Taylor Swift’s Midnights 3AM and Lavender Deluxe Tracks Reaction and Discussion

Hosts Lisa and Cameron of the "Swiftly Spoken" podcast delve into the additional tracks from Taylor Swift's "Midnights" album, including the 3am and Deluxe Tracks. They discuss the surprise release and the emotional depth of songs like "The Great War" and "Bigger Than The Whole Sky," contrasting them with lighter, more playful tracks like "Paris." They also touch on the poignant "Would've, Could've, Should've," which reflects on past relationships with a mature perspective. The hosts express their appreciation for the diversity of the album, noting how it encapsulates various elements of Swift's career, and share their mixed feelings about the remixed versions of "You're On Your Own, Kid" and "Sweet Nothing." Throughout, they highlight the standout songwriting and the metaphorical richness that characterizes Swift's work.

• Lisa and Cameron are the hosts of "Swiftly Spoken," a Taylor Swift fan podcast.
• The episode focuses on the 3am and Deluxe Tracks from Taylor Swift's "Midnights" album.
• They discuss their reactions, break down the tracks, and rank their top five.

"Welcome to Swiftly Spoken, a fan-made Taylor Swift podcast in which we break down her lyrics, deep dive into full album retrospectives, and theorize about what may be coming next. As always, we are your hosts Lisa and Cameron, and in this episode, we'll be reacting to the 3am and Deluxe Tracks from the Midnights album, breaking them down, and ranking our top five."

The quote introduces the podcast and the specific focus of the episode, which is to analyze and discuss the additional tracks from Taylor Swift's "Midnights" album.

• The release of the 3am and Deluxe Tracks was unexpected and considered a chaotic surprise by Taylor Swift.
• The hosts express their initial shock and excitement about the additional music content.
• They mention the 3am tracks (seven songs) and the Deluxe Tracks from the lavender Target exclusive (three songs), totaling ten extra tracks.

"There's a lot going on, like none of us expected any of this. It was such a surprise when she said chaotic surprise, she really, really meant it."

This quote reflects the hosts' feelings of surprise and the unexpected nature of the release, emphasizing Taylor Swift's intention to create a chaotic surprise for her fans.

• The hosts discuss the process of digesting the new tracks and how it took time to familiarize themselves with the content.
• They appreciate the quality of the 3am and Deluxe Tracks and understand why they were released.
• The idea that there may be other unreleased songs from Taylor Swift's past albums that deserve to be heard is explored.

"I've now got like all I hadn't even really remembered it's the sound or lyric. Like lyrics hadn't really stuck or melodies hadn't really properly stuck at that point let alone then being given all of these other tracks that I didn't after about four listens I still hadn't really remembered what all the names were of the deluxe extracts, it was so much content to kind of digest."

The quote conveys the overwhelming feeling of absorbing a large volume of new music and the challenge of remembering all the new track names and content.

• Taylor Swift enjoys showing fans the entire creative experience, including the creation of Vault tracks.
• The hosts speculate about what songs might have been left off other albums like "Evermore" and "Folklore."
• They discuss Taylor's history of releasing songs that didn't make it onto albums, such as with "Red (Taylor's Version)."

"And the thing that it makes me think, and obviously thankfully with Taylor's versions, we are getting those, but it is almost like what other songs are there that just never made the album that I know desperately deserve to."

The quote reflects on the possibility of other unreleased songs from Taylor Swift's discography that fans have not yet heard, suggesting a curiosity about the full scope of her creative work.

• "The Great War" is praised for its lyricism and metaphorical content.
• The song is produced by Aaron Dessner and has a connection to the "Evermore" album.
• The hosts discuss the song's themes of a metaphorical war between lovers and its place in Taylor Swift's life, possibly relating to the "Lover" era.

"The Great War itself tells the story through obviously a metaphorical veil of a war, but it is essentially a fight between lovers and the drama of it all, you know, turning it into the Great War, equivalating it to this massive fight and the way that she goes through it is just so good."

The quote summarizes the central metaphor of "The Great War," which is a tumultuous relationship depicted as a significant conflict, showcasing Taylor Swift's ability to transform personal experiences into compelling narratives.

• "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" deals with the themes of loss and mourning.
• The hosts compare it to other emotionally heavy songs by Taylor Swift, such as "Ronan" and "Soon You'll Get Better."
• The song's lyrics are described as poetic and touching on universal experiences of loss.

"The song itself talks about, you know, loss, the effects that come after an untimely death, and just asking yourself like why, why did this happen, could I have done something to stop this from happening, which obviously is something that's beyond our control."

