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Taylor Swift releases Midnights: Fans and critics praise the dark and cryptic album - as it happened

Taylor Swift has released her 10th album, Midnights, along with a new video and a surprise seven additional songs.

Critics have so far shared positive review, includingThe Independent which gave Midnights five stars. Critic Helen Brown called it her “darkest and most cryptic album yet”.

Fans are also praising the record, and claiming that Swift temporarily crashed Spotify upon the release of the seven bonus tracks.

Many are now poring over Swift’s lyrics for her usual easter eggs and any references to her personal life.

A few particuarly pointed lyrics in “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” – taken from the album’s 3am Edition – seem to allude to her previous relationship with John Mayor.

The release of the music video for “Anti-Hero” – directed by Swift, herself – has certainly provided Swift fans with plenty of material to pour over.

Some fans believe “Lavender Haze” references Swift’s current partner, the actor Joe Alwyn, and calls out speculation over their relationship status.

Follow live updates below:

Taylor Swift releases Midnights, her 10th studio album

Friday 21 October 2022 14:35 , Roisin O'Connor

Hi and welcome to our liveblog of all things Taylor.

Let’s start with the obvious, what did The Independent say about her 10th studio album, Midnights?

Well, take a look at Helen Brown’s five-star review, if the rating alone didn’t make it clear!

Midnights is Taylor Swift’s darkest and most cryptic album yet - review

Full tracklist and runtimes for ‘Midnights'

Friday 21 October 2022 14:48 , Annabel Nugent

‘Midnights’ has, of course, 13 tracks. Fans of Swift will know that number 13 is the singer’s lucky number – you can find the full tracklist and runtimes below:

1. “Lavender Haze” / 3:22

2. “Maroon” / 3:38

3. “Anti-Hero” / 3:20

4. “Snow on the Beach” (featuring Lana Del Rey) / 4:16

5. “You’re on Your Own, Kid” / 3:14

6. “Midnight Rain” / 2:54

7. “Question...?” / 3:30

8. “Vigilante Shit” / 2:44

9. “Bejeweled” / 3:14

10. “Labyrinth” / 4:07

11. “Karma” / 3:24

12. “Sweet Nothing” / 3:08

13. “Mastermind” / 3:11

What the critics are saying about ‘Midnights'

Friday 21 October 2022 15:01 , Annabel Nugent

The reception to ‘Midnights’ has been rapturous from fans and critics alike. In addition to The Independent’s own five-star review, other publications have heaped praise on Swift’s latest album.

The Guardian’s five-star review commends Midnights on its “confident songwriting and understated synth-pop”.

Meanwhile, Rollingstone gave the record a four-star review, noting that musically, Midnights appears to return to the contemporary pop landscape after Folklore and Evermore.

NME likewise gave the album a four-star review, writing that it offers up “brighter, future-facing sounds”.

The Telegraph’s four-star write-up singles out the moody “Midnight Rain” as the most interesting track.

Fans say Jake Gyllenhaal may have avoided mention – but John Mayer didn’t

Friday 21 October 2022 15:26 , Annabel Nugent

There are no shortage of lyrical references for fans to dig into.

Many Swifties have already identified what they believe to be subtle nods to Swift’s previous relationship with John Mayer, with the singer’s name now trending on Twitter.

One such moment arrives on “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve”. Swift sings: “If you tasted poison you could’ve spit me out at the first chance/ And if I was some paint, did it splatter on a promising grown man? / And if I was a child did it matter if you got to wash your hands?”

Elsewhere, she sings: “I’m damn sure would’ve never danced with the devil at 19/ Give me back my girlhood, it was mine first.”

Swift and Mayer dated between 2009 and 2010 when she was 19 and he was 32.

Lucky number 13

Friday 21 October 2022 15:27 , Annabel Nugent

The number 13 has appearead again and again across Taylor Swift’s music, so it makes sense that ‘Midnights’ has 13 tracks.

Here are a few other times that Swift has used the number 13:

1. One of the first times that Swift fans noticed the number was on her early track “Call It What You Want”, which had a 13-second introduction.

2. Likewise, her first No 1 hit “Our Song” featured an introduction of that exact same length

3. In the music video for “... Ready For It”, the two digits can be seen in big numbers on the left-hand side of the frame at 0:20

4. On “Lucky One” – which is the 13th track on her album Red – Swift repeats the word “lucky” 13 times

5. Eagle-eyed fans have also spotted the number written on her hand before many live performances

Taylor Swift shares trailer teasing all the music videos to come...

Friday 21 October 2022 15:50 , Annabel Nugent

Fans are poring over every tiny detail in the Swift-directed “Anti-Hero” music video – and if the teaser trailer Swift shared for the rest of her videos is anything to go by, the fans are in for a treat!

All the times Taylor Swift swears on ‘Midnights’, ranked from least to most sweary

Friday 21 October 2022 16:00 , Annabel Nugent

There’s no shortage of emotion on Midnights, and Swift doesn’t hestitate to speak her mind – sometimes using colourful language to do so.

