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Taylor Swift made it clear longbeforeMidnightsthat she wants … our actual midnights.
In honor ofMidnightsmadness, Ive ranked them by how midnights-y they feel.
What is the definition of midnights-y, you ask?
The mistakes here arent the ones that will blow up your entire life.
Love: 1Fear: 0Turmoil: 0Tears: 0Sleeplessness: 3
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE: 4
12.
… Ready For It?
That doesnt seem like the insomniac Taylor we know and love.
But I guess everyone has to snooze sometimes.
Her sleeping admission knocks this track down in the rankings.
It also lacks the fear, turmoil, and tears were looking for.
Love:5Fear:0Turmoil:0Tears:0Sleeplessness:0
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:5
11.
Unfortunately, Taylor once again implies shes asleep when she mentions being in a dream.
Love:5Fear:0Turmoil:0Tears:1Sleeplessness:0
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:6
10.
Its literally in the title.
But if youre drinking coffee at midnight, that sleeplessness is intentional whichtechnicallycounts.
Love:5Fear:0Turmoil:0Tears:0Sleeplessness:3
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:8
9.
Teens usually have curfews), we have someone (but not Taylor!)
These concepts are there in the vaguest of senses.
We even have a mention of late-night driving, a recurring theme thatbecomes more dangerousas Taylor gets older.
(I just hopethisguy had his headlights on.)
Love:3Fear:1Turmoil:1Tears:3Sleeplessness:3
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:11
8.
Playing card games with Salvador Dali?
Founding her own ballet company out of spite?
But the song is only partially about Taylor, so it gets docked by a few points.
Love:2Fear:2Turmoil:2Tears:2Sleeplessness:5
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:13
7.
(See what I mean about driving becoming more dangerous as Taylor gets older?
Why are you not driving?!)
Style is a Swift classic.
you might dance to it.
you might cry to it if thats more your speed (Ive done both!).
Its got that red-lip, classic thing that we like about a Taylor song.
Its a sexy jam about a love you know is bad for you but youre going to enjoy anyway.
Those relationships are the ones that usually end up in burning flames.
If there is a sleepless night from the1989era onMidnights, I expect it to sound like this.
Love:4Fear:2Tears:0Turmoil:4Sleeplessness:5
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:15
6.
She waxes poetic about her worry that this relationship may end, but she doesnt want it to.
Now lets go clean up glitter and bottles.
Love:5Fear:4Turmoil:2Tears:2Sleeplessness:4
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:17
5.
But its also hopeful, looking forward to when finally, some day, youve moved on.
There is pain in this song, but pain thats accompanied by the knowledge that its temporary.
Or maybe Ive seen that post too many times.
I told you I need sleep.
Love:4Fear:2Turmoil:3Tears:5Sleeplessness:4
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:18
4.
Honestly, who knows.
But this spoken lyric checks all the boxes.
It acts as a thesis statement forLover, an album about different kinds of love.
Is there a better way to find yourself than by juxtaposing these two things?
Even good things can cause sleeplessness, fear, and tears.
Love:5Fear:5Turmoil:2Tears:2Sleeplessness:5
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:19
3.
Dancing around the kitchen in the refrigerator light has been romanticized in Swiftie brains for a decade now.
But I digress.)
All Too Well is midnights-y to a tee.
When Taylor defined the concept behindMidnights, I immediately thought ofRedand the stories in All Too Well.
I wouldnt be surprised if that era of her life inspired many of the songs on the new album.
Love:5Fear:2Turmoil:3Tears:5Sleeplessness:5
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:20
2.
And what causes more fear, turmoil, tears, and sleeplessness than that?
Another win for anxiety, everyone!
Love:1Fear:5Turmoil:5Tears:5Sleeplessness:5
TOTAL MIDNIGHTS-Y SCALE:21
1.
These are the types of nights Taylor is referencing.
Heres the tossing and turning, the fear, turmoil, and tears all thanks to love being lost.
Better Man captures it perfectly.
These are the songs that keep us up at night wondering how she could possibly know what were feeling.
