Continuing my ranking of the songs on Taylor Swift’s new album, Midnights…
#9. ‘Maroon‘
I like the chorus of this song better than the verses, which suffer from awkward phrasing. Overall a decent vibe.
#8. ‘Snow On the Beach‘
As a big Lana Del Rey fan, I was eagerly anticipating this collaboration. Unfortunately, it’s a stretch to call it that. Del Rey shares a writing credit, but her vocal contribution is relegated to some backing vocals and a couple of lines in the chorus. I wish she’d been given a verse like Phoebe Bridgers on the excellent ‘Nothing New.’ Apart from that criticism, this is a decent song.
#7. ‘Lavender Haze’
Midnights‘ opening track kicks things off on a strong note. This track has definite 1989 and Lover vibes, playing like a cross between ‘Style’ and ‘I Think He Knows.’ That’s a good thing in my book, as those are two of my favorite Swift albums.
Meet me at midnight
[Verse 1]
Staring at the ceiling with you
Oh, you don’t ever say too much
And you don’t really read into
My melancholia
[Pre-Chorus]
I been under scrutiny (Yeah, oh, yeah)
You handle it beautifully (Yeah, oh, yeah)
All this shit is new to me (Yeah, oh, yeah)
[Chorus]
I feel the lavender haze creeping up on me
Surreal
I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
[Verse 2]
All they keep asking me (All they keep asking me)
Is if I’m gonna be your bride
The only kinda girl they see (Only kinda girl they see)
Is a one-night or a wife
[Pre-Chorus]
I find it dizzying (Yeah, oh, yeah)
They’re bringing up my history (Yeah, oh, yeah)
But you weren’t even listening (Yeah, oh, yeah)
[Chorus]
I feel the lavender haze creepin’ up on me
Surreal
I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
[Post-Chorus]
That lavender haze
[Bridge]
Talk your talk and go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk (Get it off my desk)
Talk your talk and go viral
I just need this love spiral
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
[Chorus]
I feel (I feel), the lavender haze creeping up on me
Surreal
I’m damned if I do give a damn what people say
No deal (No deal)
The 1950s shit they want from me
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
[Outro]
Get it off your chest
Get it off my desk
That lavender haze
I just wanna stay
I just wanna stay in that lavender haze
Meet Me In Montauk 
Unlike you, I’m less of a fan of Swift’s more EDM- like style most prominent on albums such as 1989 and Lover; however, the songs leaning on that style on Midnight, like Lavender Haze, strike a better balance for me overall.
I don’t understand what Taylor Swift’s weird obsession is with keeping female features relegated to background vocals, but it seems particularly egregious when it comes to freaking Lana Del Rey. For that slight alone, “Snow on the Beach” deserves this low ranking. I guess every artist has their fatal flaw, but this is such an odd one given how much she promotes women in general!
As to “Maroon”, I share your feelings. Although I like the chorus better than the verses, I still don’t love the structure of anticipating Swift finally saying the song’s title. I’m not a fan of this technique in general and it doesn’t seem particularly well served here. Apt placement.
“Lavender Haze” is a very strong opener and sets the tone for this album well, but not one I always return to on repeat listens.
Fair commentary here overall!
I would bump Maroon higher on a personal list, I’m not bothered by the verse phrasing and I actually think those make the songs stronger by being unique and creating an anticipatory/reflective mood for the song.
Not as upset at the Lana usage either as I sort of assume that’s the way she, Jack and Taylor saw fit to bring her into the vibes of Snow on the Beach. But I do see how giving a verse would have been nice here. Still, this song and “Lavender Haze” are also lower on my list.
Maroon is my favorite of this bunch, mostly because I’m intrigued by how cleverly she revisits the Red era and uses a new shade to reveal her further reflection on that time in her life.