Credit to Vulture who has ranked her swear words on Midnights from least to most adult.

At the tamer end of the list is “Lavender Haze”, in which the words “damn” and “s***” appear. On some tracks, though, Swift brings out the F-word, as on “Snow on the Beach” and “Maroon”.

At the top end of the list is “Question...”, featuring a pop verse that packs a punch. “One thing/ After/ Another/ F***in’/ Situation,” Swift repeats.

All the celebrities confirmed to appear in ‘Midnights’ music videos

Friday 21 October 2022 16:20 , Annabel Nugent

The Midnights music videos will see Swift joined by a star-studded.

Confirmed to appear in the videos are the Haim sisters, Laura Dern, Laith Ashley, Mike Birbiglia, Dita Von Teese, John Early, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, makeup artist Pat McGrath, and Swift’s long-time collaborator Jack Antonoff.

 (Twitter)
(Twitter)

Taylor Swift joins forces with Dylan O’Brien again on ‘Snow on the Beach’

Friday 21 October 2022 16:40 , Annabel Nugent

Attentive fans have noticed that actor Dylan O’Brien plays the drums on “Snow on the Beach”, which features Lana Del Rey.

O’Brien previously starred opposite Taylor Swift and Stranger Things’s Sadie Sink in the short film for “All Too Well”.

Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink in the music video for ‘All Too Well’ (YouTube)
Dylan O’Brien and Sadie Sink in the music video for ‘All Too Well’ (YouTube)

What does the ‘sexy baby’ lyric mean in ‘Anti-Hero’?

Friday 21 October 2022 17:00 , Annabel Nugent

One lyric in particular on Midnights, has created more consternation than others.

On “Anti-Hero”, Swift sings: “Sometimes, I feel like everybody is a sexy baby / And I’m a monster on the hill.”

Some fans have suggested that the phrase “sexy baby” is ripped from a season five episode of 30 Rock. Find out more about the theory below...

Taylor Swift’s ‘sexy baby’ lyric on ‘Midnights’ might be a secret 30 Rock reference

Taylor Swift hits out at Joe Alwyn marriage speculation on Midnights track ‘Lavender Haze’

Friday 21 October 2022 17:20 , Amanda Whiting

Taylor Swift has responded to the consistent speculation about her relationship with Joe Alwyn in the Midnights track, “Lavender Haze”.

The lyrics to the album’s opening track include: “All they keep asking me / Is if I’m gonna be your bride / The only kinda girl they see / Is a one night or a wife” she sings, before the chorus: “I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say/ No deal/ The 1950s s*** they want from me.”

Read more below.

Taylor Swift hits out at Joe Alwyn marriage rumours on ‘Lavender Haze’

Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey shout out Janet Jackson on ‘Snow on the Beach'

Friday 21 October 2022 17:50 , Amanda Whiting

“Snow on the Beach” is the only song on Midnights to credit a featured performer other than Taylor Swift.

Lana Del Rey, who co-wrote the song with Swift and their shared producer Jack Antonoff, also provides gauzy if hard to detect vocals on the romantic track.

Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey in 2012 (Getty Images for MTV)
Taylor Swift and Lana Del Rey in 2012 (Getty Images for MTV)

The song’s lyrics also feature a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it homage to pop star Janet Jackson: “I can’t speak, afraid to jinx it / I don’t even dare to wish it / But your eyes are flying saucers from another planet / Now I’m all for you like Janet”

The mention alludes to Jackson’s hit 2001 album All For You.

Taylor Swift reveals her biggest fear on Midnights – elevators

Friday 21 October 2022 18:24 , Amanda Whiting

Taylor Swift made several revelations with the release of her latest album, Midnights. From celebrity feuds to her relationship status with her boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, Swift laid it all out on the table, including one previously unknown fact about herself.

She hates elevators.

Read about her metaphorically resonant fear below.

Taylor Swift reveals her biggest fear on Midnights – elevators

Where was Taylor Swift on 29 April?

Friday 21 October 2022 19:01 , Amanda Whiting

The impossibly mysterious refrain on the Midnights bonus track “High Infidelity” has listeners checking their calendars.

“Do you really wanna know where I was April 29th? / Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?” Swift sings in a refrain, alluding to an infidelity that may have occured on that date.

On Twitter, a Swiftie scavenger hunt to document the singer’s whereabouts every 29 April is, of course, already underway.

In 2012, she was apparently at Glee star Dianna Agron’s birthday party.

In 2016, the Calvin Harris and Rihanna song “This Is What You Came For” – which was co-written by Swift under a pseudonym – was released.

In 2014, she went shopping while wearing a black hat.

That accounts for three of the 32 possible 29 Aprils in Taylor Swift’s life that the song could be alluding to.

Whatever else is true, expect the date to become an unofficial holiday for Swifties.

'Sis you just broke spotify’

Friday 21 October 2022 19:32 , Amanda Whiting

After weeks of teases and staggered reveals, Taylor Swift’s album arrived with an extra surprise for Swifties.