This quote captures the essence of "Bigger Than the Whole Sky," highlighting its exploration of grief and the search for answers following a loss, emphasizing the emotional depth of the song.

• The hosts note the stark contrast between the emotional "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" and the more upbeat "Paris."
• They discuss their differing opinions on "Paris," with one host defending the song's merits.
• The categorization of Taylor Swift's songs into different themes, such as "glitter gel pen songs," is mentioned.

"I think from bigger than the whole Sky into Paris, which is our next song, Paris. Yeah. Yeah. We're gonna get into this one, so last time around, I had to convince you or kind of defend a couple of songs, and this time around, it's your turn."

The quote highlights the transition from the somber tone of "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" to the lightheartedness of "Paris," and sets up a discussion about personal preferences for Taylor Swift's diverse range of songs.

• The discussion opens with the idea that some songs are overanalyzed due to their complex and metaphorical nature.
• It is suggested that not all songs need to be deeply meaningful; some can be enjoyed for their simplicity and fun.
• The song "Paris" by Taylor Swift is used as an example, being described as fun and dramatic but not necessarily lyrically rich.
• The chorus of "Paris" is identified as bland, indicating that not all parts of a song need to be equally strong.

"I think because Taylor songwriting is so kind of complex and metaphorical that people over analyze stuff and sometimes it's just nice to just have a song that it's just not fun it hasn't really gotten too much to say I think you're going to overly think about it it's just a fun song that you know you just enjoy listening to and has a nice beat you know not everything has to be like deep."

This quote explains that the complexity of Taylor Swift's songwriting often leads to overinterpretation, but some songs, like "Paris," are meant to be simple and enjoyable without deep meaning.

• The song "Paris" receives a mixed reception, with some fans defending it for its sweetness and progression.
• The song is appreciated for its slight lyric changes that alter the meaning, a technique that is characteristic of Taylor Swift's songwriting.
• There is a mention of how the song could be particularly special if performed in Paris during a tour.
• Some fans are criticized for blocking the song on Spotify, indicating a lack of willingness to appreciate lighter tracks.

"I have seen I have to say a lot of love and a lot of Defense toward this track."

This quote highlights that despite mixed opinions, there is significant support and affection for the song "Paris" among fans.

• Taylor Swift's songwriting is discussed in terms of its narrative quality, with songs like "Paris" being compared to unreleased early works.
• The discussion touches on the use of simplicity and fun in lyrics, suggesting there is a place for such songs in an artist's discography.
• The song "Paris" is seen as a contrast to more complex songs, providing variety within an album.

"I do think there is a place for Paris in midnights and in general in her discography because we need this type of song."

This quote asserts the importance of having a variety of songs, including simpler and more fun ones, in an artist's body of work.

• The song "High Infidelity" is described as emotionally honest and indicative of the trust between Taylor Swift and producer Aaron Dessner.
• The song's lyrics are seen as a direct reference to specific events in Taylor Swift's life, such as the release date of "This Is What You Came For."
• The song is part of a larger narrative within the album "Midnights," drawing parallels to the album "Speak Now."

"It's very speak now. Do you really want to know where I was April 20th which is the release date of this is what you came for."

The quote points out a direct reference in the song "High Infidelity" to a significant date in Taylor Swift's career, showing the autobiographical nature of her songwriting.

• The songs "High Infidelity" and "Glitch" are discussed in the context of Taylor Swift processing personal experiences from 2016, a tumultuous year in her life.
• The songs are seen as a continuation of the narrative from previous albums, such as "Reputation," and serve as a means for the artist to work through past events.
• The discussion acknowledges that while many songs are fictional, they often contain elements of the artist's personal experiences.

"It's just really interesting to kind of get another song. I know that lots of people being like Oh just keep starting songs about that time it's like. yeah because so much happened and weirdly she hasn't actually mentioned it. that much."

This quote discusses the importance of revisiting significant periods in an artist's life through music, as a way to process and articulate those experiences.

• The use of metaphors and imagery in Taylor Swift's songs is highlighted, with a focus on musical references in "High Infidelity."
• The song is praised for its clever wordplay and thematic consistency.
• The discussion also touches on recurring themes of marriage and commitment, and how they are portrayed in the lyrics.

"She's using so much metaphor and imagery this time from music very purposefully of course because we know you know it's about a musician in the end so high infidelity is a play on words from High Fidelity which is Hi-Fi which is you know the highest level of recordings."

This quote emphasizes the intentional use of musical metaphors in the song "High Infidelity," illustrating the depth of Taylor Swift's lyricism.

