Every Song On Taylor Swift’s Midnights, Ranked!

On Friday 21 October, the world was blessed with Taylor Swift’s tenth album, Midnights. More understated than previous releases, this album grows on you. As you learn the lyrics you peel back the layers and start to appreciate the hard graft that went into creating one of her most mature albums yet. Here’s my ranking, from great to God-tier…

13. Snow On The Beach (feat. Lana Del Ray)

Note the addition, feat. Lana Del Ray, then try and spot Lana Del Ray on this track. Blink and you miss her vocals in the background, which is the only downside to an otherwise magical song that’s as close as you can come to a Christmas tune in October.

12. Labyrinth

One of the softest, dreamiest tracks, Labyrinth perfectly captures what it’s like to start hoping again after a setback. For those four minutes, you feel it. But I’ll confess, it took me several listens to actually remember how it sounded.

11. Midnight Rain

This one grows on me every time I hear it, owing to a very catchy chorus. Bonus points for the line about peppermint candy. I just think it’s neat.

10. Question…?

Can I ask you a question? How does Taylor Swift keep writing songs this good? I have no idea but I hope she keeps going. Despite a hyper-specific chorus, Question…? remains solidly relatable.

9. Lavender Haze

Lavender Haze is the perfect track to introduce Midnights. Taylor’s here, she’s happy, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. But just for the record, I think it’s great. This only ranks ninth because the rest of the album is such a vibe.

8. Sweet Nothing

I’m a romantic at heart and, co-written with William Bowery aka long-term partner Joe Alwyn, Sweet Nothing is one of the cutest songs I’ve heard. There is something wonderfully intimate in the image of a pebble they collected together, mirrored in the cosy piano melody.

7. Vigilante Sh**

The perfect vibe for a Billie Eilish collaboration (please), this edgy track has some of Midnights’ sharpest lyrics. The message? Men are rubbish, but never fear! Taylor Swift is out doing her civilian duty and reporting them to the FBI whilst looking fabulous.

6. Karma

After Reputation, most people expected Karma, to be a brooding revenge anthem. Instead, it’s a bubbly ode to the perks of having karma on your side. Goodbye witch hunts, hello to the breeze in my hair on the weekend. Taylor Swift is thriving and, for three minutes 24 seconds, so are we.

5. Bejewelled

This song sparkles in every possible way. Twinkling synth and shimmering vocals in the ultimate confidence-boosting pop package. And, to top it off, Taylor revealed on The Tonight Show that she had a whole pdf of Easter eggs to spot in the music video. Forget diamonds, Ms Taylor Swift is a girl’s best friend.

4. Anti-Hero

Self-loathing has never been so catchy. It’s one of those songs that you dance to with your mates, and then think wait...these lyrics are actually quite sad you know. Then you shrug and keep dancing. Anti-Hero is a certified bop.

3. You’re On Your Own, Kid

A message to Taylor’s younger self, You’re On Your Own, Kid starts off dreamy and hopeful, and swells to a bridge with a level of structural integrity engineers can only aspire to. Listening to this, you realise life’s gonna turn out okay. Thanks, Taylor.

2. Mastermind

“I’m only cryptic and Machiavellian ‘cause I care.” Cue Swifties everywhere screaming. At this point, Taylor’s insane capacity for clue-dropping is part of her charm. We love her for that, and she loves us for loving that. Also the song, with Stranger Things style synth intro, absolutely slaps. That’s the important bit.

1. Maroon

I will refrain from quoting the entire song back to you, but it has some of the best lines on Midnights. Sonically Reputation, lyrically Taylor Swift’s Red era at its finest, I had to give it top spot.

(3am Edition) tracks

I debated including the 3am Edition tracks in my overall ranking, but decided to rank the album as Taylor intended and keep these gems separate. As a big Evermore fan myself, I must confess that Aaron Dessner’s production on these extras means they’re my faves. On first listening, I screamed.

7. Bigger Than The Whole Sky

It feels mean putting this track last because it’s such a complete contrast to the other songs on the album. Be warned, looking up theories about this song will make you cry.

6. Dear Reader

Shout out to the lyric “no one sees when you lose when you’re playing solitaire.” I had to take a moment to write that down. Good stuff.

5. Glitch

Nothing Taylor does is an accident. And that time her Spotify videos all glitched? Not coincidence, oh no, but an Easter egg to make us scream. Is it her most technically accomplished song? Probably not. But it’s still an absolute jam.

4. High Infidelity

A song that lives up to its masterpiece of a title. “Do I really have to chart the constellations in his eyes?” Do I really have to tell you why I love this song?

3. Paris

This would’ve been at home on Lover, since the same bubbly pop makes you want to hop on a train and see the City of Love. Super fun, Paris is impossible not to sing along to.

2. The Great War

It was close between this and Paris for spot two, but in the end, I am a sucker for a metaphor. Beautiful lyrics, another iconic bridge, and Taylor Swift at her storytelling prime. Yes please.

1. Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve

This is why I am a diehard Swiftie. This song right here. I have prayed at the altar of Taylor, and now reap my musical reward. Telling the tale of a destructive adolescent love turned sour that never quite relinquishes its grip, it’s just banger after banger after emotionally scarring banger.

Now go forth and get Midnights to the top of your Spotify wrapped!