The singer dropped a special edition of the album including seven bonus tracks, titled Midnights (3am Edition).

The album was apparently so in demand that Spotify crashed for a short time.

“Sis you just broke spotify,” wrote one fan on Twitter.

Read more about it below.

Taylor Swift fans tell singer she ‘broke Spotify’

Midnights lyric videos to drop at 8PM EST / 1 AM BST

Friday 21 October 2022 19:55 , Amanda Whiting

Taylor Swift has revealed lyric videos to accompany her new album Midnights will drop on Friday (21 October).

In a video posted to TikTok, Swift gives her fans a rundown of the week’s album-related events, including the album release (tick) and the music video drop for her single “Anti-Hero” (tick).

Next up? The release of lyric videos for the songs, which are expected to be available from 8PM EST / 1 AM BST.

@taylorswift

Mark your calendars! Meet the Midnights Manifest 📜 #tsmidnights #swifttok #midnightsmanifest

♬ original sound - Taylor Swift

In the clip, Swift’s calendar also reveals that the pop singer will appear on Monday’s (24 October) episode of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and drop her second music video off Midnights on Tuesday (25 October) at, you guessed it, midnight (12AM EST / 5 AM BST).

On Friday 28 October, Swift will be a guest on The Graham Norton Show.

Taylor Swift fans speculate that Scooter Braun is the target on new songs ‘Karma’ and ‘Vigilate S***’

Friday 21 October 2022 20:15 , Amanda Whiting

It wouldn’t be a Taylor Swift album if legions of her fans didn’t race to suss out who the pop singer is obliquely referencing in each of her intensely personal tracks.

When it comes to Scooter Braun, with whom Swift has publicly feuded for years, two songs off her new album Midnights have been a source of speculation – “Karma” and “Vigilante S***”.

On “Karma”, Swift sings: “Spider boy, king of thieves / Weave your little webs of opacity/ My pennies made your crown / Trick me once, trick me twice / Don’t you know that cash ain’t the only price / It’s coming back around.”

Braun was previously the owner of the masters to Swift’s music and is also an investor in the lifestyle brand 100 Thieves.

On the song “Vigilante S***”, Swift sings: “Now she gets the house, gets the kids, gets the pride / Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife.”

Some fans believe this song references Braun’s recent divorce from wife Yael Cohen. The former couple have three children and, according to court documents, Cohen maintained ownership of their family home after the split.

That said, other fans think the exact same songs are really about Kanye West, with whom Swift has also publicly feuded for years. West is in the midst of a divorce from his former partner, Kim Kardashian.

Tom Hiddleston or Taylor Lautner? All the fan theories about ‘Midnight Rain'

Friday 21 October 2022 20:40 , Amanda Whiting

Taylor Swift has a knack for confessional song writing that obscures just enough detail that two fans scrutinising the same track can walk away with very different ideas of what it’s about.

Such is the case with “Midnight Rain”, the sixth song on Swift’s newest album. On social media, fans who have been analysing the lyrics can’t quite agree which of Swift’s former romantic partners is being referenced.

The song opens with the following lyrics: “He wanted it comfortable, I wanted that pain / He wanted a bride, I was making my own name / Chasing that fame, he stayed the same / All of me changed like midnight.”

Some listeners believe those words are a reference to British actor Tom Hiddleston, who Swift dated in 2016, and who is currently engaged to actor Zawe Ashton.

That said, other Swifties are just as certain the song is intended as a reference to Twilight star Taylor Lautner. One telling lyric for people who support this reading is the couplet: “I broke his heart 'cause he was nice / He was sunshine, I was midnight rain.”

Don’t lose me, but in Twilight, Lautner played a character called Jacob Black, who was frequently described as sharing the radiant qualities of the sun.

Fans who believe “Midnight Rain” is about Lautner also point to the relationship’s timeline. The song references a speaker who was “making my own name / Chasing that fame”, which is arguably a fair description of Swift in 2009.

In 2016 when Swift dated Hiddleston, the argument goes, she was “already famous”.

That’s all for the first day of Midnights

Friday 21 October 2022 21:27 , Amanda Whiting

Has an album ever produced more speculative fan theories and ecastatic reaction videos than Midnights did in a single day’s listening on Friday (21 October)? I suspect not. And yet this is really just the beginning of Midnights’ slow roll-out. There are lyric videos and music videos to come. There are talk show appearances, and then, finally, a UK concert tour – her first in 5 years.

As the saying (kind of) goes, it’s always midnight somwhere.

Midnights is a record smasher

Saturday 22 October 2022 15:07 , Isobel Lewis

We’re signing off on the live blog, but leaving with the exciting news that, less than 24 hours after its release, Midnights already smashed Spotify’s record for most-streamed album in a single day.

Turns out Swift’s pretty excited about it too – you can find out more below!

Taylor Swift’s Midnights named most-streamed album in a single day on Spotify ever

Enjoy listening to the album this weekend!