• The songs "Invisible String," "Mastermind," and "Glitch" are discussed in terms of their contrasting messages about fate, planning, and serendipity in relationships.
• The conversation suggests that these songs explore the same story from different angles, offering a multifaceted view of the artist's experiences.
• The ability of Taylor Swift to tell the same story in various ways through her songs is commended.

"It's just weird that she kind of has I think too fairly good. it doesn't work because I think it's like invisible strings. like yeah they met they didn't eat then from that point onwards is Mastermind she was like. okay. I want this to work and then glitch was like. oh my God it has worked."

This quote reflects on how Taylor Swift's songs provide different narratives about the same relationship, showing the complexity and depth of her songwriting approach.

• Lisa highlights the stark contrast between two tracks that are sequenced one after the other.
• The contrast is related to the timeline of a relationship spanning six years.
• The release of the song "Midnight" was closely timed with the 2198 days of the couple's love, suggesting a deliberate connection.

"I hadn't realized that the contrast between them and one being after the other that's amazing."

The quote emphasizes Lisa's surprise at realizing the intentional sequencing of the tracks and their connection to the timeline of a relationship.

• The timing of the release of "Midnight" and its proximity to the six-year anniversary of the relationship in question is noted.
• Lisa speculates that the song may have been written around the time of the anniversary.
• The lack of physical releases at the time is mentioned, indicating an unexpected release.

"It was almost like I swear it went the release of midnight the 2198 days of their love was literally like 20 something days before midnight was released or something ridiculous."

Lisa is struck by the coincidence of the release date of "Midnight" and its nearness to the six-year mark of the relationship, suggesting a potential hidden meaning or significance.

• Lisa expresses a strong desire to understand the songwriting process, including the order in which songs were written.
• She is intrigued by the potential timeline and development of the tracks.

"I would love love to know the what kind of started what was kind of the first song that was written."

The quote shows Lisa's curiosity about the creative process behind the music, particularly the chronological order in which the songs were developed.

• Lisa discusses her reaction to the song "Would Have Could Have Should Have."
• She initially missed the song's significance but later recognized its obvious message.
• The song is seen as a reflection on a past relationship and is tied to the artist's growth and maturity.

"Track 19 on the 3am edition of midnights is would have could have should have which was very surprising to hear."

This quote captures Lisa's initial surprise at the song's content and her subsequent realization of its deeper meaning.

• Lisa notes that "Would Have Could Have Should Have" is a clear example of Taylor reflecting on her past relationships with the wisdom of hindsight.
• The song's lyrics suggest a reclaiming of agency and a critique of how Taylor was treated in the past.

"I mean it couldn't be more obvious like speak now Taylor is alive."

Lisa interprets the song as a strong statement from Taylor, reflecting on her past experiences and asserting her perspective.

• The conversation touches on the unfair treatment Taylor received, both within the relationship and from external critics.
• The age difference between Taylor and her partner is highlighted as a point of contention.

"This man was 32 and she was 19."

The quote points out the significant age gap in the relationship, which Lisa believes contributed to the inappropriate dynamics and external judgment Taylor faced.

• The lyrics of "Would Have Could Have Should Have" are analyzed for their emotional depth and use of religious imagery.
• Lisa finds the song's anger and heartbreak to be powerful and poignant.

"It Felt Like Heaven God rest my soul uh I could have got it wrong with the righteous your crisis of my faith."

This quote from the song's lyrics indicates the use of religious imagery to express deep emotional turmoil and reflection on past experiences.

• Lisa supports Taylor's decision to address the inappropriateness of her past relationship and the subsequent fallout.
• The song is seen as a way for Taylor to rewrite the narrative and assert her truth.

"I'm glad that she stood back and been like that was not right what you did."

Lisa approves of Taylor taking a stand and publicly addressing the wrongs she experienced in her past relationship.

• "Dear Reader" is discussed as one of Taylor's most poetic songs, resembling spoken word.
• The song is seen as breaking the fourth wall, directly addressing the listener as a reader.

"Dear reader which we mentioned this but to come back to it I do think it's the most poetic of the songs."

Lisa considers "Dear Reader" to be a standout track in terms of its poetic qualities and direct engagement with the audience.

• "Hits Different" is praised for its fun, upbeat nature and pop sensibility.
• The song is seen as a fusion of past and present Taylor, with references to her previous work.

"Hits different is so good so fun and just so pop like that's the pop moment on the album."

Lisa expresses her love for "Hits Different," highlighting its strong pop elements and its connection to Taylor's earlier musical styles.

• The conversation reflects on Taylor's ability to look back on her experiences and express growth through her music.
• Taylor's versions of her songs are seen as a way to rewrite her personal narrative with newfound maturity.

"Actually, yes with more growth I've realized that this is the situation rather than just being in a heartbroken situation."

