
This quote describes how the song attempts to portray the fading of a relationship but is undermined by an ambiguous chorus, leaving the listener without closure.
"Many songs on midnights suffer the same confused fate including one of my favorite songs on the record question... this is truly incomprehensible nonsense incomprehensible even to the most Ardent of haers."
This quote expresses disappointment in the album's lack of coherent messaging, even among songs favored by the speaker.
"It also doesn't help that Taylor has given us absolutely zero insight into the creative process for this album."
The speaker criticizes Taylor Swift for not sharing the meaning behind the album or her experiences while creating it, which is out of character based on her past practices.
"I think that Mastermind straddles the balance very well between diaristic and confessional."
This quote praises "Mastermind" for achieving a balance between being personal and revealing, unlike other songs on the album.
"The fact that it had to be parsed away from the original track list reveals a lot to me about the canonical 13 songs they were not intended to be clear or understood nor was their selection particularly curated."
The speaker suggests that the exclusion of certain songs from the standard edition indicates a lack of intentionality in the album's composition.
"Back to what have could have should have this is the best case scenario of a lore informed song."
This quote identifies "Would've, Could've, Should've" as a standout track that effectively conveys a clear and personal story.
"Other Perpetual Mysteries was Sweet Nothing a covert Breakup Song is it about Paul McCartney is karma a character-driven song or is she being dead serious is Labyrinth about a recent or a distant reconciliation we'll never know because it's not clear."
This quote exemplifies the confusion surrounding the meanings of various songs on the album, which prevents listeners from fully grasping their significance.
"Some might point to your on your own kid as a career highlight."
This quote acknowledges the song's significance to fans but questions whether it is one of Swift's most notable works from a writing perspective.
"People go sicko mode at me when I say that I think guts deserves over midnights but I really think that it does."
This quote compares "Midnights" to another album, suggesting that clear artistic statements are more deserving of accolades.
"My point is that midnights does not play to tailor strengths nor do it introduce any new skills or cover any new territory."
The speaker argues that "Midnights" fails to showcase Swift's strengths or offer anything new to her discography, which detracts from its potential to be considered album of the year.