God is a Woman & it’s Taylor Swift

graphic by our lovely Executive Digital Director, Lucy Stover

Whether you're the heartbroken, the heartbreaker, or still awaiting your romantic debut “Midnights” is the album for you. 

Taylor Swift has rewinded back to her “Red” and “1989” eras with this album, as it bleeds of pure pop. But if, like us, you find the storytelling of the sister-albums “Folklore” and “Evermore” just.. *chefs kiss* do not fret. 

Although Swift utilizes the pop genre as the basis of sound design and iconic note variations/pitches/etc., the lyricism is the same: heartbreak central. She is seriously the only artist we know that could take an oversimplified genre and redefine it to layer multidimensional meanings through catchy beats. 

Ok, in English this time: It’s not just pop. And if you think it is, read the lyrics & listen again.

Somehow, the “Mastermind” herself was able to authentically explain every emotion ever felt in an easily digestible (and ~heartbreaking~) way. So if you want to find the track that just gets you, here’s an in depth analysis of each of the thirteen songs. 

P.S. we didn’t even try to rank them because literally none of the editors could agree. Oopsies.

Lavender Haze

Ah, the blindness of love. A phrase coined in the 50s, “lavender haze” quite literally means to be in love. This song accurately portrays the feelings of falling head first into a relationship. Swift, being the icon she is, has been in the public light for far too long. And us Swifties have kind of been all up in her business. This song, with its fun and catchy beat, is her pretty much telling everyone to fuck off. She’s in love, and won’t let any outside influence change that. Period. Oh, and she might be queer. But we’ll let the gaylors handle that for us.

Maroon 

OK, we all know red. And now maroon? This song seems to be alluding to her earlier days of being in love, but through a seemingly older, wiser lens. This song explains how remembrance of past lovers just comes with falling out of love. I know you’ve all been there– you think you’re over it until you smell their cologne wafting in Ernie. It fucking sucks. But this song shows a new appreciation for ex-flings. It just screams growth. 

Anti-Hero 

Self-loathing is brutal and shockingly universal. Even THE Taylor Swift seems to hate herself sometimes, and this song is a reflection of that. The lyrics are so raw and puts to rest the stir of Taylor always “victimizing” herself in songs. Fuck you guys for that one. Yet, it’s still so upbeat… Like seriously, how does she do it? Bestie, we literally want to die stop making us bounce around while we’re at it. 

Snow on the Beach (feat. Lana Del Rey… or is it?)

A beautiful melody about falling in love with someone as they simultaneously fall for you too. It just seems a little too surreal… like snow on the beach :)). Idk the only good lyric is, “weird but fucking beautiful.” C’mon Taylor, we need more Lana. 

You’re On Your Own, Kid 

Dare we say the best album on the track? Everything about this song is so perfect. The imagery, the message, everything about this song makes us wanna inject it into our veins. It’s all about caring more about someone than they’ll ever care about you. Kind of losing yourself in the fight to win them over, but destroying yourself in the process. Maybe it’s not even about an ex. Just maybe, that lost love was a parent, a “platonic” friend, or even your own self-love. Sleeping in the street tn.

Midnight Rain 

Are you scared of comfortability? Do you find yourself always ruining the good guys? Do you feel like you’re “too much” in relationships? Here’s your fucking anthem. Even though the beginning lowkey sounds like James Charles, just ignore it. Still a bop.

Question…? 

Literally so many questions. This song is about feeling so lost in a tumultuous relationship. Highs, lows, and bad communication. Such a delicious recipe for an interesting dynamic. I mean have you ever kissed someone in a crowded room? Unless a frat counts– no, I haven’t Tay. But this is now on my bucket list. 

Vigilante Shit 

Bad. Bitch. Anthem. This just screams Reputation and we are all living for the EDM vibes. This is now all of our motivation to get fucking revenge. If this is “too pop” for you, simply shut the f*ck up. Not every song can be “Coney Island” and i’m-s0-fucking-sad-in-my-hometown vibes. Let the girlipops with PTSD have our fucking moment.

Bejeweled 

Taylor said know your worth, so now we all must listen. You actually HAVE been a little too kind. Bring back being mean. Get out of that relationship that’s weighing you down and realize you can make this whole place shimmer. Sure, you might miss him, but don’t you miss you more? This song is lowkey sisters with “Mirrorball” which makes it 10x more intense for the people pleaser in us all.

Labyrinth 

Suddenly, we’re not over him(/her/them). This song feels very whimsical, almost as if you are floating. And the message is clear: old lovers affect the way you love. Whether we admit it or not, we’ve all developed defense mechanisms which prevent us from falling into the honeymoon phase so innocently. Idek if we want that plane to turn around. Like ever again.

Karma 

Jesus f*cking christ. THIS SONG. IS EVERYTHING. Karma is my girl queen pussy boss bestie for the restie type shit. We will be screaming this at our enemies till the end of our days. a) because fuck you, we hope karma gets your ass. b) it is literally so catchy wtf.

Sweet Nothing 

Simply put, this is the cutest song ever made. Imagine being in such an easy relationship where there are no ulterior motives. There’s “Sweet Nothing.” Play only when you know for sure that you’re with your forever person. If y’all break up, you’re literally never going to be able to listen to it again so be careful.

Mastermind 

Taylor spilled the beans. Now, everyone knows how we manufacture every relationship we’ve ever been in. That meet-cute? Planned it at brunch last weekend. The “nonchalant” way we asked her out? Literally mapped it out on a whiteboard. ~Supposedly~ there is no tricking people into loving us… but the Swifties can keep trying.

Ok, if you don’t like the album BY NOW… sorry not sorry. We are not gonna apologize for your lack of tears. 

The truth is-- this album cannot be quantified in words. These songs are not about a simple breakup or a shitty ex-partner. You can’t “All Too Well” outta this one.

“Midnights” depicts the kind of trauma-induced soul searching you are forced to endure when even your crying playlist can’t make tears well up anymore. That girl didn’t break just your heart– every person and every thing you have ever been socialized to trust in this world has been torn from your not-so-innocent hands and now all you have is yourself. And you don’t even know if you like you. Not anymore. 

Sorry, shoulda kept that one in therapy. 

But if you guys can’t relate to that kinda destruction, we envy you. Go ahead and listen to “Folklore” for the millionth time. We’ll keep “Midnights” for the jerkies.

<3 your b*tchy editors