Night Water Cooler

Night Water Cooler: "Midnights" Listening Party

We would be remiss not to discuss these musical late night vibes.

Adam Cecil

Adam Cecil

— 2 min read
Night Water Cooler: "Midnights" Listening Party

As the premier late night newsletter, Night Water would be remiss not to celebrate the release of Taylor Swift’s tenth studio album, Midnights. A concept album detailing “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout [her] life,” Midnights embodies “late night vibes.”

"We lie awake in love and in fear, in turmoil and in tears. We stare at walls and drink until they speak back. We twist in our self-made cages and pray that aren't - right this minute - about to make some fateful life-altering mistake. This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching - hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve... we'll meet ourselves. Midnights, the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life, will be out October 21. Meet me at midnight."
Midnights announcement image from Taylor Swift’s social media.

Are you listening to Midnights on your streaming platform or physical disc of choice? Let’s use this thread to share thoughts, feelings, concerns, theories, disappointment, joys, memories, hugs, tears, and more user-generated content.

This Night Water Cooler is a relic from Night Water's days on Substack, and the original comments are stuck over there. Luckily, copy and paste exists. Here's a selection of Taylor Swift hot takes from the original thread:

😌
TS' music is my safe space and I have found that she constantly is growing up with her audience and is taking us on a journey of self discovery. Sometimes she's preachy, sometimes she's sad, but she's always Taylor.
- Lindsey
❄️
I still haven't finished my first listen of Midnights because I listened to Carly Rae Jepson's new album The Loneliest Time first... which was the right decision. Can't believe T.Swift did my girl Lana Del Rey dirty like that on "Snow On The Beach".
- Adam
🤬
Swears too much! No reason to swear that much for the first time at 32!
- Noah
🫤
Can't believe I missed this listening party. I was extremely underwhelmed on first lesson. Almost all the songs left me wanting more (except for Mastermind and You're On Your Own Kid). But it's grown on me so much more with every subsequent listen. It's still no Lover, but she's still got it.
- Zia
🕒
what an album - every song is a hit! will return with more thoughts after a full listen, but highly recommend the 3am edition (high infidelity is 🤌)
- Sami
🤔
So I actually have a theory there is no new Taylor Swift album
- Patrick
😠
JFC this is so overwrought.

What has TS had to lie awake in fear of in her life? When she'll add another million Instagram followers?

Her parents were affluent enough to send her to New York City for vocal lessons and move the family to Nashville when she thought she would pursue country music. She may have an innate songwriting talent, but she never had to balance it against competing needs like an unsupportive family or a lack of access.

Meanwhile across this country millions lie awake at night worrying about real things: can they pay rent, can they afford to buy food, whether they'll lose their job, whether the cancer will come back, and a million other things. But by all means let's hear about how tough it's been for Taylor.
- Colin

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