Lisa notes that Taylor's music has evolved to include a more mature perspective, allowing her to revisit past experiences with a sense of growth.

• Lisa and Cameron discuss their personal feelings towards a particular song.
• They express a strong emotional connection and appreciation for the lyrics and melody.
• The song's final chorus and its emotional impact are highlighted.

"I really really love this song like generally so much I cannot wait at the moment um I still haven't got my lavender CD no need to wait until I can properly get it and properly burn the CD and put it on my um phone."

The quote reflects Lisa's anticipation and excitement to obtain the physical CD to fully enjoy the song, indicating a deep personal attachment to the music.

• The conversation touches on the difficulties of accessing the music due to streaming restrictions.
• There is a mention of a contract with Target, suggesting exclusive deals affecting music availability.
• The speakers express frustration over not being able to fully process the last three songs due to these restrictions.

"There's definitely a contract going on with Target that is very well done but also very well protected."

This quote implies that the exclusivity of the contract with Target has led to limited access to the music, which impacts the ability to appreciate the songs fully.

• The speakers discuss their opinions on remixed versions of songs.
• They feel that the remixed versions fell short of expectations, comparing them to previous acoustic versions that they admired.
• The term "pointless" is used to describe the remixes, indicating a lack of perceived value or necessity.

"I think there's one word for these two songs and it is pointless."

The quote conveys Cameron's opinion that the remixed versions do not add significant value or new perspective to the original songs.

• The discussion includes the anticipation of what the remixes could have been and the disappointment in what they actually were.
• There is mention of a desire for a different vocal take or a more significant instrumental break in the remixes.
• The speakers had hoped for remixes that would transform the songs into something more exciting or different.

"I really thought it was going to be more just as it is."

Lisa expresses disappointment that the remixes did not meet her expectations, suggesting a missed opportunity for a different musical experience.

• The speakers critique the production and arrangement of the remixed songs.
• They describe one remix as chaotic and lacking focus on the piano or string elements.
• The conversation suggests that the production choices detract from the original essence of the songs.

"It just sounds so chaotic and it's not even really piano or string there's so many other instruments and rubbish going on."

Cameron criticizes the production of the remix, feeling that it is overly complex and fails to enhance the song.

• Despite the overall criticism, there is appreciation for certain elements of the remixes, such as clearer vocal harmonies.
• The speakers acknowledge that some aspects of the stripped-back versions are enjoyable.

"There is more that there's a clearness to it that's why I mean like it's kind of strict backed which I get the point of it."

Lisa notes that the clarity in the remixes is one of the redeeming qualities, showing that they can appreciate specific details even if they do not favor the overall remix.

• The conversation includes speculation about the artist's intentions and the contractual obligations that may have influenced the remixes.
• The speakers discuss their own expectations as fans and how the actual releases compared to those expectations.

"I do think this was kind of like Target asked for you know we want a few tracks and Taylor said. okay."

Cameron suggests that the remixed tracks might have been the result of a compromise to fulfill a contractual request rather than a fully realized artistic endeavor.

• Lisa and Cameron share their current top five songs from the discussed album.
• They acknowledge that their preferences are still forming and may change over time.
• The conversation reflects the subjective nature of music appreciation and the evolving relationship listeners have with songs.

"So my top five I definitely would have could have should have Paris Paris is in there."

Lisa shares her personal favorites, indicating the songs that currently resonate with her the most.

• The dialogue touches on the idea that more time with the music will likely enhance their appreciation and understanding.
• There is an understanding that initial reactions to music can evolve with repeated listening and deeper engagement.

"I think the more time we have with it the better it will get honestly."

The quote by Cameron suggests that their connection to the songs is expected to grow as they spend more time listening and reflecting on them.

• The speakers discuss their overall impressions of the album and its place within the artist's discography.
• They consider the album's variety and how it reflects different aspects of the artist's career.
• The conversation includes thoughts on how the album might rank against the artist's other works in the future.

"I think the midnights is definitely kind of pushing up their album ranking at the moment."

Lisa expresses that her opinion of the album is improving over time, indicating a growing appreciation for its place within the artist's body of work.

• The speakers express gratitude for the new music and the opportunity to discuss it with the fan community.
• They reflect on reaching milestones in their podcast journey and the excitement around the album's release.
• The conversation highlights the importance of community and interaction in the experience of enjoying and analyzing music.

"And yeah these songs are great. and I will be intrigued to see how in time hopefully we'll do an album retrospective like we have with folklore on Evermore."

Cameron looks forward to future discussions and deeper analysis of the album, appreciating the ongoing engagement with the music and the listener community.